Monsanto: It’s what’s for dinner

If you follow me on Facebook, you know how shocked and disappointed I am that California’s Prop 37 didn’t pass. Though I haven’t lived in California since I was a child, I feel that their ballot decisions often affect their neighbors to the north, here in Oregon. I thought a measure like Prop 37 passing would start some momentum going for the labeling of GMOs. Sadly, it looks like we are in the exact same place.

The tactics used by these corporations to defeat 37 are unbelievable. They were deliberately misleading, deceitful and of course, counted on good old scare tactics to get a NO out of the CA voters. My personal favorite is all the mailers they sent out, leading people to believe that green organizations, democratic groups and the police were against Prop 37, when in fact, the distributors of these mailers had no association with environmental advocates, democratic organizations or the police.

Why are we not being given the right to know what we are eating? To me, this is a simple case of a multi-billion dollar corporation dictating American policy. We don’t get a say, apparently, even though this affects our basic human needs. It is NOT okay that we aren’t allowed to know what is in our food.

And while we’re at it, I cannot help but ponder the consequences of allowing a corporation to patent seeds and control the sale, production and distribution of those seeds. Seeds are not a product, an invention or a commodity. It’s one thing to sell and/or share the seeds made by good old Mother Nature and gathered by farmers and gardeners – but to alter them in a lab and then patent it? We can’t control the spread of seeds, GM seeds included (which is great for Monsanto – more lawsuits!). What happens when our native seeds are slowly replaced by GM seeds? Does Monsanto get to take control of all food production in our future?

There are three sacred gifts we, as living organisms of the planet earth have been given: water, seeds and air. Three things that should be freely available to all human beings. Yet, the first two have already been commodified by corporations. Is air next? How far are we going to let capitalism go?

All is not hopeless, however. Do some research on GMOs and try to avoid them at the supermarket. If you aren’t sure – don’t buy it! Let your dollars speak for you. Keep writing to your representatives, demanding truth in labeling. Do your best to support local farmers who are protecting our land and food supply. CSAs are sprouting up everywhere and there are so many options available! And keep going to farmer’s markets! Check out Local Harvest to find resources in your area.

How do you feel about the defeat of Prop 37?

Reboot, Remake, Rethink, Rebirth

As I work to edit my Etsy shop to comply with their new policies regarding herbal products, I’ve been going through a lot of feelings. At first, I was devastated. I thought this would destroy my business. Then I went through varying feelings of elation (from all the support I’ve been getting from all of you) and wild frustration.

It’s been exhausting editing my listings – and I have had to edit some of them three or four different times. And I’ll be going back and doing ANOTHER edit this week. There’s just so much conflicting information out there – many of us are not sure quite what to do and how to change things without losing the heart of our businesses.

There have been some real jaw-droppers, too, as I’ve learned more about this policy – things that have disheartened me a lot, including the fact that we are no longer allowed to share the feedback our customers have given us if that feedback contains medical words. I have a TON of feedback from people who have said that my products have helped them with acne issues or eczema or other such things and I am so proud of those comments. I used to feature them on my product pages, but this is now forbidden, considered a second-hand medical claim.

We are also not allowed to talk about the properties of herbs, even if those properties are factual. For instance, I sell carminative seeds as a natural breath freshener. I can no longer say that they also soothe gassy stomachs, even though carminatives are a class of herbs that…soothe gassy stomachs! We are no longer allowed to say that lavender is calming to the nervous system even though it is classified as a nervine! Not to make too big a deal out of this, but it does feel a little like a witch hunt. Heaven forbid we allow citizens of the US the option to explore alternative healing (which wasn’t so “alternative” once upon a time ago).

However, I’m determined to stay positive, keep Five Seed alive, and find every nugget of goodness that can possibly come out of this. Here are just a couple of those positives:

1. Community. After a year of doing business in a somewhat isolated mode (as is easy to do when you’re an online business and have another day job outside the home), I’ve been reconnecting with my teammates over at EcoEtsy and participating in some fascinating discussions with other herbal sellers all over Etsy. The support I have found through them has been a huge relief and it helps me remember something at the cornerstone of herbalism – community. That is where the strength of herbal healing lies – sharing with and supporting everyone and anyone interested in the Old Wisdom.

I’m sorry to say that I think this aspect of herbalism has gotten lost in our capitalistic system. I never realized this until recently, but there’s a respectful and slightly suspicious distance that some of us keep from one another. In fact, of all the business owners I have connected with, almost none of them have been bath and body sellers. There is this subtle sense of competition – it’s like we’re so protective of our niche (and it’s hard to find any niche in b&b that hasn’t already been filled) that we don’t want to connect with others and potentially get lost in the massive sea of herbal businesses.

And unfortunately, there are some herbal sellers who aren’t very ethical, who search through our shops looking for information on products to create. I’ve seen many herbal sellers struggle with copycats. And finally, there are those who consider themselves the “watchdogs” and who search through shops and blogs to see what people are doing and who drop in with nasty comments and threats.

