Photo credit to Evenlynishere's Flickr Photostream

 

In a way, batteries make the world go 'round. They power our cell phones, MP3 players, laptops, watches, portable game systems, flashlights, electric toothbrushes, and cars. They allow us to bring our favorite things with us where ever we go (well, not so much me, considering I prefer books to cell phones and paper books to the Kindle), but if we don't dispose of them properly, they could affect us more negatively than you'd think.

 

Single-use batteries, though not the mercury-laden monsters of pre-1997, still contain trace amounts of toxic chemicals that can be released into landfills, the water, or into the air via incineration. (Not to mention that they also contain potentially recyclable metals, such as iron, zinc, and cadmium!) But the Energizers in your remote aren't the worst of it- the rechargeable batteries in your cell phone, MP3 player, and laptop are much, much worse. Rechargeable batteries contain even higher levels of toxic compounds and, on top of that, are prone to exploding when under heat, releasing more of the chemicals packed away within them. Let's just say that one place batteries certainly do not belong is in the trash!

 

So make a commitment to recycling your batteries- even and especially the ones in your electronic items- and have your friends join you! For places to recycle reusable batteries, go to http://earth911.com/hazardous/rechargeable-batteries/ and look at the box on the right side that says “Find a Recycling Location.” For single-use batteries, go to http://earth911.com/hazardous/single-use-batteries/.

Photo courtesy of Jpockele's Flickr Photostream

    Personally, I've always- even before becoming vegetarian- been a little leery of shrimp. I found them to be a bit gross.* I know, however, that this isn't the case with everyone- my father and brother both enjoy eating it, as do most people I encounter. But there's a few reasons why you may want to reconsider ordering the cocktail shrimp next time you are out to dine.

    According to Care2, nearly 80% of the shrimp consumed in restaurants comes not from local shrimp fishermen, but is imported and farm-grown. That's all fine and dandy until you take into account the following:

•     Mangroves, the aquatic trees I know all too well (living in Florida), are clear-cut to make room for shrimp farms. The bad part about all this is that mangroves serve as spawning grounds for all sorts of aquatic organisms. Not only that, but mangroves play a vital role in the prevention of erosion and protecting the coast during storms. To put it all simply, a vital part of the ocean and shore environment is destroyed in order to install a shrimp farm that will make use of a tremendous amount of antibiotics, fungicides, pesticides, algaecides, etc. (Remember: anything ending in “-cide” is something you don't want to expose anything to, especially the fragile ecosystem of the ocean).

•     As stated before, they pump all sorts of antibiotics into the poor little shrimp in the misguided hope of preventing outbreaks of infection amongst the shrimp. However, antibiotics are, by nature, a terrible thing when misused. One type of antibiotic- banned in the US, but not in countries that use it on their shrimp that is then imported into the US- called Chloramphenicol is known to cause a deadly blood disorder (human aplastic anemia), intestinal disorders, neurological reactions, etc.

•     The development of shrimp farms where mangroves once grew not only hurts the environment but those living around the mangroves, as well, who gather shellfish, crabs, and mussels in the mangroves for food. When shrimp farms are constructed, they lose a source of food.

As I said before, I don't particularly lust after the thought of consuming shrimp. But if I did, I would think twice. I don't think it's worth risking ocean health or, in the case of Chloramphenicol, death.


*Hey, I guess they are actually sort of cute when they're not de-shelled.

    




Original story:
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/shrimp-a-devastating-delicacy.html

if you're a girl and reading this, you more than likely share in the love of scented candles that afflicts most females. We collect them, purchase them at often astronomical prices, and love to just perouse the stores and smell them.

But they're not all roses and sunshine (or peachy, or strawberry-shortcake, or vanilla).. Regular old candles consist of wax made from petroleum (an environmental threat in itself) and release soot- carcogenic soot- into the air after burning, which certainly isn't good for the indoor air quality of your home or, in turn, your health. But there is an alternative available- perhaps not so widely, but easy enough to find, anyhow- soy candles.

Made from soy wax, the candles are a great deal better for the planet than ones made from oil, and, as an added benefit, doesn't release any of the soot that paraffin wax candles do- making them far better for your health. Also, most soy candles are produced by companies who have environmental responsibility in mind and therefore utilize recycled paper and lead-free wicks.

Let's just say that soy-candles are an all-around better choice.

 

(Also, if you are a non-candle buying male, relay the information on to a candle-purchasing friend or relative!)

 

For more information, see:

http://www.enn.com/top_stories/commentary/40603

Kenya is experiencing its worst drought in a decade, and, along with suffering humans, many of Africa's iconic wildlife residing in Kenya are dying. 60 African Elaphants alone have died so far- 30 of them babies. Some have died due to thirst; others died due to lack of edible vegetation or weak immune systems. Lions, crocodiles, zebras, and wildebeests are suffering, too, and drying at rates called "worrisome" by wildlife officials.

Also, the Kenyans are (illegally) driving their cattle further and further into wildlife parks in a desperate attempt to allow their animals to graze. However, the presence of cattle in such parks is dangerous due to the potential poisoning of water that could result from the cattle's presence in the park. However, wildlife officials worry that citizens may poach animals if denied access to the water and grass within the parks for their cattle.

But that's not all.

Many of the inhabitants of Kenya are on the verge of famine, due to the delayed planting in 2008 (due to "post-election violence") and the lack of rainfall this year.

Some scientists believe that this drought, with it's terrible potential to decimate populations of rare species, is related to climate change. Others believe that it is just a part of Kenya's weather cycle.

I'd wager it's likely a bit of both, plus poor management.

For more, see: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/09/090921-kenya-animals-drought-water_2.html

With all the tuna helpers consumed each day by families who don't want to soil more than one pot, the population of the tuna- the Yellowfin, Bluefin, Bigeye, and Albacore- is dropping rapidly do to unsustainable "harvest," if you will, of the fish. Of course, all this depletion and endangered spells, well, danger for the future of tuna and our consumption of it. If fishing is not slowed, there very well may come a time when cans of tuna are either extremely costly or non-existent. The World Wildlife Fund predicts that the species will be entirely wiped out by 2012 if overfishing does not cease. Apparently, the population of the Bluefin Tuna has dropped 97% since 1960!

photo credit:Creative Commons

There is still hope, however, and it lies in us, the consumers (well, I'm a vegan, so I can't say I eat any fish). Eat responsibly! Don't, if you eat sushi, have some made with bluefin tuna. Don't conciously choose to eat a fish (And therefore contribute to its demand) that is scheduled to die out in a mere three years.

 

For a relatively confusing but extensively detailed look at the issue, see here.