Update and Election Year

The truth is, nowhere.  I am still here on the interweb, but other things have become more of a priority.  I am still an avid spork user.  I still stand by my principles.  And some new positive aspects have entered into my life that have made it all just a little bit (or a lot bit) better.  Specifically referring to Spork Theory, some examples of new endeavors include: a baby blueberry bush (she won't be producing berries for a couple of years, but she has a home!), an herb garden, a sourdough starter, a sprout jar, and homemade almond milk.  Blogs about these are soon to come!

For now, I want to address an issue that is more present on most people's minds, and that is that this is an election year.  There have been some local elections that have raised arms here in Anchorage, but on a more national level, I want to make sure I look at our candidates very closely, especially their stance on environmental issues.  So I did a little research.

Best CANDIDATE COMPARISON Website

The link above will take you to an easy-to-read chart that describes each candidate's stance on major political issues.  Of course, the two most popular candidates are Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, so I will mainly focus on those two, unless there are major sore thumbs I really want to share with you.

A word about Romney's campaign: You will be hard pressed to find an issue or campaign ad where he does not mention Obama's name.  From what I can see, his entire campaign is about attacking Obama.  Poor form, Romney.  Poor form.

Now on to the environmental issues, the reason we are here.

Obama believes in Climate Change.

Romney does not believe in Climate Change.

Wait, what??  That's right, Romney does not believe in Climate Change.  Neither does Jared Blankenship.  (Randall Terry and James McCall do not have a stance on the issue.)  Everyone else does believe it (whew!).

Those two candidates that don't believe in Climate Change both (shockingly) believe in more oil drilling in the United States.  That would include ANWR and all offshore drilling.  Haven't we had enough oil spills?  How many times do we go back to the oil companies and just believe that their equipment is safe and their responses are fast?  They're not and they're not.  Or, they're not and it doesn't matter.  The oil has been spilled.

More specific stances on environmental issues include the following:

Obama wants to enact clean energy standards and secure America's energy sources.  He believes in innovating new clean energy possibilities like the rest of the first world is doing.  Because he knows that the oil that provides for our current lifestyle as Americans will not be around forever.

Romney, however, opposes EPA regulation of greenhouse gases.  In fact, Romney opposes the EPA in general.  Regulate greenhouse gases? he says.  That's communist!  Or, it is a way to protect us from ourselves.  It is always interesting to me how so many adults still have such juvenile reactions to the government, almost exactly the same way teenagers react to parents.  "What?  They want me to wear a seat belt??  I'm not going to wear a seat belt just because it's the law!" or "What?  They want me to not pollute??  I'm going to pollute as much as possible just because it's a law!"  Polluting is not a freedom or a right, and taking it away doesn't infringe on our rights.  It protects our lungs, our children, our food, our lives.

Anyway, my point is, consider carefully how you vote.  Although no candidate will make anyone 100% happy, consider which one is least devastating to our country as a whole.

EnviroTip 8: Ride Your Bike

More and more cities are becoming bicycle friendly, creating off-road paved bike trails and some on-road lanes.  The official "Bike to Work Day" is every May, but consider biking to work more than that, particularly if you live close by.  And not only to work, but other simple errands.  It doesn't take any gas (good for the environment, good for your pocketbook), and it is healthier for you.

  

Read more about Bike to Work Day, click here.

EnviroTip 7: Cleaning Products

The truth is, most cleaning products are chemical-ridden.  These are not the things one wants in their water system or in the earth.  Why would you want them in your home?  You are not just what you eat - you are what you breath and touch, too.  There are a few companies whose products are Earth friendly, but I want to highlight just two.  The first is, of course Seventh Generation.  They make everything from all-purpose cleaners to carpet cleaners to laundry detergent, their newest product being detergent in a cardboard recyclable or compostable bottle.

They are the highest graded household cleaning product in The Better World Shopping Guide, and contrary to popular belief, they actually do clean.  Visit this website to see a list of their ingredients.

Another product that is also quite effective and easy to find is Biokleen.  Selling similar products, they offer not only ingredients lists, but also an explanation of the problems and solutions related to household cleaning products in general.  You can read more about them here.

