Roman Conference Call - Roma, Italia

WE the people --- voted for them!

I am writing this entry today out of complete dismay. Please someone must tell me how so many elected officials without any level of common sense could have been voted into office?

This week I contacted multiple government officials regarding the lack of recycling in my area. I was told over and over again that Recycling does not work and that it has nothing to do with Global Warming!

Maybe it is possible they do not own a television or cannot read and have not had the opportunity to watch Al Gore's documentary??? Or ... maybe they are just arrogant, self centered individuals who really don't care that we the people ... elected them.

I urge every person to contact their local and state representatives ... hello .. global warming is no longer a myth. We are effectively killing the planet and our troops in Iraq.

I urge each of you to find out how GREEN your lawmaker is? You will be shocked!!!

THE QUESTIONS

Do you recycle? If so, what items do you recycle?

Why it matters: Recycling saves money that would otherwise be spent on landfills or incineration. Every ton of recycled paper saves about three cubic yards of landfill space.


What type of vehicle (make and model) do you drive on most days? If it is not a hybrid, would you consider buying one?

Why it matters: Automobiles have a major impact upon the environment. According to the EPA, "driving a private car is probably a typical citizen's most 'polluting' daily activity."

Do you shop for fair-trade products and environmentally friendly cleaning products? If so, which items do you buy?

Why it matters: Fair Trade Certification empowers Third World farmers to lift themselves out of poverty by investing in their farms and communities. Environmentally friendly cleaning products make your home and daily life more Earth-friendly.

Do you shop for food products grown in Michigan (your state)? If so, which items do you buy?

Why it matters: Buying food locally reduces transportation and energy costs, reduces the need for preservatives and packaging and supports local agricultural production.

Paper or plastic?

Why it matters: Plastics are produced from waste products of oil refining. Paper bags are made from trees, which are a renewable resource. On the other hand, plastic grocery bags consume 40 percent less energy to produce and generate 80 percent less solid waste than paper bags. Environmentalists suggest bringing your own canvas bag instead of choosing.

Have you enrolled in the local recycled Energy to support renewable energy production?

Why it matters: Consumers Energy's 6-month-old Green Generation program allows customers who are willing to pay a premium to purchase all or part of their electricity from Michigan-based renewable energy sources.

Do you use herbicides or pesticides on your lawn?

Why it matters: Synthetic herbicides and pesticides are popular, but they remain controversial, especially regarding their effects on children. Of the 36 most commonly used lawn pesticides, 14 are probable or possible carcinogens, according to the nonprofit Beyond Pesticides.

Do you have a compost pile or compost bin at your home?

Why it matters: Compost reduces the amount of material that is transported to landfills or incinerators. It's one of nature's best mulches and soil amendments and can replace commercial fertilizers.

How often do you use mass transit?

Why it matters: Granted, mass transit is spotty in West Michigan. However, it does reduce fuel consumption and reduce the overall cost of transportation to society.

Do you have a rain garden or rain barrel to prevent stormwater runoff?

Why it matters: Government studies have shown that up to 70 percent of the pollution in our streams, rivers and lakes is carried there by stormwater. Rain gardens and rain barrels reduce stormwater runoff by keeping rain where it falls.

Are you actively involved with any environmental groups? If so, which ones?

Why it matters: Environmental groups educate and advocate for "green" causes.

From a "green" perspective, how would your grade yourself on a 1-10 scale?

Why it matters: Because today is a day for everyone to reflect on their "green" habits?

What Can Be Recycled?

Communities required to recycle must have curbside collection programs for at least three materials from the following list:

Clear glass containers
Colored glass containers
High-grade office paper
Newsprint
Corrugated paper
Aluminum cans
Steel and bi-metallic cans
Plastics

Most curbside recycling programs collect four or more of these materials. Also, leaves twigs, and garden trimmings must be separated for composting (a process that produces a mulch). These materials take up valuable space in landfills and can interfere with the burning process in waste incinerators.

Individuals can and should recycle waste oil and automotive batteries that result from do-it-yourself auto maintenance activities.

