On another note

While taking my usual walk home today from class, I noticed some little pieces of litter in the street thus reminding myself once again to bring one of my bags with me to gather this litter and also to grab a glove for those nastier pieces (too many tobacco-chewing folks around here).. a piece of blue caught my eye. A very familiar piece of blue fabric .. one of my bandannas! Apparently I dropped it there somehow last week and amidst my clutter never noticed it was missing .. until I found it today. Spent about a week there, getting weathered on and ran over looks like multiple times,

whoa. back up. actually, upon further inspection (pulling it out of my bag i tossed it in and actually unfolding it and taking a good look), it is NOT my bandanna, which leaves me wondering exactly where amongst my mess it is. but this is a snazzy bandanna and without the general germ-phobia that plagues us Americans, I have no problem washing it and using it myself..

even the little things

 Take even just one course in environmental science, and you may start thinking twice about some of the things you do.

Now take 4 years of an environmental technology program in which you cover EVERY problem regarding the polluting and destruction of our world, and you will almost cease to enjoy anything... because it is ALL BAD in some way.

Like today in my indoor air quality (IAQ) class. Learned that many of these so-called "air-purifiers" on the market and in YOUR HOMES (which have I already told you that IAQ is 5-10x more polluted than outside air..and the average american spends 95 percent of their time indoors..) are technically air-polluters, specifically OZONE. Ozone is a good and bad chemical, good in the upper atmosphere to keep out harmful UV rays, but terrible down here in our lower, immediate atmosphere. Hence why they give us alerts on certain days and recommend limiting outdoor activities. So what do you do: sit in your home and relax next to your air-purifier knowing thinking that you are breathing clean air. False. You are breathing straight pollution.  Sure your air may SMELL clean, but it is NOT. Can't trust your nose anyways as many contaminants are odorless, and ozone apparently numbs the sense of smell anyways. These machines are ozonaters, misleadingly touted as "activated-oxygen" or "super oxygenated." Well oxygen is straight O2 oxygen. Ozone is a whole nother story - one that can seriously mess up your respiratory system. Short term effects: coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, serious damage to cells in lungs and airways. Long term effects: cause and worsen asthma symptoms and worsen lung disease, may also increase risk of premature death. This is particularly a problem to people who already have a respiratory illness, thus the reason they want an air-purifier. So far, California is the only state to pass legislation requiring indoor air cleaners be certified to emit less than 0.050 ppm of ozone. They have a list of 63 potentially hazardous "air-purifiers" that you should avoid. The California Air Resources Board (and so did my prof) recommends using a HEPA filter or electrostatic precipitators.

p.s. - ozone can react with other chemicals like terpenes (fragrance chemicals in your household products that give that pine/citrus smell) to create other toxic chemicals like FORMALDEHYDE.

As you learn though over the duration of the ET course, these things come as no big surprise.

Another interesting article in class was about incense and candles being sources of pollution. Incense release particulate matter (duh) and apparently many candles (especially those cheap ones from the Dollar Trees and whatnot imported from China or Mexico) have a metal core containing LEAD. The kid presenting the article was very surprised that the US hasn't banned it yet. I figured he must just be starting out in this program (or maybe his parents burned too many candles when he was kid, thus resulting in lead poisoning, thus resulting in a little brain retardation. Lead poisoning in children is serious and really causes a lot of problems with brain development.. this article mentioned a family pursuing civil litigation due to lead poisoning from burning candles.), if he doesn't know how many products the US sells every year that has lead in it. All that make-up you smear around your face - heavily laden with lead and other metals.

And for those of you in love with the "new car smell" ... yes, that's right, it is also suspected to be harmful to humans. Its recommended that you air your new car out for months and months to lower the level of VOC's being emitted from your fancy dashboard material and carpet and seat fabric and whatnot. Have fun with your brandnew Hummer, I'm sticking with my bike.

Outdoor air quality (ambient air quality) is much more heavily regulated than indoor air quality, and apparently we only spend about 5% of our times outdoor.. walking that 100ft from your parking space to work or home or a shopping center.. its all the same.. its all dirty and contaminated.

Laundry Update

So, everything was probably dry yesterday (too busy with school to notice exactly when), but definitely dry now. Socks and underwear were dry almost immediately, and then it seemed to vary by type of fabric. Was able to fit a full load on 2 drying racks that cluttered up my room for the last few days (pretty dangerous to navigate my room in the dark). Everything is stiff, even though I did use a liquid fabric softner (because I already have some, once I'm out, I'm not going to buy any more). Nothing is too wrinkly. Stiffness and wrinkles don't bother me though, they leave shortly after putting the clothes on.

So I'm still on track.

Back to putting my clothes away..

Haiti Earthquake

 

Photos courtesy Lisandro Suero / AFP-Getty Images / January 12, 2010

 Poor Haiti (the poorest nation in the western hemisphere, home to 10 million people, most living in abject poverty) is having trouble once again with another earthquake - 7.0 - the largest to hit them in 2 decades.

