ECO MAMA

10:11 a.m. - 2008-05-16
be fair

Did you know that some big coffee companies use child slaves in the harvesting of their cocoa beans? As a mother of a seven month old baby boy I find this deeply disturbing. To imagine him, at any age, being forced to harvest cocoa beans so that the head honchos can get richer makes me sick! These children are worked twelve, fourteen, sixteen hour days with no pay and minimal food and sleep. They are also frequently beaten.

Please keep this in mind the next time you purchase coffee. Make sure you always buy products that indicate they have the "Fair Trade" certified labels. According to COOP AMERICA, fair trade ensures that the farmers get a fair price and that sustainability is practiced. It also ensures that workers, especially women, are empowered.

Chocolate is also harvested the same way so keep this in mind as well when buying chocolate.

Believe it or not Fair Trade products are easy to find and are often organic. If your local grocery store does not stock fair-trade items ask to speak to the manager and let them know they need to get with the program.

There is also coffee that is "Rainforest Alliance" certified. The Rainforest Alliance supports sustainable development and conservation of the environment and in doing this also supports coffee farmers.

If you can find a coffee that supports both causes they you're really making a difference!

Three brands that I know of that are Fair Trade Certified are, GREEN MOUNTAIN COFFEE, CHOCOSPHERE, and TARALUNA.

Also, you can check out TRANS FAIR USA. This organization is an independent third party certifier of fair-trade products. This site lists many of the fair-trade products that are stocked in the large stores that you shop in.

8:16 p.m. - 2008-05-14
response from ny senator regarding my concern for the environment

Dear Mrs. Calderwood:

Thank you for your letter regarding actions that Congress should be taking to curtail global climate change. I share your concern for the health of our environment, especially the fragile balance of ecosystems that may be destroyed by the climatic changes that we are now experiencing. As Senator, I have pushed legislation that would address some of the causes of climate change, in particular by trying to reduce carbon emissions. In particular, I am a sponsor of S. 2191, the Lieberman-Warner bill called America’s Climate Security Act of 2007.

The Lieberman-Warner bill would set an economy-wide cap on carbon emissions and would allocate “credits” to various institutions to emit carbon. Although Lieberman-Warner is not as strong as I would like it to be, I believe that it is an important step in the right direction. I will be working with my colleagues in the Senate to make the bill stronger before it finally passes.

The recent passage in the Senate of H.R. 6, the Clean Energy Act of 2007, provided an important first step toward improving the ways our nation uses energy. This bill includes substantial increases in fuel economy standards for cars, including a 35mpg standard by 2020 and closing the SUV and flex-fuel-vehicle loopholes. The Senate’s success in this area will reduce our consumption of foreign oil by 10.7 billion gallons annually by 2020. I believe that H.R. 6 makes important steps towards curbing climate change. For the first time in decades, the Senate has produced a bill that does not give tax breaks to big oil, but instead gives incentives to companies to use renewable fuel sources, makes significant improvements in cars’ fuel economy, and requires improved energy efficiency in government actions.

However, there is still more to be done to reduce our consumption of petroleum and fossil fuels. In the current Congress, I have introduced two bills that seek to improve energy efficiency in practical, cost-effective ways. The first bill, S. 2078, would require states to make their building codes 30% more energy efficient. The Alliance to Save Energy estimates that if our nation were to meet these targets by 2030, the nation could save 5% of its total energy use, save consumers $50 billion a year, and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by an amount equivalent to that of taking 70 million cars off the road. The second, S. 2079 would require power utilities gradually to reduce their fuel consumption by improving their efficiency to reach a final target of 10% less fuel use by 2020. The technologies exist today to achieve the increases in efficiency that my bills demand – all we need do is create incentives for their implementation. With smart changes, like these improvements in efficiency, our nation can grow our economy while shrinking our dependence on petroleum, reducing fuel costs, and protecting the environment.