In communities where recycling is required, all commercial, institutional, and municipal establishments and sponsors of community activities (such as fairs, bazaars, concerts and organized sporting events) must recycle aluminum, high-grade office paper, corrugated paper and leaves.

The summary chart shows what can and cannot be recycled, but a little bit of background on recycling might help. Please contact your local or county recycling coordinator to confirm which materials are included in your recycling program and how they should be prepared for collection.

GLASS
Glass is completely recyclable and saves precious energy resources. Making products from recycled glass uses less energy than starting from scratch. Recycled glass is made into new beverage bottles, food jars, insulation and other construction materials.

Usually, clear glass containers are recycled into new clear glass products, while colored glass containers are recycled into new colored glass products. For this reason, some recycling programs may ask you to separate glass containers by color. Many curbside recycling programs will collect clear and colored glass containers and separate them for you. Since food in containers can attract insects, rinse them in water. Labels do not need to be removed. Some recycling programs will ask that lids and metal rings around the necks of containers be removed. DO NOT include window glass, ceramics, light bulbs or ovenware, because these items can damage a glass manufacturer's furnace.

NEWSPAPER
Newspapers are commonly recycled into paperboard, new newsprint, insulation and animal bedding products. Recycling newspapers saves valuable space in landfills. Put newspapers in paper bags or tie in bundles with string. In general, you can include any inserts (advertisements, comics) originally delivered with the paper.

OTHER PAPER PRODUCTS
Office paper can be recycled into other writing paper, tissue and towel products. Corrugated paper is used to make new paperboard and corrugated boxes. Some programs are now recycling magazines, catalogs, telephone directories and unwanted "junk" mail. These materials should be handled in the same way as newsprint: store in paper bags or tie in bundles.

ALUMINUM
Aluminum is the most valuable of household recyclables. Aluminum cans are recycled to produce new aluminum cans. By recycling aluminum cans, you are helping to conserve energy. To make sure that a can is aluminum, use a magnet and see that it DOES NOT stick to the can's top and sides. Rinse the cans to prevent attracting insects and crush them if you need to save space.

Other sources of household aluminum such as clean aluminum foil, clean pie tins, aluminum siding, and the metal frames of aluminum lawn furniture also can be recycled. These items, however, may not be accepted by your local program or may require special handling. Check with your local recycling program.

STEEL CANS
Steel cans are eagerly sought by the steel industry because they are a good source of steel scrap and their tin coating also can be recovered and recycled. A magnet sticks to steel cans. You might want to flatten food and beverage cans to save space. As with other recyclable containers, they should be rinsed. Many recycling programs also collect empty steel aerosol cans and paint cans.

PLASTIC
The plastics industry has developed a coding system to help consumers identify different types of plastic resins used in packaging. The codes can be found on the bottom of most plastic containers. Of the many types of plastics used in packaging, two types of plastic from household trash are commonly recycled today:

Plastic Soda Bottles: The material used to make plastic soda bottles (polythylene terephthalate or PET) is recyclable. These bottles are coded with the number 1 and the letters PETE. About 30 percent of all PET bottles sold are recycled into a variety of products. The bottles you recycle could end up as carpet backing, sleeping bag insulation, containers for non-food items, tool handles, auto parts and even clothing. Rinse, remove caps and rings, and flatten bottles to save space.

Plastic Milk Jugs: The plastic used in one-gallon milk and water jugs (high density polyethylene or HDPE) is also recycled to make products such as trash cans, flower pots and plastic pipe. Your recycling program may also accept other HDPE containers such as those sued for laundry products. These containers are coded with the number 2 and the letters HDPE. As with other containers, rinse and flatten them to save space.

Recycling opportunities for other plastic products, including plastic foam cups and plastic cutlery, are expanding. It is important that you recycle only those types of plastics that your community or hauler specifies.