So the next time you go shopping for cleaning products, check out something that will do its job without harming the rest of your environment.

Book Review: "Climate Capitalism: Capitalism in the Age of Climate Change"

L. Hunter Lovins and Boyd Cohen have hit the nail on the head for the progressive outlook our economy needs.  Their research not only on climate change but also on better business is refreshing and encouraging.  Although every entrepreneur and business-minded individual should read it, it isn't written for only those folks.  The language is accessible and the philosophies are sound, in fact necessary for every consumer to grasp.  Every dollar we, as consumers, spend is a vote, and it is only fair that we understand where our hard-earned cash is ending up.  Be an informed spender.  This book is an excellent place to start.

EnviroTip 6: Reusable Bags

This isn't a new concept.  Reusable bags can be bought at almost any local grocery store.  But even for non-grocery items, it's a good idea to enter a store prepared to come out plastic bagless.

So before your new items can even make it into the plastic ones at the store, just tell the clerk, "That's okay, I don't need a bag."

If you don't have a bag with you, there may be a couple other options.  1: Can you carry your items yourself?  If so, do so.  2: Can you bus all your items in a cart out to your car, stack them in the trunk or backseat, and then carry them inside when you get home?  It is a little more of a hassle, but it also saves dozens of plastic.  The earth will thank you.

EnviroTip 5: Go for a Walk

Excuse me?  Really?

Yes, really.

According to Taiga Company, an organization dedicated to helping companies become more sustainable in their economic practices, "paying attention to the natural world not only makes you feel better, it makes you behave better" (Urlaub).  The more you are in the natural world, the more likely you are to appreciate it and, in turn, take better care of it.  All the little things we can do can be hard to keep up with.  But if you are constantly reminded of how important it is because you see it every day, then you will be far more encouraged to maintain what sometimes feels like tedious and even meaningless pursuits.  Let nature remind you that they are not, that what you do matters.  Most cities have area parks or walks along the water.  Take a stroll and remember again why it matters so much.

(Article found here)

Rep. Michele Bachmann: Perpetuating Miseducation

The presidential race has already begun, and Representative Michele Bachmann (R. Minn) has already declared herself as a contender.  She also promises to target organizations like the Environmental Protection Agency and all restrictions on oil and "soften" pollution and greenhouse gas regulations.  Somehow (probably in the same way tobacco industries have done it in the past), there is a small group of people who have convinced vulnerable Americans and perhaps even believe that the EPA and other environmentalist groups are acting only on some political basis.  They are making rules and regulations and limitations simply to attack Republicans and big oil companies and the rich folks (who are often the ones emitting the most carbon).  Yes, it's a political move.

Except, probably not.  Bachmann, who claims to love the environment and clean air and water, would really love it if the EPA was actually bad for the economy.  She appears, however, to have the ability to only see what is right in front of her.  Overwhelming reports show that, although initially some jobs will be lost, the new regulations under Obama's EPA will actually create jobs.  That is, 1.5 million in the next five years.  (In fact, far more jobs have been created under the Obama administration than under Bush.  So if we really want to talk about it, let's talk about it.)  If Bachmann really wants to keep the environment clean, then she needs to act like it.  How is attacking clean-air regulations keeping the air clean?  Climate Change is not a myth that Democrats created to form some sort of movement in efforts to take over the country.  It is fact.  And all people, regardless of political affiliation, will suffer the consequences of the government's reaction to it.

Tourists and avid outdoors folk alike love to take pictures and appreciate the beauty of the natural world.  Few people, it seems, are willing to go beyond the surface and do more than simple tasks, like recycling paper and plastic bottles and turning off the lights (which are all great things), to keep the environment around long enough for their children and grand-children and great-grand-children to enjoy it.  It is because of those children that I believe Bachmann is the wrong candidate to run a country in dire need of an environmental revolution.

From http://thehill.com:
"Bachmann targets EPA ahead of 2012 launch"

From http://mediamatters.org and U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics:

Unemployment/Employment Numbers Biannually

Unemployment Rate Biannually