Now I’m seeing the value of pushing past all that capitalistic-, ego-driven, fear-based crap. None of this information is new. None of our products are new. There’s not much we can do to prevent ourselves from being targeted by copycats or watchdogs. So why cut ourselves off from the chance of connecting and sharing information? I think if we want to consider ourselves true keepers of plant wisdom (in whatever form we come), then we need to keep community at the top of our priority lists.

2. Integrity. It is always, always necessary to keep checking ourselves. After we’ve been in business for a while and have built a customer base, we tend to get into a rut about how we present our products. We assume we know who we’re talking to and that they know us, because, hey, we’ve been around for a couple of years. But this is a trap of sneaky complacency – sneaky in that we don’t often realize it is even happening.

This change in policy has got me thinking a lot about how I present my products. Obviously, I believe in integrity above all else as a business – integrity toward the environment and integrity with my customers. I was proud as I went through my product pages, because I felt I had been fair in how I presented them – very clear that these products are potentially helpful in the healing of certain health issues. I’m also always very clear about the fact that I created almost everything in the line for myself and used it with success – and that my successes made me want to share with others who might be dealing with the same health issues.

One of the products I’m trying to rewrite to be super clear about what it is.

However…there were a handful of new products (my skincare line) that were written in a way that might have been too easily misinterpreted by others. First of all, I was super excited about these products – as I said, I’ve been using them for a while now with great success, and if you read my upcoming e-book on skincare, you’ll know why I feel so elated about finally finding a solution for my crazy skin! This elation definitely played a part – and pride. I was so very proud of myself for finding a system that worked for me and could not wait to share it with others.

But I realized that a person’s tone is hard to identify on the internet. How are new customers supposed to know who I am or what I stand for or even what I mean by certain words if they are visiting for the first time via a product page (as opposed to my About page or storefront). Suddenly, I realized that my words in some of these listings could be easily taken out of context. Long story short (or long story long), I realized I need to remember to see myself from the perspective of that first-time customer dropping in on a product page, having no idea who I am. I need to be very clear and careful with the words I use. I thought I was doing that, of course – but this was a great way to open my eyes to the holes in my system.

I have more to say about this, but alas, I’m too busy editing my shop to write for the blog! Actually, I have some other fun projects in store, too, from my upcoming e-book to a new line of truly unique lip balms. There is lots to do, so I’d best be on my way for now.

Once more, thank you all for your support – it has truly kept me afloat through this challenging time!

Grassroots Revolution

Before I write anything here, let me be clear that I am not a doctor or medical professional of any kind. I am also not a certified herbalist, and even if I was, it wouldn’t matter, because the US government does not recognize any such certification. The only certification I have that is recognized by the government is my teaching license. My knowledge of herbs and alternative healing was acquired through reading, research and experimentation.

The above information is not a disclaimer – it’s just the truth about me. I believe in full disclosure and corporate transparency and have always tried to uphold those values within Five Seed. The only reason I mention any of this is to let you know exactly who I am and what expertise (or lack thereof) I have as you read this. So here goes:

As those of you who follow me on Facebook or Twitter know, I recently received an email from Etsy threatening to shut down my shop unless I immediately remove any claims about my products, any mention of medical conditions and any information about herbal healing or folklore. The FDA is cracking down on this sort of thing, thanks to the tightening of laws pertaining to personal care products – laws that I supported 100%. I can remember signing petitions to get these laws into place – laws banning the use of heavy metals, carcinogens and endocrine disruptors in personal care products and laws demanding full disclosure of all ingredients (no more terms like “fragrance” or “parfum,” and no more proprietary blends) – and vaguely wondering what would happen to small businesses if it passed. Yes, I absolutely supported the ban of these harmful chemicals in commercial products and full disclosure of ingredients, but I wondered: Will little shops like mine be shut down because our products are not FDA-tested or -approved?

The consequences of these laws started to become apparent to me when I heard that Etsy had closed four subcategories: anti-aging, diaper rash, anti-itch and acne. (Yes, acne, a month after I launched my anti-acne skincare line and a month before I debut my book about how I healed my acne-prone skin.) I had a feeling more was to come, and sure enough, I soon after received the email I mentioned above, specifically targeting my shop.

This may not seem like a big deal to most people, but if you know my shop, you know it is filled with items that I created in order to help me treat health issues from which I have suffered: skin problems, menstrual cramps, muscle pain, etc. I feel that I’m very careful about how I market things. Yes, I use words like “for acne” and “great for relieving muscle pain.” Borderline? Semantics? Maybe. But I don’t think I’m being dishonest or misleading. I never say, “This will cure acne!” I’m very personal about my products. I explain why I created them and how they helped me – and that they might work for others. In most of my listings, I try to remind customers to consult with their doctor and/or do their own research and make their own decisions on whether or not a product is right for them. I hope that I come off as very clear that I am not an expert and that my products are my way of reaching out to others who may be suffering from similar health issues.