I also support several other bills aimed at helping to slow this crisis. I am a co-sponsor of S. 590, Securing America's Energy Independence Act of 2007, which would extend and improve tax credits for individuals and companies to invest in solar technology. I also co-sponsored the Clean Air Planning Act, S. 1177, a multi-pollutant bill that would require fossil-fuel-fired power plants to cut their emissions of four dangerous compounds, including carbon dioxide. This bill would halt the increase in CO2 emissions in 2012 and will implement a 57% cut from today’s levels by 2050. I was also an original co-sponsor of S. 339, the DRIVE Act, which will reduce our oil use through a range of actions – from improving fuel economies to encouraging development along existing transit corridors, rather than into new areas. That bill was passed by the Senate as part of the Clean Energy Act.

Climate change matters to all of us and we need smart, pragmatic policies now if we are to address this crisis. We cannot afford to delay action in the hope that a “silver bullet” will save us: there will be no perfect new technology to produce infinite energy, no special sponge to take carbon out of the air, no global air-conditioning system. It takes lots of smart changes in the ways that we make and use energy to fix this problem, and we need to approach this complex problem from every angle possible.

Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me on this import issue. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future if I can ever be of assistance to you on this or any other matter.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Schumer
United States Senator

10:05 a.m. - 2008-05-14
sweetie pie baby

Check out this beautiful seal pup, organic, onesie. I was recently introduced to SWEETIE PIE BABY, an eco friendly site that sells organic baby and household products. I had been looking all over for a selection of organic clothing for my son at a reasonable price. Sweetie Pie Baby is exactly what I had in mind. This onesie sells for $19.99, which may seem like a lot to some folks, but I've done some cost comparisons and this is actually quite reasonable. Aside from organic cotton fabrics, they also carry clothing made from bamboo. I also really like their BAMBOO GREEN ONESIE. Made from a blend of 95% bamboo and 30% organic cotton, it is naturally antimicrobial, hypoallergenic, thermal regulating and provides over 98% UV protection, which is ideal for avoiding the sun's rays especially during the hot summer months. This is priced at $18.50.

Check them out!

8:25 p.m. - 2008-05-09
the climate security act

In just a few weeks, the U.S. Senate will have a historic opportunity to pass legislation to combat global warming. We need a strengthened Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act to help avert a global climate crisis.

Click HERE to make your voice heard through the NRDC Action Fund. Tell the Senate to strengthen and pass the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act.

If you want to learn more about this Act, please take a moment to READ President Frances Beinecke's blog about the Climate Security Act, which he considers "the most important fight" of his career.

6:38 p.m. - 2008-05-09
bank of america for a brighter planet

Did you know that Bank of America supports the Brighter Planet Visa Card. Every $1,000 spent in purchases with the card earns 1,000 points♦ that will fund an estimated 1 ton of carbon offsets—that’s roughly equivalent to taking a car off the road for 2,000 miles or powering and heating/cooling your home for a month!

12:17 p.m. - 2008-05-09
eco bella

I am over the moon about this company's products! ECO BELLA was founded in 1992 by Sally Malanga who after discovering how toxic the ingredients were in the commerical body care products women were using, including talc, synthetic colors, formaldehyde, and mercury, and decided to come up with a line of healthy alternatives.

According to Malanga, she was also "horrified by the cruelty of animal testing, which all the major cosmetic companies participated in."

And in fact many companies still test on animals. Te FDA does not require that ingredients be tested on animals. Yet, thousands of innocent animals are maimed and killed every year in the name of beauty.

"If a product is intended for human use, it makes sense to test it on people," says Malanga. "If a product is going to be beneficial to human skin, it makes sense to use gentle natural ingredients that have been shown to be safe over time."

These are the two guiding principles that led her to start Ecco Bella in her townhouse in North Caldwell, NJ. With her one-car garage as the warehouse, when she needed to make copies she had to move her two sleeping Siamese cats off the copier.

