BlogHer - plastic - Comments

thanks for the info

noelle01520 — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:40:57 -0600

Thank you for writing about this important issue. When my child was diagnosed with ADHD at an early age, I began researching causes, and was devestated when I found out many of the products I had brought into my home were toxic and could cause all kinds of health problems. I am currently working on a website, Positively Natural, to organize and share all the things I have learned.

Littering Makes Me Livid

ClizBiz — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:29:20 -0600

I couldn't agree more. I chased a guy down one time and asked if he'd like me to come to his house and trash his living room. He declined.

~ClizBiz

BlogHer Contributing Editor, Animal Concerns, Proprietor, ClizBiz

Okay, We're in Love

ClizBiz — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:22:50 -0600

Okay, I've been having a rough week but that big, juicy complimentary paragraph you threw in there just made all the bad ju-ju evaporate. Thanks so much for your kind words, Beth. I take them to heart.

At this point in my ever-surprising Animal beat, I'm starting to fear the echo chamber and what new-old facts it will spit out at me each week. Clearly, I am at the beginning of my education on such matters but I promise to use my big mouth and fast fingers to spread the word.

And I loved your post visiting the Straus Dairy! As I mentioned in my response, it made me realize that I need to switch dairies. I will now sleep tonight with dreams of entire cities run on poo power. Up my alley, indeed.

~ClizBiz

BlogHer Contributing Editor, Animal Concerns, Proprietor, ClizBiz

it is very disturbing....

midnightbliss — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:01:08 -0600

it is very disturbing.... and its sad that only few of us takes action regarding this matter. there are really people who are irresponsible in throwing their garbage just anywhere they want to. here in our country public transport are mandated to put trach cans but there are really people who doesn't use it, instead just throw their garbage while the vehicles are moving or just drop it on the floor.

No worries

Beth Terry — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:31:33 -0600

Heather, seriously don't worry about it. You probably didn't realize my topic is mainly plastic because as a BlogHer CE I focus on many green issues, but I do always try to make some connection with plastic in my posts.

I am so glad that you wrote this piece about Midway and the plight of albatrosses and sea turtles who eat our plastic waste because for several years this story has been stuck within the echo chamber of the green blogosphere and only recently is it hitting the mainstream media. It needs to be broadcast from as many different angles as possible, so I'm glad you took it for the animals beat and I hope others will latch onto it as well.

Seriously, I love your writing. You always help readers think about animals in a way they might not have before. The question of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation for cats and dogs is something that never would have crossed my mind before your post. And your writing is engaging and sometimes funny, even as you deal with serious topics.

By the way, did you catch my piece on the Straus dairy cows? http://www.blogher.com/learning-where-my-food-comes-field-trip-straus-da... I think it's right up your alley.

Beth Terry
www.fakeplasticfish.com
@fakeplasticfish
FaceBook

You are a Warrior

ClizBiz — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:57:06 -0600

Beth,

How can you ever forgive me for not quoting from you in my post? God knows, I won't. Your mission is admirable and the blog and site are reality-based. Very inspiring. Now I'll be stuck to your fishy tale ....

After writing this post, I kept picturing space junk, land dumps and this huge ocean garbage patch and suddenly I pictured mankind as this creature that spews trash in every direction, with little or no plan for it. Landfills are only a half-ass attempt. Shameful. We're like the worse house guests the planet ever had.

If it were just us here on the blue marble, we would merely be slobs but the presence of other creatures adds a moral element to the whole issue. And there is no way any of us looks good in this scenario. It is truly "shitting in our own nest" as your friend, Karen Hawes, succinctly put it.

As for my own life, I could make changes although having the garden turned out to solve more than one environmental lifestyle change. In fact, I am still living and eating mostly home-grown produce which conveniently does not come in plastic. However, there are other products, mostly toiletries, that pose challenges. We all need a wake up call, that's for sure.

One of your recent posts got me to thinking. On my last visit to my hometown, I walked the beach and tsked-tsked all the garbarge strewn on the sand but mostly just complained about it. I may have picked up a few pieces here and there but if I truly cared, I would take action and become a trashy woman like Sara Bayles. Truth was, it made me deeply sad to see a place I loved be so disrespected. I thought, 'What is to become of us?'

People like you and your pals remind me that actions speak louder than words, always.

~ClizBiz

BlogHer Contributing Editor, Animal Concerns, Proprietor, ClizBiz

THIS is the whole reason for the existence of my blog!