That act of reaching out has now been fenced in by some intense boundaries and honestly, I’m frustrated. How do I tell people what my products DO? Will my shop become a wasteland of 25 balms indistinguishable from one another except for their scent? What exactly can I say about them? “This is a tin of wax and oil that makes no claim to have any benefits whatsoever?” How far-reaching is this? Are we allowed to say “moisturizing,” or “soothing?”* The terms were “no medical drug claims,” no historical medical/herbal information and no mention of diseases or medical conditions. So what exactly is considered a medical “condition?” Doesn’t dry skin qualify under that one?

As frustrated as I am about this, I can’t disagree with the importance of integrity in business. I certainly don’t think we should be able to say, “Hey, this product will cure everyone of acne, no matter what!” However, I do not agree that anything lacking FDA approval should be banned from discussion.

To me, healing is an endless journey with endless possibilities. We are all as unique as snowflakes and no treatment (allopathic or otherwise) will fit everyone. I believe in the philosophy of “integrative medicine” as described by Dr. Andrew Weil (who is an actual medical doctor and not, contrary to internet rumors, an alternative healer). Dr. Weil believes, as I do, in the validity of Eastern and Western medicine and everything in between. The mindset is not “one or the other,” but rather, “get the patient better.”

I am open to all paths of healing, myself, and have had various successes with both allopathic and naturopathic treatments. For instance, I just completed a course of very strong prescription medication that I felt I needed in order to treat a serious health issue. However, I also struggled to heal from acne and menstrual cramps for two decades and nothing – including prescription drugs and surgical procedures – cured me. I found my own way to healing through herbal infused oils, herbal teas, vitamins, yoga and other such “alternative” treatments.

This is where things get fuzzy for me. Isn’t it our right to explore alternative treatments? Isn’t it our right to support small, grassroots healers, amateur or otherwise, with the full understanding that what we choose to do on the path of healing is our own responsibility and not anyone else’s? Isn’t it our right to create a small, sustainable business with the intention of sharing  the healing traditions of our ancestors? Isn’t it our right to believe in the efficacy of herbal (or other “alternative” treatments) remedies without being labeled a snake oil salesman (as the producer) or a dumb, woo-woo, New Age hippie (as the buyer)?

But the discussion of rights can get tricky. What rights should the buyer have? What rights should the seller have? And that brings us to one of those classic conundrums of democracy: How much power should the government have?

cartoonstock.com

I understand many people may say, “This is a good thing, not bad! The FDA should be protecting consumers!” Yes, they should. But if that was their intention, then:

-Why are there FDA-approved lipsticks on the market that contain lead? Why does the FDA believe that this does not pose a danger to the public? From the FDA’s website: “Lipstick, as a product intended for topical use with limited absorption, is ingested only in very small quantities. We do not consider the lead levels we found in the lipsticks to be a safety concern.” Seems like an odd thing to say considering lipstick is worn on the highly porous skin and not only that, but on the mouth. I came across this humorous but disturbing video a year or two ago that states that the average woman consumes up to 7 pounds of lipstick in her lifetime. Seven pounds of lipstick that may or may not have lead in it and that’s not a public safety concern?

-Why is there BPA in the lining of our canned foods? Why did it take the FDA until 2010 to admit concern over this issue (having previously stated that it was safe for all uses)? Why does their 2012 update state the following: “With respect to uses of BPA in packaging of food intended for other populations [adults, teenagers and children], FDA will support changes in food can linings and manufacturing to replace BPA or minimize BPA levels where the changes can be accomplished while still protecting food safety and quality… Reliable can lining materials are a critical factor in ensuring the quality of heat processed foods. Therefore, FDA will work to encourage and facilitate changes that minimize exposure to BPA and avoid other adverse impacts on food safety or quality.” Maybe the FDA forgot the fact that there are several food companies that have been safely producing canned food with no BPA for years now. So minimizing BPA or dragging out the process of banning BPA from food packaging in order to ensure food safety suddenly doesn”t seem like a legitimate concern anymore. It obviously *can* (pun intended) be done, so why not make a sweeping change right now – no more cans lined with BPA!

-Why are GMO foods not required to be labeled? Where’s the full disclosure there? The New York Times states, “The F.D.A. has said that labeling is generally not necessary because the genetic modification does not materially change the food.” Two years ago, nine out of ten people surveyed believed that all GMO products should be labeled. This year, over a million signatures were submitted to the FDA from Just Label It, an activist organization fighting for full disclosure from GMO producers. The FDA’s response? Those million+ signatures were counted as ONE because they were all attached to the same document. The final word: the FDA said it would make a statement when a decision about GMOs had been reached. (And just in case you’re wondering, I could find absolutely no current information regarding GMO foods on the FDA’s website, except for a long Q&A page in support of genetically modified animals bred for the production of pharmaceutical material.)