Today, they operate from beautiful offices in Montclair, New Jersey, sending their products to health-oriented consumers around the world.

Their primary mission, however, remains the same: To provide you with high quality, healthful products that are never tested on animals. Through the support of conscientious consumers like you, the company continues to grow, allowing them to support a wide variety of good causes.

This company gets major kudos from Eco Mama. I just ordered nearly $100 worth of their make-up products. Shhhh...don't tell my husband!

9:38 p.m. - 2008-05-07
gorgeously green

I love, love, love this new book by Sophie Uliano, "GORGEOUSLY GREEN". Sure it helps when you have a friend named Julia Roberts, and landing a spot on the Oprah show is always a good thing, but I have no doubt this book would have been able to stand on its own and sell without any celebrity endorsements.

There is something about Ms. Uliano that I just love - aside from her English accent and her sassy, upbeat personality, her passion for everything GREEN is a huge turn on. I guess I would have to say that I have a girl crush on her.

Like me, she started off clueless, but wanting to make changes. This book takes the guesswork out of so many things I had questions about. It is full of valuable, even money saving advice.

If you're just starting out on your green journey, this book is a great place to start. If you don't want to spend the money, check it out at your local library. Really I can't say enough.

Reading about all of the chemicals inside many conventional beauty products moved me to trash all of my shampoos, body lotions, face moisturizers, and cosmetics and replace them with fragrance free, paraben free, chemical free products like SUKI and AUBREY ORGANICS.

Here is a summary of the seven most dangerous ingredients found in beauty products, according to this book:

COAL TAR: Used in dandruff shampoos and anti-itch creams, coal tar is a known carcinogen. Coal tar-based dyes such as F&C Blue 1, which are used in toothpastes, and FD&C Green 3, which is used in mouthwash, should be avoided.

FRAGRANCE: This ubiquitous term is used to mask hundreds of ingredients, including phthalates, which disrupt the endocrine system and could cause reproductive and developmental harm.

HYDROQUINONE: Commonly found in skin lighteners and facial moisturizers, it is a neurotoxin and is allergenic.

ALUMINUM: Often used in eye shadow as a color additive and also used in deodorants, it is listed as carcinogenic, toxic and mutagenic.

TRICLOSAN: This chemical is used in almost all antibacterial products, including soap, toothpaste, and cosmetics. Triclosan is often contaminated with dioxins, which are highly carcinogenic and can also weaken your immune system, decrease fertility, and cause birth defects.

P-PHENYLENEDIAMINE: This is the chemical that has given a bad name to regular hair dye. It can damage your nervous system, cause lung irritation, and cause severe allergic reactions. It's also listed as 1,4-Benzenediamine; p-Phenyldiamine and 4-Phenylenediamine.

LEAD AND MERCURY: Lead could appear in toothpaste as a naturally occuring contaminant of hydrated silica. It is a neurotoxin that also appears as lead acetate in men's hair dye. Mercury is found in a cosmetic preservative called thimerasol.

I was already using Tom's Maine natural toothpaste, thank god. If you do nothing else, you may want to switch your toothpaste!

If you purchase this book now you qualify for a free chico tote bag to use for your groceries. Also the GORGEOUSLY GREEN WEBSITE is chock full of additional info not contained in the book, monthly contests and instructional videos, plus the passwords to receive tons of extras.

6:35 p.m. - 2008-05-02
natures one and bpa

Yesterday, after discovering the truth about infant formula containers containing BPA, I wrote a letter to NATURE'S ONE® asking them about their packaging. Despite their extremely thorough investigation of infant formula manufacturers, the EWG didn't offer any information on this company and I was hoping to discover they were the one exception. I have to hand it to them, they were prompt in responding and extremely candid.

Here is their response:

Dear Rose,

Thank you for contacting Nature's One regarding your concerns over the studies conducted on bisphenol-A.

