Where Have I Been?!

Excellent question.  I have had a busy last month and a half.  I spent a few weeks in Florida trying not to be struck by lightning or washed away by the outskirts of Hurricane Irene while enduring abysmal internet access.  Family tragedies and personal pains accompanied with an evidently weak immune system have also hampered my updates.  School is getting ready to start up again and with it, the stresses of literature and administration.  Graduation is applied for; now all I need to do is apply for graduate school.

You don't care about any of this, I'm sure.  Let's get to the crux of the matter, shall we?  Let's talk about sustainability.

As I said, school has returned with vengeance and with it, long days spent on campus trying to avoid the snack machines and the questionable nutrition provided by the Student Union.  On my campus, there is a deli, chinese food, pizza, sushi, burgers, and sandwiches of varying sorts.  Notice a pattern?  All meaty.  This offers me few options outside of the vending machine.  What do I do?  I bring food from home.

I like to bring sugar snap peas, carrots, pretzels, chips, clementines, granola bars, and whatever else I can think of that I know will travel well.  With all of this, I put trust in my fearless reusable water bottle.  This one was courtesy of New Wave Enviro.  

It is my Pandabulous water bottle that I wrote about previously.  Along with water bottles, New Wave Enviro also has water filters to ensure that your drinking water is as pure as it could possibly be and they also carry storage containers for lunch travel.  My personal favorite is the stainless steel container.  Like with the stainless steel water bottle, it is the safest in storage because there is no leeching.  

By using reusable things like water bottles and tupperware, you use less plastic bags and packing thereby creating less waste and saving money.  Win win.

Our Planet Isn't Disposable, Why Should Our Society Be?

Reuseit Reusable Set

Unless you grow your own food or dumpster dive, grocery shopping is sort of a must.  A friend of mine has the habit of throwing everything -- including produce -- into her cart and then into her car; no bags of any kind.  I just can't wrap my brain around that.  The way I see it is that I just spent precious money on this food and I need to keep it safe and protected until it can be safely stowed away in my kitchen.  For me, this requires so sort of capsule to store it all in.

Yes, this entry is about reusable shopping bags.  Reusable shopping bags are a great way to cut down your plastic impact on the environment.  With the use of reusable bags, less plastic bags are ending up in landfills where they pollute the ground and never break down.  Also, if your concerns are a little bit closer to your own comfort than the environmental impact of plastic, look at it this way:  reusable bags are meant to last which means they are not going to rip and tear like plastic bags.  Less hassle.

Grocery stores carry reusable bags.  Trader Joe's, has one design that is only 99-cents per bag.  My roommate has about ten reusable bags from Walmart that she uses for her grocery shopping.  If you want something that fits your personality or style or perhaps you are looking for specific materials, whatever the case may be, I recommend Reuseit.  They even have a thermal bag to keep frozen items cold.  Genius.  Many of these bags are made out of recyclable materials and even come in sets for your convenience.  Reusable things are the easiest way to limit your negative impact on the environment. 

For our own convenience, we've created this disposable culture and now we're drowning in it.  I don't know about you, but I don't want to be disposable.

Vegans Need Shoes, Too.

For a lot of people, I think the challenge with being vegan comes not from food choices but life choices.  What do you wear?  This may sound like a stupid question, to some.  Just wear cotton shirts and jeans; don't wear leather, wool, or silk.  There, dilemma averted.  It's really not that simple, though.  Yes, don't wear leather, wool, or silk.  Just like with food, however, other animal parts and fluids find their way into the fashion industry through products besides leather, wool, and silk. 
The biggest problem is shoes.  Finding vegan shoes can be a daunting task for a lot of people.  Even if you manage to avoid leather, you are still dealing with potential glues made from animals and then there is the issue of sustainability.  How were these shoes made?  What was the impact on the environment?  Was a sweatshop used?  There are so many questions to ask.  There is one, however, that never needs asking:  do I have to sacrifice fashion for compassion?  No, you don't.

There are a lot of great brands that have vegan and sustainable lines.  So, if you're interested in How To Find Fashionable Vegan Shoes, follow me.