LEAVES AND OTHER YARD DEBRIS
Anyone who has done yard work knows that leaves, twigs and trimmings take up a lot of space. As a result, the recycling law requires counties to make a plan for disposing of this waste in a way that doesn't take up valuable landfill space. Luckily, leaves and yard debris quickly reduce in volume if composted or allowed to degrade into a rich mulch that is an excellent plant fertilizer. You can compost in your own backyard or at a central composting site in some locations. Contact your local recycling program or county recycling coordinator for more information.

MOTOR OIL
Pennsylvania alone produces about 35 million gallons of used lubricating oil every year. People who change their own motor oil produce 11 million gallons of used lubricating oil each year. If this oil is dumped into sewers, soil or streams, it can pollute the water that we drink. Fortunately, used motor oil can be recycled into heating fuel, industrial lubricants and even new motor oil. Your role is simple: store the oil in a sturdy container and take it to an auto repair shop that accepts used oil. To find the shop closest to you, check the list of used oil recyclers in your county or check Earth911.org

USED CAR BATTERIES
It's against the law to dispose of a car (lead-acid) battery with your household trash. This type of battery is recyclable and must be taken to a recycling center that takes batteries or an automotive battery retailer in exchange for a new one.

WATER
Use a rain barrel to catch the rain naturally or flowing from your roof. You can use this to water your flowers, plans and grass or even wash your car. Wash your car naturally ... Let it rain!!

Getting People to Recycle

Recycling services are available to over 95% of citizens, yet many people still don't recycle. Are you one of them?

People who run recycling programs need to understand why some people jump on the band wagon, and why others don't.

People are motivated to recycle, if they understand the benefits which could be:

Extending the life of a landfill
Making a contribution towards a better environment
Reducing pollution and conserving non-renewable resources
Doing the 'right thing'
Helping local groups and businesses create jobs
Supporting the economy
People are motivated to recycle, if they know what to do, like:
How to prepare materials for collection
Having clear instructions about where the depots are
When materials are collected on their street
OR If they feel the process is convenient.

Factors that Discourage People from recycling

People are discouraged from recycling when they are:

Misinformed, believing that waste is not a problem, conservation is not an issue, and/or energy and resources are abundant;

Indifferent, convinced that:

'Out of sight, out of mind', or that they generate an 'insignificant amount' of recyclable waste.Inconvenienced, claiming:

A lack storage space in the home for recyclables;
It is too time-consuming to prepare materials;
The depot is too far away or has inconvenient hours;
They have had a bad experience (eg. missed pick-ups);
The collection schedule is too complex or there are unusual pick-up locations (eg. front yard for recyclables vs back lane for trash).

What does recycling mean?

People saving their recyclables for the curb or depot
The materials being collected and prepared for market
Industries buying those materials back
Transporting shipments of materials to buyers
People buying new products that have been made from recycled materials!



Have you seen this symbol before?
It's called a mobius loop (pronounced: mo-bi-us)
and it is recognized around the world.

Each arrow stands for the 3 main components of the recycling system:

The companies that make products and sell them to households and businesses.
People who buy products and separate their recyclable trash.

The recycling industry that collects, sorts and processes our recyclable materials, and gets them back to the manufacturers who will make new products from them.

Imagine each arrow supplying goods or materials to the next one. If one arrow stops doing its job, waste will result. It's the continuous cycle that makes the recycling system work.

Is recycling the only answer?

We all know the benefits of recycling, but remember the 3 R's? Well, recycling is the 3rd 'R' -- after reduce and reuse!

Keep on recycling, but do these things first:

Reduce the amount of waste you generate! Think before you throw it away. Can it be repaired or used again by someone else?
Compost organic food and yard wastes.
Use both sides of the paper.

Watch out for packaging!

Don't buy products that are overpackaged.
Purchase refillable products or products in recyclable containers.
Don't buy single-serve or convenience packages.

Buy environmentally-friendly products!

Avoid disposable items such as diapers, paper napkins and cups.
Purchase durable and repairable goods.
Make your own non-toxic household cleaning products.

Stay informed!

Become an advocate for the environment.
Keep looking for ways to minimize waste to reduce your impact on the environment.