The concern with bisphenol-A coatings used in some packaging is the potential migration of bisphenol-A into cannedfoods. Health concerns related to bisphenol-A have recently been reported because of bisphenol-A’s endocrine-disrupting properties, particularly the estrogen pathway.

Bisphenol-A is used in the epoxy resin that coats the inside of some metal cans. This coating helps to prevent corrosion of the can, contamination of the canned food from dissolved metals, and bacterial contamination causing spoilage of the food. Thus, the coating helps to maintain the food product’s quality and taste and aids in extending shelflife.

Baby’s Only Organic® formula canisters and re-closeable plastic lids are uncoated and do not contain bisphenol-A. However, the can’s “easy-open” metal top contains an epoxy-based interior coating that may contain trace amounts of unreacted bisphenol-A. It is highly unlikely that any detectable amount of bisphenol-A would migrate from the easy-open top into Baby’s OnlyOrganic® formulas. This is especially true considering there is minimal contact between the powder and the easy-open top during processing and distribution. Once the formula is opened, the easy-open metal top is discarded.

The greater risk of BPA migration has been found to be related to heat exposure during processing.

BPA migration appears to be most often associated with liquid ready-to-feed and concentrated formulas sold in cans where high processing temperatures are used once the liquid formula is sealed in the can. High temperatures are needed during canning of liquid formulas to achieve product sterility and prevent botulism or the growth of other microorganisms that would lead to spoilage. The presence of high processing temperatures is thought to provoke a migration of the bisphenol-A into liquid formula. The canisters used for Baby’s Only Organic® are NOT hot-filled. Baby’s Only Organic® powder formula cans are filled at room temperature and then vacuum sealed.

As always, Nature’s One® will continue to work with its suppliers to identify the safest packaging and most nutritious ingredients available.

To help you in your research efforts, we are attaching a Fact Sheet provided by industry organizations and a link from the Environmental Working Group, http://www.ewg.org/reports/bisphenola, which will provide you with information from each prospective.

1. Kuehn, B. “Expert panels weigh bisphenol-A risks,” JAMA. 2007; 298:1499-1503.
2. Goodson, A. et al. “Survey of bisphenol A and bisphenol F in cannedfoods.” Food Addit Contam. 2002; 19: 796-802.

Thank you for your interest in Baby's Only Organic®. Please reply to this email if you have additional questions.

Sincerely,
Nature's One, Inc.
Web site: www.naturesone.comBuy Direct: www.NaturesOneDirect.com.
Info Email: info@naturesone.comToll Free (US only): 888-227-7122
Phone: 614-898-9758

8:30 a.m. - 2008-05-01
BPA found in Infant Formula Containers

I just discovered a wonderful website for an organization called the ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP. This is a collaborative effort from a team of engineers, policy experts, lawyers and computer programmers who pore over government data, legal documents, scientific studies and their own laboratory tests to expose threats to your health and the environment, and to find solutions. Their research brings to light unsettling facts that you have a right to know.

In case you were wondering about their validity, CHARITY NAVIGATOR nominated them as a "Four Star Charity" from 2003-2006.

Probably of most interest to me as a parent is their page on CHILDREN'S HEALTH.

I am particularly alarmed by the EWG's findings on INFANT FORMULA. According to them, several of the nation's leading manufacturer's of infant formula, (Nestle's, Similac and Enfamil) are being packaged in containers that have high levels of BPA. (Higher than most baby bottles).

These store-brand formulas sold at WalMart, Target, Kroger and dozens of other retailers, all said that they use BPA in the linings of metal cans holding liquid formula. The EWG advises parents who use liquid formulas to opt for those sold in plastic containers versus the metal cans, and to use concentrated formulas as opposed to ready-to-eat. This advice is being dispensed because both FDA and EWG tested samples of liquid formula sold in cans and found BPA in every company’s formula. They suggest that you choose a formula that requires dilution with water reduces the amount of BPA in your baby’s diet.