The article above, courtesy of One Green Planet, lists international shoe sellers.  There are lines from London, the UK, Portugal, and Brazil.  If, like me, you would like to stay a tad bit closer to home and/or don't want to have to deal with the dollars pathetic translation, there are great options in the states.  In New York, there is a place called MooShoes.  It is kind of like a one-stop-shop for vegan shoes.  I recommend the sale section, unless you're used to spending $100+ on a pair of shoes.  Follow your heart.

If you want something more readily available where you are, I recommend olsen Haus.  Now, I know what you're saying... these are still pretty expensive.  I know that.  Here's the thing.  Shoes get a lot of use; a lot of wear and tear.  These are quality shoes made from quality materials manufactured in a sustainable, reusable way.  These aren't Old Navy's $2 flip-flops.  For something more affordable, check out TOMS vegan line.  Out of everything you wear, shoes are one thing you definitely shouldn't cheap out on.  They protect your feet and endure the most abuse. 

Check out the One Green Planet article and the next time you're out buying shoes, think about what they're made out of, how long they will last, and if it's really worth what you're paying.

Justin Has Stolen My Heart

Image from here.

So, do you remember that pesky nutella problem I have?  Of course you do.  Good news.  Nutella has met its match with Justin's Nut Butter.  I stumbled upon it during a gluten-free adventure two weeks ago.  When I saw it, everything went into slow motion as I approached the jar '80's teen movie style; with the bass in my ear and the beat reverberating through the aisles.  Please, I thought.  Please let this be dairy free.

Then I picked up the jar and nervously turned it over to examine the ingredient list.  Dairy-free.  The heavens opened up and angels sang and Republicans and Democrats embraced in the streets and nothing hurt.  I had found it. 

Justin's has chocolate almond, peanut, and hazelnut butter.  Honey almond, and peanut butter.  Regular peanut and almond butter.  And maple almond butter.  Plus dark chocolate and milk chocolate peanut butter cups.  The milk chocolate peanut butter cups are not vegan, as well as the honey products.  Everything else is vegan!  Exciting, yeah?  I know.  Personally, I've never liked honey so there is no loss there, for me, and I've always preferred dark chocolate.

It is all sustainably harvested and green and something you can feel good about.  Is it expensive?  I suppose it could be classified as such.  Let's remember, though, that we're looking at quality, here.  It's not like this is an apple or something that you would have all in one sitting; it's something that is meant to last for a while.

Also, it comes in little individual squeeze packages.  For a student who spends all day in a classroom listening to the smooth stylings of Chaucer, translating middle-English, this is paramount.  You can find Justin's at specialty stores, Safeway, and Raley's -- that I know of.  The website also has a store-locater as these websites to tend to have.  And as always, you can buy it online if you really needed to.

New Wave Enviro: Eco-Water

Making certain changes in your life will not only benefit your health, but also your wallet. 

In my house, I'm the one who does the grocery shopping.  Something constantly on the list that irks me to no end is "water."  I know that this one word is meant to convey to me "Ashley, buy a flat of unnecessary plastic water bottles filled with water that tastes like plastic because of its packaging and is practically a poison because of all of the leeching that occurs from the bottle and is most likely going to end up killing marine life."  Just saying "water" saves ink, I guess.

Picture from here.

For a long time, now, I've been trying to turn everyone I know on to reusable water bottles.  Personally, I have three -- one of which is the promotional one from Twilight with a picture that says "Team Edward" under it.  It's not that I'm a huge twilight fan -- personally, I love vampires but I don't really think of the Cullens et al. as vampires.  But I digress.  The people from Twilight are supposed to be as cold as ice and Edward lives up to that reputation through his use as a water bottle; my water is always nice and cold.

Quite recently, however, I've been in the market for a new stainless steel water bottle and I stumbled upon a company that makes some of the safest water bottles, plus food storage and filtration systems, that I have ever seen.  This company is called New Wave Enviro.  What I really like about them is how thorough they are.  They think about everything from bottle to cap to filter to lunch.