Beth Terry — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:20:03 -0600

Oh Heather! Photos like these of dying albatrosses are the whole reason for my blog's existence. I saw a similar photo in June of 2007, and it took my breath away. I realized that my personal habits were creating harm for creatures thousands of miles away that I didn't even know existed. I wrote about this in the "About" section of my blog: http://fakeplasticfish.com/about-me/

Last month, I was privileged to be a part of the launching of the Plastic Pollution Coalition in L.A. That Saturday, at a beautiful home in Malibu, we watched this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbqJ6FLfaJc) of Chris Jordan's new albatross photos accompanied live by the violist who wrote the music for the piece. The room was in tears.

For over two years, I have spent my life finding ways to live with less plastic, especially disposable plastic, and helping my readers figure it out too. I keep a monthly tally of my own plastic waste, and it's shrunk to almost none at this point. Ironically, what I end up stuck with are cat-related packaging... the plastic bag from the cat litter (my cats won't use anything but World's Best Cat Litter) and the plastic bottle their supplement comes in (I cook their food from scratch. Yeah, I'm like that.)

Some women don't start thinking about green living until they have children. I don't have children, but I feel a very strong protective instinct towards animals because they are totally innocent of the ways we are polluting the planet. They are my motivation, actually.

Images and stories like these can be depressing and leave people feeling hopeless. My wish is that Fake Plastic Fish helps people realize that there are actually steps we can take to combat the plastic pollution problem.

Beth Terry
www.fakeplasticfish.com
@fakeplasticfish
FaceBook

DIY = creativity + control

mindfulmomma — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 09:04:47 -0500

Hi Siel!

Why do I DIY? First of all, it's a fix for that creative itch - I always get a kick out of making things myself. Second, it gives me control over the materials - I feel better when I use safe, non-toxic and healthy ingredients for my body care, cleaning products & recipes and repurposed materials for my craft projects.

Micaela ( www.mindfulmomma.com )

Thanks for the resources

Candelaria Silva — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 21:54:07 -0500

These will be useful as I continue to eliminate plastic whereever I can in my life and continue to fix fresh, non-processed food. I've lost a few pounds, am definitely eating less because the food I'm prepareing tastes so much better, and I definitely am saving $.

I use cloth bags religiously! Cloth napkins - haven't purchased paper napkins in nearly a year. No more dryer sheets (I use the resuable dryer balls that may be made of plastic or silicone). Don't purchase bottled water (Use filtered tap water.) Only wash with cold water. Recycle every week and even have s box of old videos that are getting ready to be mailed to the place I found that recyles them.) It's difficult to go deeper. Trying to find places that don't use styrofoam and/or plastic on fish and poultry is difficult.

Anyhow - once you start on this journey it just grows throughout your life!

http://blog.candelarisilva.com

Good and plenty!

plastics are now a major

midnightbliss — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:18:56 -0500

plastics are now a major problem, tons of it are being thrown everyday yet it takes hundreds of years to decompose. doing our own little recycling can go a long way. I also try to collect all the plastics that i use for reusing but there's just so many that I end up having so many plastics.

Kudos for using reusable

greenlagirl — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:12:00 -0500

Kudos for using reusable bags :) It's such a simple and easy thing -- easy to remember and work into your daily routine if you just get in the habit!

green LA girl

Shrink wrap's one of my

greenlagirl — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:10:02 -0500

Shrink wrap's one of my major pet peeves -- I don't keep any at home. Who needs it when you've got reusable containers?! It's tougher to avoid, though, as you pointed out, at delis and such if there are no un-shrink-wrapped sandwiches and muffins and such. I've eaten so many bananas -- luckily usually wrap-free at coffee shops / delis -- for this exact reason -- though I do occasionally indulge in a plasticky muffin --

green LA girl

Hey AmberS -- I totally

greenlagirl — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:07:54 -0500

Hey AmberS -- I totally agree that keeping one's waste is often a serious eye-opener. It's amazing how much disposable plastic -- mostly used to hold / store food products -- comes in and out of our lives!

green LA girl

plastic bags

herblog200 — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:22:18 -0500

I totally agree with the above that as a household we also recycle as much as we can and of course re-use all the plastic bags we receive. OK, there is so much more that can be done but we have a car full of the bags when we go shopping.

the hibachi grill website

I carry my own bags

Flightkeeper — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 09:57:41 -0500

I've collected so many plastic bags from stores that I reuse them as garbage bags. But I still wind up with more plastic than I can reuse. To cut down, I've rolled up all those cloth recycle bags, bound each in a rubber band and used them to carry stuff home when I buy from the store. I put one in all my different bags so that I am never without, they are light and don't take up much space and I have no excuse for taking home plastic. It really is so much more convenient that way and I do feel slightly virtuous. :)

http://flightkeeper.blogspot.com

http://cutefuncool.blogspot.com