Monthly Archive for December, 2006

The 14 Most Evil Corporations (according to Global Exchange)

Published
by
Lauren
on December 24, 2006
in EcoWarrior, GMO Foods, Politics and This n That
. 3 Comments

These Profiteers are guilty of commiting atrocities (war crimes, torture, toxic dumping and stifling freedom of speech) against mankind in the name of Greed.Here’s the LowDown on these Prophets of Profit.

Corporations carry out some of the most horrific human rights abuses of modern times, but it is increasingly difficult to hold them to account. Economic globalization and the rise of transnational corporate power have created a favorable climate for corporate human rights abusers, which are governed principally by the codes of supply and demand and show genuine loyalty only to their stockholders.

Several of the companies below are being sued under the Alien Tort Claims Act, a law that allows citizens of any nationality to sue in US federal courts for violations of international rights or treaties. When corporations act like criminals, we have the right and the power to stop them, holding leaders and multinational corporations alike to the accords they have signed. Around the world-<>in Venezuela, Argentina, India, and right here in the United States-citizens are stepping up to create democracy and hold corporations accountable to international law.

Continue reading ‘The 14 Most Evil Corporations (according to Global Exchange)’

Positive Self Affirmations

Published
by
Lauren
on December 20, 2006
in Inspiration and This n That
. 0 Comments

I just really liked these self affirmations.

Affirmations For Building Self-esteem

  1. I am a valuable and important person, and I’m worthy of the respect of others.
  2. I am my own expert, and I allow others the same privilege.
  3. I express my ideas easily, and I know others respect my point of view.
  4. I am aware of my value system and confident of the decisions I make based on my current awareness.
  5. I have a positive expectancy of reaching my goals, and I bounce back quickly from temporary setbacks.
  6. I have pride in my past performance and a positive expectancy of the future.
  7. I accept compliments easily and share my success with others who have contributed to them.
  8. I feel warm and loving toward myself, for I am a unique and precious being, ever doing the best my awareness permits, ever growing in wisdom and love.
  9. I am actively in charge of my life and direct it in constructive channels. My primary responsibility is for my own growth and well being (the better I feel about myself, the more willing and able I am to help others.)
  10. I am my own authority (and I am not affected by negative opinions or attitudes of others.)
  11. It is not what happens to me, but how I handle it, that determines my emotional well being.
  12. I’m a success to the degree that I feel warm and loving toward myself.
  13. No one in the entire world is more or less worthy, more or less important, than I.
  14. I count my blessings and rejoice in my growing awareness.
  15. I am an action person; I do first things first and one thing at a time.
  16. I am warm and friendly toward all I contact; I treat everyone with consideration and respect.
  17. I am kind, compassionate and gentle with myself.

    18. http://www.coun.uvic.ca/personal/esteem.html

Coke cans and Bisphenol A

Published
by
Lauren
on December 20, 2006
in Bisphenol A - Pthalates issue, EcoWarrior, Non Toxic Living and This n That
. 0 Comments

To add to the Toxic Toy issue that you may have read about here, it appears now that Bisphenol A is added to Coca cola cans to prolong shelf life. As you might remember, Bisphenol A is used in baby bottles (hard plastic) and has been shown to leach into the milk in the bottles.  Canada is leading the way to turn the current ridiculous “prove it’s unsafe” method to “prove its safe” when it comes to chemicals.  I’d imagine that this means that all cans produced by Coco cola have this chemical in it, US and Canada but that’s a guess.  Read on;

http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=e70c8659-3ee7-4bf2-9e11-c32b7a6195ff

Mastitis and Natural Healing links

Published
by
Lauren
on December 19, 2006
in Breastfeeding, Holistic Health and Pregnancy & Childbirth
. 0 Comments

Some links to natural healing and Mastitis
Townsend Newsletter (Healing with Homeopathy: the Homeopathic Treatment of mastitis - excerpts from Whole Woman Homeopathy, The Comprehensive Guide to Homeopathic Treatment for PMS, Menopause, Cystitis, and Other Problems)
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0ISW/is_2002_June/ai_86387611

Excerpts from the Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Years by Susun Weed.
http://members.aol.com/kristachan/mastitis.htm

From Kellymom;
http://www.kellymom.com/herbal/natural-treatments.html#mastitis

And a few more…

http://www.homemademedicine.com/breastfeeding.html
http://www.herbs2000.com/disorders/mastitis.htm

Oh Christmas Tree!