They do carry plastic which is notorious for leeching deadly chemicals and carcinogens into whatever they hold.  The plastic they use, however, is BPA free.  For those of you not in the know, BPA stands for Bisphenol A.  It is an endocrine disruptor that has been linked to birth defects, obesity, cancer, neurological issues, thyroid issues, sexual dysfunction, etc.  Basically, the stuff's bad news.  New Wave Enviro uses plastic in the safest way possible, though, so they get my stamp of approval.

Aluminum water bottles are a definite step up from plastic; however, they must be lined to be safe to drink from.  The lining can chip or flake, creating dangers.  There was also a time when the lining was made of BPA.  Then you have the cap possibly being made of plastic, etc. etc. 

The safest by far is stainless steel. Stainless steel does not need to be lined, leeches nothing, and is smooth and pore-less.  It keeps your drink at just the right temperature without any nasty health side effects.  New Wave Enviro has a great collection of stainless steel water bottles.  I really like this bottle because not only is it safe and nice to look at but it also benefits a good cause:  Pandas International.  It's the bottle I intend to get once I make my way down to Wholefoods.  There are so many other great bottles and storage containers including a small stainless steel bottle with a nipple for babies.  It makes sense, doesn't it?  Knowing what we know about the dangers of plastic water bottles, why would you want your kid drinking out of one?  I wouldn't.

Even if you're the kind of person who looks at all of the science supporting the dangers of plastic water bottles as witchcraft and tomfoolery, you can't ignore the toll it takes on the environment.  Emissions from production aside, so many plastic bottles are not recycled and they end up on the sides of our roads and in our oceans, rivers, and lakes.  They polute our world and kill our wild life.

That not a good enough reason, either?  Okay.  Buy one water bottle, refill it, it lasts forever.  Or, waste money buying a bunch of disposable bottles of water that make water taste like plastic and do not stay cold. 

As always, it's your choice.

Environmental Degradation

Once upon a time, deforestation occurred, predominately, because rural farmers needed to clear land so that they could create farm land.  You know, agriculture.  Deforestation was bad then, just as it is now; however, it's sort of difficult to oppose someone who is just trying to eat and stay alive.  As a society, we are encouraged not to hate on the little guy; we root for the underdog.  Like Rudy.

Times have changed, however, and deforestation is no longer primarily the result of rural farmers just trying to survive.  Now, deforestation occurs in response to consumerism.  Supply and demand.  As a society, we want post-its, paper towels, toilet paper, news papers, pencils, hardwood floors, building materials, notebooks, and of course, animals.

Land is constantly being cleared for the raising of animals like cattle.  These animals are commonly used for things like leather.  So, let's think about this.  100-some-odd miles of rainforest are cleared away to raise cattle.  That cattle is slaughtered and shipped and sent to some nice place in say Vietnam, for example, where it is made into shoes or something that is later shipped elsewhere; the US, UK, Germany, etc.  The act of deforestation creates mind-blowing amounts of carbon emissions -- ironically, the trees are what rid the air of carbon and create oxygen.  Then, it gets shipped all over the place on boats, on planes, and in trucks, again creating carbon emissions.  Now, the factory in Vietnam received it's leather from Brazil, who subcontracted to ranchers in the Amazon.  This network spans thousands of miles.  This extensive travel contributes to environmental degradation.

Picture from here.

Deforestation is one of the biggest problems plaguing the world today.  It is a supply and demand enterprise, however, which means that we, the consumers, can help put an end to it.  How, you ask?  Excellent question.  I'll tell you.  Now, let me first tell you something.  I am in no way trying to simplify the seriousness of deforestation.  A lot needs to change in order to end this horrible act that is suffocating the planet.  The first step, though, like with everything else, lies with the individual.  The individual needs to want to make the changes.  Needs to want to know about the issue.  Needs to want to make a difference.  It all starts with the little things, also.  It's the little things that will add up.  Gateway drug, remember?  So, let's discuss what you, as an individual human person can do to lower the demand for deforestation and in turn, lowering the supply.