We're pretty safe here on the east coast from natural disasters (you can only take this for granted if you ignore news about the rest of the world), our biggest problems seem to result from industry disasters like the plant explosion in apex or the coal ash waste holding lagoon breaking in tennessee. We get a little scare every once in a while during hurricane serious, but nothing too bad that we can't deal with because we have money. Its the people without money, people in the poorest nations, that are also in the geographical locations hardest hit by natural disasters. They don't have the money or resources to build earthquake proof buildings, and they definitely don't have the resources to recover from these disasters.

You have a secure roof over your head. You have enough food to get by on or better. They don't. Maybe you're even one of the lucky ones that just got a big drop of refund money. These people are counting on financial aid too.. so fore-go the 6-pack, your morning grande java, and whatever superfluous items you are considering purchasing this week, and instead spend it on something fantastically worthwhile, something that will bring some level of comfort, however small or big, to the suffering. Donate to an organization helping the Haitians through this crisis.

Stop Hunger Now is an international non-profit organization, based in Raleigh, started in 1998, that provides hunger relief and other life-saving aid to the world's most destitute. Your donations pay for the supplies (and they need alot of help now as the price of food is going up and people are donating less because of the economic crisis), and volunteers work in an assembly line fashion to package the food. I have volunteered at their warehouse with the EWB-NSCU chapter and honor their work. They have historically helped Haiti, and are now seeking $50,000 in donations to send aid for this disaster. ($100= 400 lifesaving meals)

Convoy of Hope is another organization providing direct relief. They are already setting up an emergency command center from which they will be providing help. They have a warehouse with food and supplies there that will be distributed for immediate relief, and are collecting donations to help with a shipment of several more containers with relief supply to the area in the next few days.

The Lambi Fund of Haiti  is a grassroots effort aimed at helping to improve all aspects of Haitian life by creating stability (my professor today (Dr. Bruck) called the place lawless, and he is a very educated, up-to-date man) through the involvement and cooperation of peasants and community-based organizations. This is an organization solely for Haiti help, so you can be sure your donation goes to help this ravaged community.


There are other organizations out there. Just be careful of where you choose to donate, as scam charities do pop up. Large charities (OXFAM , Doctors Without Borders , CARE , etc) also have high overhead costs and donations don't always go to specific causes (may go to other programs instead of the one you intend), but nonetheless it is still giving.

Giving money is the easiest way to help people, as it flows so easily in and out of our accounts, but not necessarily the best. In a situation like this, it is probably the best we can do.

But I really wish there was more I can do than just seem money as I really do care about the world's poor. We may feel poor as college students, but we are nothing compared to others around the world.

 

 

Photos from Lambi Fund of Haiti / 01-13-2010

 

Presidential Palace collapsed in on itself.

Groceries

Did my first big shop since back at school from break. I was under the delusion that we were going to a decent grocery store, where i would have access to a variety of healthy foods. To my disheartening surprise.. Food Lion. at least it was the Avent Ferry store which at least as a 6' long, triple shelved, double-sided aisle of healthy food of only a few food items.

So I tried my best under disgruntled, hungry, late-night shopping:

• 1 Carton No Pulp Tropicana 100% Pure and Natural Orange Juice
• 1 Gallon Jar Mt. Olive Kosher Dill Pickles [NC product]
• 16 oz Package Nature's Place Organic Raw hulled sunflower seeds
• 2lb  Bunny-Luv Fresh Organic Carrots
• 1 can thai kitchen all-natural unsweetened first pressing coconut milk
• 12 oz jar mt. olive hot banana pepper rings [NC product (since 1926)]
• 1 can nature's place organic cut green beans
• 15  oz jar bertolli  mushroom alfredo
• 24.5 oz jar (plastic) dole all-natural mandarin oranges in light syrup
• 24.5 oz jar (plastic) dole all-natural yellow cling sliced peaches in light syrup
• 1 can nature's place organic sweet corn
• 1 tall spice jar mccormick organic curry powder
• 1 tall spice jar mccormick organic coarse grind black pepper
• 1 tall spice jar mccormick organic cayenne red pepper
• 8 oz block FL natural pepperjack cheese
• 14 oz package  pictsweet deluxe stir-fry seasoned japanese steakhouse
• 14 oz package  pictsweet deluxe stir-fry seasoned teryaki
• 1 box Triscuit cracked pepper and olive oil baked whole grain wheat crackers
• 24 oz package nature's own 100% natural made with organic flour honey wheat bread
• 2 Del Monte bananas (costa rica)
  

I tried to include about every description on the package, as their wording is important - big difference between claims and actual ingredients. Only the 'organic' labeled items were certified (USDA Organic Standard).I tried my best for being rushed on soneone else's time, and being almost brain dead..

Considering Reforms::

• [D] Minimize unnecessary consumption of resources.
• [E] Eat the best foods possible - raw, organic, local - when possible.