Published
by
Lauren
on December 18, 2006
in Holidays, Non Toxic Living, Parenting and This n That
. 0 Comments

We’re in between on what sort of tree we want to decorate. This year we went ahead and got a local tree but I’ve since found out that a majority of the Christmas trees available throughout the states come from NC (where we live now). So next year I hope to find either a pesticide free tree or a live tree to replant on our property. Christmas trees have tons of pesticides on them. YUK…think about your kids touching them all the time and then putting their fingers in their mouths.
http://www.ecobusinesslinks.com/organic_christmas_trees.htm

Ooooh…just found this local to NC resource;
http://www.pested.org/involved/actionalerts/xmastrees.html

Rescue Recess

Published
by
Lauren
on December 18, 2006
in Parenting and This n That
. 2 Comments

Jan on the HP list shared this, something that I think should concern most if not all parents.  With an 8 year old in school, I’ve often complained of the lack of free play time I see.  I happen to LOVE our school and the kids do have recess and rewards for running laps (1/4 mile per day for the younger kids) daily before playing.  But how many schools don’t offer this?  The kids also get free time on Fridays to play at whichever station they choose and do whatever they want.

Anyhow, if recess is in jeapardy in some places, it’s of great concern.  Children NEED that free play time.
http://www.rescuingrecess.com/ 

Cool Mom Slogan

Published
by
Lauren
on December 13, 2006
in Humor and This n That
. 0 Comments

Cleaning the house while the kids are still growing is like shoveling
snow while it’s still snowing!

If You Give A Mom A Muffin

Published
by
Lauren
on December 13, 2006
in Humor and This n That
. 1 Comment

If you are familiar with the story If You Give A Mouse A Cookie, you
might appreciate this version.

If You Give A Mom A Muffin

If you give a Mom a muffin,
She’ll want a cup of coffee to go with it.
She’ll pour herself some.
Her three year old will spill the coffee.
She’ll wipe it up.
Wiping the floor, she’ll find dirty socks.
She’ll remember she has to do laundry.
When she puts the laundry in the washer,
She’ll trip over boots and bump into the freezer.
Bumping into the freezer will remind her she
has to plan for supper.
She will get out a pound of hamburger.
She’ll look for her cook book (101 things to do
with a pound of hamburger)
The cookbook is sitting under a pile of mail.
She will see the phone bill, which is due tomorrow.
She will look for her checkbook.
The check book is in her purse that is being dumped
out by her two year old.

She’ll smell something funny.
She’ll change the two year old’s diaper.
While she is changing the diaper, the phone will ring.
Her five year old will answer and hang up.
She’ll remember she wants to phone a friend for coffee.
Thinking of coffee will remind her that she was going to
have a cup.
And chances are,
If she has a cup of coffee,
Her kids will have eaten the muffin that went with it.

Original Author Unknown

More on the Toxic Toys Issue

Published
by
Lauren
on December 4, 2006
in Bisphenol A - Pthalates issue, EcoWarrior, Non Toxic Living and Politics
. 0 Comments

From: San Francisco Chronicle (pg. A1), Nov. 19, 2006

TOXIC
San Francisco prepares to ban certain chemicals in products for tots,
but enforcement will be tough — and toymakers question necessity
By Jane Kay, Chronicle Environment Writer
Widely used chemicals with suspected links to cancer and developmental
problems in humans are present in common baby products like the yellow
rubber ducky, bath books and clear plastic bottles, a Chronicle
analysis confirmed.

The toxic chemicals, which are used to harden or soften plastics, can
leach out each time a baby sucks on a favorite doll or gnaws on a cool
teething ring, scientists say.

Starting Dec. 1, a first-in-the-nation ban goes into effect in San
Francisco, prohibiting the sale, distribution and manufacture of baby
products containing any level of bisphenol A and certain levels of
phthalates.

The law, modeled on a European Union ban that started this year,
reflects emerging concerns by environmental health scientists over the
buildup of industrial chemicals in humans, particularly young
children. Especially under scrutiny are chemicals that mimic estrogen,
possibly disrupting the hormonal system and altering the normal
workings of genes.

Yet the trouble is that no one knows for sure how many baby products
contain the chemicals. Stores, many of which are still unaware of the
pending ban, will be unable to decide what to take off the shelves
because manufacturers aren’t required to disclose what chemicals go
into a product. For that reason, The Chronicle set out to test several
common baby toys and found that most of them — even ones labeled
“safe, non-toxic” — contained the chemicals.

Continue reading ‘More on the Toxic Toys Issue’

Christmas Light Hazards

Published
by
Lauren
on December 4, 2006
in Holidays, Non Toxic Living and This n That
. 0 Comments

My neighbor across the street is pregnant.  She recently went to put up some Christmas Lights and noticed there was a warning on the box.  Apparently, they coat the wires of lights AND extension cords WITH LEAD?  WTF?  I don’t ever recall seeing these warnings before and yet on everything I pick up this year, its there.

So read those warning labels ladies, especially if you are pregnant and do not let your kids touch the darn things….gloves for dh would be best.  What are they thinking?  I asked my dh, “why on earth would they coat the wires in lead?”  And his reply was “I guess they have alot of lead they don’t know what to do with”.  sigh.