Green Shopping

Green Shopping

Each year, 160 million tons of municipal solid waste is generated. In your lifetime, you will eat approximately 30 tons of food and throw away 600 times your weight in garbage. By changing even one small area of your buying habits – body care, office supplies, cleaning supplies, clothing, food –to more responsible consumption, you make a difference.

Why Shop Green?

Shopping green reduces pollution and toxins in the environment, promotes fair treatment for workers, conserves vital resources, and reduces animal suffering.

Does Buying Recycled Really make a Difference?

Yes it does! In the U.S., the average household generates more than one ton of waste per year, which on the average includes:

4 trees worth of paper
270 bottles and jars
450 metal cans
50 kilograms of plastic

The average person throws out one beverage container a day – that’s 365 a year!
Buying recycled diverts waste from the landfill into useful purposes and saves resources and energy.

If every household in the U.S. replaced just one roll of virgin fiber toilet paper with 100% recycled tissue, we could save:

297,000 trees
1.2 million cubic feet of landfill space (1,400 full garbage trucks’ worth)
122 million gallons of water (a year’s supply for 3,500 families of four)

Tips for Shopping Green

--Buy products in the largest size you can use.
--Purchase what you can in bulk and store them at home in glass mason jars or plasticware.
--If you buy purified water, buy it in large plastic jugs instead of small individual bottles. Or, switch from bottled water by installing a water filter on your tap, saving resources and money.
--Buy reusable and long lasting items such as: rechargeable batteries, cloth diapers, non-disposable cameras, cloth towels and napkins, hand razors, high quality/long life tires, and coffee mugs.
--Shop for clothing that is made from renewable materials such as organic cotton or hemp, produced locally, union-made, cruelty-free (not made from animals), made with natural dyes, fair trade-produced, and/or recycled.
--Shop for food that is organic, locally grown or processed, and doesn’t contain pesticides or genetically modified ingredients (GMOs).

Green Shopping Resources

General

Gaiam - www.gaiam.com
Gaiam offers a range of products in categories such as Home and Outdoor, Mind and Spirit, Yoga and Fitness, Books and Media, and Health and Solar Energy.

Green Home - www.greenhome.com An environmental store with an online magazine and articles to help you go green. All of their products go through a rigorous product approval policy.

The Green Store - www.greenstore.com From organic clothing and natural bedding to solar and wind home energy systems, from composting toilets to non-toxic paints and gardening supplies, from appliances to fair trade gifts.

Real Goods - www.realgoods.com/
Sustainable solutions for a healthy lifestyle, indoor home, outdoor home and office. Many energy efficient appliances to choose from.

Home
The Grassroots Store - www.grassrootsstore.com Detoxify your home and body with their great environmental products - household cleaners, women’s products and laundry products.

Office
Green Earth Office Supply - www.greenearthofficesupply.com An environmentally friendly office supply store, also selling biodegradable foodware and gifts

Clothing

Patagonia - www.patagonia.com
Patagonia has been offering quality outdoor clothing and gear since 1973. Since 1985, Patagonia has donated 10 percent of their annual profits (or 1 percent of sales, whichever is greater) to hundreds of grassroots environmental groups.
Wildlife Works - www.wildlife-works.com. Wildlife Works has built its business entirely around sustainable environmental and labor practices. In its first production location in Kenya, Wildlife Works has protected 80,000 acres of land, created an ecologically-friendly at its edge, and provided fair trade jobs and social services to Kenyan employees.

Commercial
Eco-Wares - www.eco-wares.com
Eco Wares specializes in environmentally safe residential, commercial and industrial building and maintenance supplies. Each product’s materials are ensured to greatly exceed all U.S. State and Federal EPA guidelines.

Consumer Information
Responsible Shopper - www.workingforchange.com/shop/responsibleshop.cfm
What does your shopping support? This site can help you find out! Investigate hundreds of companies on a range of
issues including, sweatshops, pollution, discrimination, ethics and more.

Search
Eco Cities - www.ecocities.net
Choose from a wide range of quality clothing from eco-conscious retailers, all with the protection of the environment in mind.

Going Green 101

Make saving our planet a part of your daily life with easy changes. Start today with help from these resources.