Reforms List

figured with all these changes upon myself, i should keep a running tally (so as not to forget)::

[update going to put them into some reference code, probably by alphabet letters, as numbers implicate rank, and there is no rank to this list as all are equally important reform goals. may later to decide date amended]

• [A] Digital copies of music and movies.
• [B] Air-drying everything.
• [C] Pick up litter and properly dispose.
• [D] Minimize unnecessary consumption of resources.
• [E] Eat the best foods possible - raw, organic, local - when possible.
• [F] Give Carmen the best possible care and love.
• [G] Increase plant biodiversity.

Fran Akers, Kitty Hawk, OBX, NC. June 2005.

Drying Clothes Update 1

Looks like I might have crammed a bit too many items in this load as they are all damper than usual. And that water is very cold.

I'm going to keep track of how long these take to dry (definitely not going to do another load until then so I will have space.. hopefully after these first few loads ill get into a groove and wont have to wait longer between washings than I normally do, we'll see..). It's pretty cold in our apartment (thermostat set about 63F), and I have no heat vent to set these on top of so that when it does kick on I can use that boost. Not around during the day to put them on the porch when it receives sunlight (afraid they will freeze if I leave them out without full sun).

Oh air, what art thou good for?

Oh so many things for starters.

But right now I'm just considering drying - a job air is pretty darn good at.
We have so many modern way of drying things, from paper towels, to hairdryers, to ovens, to those superjet blowers in the bathrooms. All of these ways use natural resources and energy, which for the majority is an inexpensive (and unconsidered) price to pay for the convenience (Remember, americans and the like crave immediate satisfaction).

I've done pretty well over my life cutting back on the resources that go into my drying needs (haven't used a hair dryer since grade school, always air-dryed dishes, full dryer load for pants&jackets (airdryed most shirts), skipped paper towels, etc) so now I'm going all the way when I'm in control and doing only air-drying.

Hasn't been a challenge so far, I don't mind wiping my hands on my pants/jacket, or on my hankerchief if ive got a spare with me.. and airdrying dishes isn't hard at all with that drying rack and perhaps assistance of handtowel that hangs on oven door handle.. but today I've run into my first hurdle. As my recently departed roommate ran off with my second drying rack, and I don't have a clothes hanger rope (yet) since I live in these cramped apartments (no space to put one), I am going to have to get creative. The hard part comes from having a front loading washer and thus having to run a large load everytime you use it, giving me alot more clothes and other items than I have drying space for. But I am tackling this now. Probably will have to get out hangers onto my showercurtainrod...

20K10

As the last decade was so crappy, I'm changing that by getting involved and making things be the way I want them to be. And I challenge you to do the same. This is going to be quite a challenge, but I know I will be a much happier person if I can succeed in ridding my life of all the choices that later tear my heart apart with guilt.

Firstly, I'm retiring from driving. I had to drive my brother's SUV today though, but unfortunately today had to be the exception as my dog needed to be buried and it couldn't be done in my yard. But I'm done now. I hate driving for all reasons - environmental, economic, emotional (it drives me tired and aggravated now). The only thing I like about it is the freedom I feel just taking off and getting on the highway and going somewhere beautiful on such bluesky days. But, I can achieve this same level of freedom when I let my feet carry me large distances of their own. And that actually improves my emotional and physical state, instead of draining me.

No more mindless consuming either. Impulsive shopping gone, unless its somewhere like the local farmer's market.. nothing like impulsively buying jars of pepper jelly and honey, and then the fresh veggies and fruit! even still, I need to get serious about my food and go for organics. I'm tempted about trying some meat from the market that is certified organic and free-range and animal welfare AAA+++, but even if i can accept that as not breaking my vegetarianism, i don't know how to cook meat, and i dont even know if i can manage to chew it anymore!

This means that the monthly Kris10 days are being transformed from days of self-indulgence to days of self-restraint. Days of positive action. Like picking up litter, and properly disposing of it.  I need to think of winter activities though, probably more along the lines of social work, in case it is just too cold to get out there. Any ideas??

Grow and Share

Stumbled across this while browsing craigslist volunteer section for Raleigh. If I wasn't in Hickory right now, I would definitely be interested in helping them erect the greenhouse at the new site. Granted its in Zebulon and as I am trying to go back to my strictness of not driving this year, I would need to find a way out there other than my brother's huge red SUV ughness.

I'm going to check this out to get involved with when I return.

News Flash

Martin Marietta Materials

I have always known that Hickory had a quarry from the explorations of my highschool driving era, but I never had an inkling of what it looked like until MacDonald Parkway was finally opened and you could drive down its entire back side, vision impaired by only that slim green plastic fencing. To have been concealed in Hickory for all my life, it was an awakening to a pretty big hole.

Now it's peaked my curiosity, and I want to do a little investigating into the virtuosity of their practices.

So far from preliminary glances of their website, they at least tout themselves as pretty responsible people with regards to the environment.

Its 2am, and has been a long 2nd day of the year, so I don't feel like doing in depth research. I'm very curious to see if I can find any information regarding the Hickory quarry in particular, as this company has some 285 quarries in 28 states.. so I'm hoping to see what the direct connection it has to my childhood environment. Especially our water quality.