Go paperless:  With almost everything -- maybe even everything, actually -- there is the option to pay your bills online, only.  The paperless option saves paper in the forms of statements, envelopes, stamps, etc.  This also creates less carbon emissions from the processing of the trees into wood pulp, and the wood pulp into paper.  Also, go paperless when it comes to all of your mail.  Cancel your magazine subscriptions.  Call the companies responsible for junk mail and tell them to take your name off of their list.  Cancel the phone book/yellow pages.  Use e-mail instead of standard mail.  Read your news online instead of getting news papers (I highly recommend The Huff).  You can get almost everything online, including news papers and many magazines.
Microfiber:  Instead of buying paper towels and napkins, use towels and microfiber clothes that you can wash.  Paper towels are not recyclable if they are wet or dirty.  So, basically if you used a paper towel, you can't recycle it.
Electronic Books:  If you have a Kindle, Nook, iPad, or a computer -- which I'm assuming you do since you're reading this -- then you can read all of your books electronically.  As an English student, I am a book junkie and it is called upon me to buy a lot of books for school.  I do, however, have a Kindle.  Kindle has an app for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad, as well as a downloadable version for computers that allows you to buy Kindle books without a Kindle.  With the exception of new releases, Kindle books are usually much cheaper than standard paper books -- I've never seen a book more expensive on Kindle than it is in a bookstore.
Don't Wear Leather:  Not only is it gross -- it's the flesh of a dead animal that would be decomposing if it hadn't been chemically treated with poisons.  The lower the demand for leather, the less land being cleared to raise the cattle, the more trees that stay intact purifying our air and serving as homes for millions of species of animals as well as producing components for medicines.

Deforestation is no longer poverty-driven; it's industry-driven.  If we change the demand for these products, we can change the supply.  When the 2012 election starts, do your research.  Use your vote in a way that not only benefits you but the entire planet.  Use your voice.  In the meantime, be a conscious consumer.  There is so much more that can be done to put an end to deforestation.  Above are just the bare-basics.  I encourage you to research the issue and educate yourself on your planet.  If someone were ripping out your lungs, wouldn't you have something to say about it?  The trees are the lungs of the planet.  We need them.

How do you keep cool?

This is my first official post.  First off, let me say that my main source of news is from The Huffington Post.  It is a great site that offers not only nation and world news but also news on the Green movement.  For me, this is paramount.  This post will focus on an article from The Huffington Post -- or, as I refer to it in my own mind, The Huff.

For the full article, go here.

In the article Summers Are Going To Get Hotter, Stanford Scientists Say, Joanna Zelman discusses the scientific study conducted by Stanford University that has explored the extreme temperature shifts in the middle latitude regions; this includes the United States.  Last summer, reportedly, tied with 2005 as the hottest year on record with a global temperature 1.12 degrees Fahrenheit above normal.  Although 1.12 degrees may not seem like a lot -- from a day to day stand point, it really isn't -- it is the changes in long-term weather trends that are considered to be scientific evidence of man-made global warming.

"Most atmospheric scientists attribute the change to gases released into the air by industrial processes and gasoline-burning engines"  (The Associated Press).  This is man-made global warming.  What all of this basically comes down to is that it's going to get really hot.

Where I live, in the San Francisco Bay Area, it has actually been pretty cold the last two weeks.  Over the last three or so days, it has started to warm up.  This week, temperatures are in the eighties, inland.  In the summer, we usually see temperatures around 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Personally, I hate the heat.  I can't stand being hot or sweating.  I have, however, gotten used to the Summer heat the same way I've gotten used to the Winter cold.  You see, I live in a house that was built in the 1970's.  The AC/Heating is original to the house and since it is an older house, it is poorly insulated.  So, we don't even bother trying to use the AC because it wouldn't make a bit of difference except to our energy bill.  From this, I've learned how to successfully keep my cool even in the face of ridiculously high temperatures.

Keeping cool is extremely important because high temperatures can be very dangerous.  The article mentions that in 2003, heat waves in Europe killed an estimated 35,000 people.  Agriculture is also threatened by the heat.  If it is not cold enough in the Winter months, crop eating insects don't all die off and then thrive on the crops in the Spring.  The heat can also interrupt the life cycles of the plants, damage them, and even prevent their growth entirely.