These are just three *small* reasons that I feel I should be allowed to state that an all-natural product containing USDA-certified organic ingredients, using traditional herbal ingredients has the potential to heal skin problems including acne and eczema. Not cure – I would never, ever presume to use that word (although, admittedly, I did name two of my products Panacea – though I was being a bit tongue-in-cheek on that one).

As time and laws pass, I am often left wondering what is happening to the communal and agricultural traditions of our past? What will happen to our land as we replace small, diversified farms with thousands of acres of GMO monocrops? What will happen to the knowledge of our ancestral farmers who knew what moon phases would yield the best crops and how to practice companion planting in order to naturally ward off insects and increase crop growth? And what will happen to our traditions of natural healing, our knowledge of plant medicine? Our sharing of that knowledge? The boundaries are closing in a little bit each year and the combine is roaring along. What will we lose to McMonoculture in the 21st century?

Herbalist Kiva Rose, one of my heroes – a guardian of plant-based healing traditions.

I guess this post is a little bit rant and a little bit request. I’m not asking for the right to say whatever I want about my products, or to make sweeping claims about their ability to cure medical conditions. I’m only asking that I, and other folks of the herbal tribe, retain the right to use the words “eczema” and “chamomile” in the same sentence without breaking FDA regulations. I’m asking for the right to share information about healing from one layman to another. I’m asking for the long-standing traditions of herbalism to be given just a little respect as a potential source of healing. And I’m asking for people to help keep these traditions alive.

I’m not entirely sure what we can do to accomplish this except to keep supporting small bath and body businesses, especially those, like mine, that began producing natural products because of the fact that the FDA regulations allow the inclusion of ingredients that shouldn’t be in our personal care products. (How ironic, right?) If you already use herbal remedies, make sure you let your favorite businesses know that you still support their products, no matter how little they may be able to say about them. Keep buying those tinctures at the farmer’s market, even if you have to do so under the table.

In the meantime, I’ll keep you posted as I sort through the shop, line by line, photo by photo, label by label. It’s going to take me a while to sort through this, especially not quite grasping the full extent of these new regulations. Check out my Twitter feed if you want to toss me some suggestions!

Thanks to you all for your support throughout this process. I’ve been so touched by the messages I have received from so many people. It definitely made me feel like our “old school” traditions have a whole lot of protectors, which is a wonderful thought!

*Soon after I wrote this, I received an email from Etsy saying that we can potentially use the words “moisturizing” or “moisturizer,” so long as it is not in a context that violates Etsy’s new policies about medical claims. I have absolutely no idea what context would be within their policies, or how using those words might violate their policies. I have the feeling that no one is going to be changing titles, tags or descriptions that use either of these words – and I admit, I probably won’t, either.

How BP Affected Me, Part 3

As I discussed in my last post, two years have passed since the BP oil spill and not much has changed. Sadly, this event did not inspire any long-term change in America’s energy consumption habits. After two years of using my bicycle instead of my car (90% of the time – I’m not full-time yet!), I realized there was so much more to be done. A couple of people making a couple of changes is not enough. Further, I hear all of us complaining more and more about the rising price of gasoline, to the point where it’s starting to drive me crazy (even when I do it), and I wonder: What are we doing about it?

The first, and perhaps most simple action we can take is to simply use our bikes more than our cars. You don’t have to become a full-on bicycle commuter to make a difference. Even biking somewhere you would normally drive just once a week will save you money at the gas pump and will, of course, improve both your mental and physical health. More importantly, bicycling more often will change the pattern of consumer habits – and money talks! We need to show the oil companies and the government that we are ready for a change – no more fossil fuel dependency! We want clean, sustainable power and we’re not gonna stop pedalin’ until we get it! :–)

Now I know, some of you say you have too many errands, too many kids, too little time (etc.) to bicycle. While I totally respect this, I do have to give props to all those who have been willing to try it…because in many instances, it can be done, if you want to do it.

Please note that I said “in many instances” and for those of you who want to do it. I totally understand and respect that many people don’t choose this route for any number of reasons (safety issues, time, convenience, etc.). I’m not here to make everyone a die-hard bike commuter. Yes, I want to push people to give it a try, but my ultimate goal is to break free from Big Oil. And that’s what these posts have been all about.

So whether or not you choose to try a little bicycling, we can all do more to create the changes we want to see. Changes that include less expensive commutes, cleaner air for ourselves and our children, safer roads, economic opportunities and sustainable energy for our country. How do we do it?

1. Every time you complain about gas prices, go online and write to your senator, representative or President Obama. Complaining without action is a waste of time and only drops a lot of negativity on yourself and everyone around you. Turn your frustration into action. (And by the way, sending letters criticizing your representatives doesn’t count! Express your sincere feelings about the situation and ask for what you want. Less “This is all your fault, you waste of my tax dollars,” and more, “I’m frustrated by this issue and would like see the following changes…”.)