A recent ONLINE ARTICLE tells of Walmart's commitment to removing all BPA containing pacifiers, sippy cups and baby bottles off their shelves yet they continue to sell formulas in containers that have levels of BPA.

Of most concern to me are the EWG's findings on Earth's Best Organic Infant Formula. After my breastmilk supply began to dry up, I began supplementing with Earth's Best because I thought it was "Best" for my son being that it is "Organic".

WELL, according to the EWG, "Earth's Best Organic and PBM (which make dozens of store brands) are more of a concern: they are sold in an entirely metal can, which means the formula has more contact with a BPA-coated surface."

Dear God is there no end to the dangers in our food? How do we protect our children when even the things that are supposed to be good for them turn out to be bad? How do we know? Who do we trust? Certainly not the FDA. And surely not the manufacturers themselves who, when contacted by the EWG, lied through their greedy teeth about the fact that their containers contain BPA. According to the Environmental Working Group when questioned about BPA, every company had an automated response about how they are complying to the FDA's standards, and went on to claim there was no BPA in their products.

Apparently Ross-Abbot, the makers of Similac, was the only company that told the EWG they tested for BPA in their products, and that they detected none. However, both EWG and the Food and Drug Administration found BPA in Similac cans, which raises doubts about this companies testing methods and their morality.

Out of all the infant formulas on the market the EWG recommends powdered formula sold by Enfamil and Similac because only the metal tops and bottoms of their packages are metal and lined with BPA-based plastic. The sites are not, they are made of cardboard.

Settling for something that has less BPA as opposed to being BPA free weighs heavily on my mind as a parent. Knowing that no matter what formula I choose to give my son he will still be exposed really pisses me off!

I also wonder if a study has been done to rule out BPA on the increase of autism in our country. It may sound a little far fetched to some, but is it really? Is it?

If you want to take action and contact the manufacturers of the infant formula you are currently using, click If you are outraged as I am about all of this and you want to take action, then click HERE. The more parents that speak up about this the better!!! Even if you don't have a child who is infant age, please we need your voice!

*********

So I did some research and found two fantastic books on the market that offer information on how to make your own infant formula, NOURISHING TRADITIONS by Sally Fallon, and CRAZY MAKERS by Carol Simontacchi. If you don't want to spend the money, I found this INFANT FORMULA RECIPE online.

To help the EWG spread the word, if you'd like to install one of their badges on your site HERE is the link.

10:09 a.m. - 2008-04-30
whole children whole planet expo 2008

If you haven't heard about the Whole Children Whole Planet Expo, then you really should visit their SITE.

The Whole Children, Whole Planet (WCWP) Expo is about raising healthy children – mind, body and spirit – in a safe, natural, non-toxic, nurturing environment. Their mission is to empower and educate the caregivers of our children and the earth. They want to address a need in our society for guidance and education for creating more balanced lifestyles and provide people with the tools they need to make informed decisions and take proper actions.

WCWP is committed to educating families, professionals and friends about the benefits of natural products (body, personal care, cleaning, household, etc.), holistic medicine (homeopathy, herbs, flower essences), better nutrition, sustainable lifestyle practices, enrichment learning programs and important safety and environmental issues. Attendees will learn first hand that healthy foods can still taste great without additives, preservatives, chemicals, coloring dyes or refined sugar.

The information and products presented at the Whole Children, Whole Planet Expo will be different from what is familiar to families through the mainstream news media and will bring a whole new awareness to raising children naturally.

Parents today are faced with often confusing and conflicting information about how to raise healthy children. Sifting through the facts for informed decision-making is a crucial part of responsible parenting. The Whole Children, Whole Planet Expo will provide the answers that a fast-growing group of socially and environmentally conscious parents are looking for to keep their families safe and healthy.

In honor of our children and the planet a portion of all profits will be donated to organizations related to environmental issues and natural health. Join them in Northridge California in raising healthy children – mind, body and spirit – and honoring our planet for their future.

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