As individuals, I think there is an easy two-fold plan of attack.  Number one, you need to stay cool.  Drink a lot of water.  Get a reusable water bottle to refrain from using plastic which creates oodles of carbon emissions when produced; plus, the metal ones like I have keep your water nice and cool and can also act like a cold compress.  If you have long hair, keep it up.  Dress responsibly for the weather.  Wear sunscreen.  Swim whenever you can.  Take cold showers when you shower.  PG&E, also, gives rebates for certain types of green AC units.  At my house, certain rooms have window units which work superbly -- sometimes even making the room cold at its lowest setting.  Check the PG&E site for a list of Eco-rebates you can utilize in your own house.

Number two, we all need to work on the thing that is causing man-made global warming: carbon emissions from gasoline-burning engines and industrial processing.  So, whenever you can, walk or bike or skateboard, or whatever instead of driving.  If you do have to drive, try and carpool or take public transportation.  Also, make your voice heard.  Climate change is no joke.  You know all those tornadoes that have been touching down all over the country?  Well, that's what happens with climate change; the strange becomes normal.  Find our what you can do in your community to combat climate change and make the changes in your own home.

I encourage everyone to follow the link to the article and read the whole thing.  Research and educate yourself on what's going on on our planet; what we're doing to our planet and how we can make things better.

In closing, I'd like to say that I was once of the mindset that global warming is fake.  After all, there are apparently more polar bears now than there were 50 years ago.  The global climate, however, is rising.  You can have all of the pithy little t-shirts you want saying that it's a fraud but the truth is is that it's getting warmer and warmer.  It is those long term trends that point towards global warming, not the population of polar bears.  Another thing, just because a population is "abundant" does not mean than it's environment is not in danger.  Look at us; there are over 6 billion people on the the planet and our environment is falling apart.  Looks can be deceiving.

Introductions

I have had many blogs, over the years.  This one, however, actually has focus.  This one is important to me.  So, allow me to introduce myself so that you may get to know what I'm about.  Firstly, my name is Ashley and this is my blog.  In this blog, I will be discussing, with you, things that I am passionate about.  For instance, I am a vegetarian; here, I will post recipes, brands I enjoy, animal free alternatives, and resources for a cruelty free diet.  Also, I am environmentally conscious.  This blog will feature tips on how you can reduce your carbon footprint and other resources I enjoy as well as information on the state of the environment and how our different choices have consequences but can also make a difference.  I'll post, discuss, and review articles that pertain to health, the environment, and animal cruelty.  Also, you'll probably be seeing a sassy young bear-wizard named Padfoot who will occasionally be recommending you things.
Anyway, here is a little bit about me, as a person:

• My name is Ashley.
• I am 22 years old.
• I am an English major focusing on British and American literature.
• I write.
• Thankfully, I have never had nor have I needed braces.
• My joints hyper-extend.
• My hair is so thick that it impedes my ability to wear hats and use hoods.
• For the first 11 years of my life, I had no idea that any music apart from "golden oldies" existed.
• As part of my writing process, I talk to myself.
• My first crush was on Johnny Depp at age five.
• I'm chronically polite.
• When I was learning how to walk, I decided to try running first but was too indecisive and ran into a door frame.  As a result I have a scar on my forehead.
• I'm pragmatic yet optimistic.
• Raw or barely cooked tomatoes disgust me.
• I'd rather watch someone play a video game than actually play it myself (depending on the game) because it's like watching a movie.  Also, when it comes to shooters, I'm sort of jumpy.
• I grew up watching Star Trek, Star Wars, Xena, and Twin Peaks.
• A large part of me has always wanted to be a bad ass.
• My closest friends have been in my life for 10+ years.
• I treat my webcam like it's a two-way mirror.
• I have a sub-par liver.
• Since I was little, I've been obsessed with England.
• I am constantly on the look out for my new favorite coffee mug.
• Sometimes I spell things the Canadian or English way instead of the American way; I like to add the letter 'u' into words.
• I have a tumblr: mentally_maladjusted
• I'm probably the least computer savvy person you're likely to not meet.
• Almost every crush I have had in my life has been on a fictional character. 
• The only thing really keeping me from being a vegan is my strange attachment to nutella.

I guess that's it...
Read my blog, I guess.
Oh, and follow me on twitter.
Hmm.  Yeah, I think that's it.