I think this is something many of us neglect to do. I haven’t written a letter to any of my representatives in about 5 months. That’s too long! They should be hearing from us on a regular basis. Frankly, I think we have gotten a little lazy. It’s so easy to gripe and complain about the politicians and to be enticed by the latest promises being fed to us. But are we actually participating in a positive and constructive manner in our own government? I think most of us would answer NO. And if that’s so, then who can we really blame for where we are but ourselves? Let’s take action and make our voices heard!

2. Demand continued lobbying reform. As long as legislation is so incredibly influenced by corporations, the public needs and interests will be set aside. This is our government, and we cannot afford to let legislation be driven by profit-hungry Big Oil. I personally don’t believe we will ever see a genuine attempt by the government to pursue sustainable energy until Big Oil is no longer allowed to grease the palms of those in power. And the only people who can change this is US!

3. Do your best to wean yourself from fossil fuel dependency. Admittedly, this is a hard one. It seems that everything is made from fossil fuels these days! But there are so many ways you can make small changes that add up fast. Buy more locally-produced goods. Support sustainable businesses. Choose non-plastic products whenever possible (and don’t even think about going to the store without your reusable shopping bags!). Talk about oil dependency with your kids and teach them how to take a different path. Write your local businesses and encourage them to phase out plastic cups, cutlery, straws, etc. Write to your mayor and ask for a ban on plastic shopping bags.

There are a million more small examples I could give, but I’m sure you get the gist.

The point is: It’s so easy to get overwhelmed and discouraged. I get it. I find myself feeling that many times each day. It seems like it’s too much to change, too impossible for one little person to do anything. But what’s the alternative? Do nothing while we fume? The way I see it, we might as well do something useful with our time here and try our best. Even if we don’t see major change in our lifetime, wouldn’t it be great to know that you were living a life that was in line with your values? That you didn’t waste time complaining because you were too busy being an active, responsible citizen? And don’t forget – if enough of us get involved then imagine the changes we could make!

How BP Affected Me, Part 2

Almost two years have passed since the BP oil spill, which marks the two year anniversary of my bicycle commuting. This has been my form of protest against Big Oil. But what has happened in these past two years? Gas prices are still climbing, with no end in sight. Our gas consumption patterns have not significantly changed. And the Gulf Coast? Still suffering, two years later.

This could have been – and dare I say should have been – a huge wake-up call for America. But sadly, it wasn’t. Last year, the University of Michigan published a study that explored the aftermath of the BP oil spill. The conclusion was that the spill “is unlikely to leave a lasting legacy on our views toward fossil fuels, environmental management, and energy use.” (Source.) Co-author Andrew Hoffman pointed out that no one ever “fully challenged the identity of the Obama administration*, the oil majors, or the American public and its dependence on fossil fuels [italics added]… The economy is still fuel-based and little serious opposition to continued offshore drilling can be expected.”

Oil pipelines in Nigeria

I know a lot of people ask, “Why does it matter?” It matters because this fossil fuel dependency is not just an environmental issue. It is political and economic, as well. Where does our oil come from? We get it from all over the world, often from countries that are unstable and downright dangerous. These countries include Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Nigeria. Again, this may not seem like a big deal, but let’s look at the consequences of buying oil from these countries^:

1. As a major contributor to the global demand for oil the United States is paying to finance and sustain unfriendly regimes.

2. Our demand drives up oil prices on the global market, which oftentimes benefits oil-producing nations that don’t sell to us.

3. The regimes and elites that economically benefit from rich energy resources rarely share oil revenues with their people, which worsens economic disparity in the countries and at times creates resource-driven tension and crises.

4. Our oil dependence will also be increasingly harder and more dangerous to satisfy. [America uses about 25% of the world's petroleum supply, and roughly half of that - give or take a few percentage points - is imported.] Without reducing our dependence on oil we’ll be forced to increasingly look to more antagonistic and volatile countries that pose direct threats to our national security.

So as you can see, our dependence on oil is not simply an environmental issue. It affects our economy, our foreign relations, our national security and even the lives of people living in these unstable regimes that we support with our oil-stained dollars.

What do we do next, is the question – and I’ll answer that in Part 3! Stay tuned!

*Please note that I do not intend for this quote to be taken as blame toward President Obama. I don’t believe that our country’s problems can ever rest solely in the hands of one person, nor do I think it is a constructive use of time and energy to blame politicians or bicker across party lines. This is a democracy and therefore, we are responsible for pushing for the changes we want to see.

^These are all direct quotes from this article.

Black Friday: Hit or Miss?

Each year, it seems that Black Friday is slowly overshadowing the actual holiday (Thanksgiving) of this holiday weekend. In fact, it’s downright ironic that we spend one day focusing on gratitude and the next three days focused on the frenzied acquisition of more stuff.

