Bacon and Penguins and a not so well known relationship

If you enjoy bacon for breakfast, you may want to put some thought into the type of bacon you are eating. The premiere episode of the new season of Stuff Happens hosted by Bill Nye addresses the impact of many breakfast items, including bacon, on our environment. Since it is easier to pick up a package of bacon at the store, bring it home, and fry it up without a single thought about what it takes to get it to you....here is some food for thought to help you out and maybe motivate you to pick a healthier, more environmentally friendly version:

According to Bill Nye: There’s an old supply chain from the South American Western Coast to North American farmers. And what is supplied is fish feed made from anchovies. So, American bacon pigs are fed fish from South American oceans. And so many fish are fished so aggressively that penguins are going out of business. The penguin ecosystem has been devastated, and penguin populations have been decimated by this practice. So we encourage you – the listener, the viewer – to buy…organic, grain-fed bacon. That’s what we want you to do to reduce the market for this anchovy feed. And it’s just something that humans are kind of doing by accident, but on such an enormous scale that’s it’s screwing up an entire ecosystem in the south western Pacific. (from Lab Out Loud)

Vegetarian for a Day

http://planetsave.com/blog/2009/04/06/why-going-vegetarian-for-one-day-will-help-stop-global-warming/

Right Back At You aka Karma

Check out the short connect2earth video on the 7Gen Blog

http://seventhgeneration.com/learn/blog/real-karma?source=email

Plastic and Garbage Island

When you have some time, sit down, pull up this link and watch this 12 part video series. Eye opening and mind boggling. (Warning: It has an occasional naughty word)
http://www.vbs.tv/video.php?id=1485308505&r=teaser

Perfluorochemicals (PFCs)

Know what perfluorochemicals (PFCs) are? If not, its time to learn about these chemicals, how you are exposed to them, and why it matters (you certainly won't find them on any labels but they are in products you purchase and eat).

Check out the EWG Enviroblog on this subject matter for more information:

http://www.enviroblog.org/2009/03/pfoa-in-butter.html

Eco Friendly Exercise

Interested in an eco friendly work out? Then get yourself a pair of K2's Eco Maia (women) or Etu (men) rollerblades and protective pad set! Not only are they made of recyclable/sustainable materials, but a portion of the proceeds are donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation and The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

Skate Stats:
100% Bamboo frame
100% Post Consumer Recycled PET Liner
50%Post Industrial Recycled PET Mesh
100% Laces made from Recycled PET
100% PVC Free

Pad Set Stats:
37% Recycled PET Sandwich Mesh
100% Post Consumer Recycled PET Liner

*PET = Polyethylene Terephthalate (A Resin Made From Ground up Water & Soda Bottles)

The shipping box is made of 70% recycled materials and printed with soy based inks.

Check out their website for more information on how K2 is "Save our Planet, One Skate At A Time."

www.k2skates.com/eco

Reusing Food Bags

Have you ever thought about the number of bags you throw away on a regular basis? Everything from bread to produce to chips come in bags. Rather than throw them away...save them and reuse for dirty diapers, cleaning out the litter box, or picking up presents from your pup in the yard.