Activism

American Forests
The average person is responsible for emitting 94 pounds of carbon dioxide every day. It takes four trees, which act as natural air filters, to offset the carbon dioxide each person generates in a month. For each dollar donated, American Forests plants a tree. For more information and to plant trees, visit www.americanforests.org.

Earth 911
Find information about environmental services and events in your community, visit www.earth911.org.

Engines Off
Lynn Romanek from Glencoe, Illinois, has organized parents at her childrens' school to turn off their cars instead of idling in the parking lot. Idling 10 minutes less per day can keep 550 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the air every year. For more information visit www.enginesoff.org.

Greendimes
A group that reduces junk mail and plants trees. For more information or to sign up, visit www.greendimes.com.

Treehugger
For ideas on green living, visit www.treehugger.com.

Stop Global Warming Tour
Learn more about Sheryl Crow and Laurie David's tour and what you can do to find solutions for global warming. Visit www.stopglobalwarming.org for more information.

The Green Simran
Sehti hosts The Green on the Sundance Channel. Visit www.sundancechannel.com/thegreen for more information.
The Green Book by Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas Kostigen
Simple things you can do to save the planet. Find more at www.readthegreenbook.com.

Shopping and Cleaning

Ecobags
Bringing your own bag when shopping saves plastic bags. Visit www.ecobags.com.

Method Home
Method offers some cleaners that are dye- and perfume-free, nontoxic, biodegradable, naturally derived and never tested on animals. For more information, visit www.methodhome.com.

Mrs. Meyers cleaning supplies
All of their cleaning supplies are made with natural essential oils, are biodegradable and phosphate-free. For more, visit www.mrsmeyers.com.

Seventh Generation products
Seventh Generation is one of the leading brands of nontoxic household products. For more information, visit www.seventhgeneration.com.

Shaklee
To get a 33 percent discount on Shaklee's Healthy Home Pack starter kit and 15 percent off all other items, go to www.shaklee.com. Or, you can order the Healthy Home Pack starter kit by calling 800-225-0600.

Energy

BITS Ltd. smart power strips
Even after turning off a computer, power continues to flow to computer peripherals like printers and scanners. This power strip ($32.99) stops the energy from being wasted. For more information visit www.bitsltd.net.

Carbonfund.org and Terrapass
If your local utility company doesn't offer green power, you can reduce the environmental impact by purchasing offsets. In this system, you give money to companies like Carbonfund.org or Terrapass, which use it to develop renewable energy sources. For more on purchasing power offsets, visit www.carbonfund.org or www.terrapass.com.

Duke Energy
Duke Energy provided energy efficiency starter kits for audience members. The kits are available to their customers in Indiana and Kentucky who qualify for in-home energy audits. To purchase a kit, visit www.dukeenergykit.com or for additional information visit www.duke-energy.com. Check with your local energy company for similar ways to save energy.

GE Energy Smart lightbulbs
GE Energy Smart bulbs use 70 to 75 percent less energy than incandescent lightbulbs and last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. For example, by using a 26-watt compact fluorescent lightbulb—equivalent to a 100-watt incandescent lightbulb—users can save up to $59 on energy costs over the life of the bulb. Saving energy saves money and is better for the environment.

Water bottles

Nalgene water bottles
These water bottles are durable, inexpensive, can be used repeatedly and are widely recyclable. For more information visit www.nalgene-outdoor.com.

New Wave Enviro Products
Corn-resin bottle with filter ($8.99) provides pure, clean drinking water and can be reused up to 90 times, and the bottle biodegrades in just 80 days. For more information visit www.newwaveenviro.com or call 800-592-8371.

SIGG water bottles
Using a premium reusable bottle like SIGG greatly helps reduce unnecessary environmental waste caused by plastic PET water bottles. Get more information at mysigg.com.

The Collisium - Rome

Rome, Italy

The Cathedral of St. Paul's - Rome

Mass with Pope Benedict - St. Peter's Square at the Vatican

Imperial Rome

Munchweiler, Germany

Chateau De Versailles - France

Paris, France