There are certainly fun aspects to it – I know a lot of people who love the tradition of waking up early with their sister or mother to pick up Christmas presents at a great price. We all love the thrill of a good bargain, right?

But I’ve also seen many downsides to the Black Friday weekend. The last time I went shopping on Black Friday was about 4 years ago, to get some DVDs at $1.99. It took half an hour just to get my hands on them, while pushing through a massive crowd, and then I had to wait in line for 45 minutes. I realized I would rather have paid full price than deal with the long lines and pushy crowds.

This year, I’ve been especially annoyed by the commercials that have debuted recently. The AT&T 4G LTE commercial (and others like it) make me crazy. Our tech toys are rapidly developing – Smart Phones, tablets, readers. Hell, even I am thinking of getting a Kindle Fire someday. Maybe. But each year, there’s a new generation of tech toys, and they are growing exponentially. I can only imagine the kind of e-waste they are creating when people chuck their old phones and tablets for the newest version. And everything has to be smarter, better, faster. “That’s so 27 seconds ago.” Do we really need to promote the idea that satisfaction can only be gained through instant gratification?

And how about the winner of Five Seed’s Most Offensive Holiday Commercial? Best Buy! Have you seen their “Game on, Santa” commercial yet? Yep, that’s the one I hate most of all. A woman goes into Best Buy and is surprised by all the items the store is offering for $100 or less. The saleswoman jokingly says, “Santa better watch out, huh?” The shopper gets a competitive gleam in her eye and the commercial cuts to Christmas Eve at her house, when Santa arrives carrying a cute little wooden toy. He goes to put it into a stocking, and finds that the stockings are already full of items from Best Buy. He turns to find the shopper standing behind him, who says, very snarkily, “Awww…guess I didn’t leave any room for you. It’s awkward. Maybe you could fill his [stocking].” Then she points to the family dog who has an empty stocking in his mouth. Then the words, “Game on, Santa” flash on the screen.

Sure, in a way, it’s a really cute campaign. Or maybe just clever. But I also find it really annoying and as I said before, offensive. Why? Santa comes to the house holding a simple wooden toy, and the message seems to be that such a toy is a useless, unwanted trinket. No, get your kids a tablet, instead! Santa’s handmade (elf-made) toys are made to look like a joke compared to our tech toys. Not good enough for the kids, so give it to the dog!

According to Advertising Age, “The intent of ‘Game On, Santa’ is to allow moms to revel in their role as ‘chief gift giver.’ Mr. Panayiotou said that his team’s research found that Mom really wanted to feel like she was ‘winning’ the holidays, though she didn’t necessarily need to take credit publicly. The spots show women talking about various gadgets with Best Buy employees, before flash-forwarding to Christmas Eve, where Mom celebrates her purchases amid Santa’s arrival and razzes the big guy.” Personally, I find this “competitive Christmas” idea to be a bit strange, and I feel that Best Buy is twisting the whole “Mom-Christmas-presents” dynamic. Now I’m not a mother, but don’t moms (like the rest of us) buy gifts in order to express love to their children/family members? It’s not about the gifts, themselves, but the emotion behind them. According to Best Buy, though, it’s about the “stuff,” the victory, the win. Hmmmm.

And the worst part of all is this is the inevitable violence that seems to erupt in at least one store during the shopping madness. This year, the big stories were the pepper spray incident in California and the allegedly shoplifting grandpa in Arizona who ended up with a shattered face after an altercation with the police.

Is it really worth it?

Halloween makeup: Is it safe for your kids?

Halloween is a fun time full of chills and thrills. But do you know what’s really scary? Many brands of Halloween makeup on the market today (including those sold specifically for use on children) contain lead, nickel, cobalt, and chromium. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics did a study on 10 popular brands (click here to see the full report, which lists the ten brands) in 2009. Here’s a sample of what they found:

::All 10 products contained lead, ranging from .054 parts per million (ppm) to .65 ppm.

::The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and many other experts agree that lead exposure is not safe at any level, and exposure to lead adds up in the body. Lead primarily enters the body through ingestion or inhalation. There is limited evidence that lead can be absorbed through the skin, though this is less understood than other routes of exposure.

::Lead exposures during prenatal development, infancy and childhood can cause attention deficits, hyperactivity, impulsive behavior, IQ deficits, reduced school performance, aggression and delinquent behavior.

::Lead is banned from cosmetics in Canada and Europe. It is legal for cosmetics sold in the U.S. to contain lead in any amount.

And yet, recent studies have found lead in popular brands of women’s lipsticks. As unbelievable as it sounds, lead in cosmetics is still a danger. Label reading will not help, either. These products do not list the heavy metals in them, and many say “safe,” hypoallergenic,” and/or “FDA compliant.” None of these claims means you are safe from lead or other toxins.

Luckily, there are lots of options for concerned parents. Try making your own Halloween makeup. If you choose to buy Halloween makeup, check out Skin Deep for a “toxin rating” of different makeup brands. Also, stay away from those awful aerosol hair dyes! They are FULL of toxins both for you and the environment.

Here are a few more tips from the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics:

While all the products tested for this report contain lead, it does not mean that all face paints on the market contain lead. On the flip side, just because the products we analyzed did not test positive for mercury or arsenic does not mean we know for certain that face paints never contain mercury or arsenic, which were both found in a Canadian study. Unfortunately, this leaves parents in a difficult place when deciding how to help children dress up for Halloween. …Using costumes that do not include face paint may be the best option... Parents should urge their elected officials to ban harmful ingredients and contaminants from face paints and other cosmetics and enact comprehensive federal “safe cosmetics” legislation that gives the FDA the authority and resources it needs to regulate the cosmetics industry and ensure cosmetic safety.

Be safe this year and avoid those toxic makeups, both for yourself and your children.

This post was published on my other blog in 2009. This is the updated version.

Five tips for green trick-or-treating

Trick-or-treating is a fun tradition, but let’s face it: It’s not very healthy for your kids or Mother Earth. Millions of individual wrappers go into the landfills, and god knows what ingredients (dyes, sugars, chemicals) go into your babies’ tummies. Yuck! How can you be an eco-friendly and/or health-conscious participant?

1. Stock up on “responsible” candy. If you can’t bear not to pass out candy, try the Natural Candy Store. Yes, there are still a million wrappers, but at least you can choose the kinds of candy you want to give out. Gluten free? No problem. Made in the USA? You got it! Organic? Definitely! You can find all of these at this store, and more (though not ALL products fall under these categories – make sure you check the key).

Natural Candy Store: Organic Ghost Lollipops

2. Spread the UNICEF word. You can have your children ask for UNICEF donations instead of candy, which is a great way to help kids realize that they can make a difference!

3. Give out pennies instead of candy. If you feel confident that you won’t get TP’ed during the night by angry trick-or-treaters who wanted candy, LOL, then give out pennies and other coins. It’s a great way to get rid of all that pesky pocket change, and the kids can spend it, or donate it.

4. Make or buy reusable trick-or-treat bags. Google “eco-friendly trick-or-treating” and you will find a million ways to make trick-or-treat bags from pillowcases! Remember: think fabric or metal (avoid plastic if you can). And make sure it is not too “young looking” so your kids can use them year after year without feeling silly when they are older.

5. Use chocolate to help endangered species. All you chocolate connoisseurs already know how good the Endangered Species Chocolates are. Hand out the individually packaged chocolate squares and some of the profits from your purchase will go toward helping endangered species.

Endangered Species Halloween Dark Chocolate

Want some more tips for healthy trick-or-treats? Check out Green Halloween!

This post was previously published in 2009 on my other blog.

Factory farmed Easter eggs: Pollution, health risks and animal suffering

With Easter just around the corner, eggs are flying off the shelves at the grocery store. But the story behind the eggs is an environmental and ethical nightmare.

Pollution

According to the EPA, there are approximately 450,000 factory farms or AFOs (Animal Feeding Operations) in America today. These operations keep thousands of animals in small, enclosed places, allowing them little movement throughout the day. This creates a huge amount of animal waste being produced in one area. In the past, there has been little incentive for factory farms to responsibly manage animal waste, and in fact, our political system has largely protected these farms from legal consequences of waste mismanagement.

Ammonia from animal waste seeps into our rivers and streams, killing the fish that live there. Even low levels of ammonia are highly toxic to fish. The EPA states that, “Increased amounts of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, from AFOs can cause algal blooms which block waterways and deplete oxygen as they decompose. This can kill fish and other aquatic organisms, devastating the entire aquatic food chain.”

Further, the gases emitted by this animal waste are extremely toxic to the environment. In 2008, The Washington Post stated, “Concerns about global climate change have brought new attention to the fact that modern agriculture is responsible for about 20 percent of the nation’s greenhouse-gas production.” The emissions from the waste on these farms contribute to smog and particulates.

Health risks

Animal waste gets into our water systems and can cause severe damage. In some cases (like the 1993 Milwaukee outbreak of cryptosporidium) the waste contaminates our drinking water with microorganisms that can cause illness or death. It can also raise the nitrate level, which is dangerous for infants, and can cause Blue Baby Syndrome.

The pollutants released into the air are equally dangerous. Emissions from the animal waste and particulates stirred up by animals can cause asthma, nausea, headaches, eye and throat irritation, lung inflammation, and various respiratory diseases.

In addition to all this, factory farms have, according to The Washington Post, increased “human illnesses caused by drug-resistant bacteria associated with the rampant use of antibiotics on feedlots…”

Animal suffering

One of the most horrific attributes of factory farms is the treatment of the animals. The 300,000,000 laying hens in American farms are housed in small “battery cages.” Three to ten of them live in each cage, and the extreme stress of their living conditions can cause them to turn on each other. Because of this, most laying hens have the tips of their beaks cut off, without anesthesia. The hens also suffer from severe health problems ranging from uterine prolapse to deformed feet.

In order to produce the most eggs possible, these hens are subjected to unnatural cycles of light and dark, and a period of “forced molting” (when they are purposefully starved for 10-14 days). Most laying hens are only valuable assets for two years and two laying cycles. After that, they are slaughtered. Because the Humane Slaughter Act does not cover poultry, the chickens are not always stunned before they are killed.

The male chickens escape the two years of torture, but not without a price. Because they are useless to the industry, they are killed immediately – gassed, crushed, or thrown into shredders or plastic bags while still alive. (Click here for more information from Compassion Over Killing, and here for a disturbing video on the lives of factory chickens.)

What can you do?

Don’t support the egg industry. Buy local whenever possible. Purchase eggs from your farmer’s market or a CSA.

Check with your friends, as well. You may be surprised by the number of people who have a backyard chicken coop.

Also, take a look at Compassion Over Killing if you want to help change the practices of factory farms.

For more information on this subject, check out the documentary A River of Waste.

Reprinted from my article over at Examiner.

Eco-savvy shopping: A guide to buying healthy, ethical, eco-friendly eggs

Today’s shoppers are bombarded with labels when they enter the grocery store – especially in the egg section. Organic. Cage-free. Vegetarian-fed. All these labels seem to promise healthy eggs, laid by humanely-raised chickens, in a way that doesn’t harm the environment. But what’s the reality behind those labels?

Vegetarian-fed

This label is often accompanied by pictures of chickens happily grazing in a green pasture beneath a golden sun. Nothing could be further from the truth. In most cases, these hens are living in battery cages, like most factory-raised laying hens, often in such cramped spaces that they cannot turn around or stretch their wings. This label only tells you that their diet is vegetarian. (Most factory farm chicken feed consists of beef scraps, beef tallow, and steamed, dried and ground chicken.)

Omega-3 Enriched

This means that chickens were fed foods high in Omega-3 fats – usually flax seeds. This label alone tells the consumer nothing about the welfare of the laying hens.

Certified Humane

This label was created by the non-profit group Humane Farm Animal Care. Farms using this label allow their chickens to roam freely indoors, and engage in normal behaviors (nesting, dust bathing, etc.). Forced molting is prohibited, and nesting space must meet certain requirements. However, farms are not required to let chickens go outside, and beak cutting is permitted. This label also says nothing about the chicken’s diet. Third party auditors ensure compliance.

Cage-free / Free-range

This is perhaps the most misleading label of all. It simply means that laying hens are given access to the outdoors. It is far more humane for them to roam freely in warehouses, rather than being stuffed into cages, but they are still lacking space, eating standard factory farm diets, and are subjected to typical factory farm practices, including beak cutting. Further, there is no third party regulation.

According to Robert Plamondon, author of several books on poultry farming, “All the ‘official’ free-range systems that I’ve come across are scams, at least by my standards. …The goal is to run a factory-farm operation while getting a price premium for the ‘free-range’ label. The best way of doing this is to discourage the chickens from going outside, through the use of doors that are too few or too small, and by other methods. If only a handful of chickens actually go outside, you’ve really got a confinement operation, and can run it like any other factory farm.”

Certified Organic

While this may provide the healthiest eggs, it still may not come from well-treated chickens. This label ensures that the laying hens have not been exposed to pesticides or antibiotics. The hens have been fed a vegetarian diet, and are not caged. They are required to have some outdoor access, but there are no standards to regulate the quality and duration of their outdoor time. Additionally, according to The Humane Society of the United States, beak cutting and forced molting are permitted under the certified organic label. Like Certified Humane eggs, this label is regulated by a third party.

Other misleading labels and one forgotten truth

Labels that essentially mean nothing include “natural,” “free-roaming,” and “United Egg Producers Certified.” Also, it’s important to remember that most egg farms, regardless of the label they wear, kill male chicks, as they are useless to the egg industry. Most male chicks are killed by gassing, grinding, or suffocation.

What can you do?

Despite the seemingly hopeless picture behind these labels, there are steps you can take to become a conscientious egg consumer. First of all, buy local eggs whenever possible. Buy from your farmer’s market or check out Local Harvest to find farms near you.

Put the word out among your friends that you’re looking to buy local eggs. There are many urban farms in neighborhoods all over the country – just do some exploring and you may be surprised by what you find!

Finally, if your only option is store-bought eggs, opt for certified organic eggs. These are the healthiest for you and the environment. If you are willing to take an extra step, write to the producers of your favorite organic eggs, and ask them whether or not they practice beak cutting. Express your dissatisfaction if they do. Consumer demands have the power to change the market.

Sources

The Humane Society of the United States

TLC Cooking

Union of Concerned Scientists

Robert Plamondon

The Gorgeously Green Diet, by Sophie Uliano (book)

This post is a reprint of my article over at Examiner.