Climate Change, Hurricanes, And Help

A view of Hurricane Sandy from space. Photo is from space.com

Hurricane Sandy came through the northeastern states causing horrible destruction in its path and killing at least 55 (at the time of this writing). Millions of dollars worth of damage has been done and currently millions of people are without power. Scientists believe that more and more powerful storms are going to be forming do to climate change, though climate change is not solely responsible for Hurricane Sandy.

Here’s what we can do to help:

At the moment:

The Red Cross needs donations of money and blood right now. They are also seeking some skilled volunteers.

You can find ways to help here: http://www.redcross.org/support

The Salvation Army is another place to donate: https://donate.salvationarmyusa.org/disaster

Yet Another place to donate is Americares: http://www.americares.org/howtohelp/

And Feeding America: http://feedingamerica.org

What to do in the future:

Using less electricity and fuel will help slow global warming but we need a group effort if we are really going to make an impact. Keep doing your part but also write your elected officials and ask for a change in laws that help to limit carbon emissions. You can click here to get your state officials info or you can type your town into Wikipedia or google and get a list that way. Be polite and sure, that is the best way to enact change. 

Movie Review: Forks Over Knifes

Forks Over Knives

(2011)

written and directed by Lee Fulkerson

Is there a dietary solution for heart disease and cancer? Can a vegan diet really keep you from ending up on the operating table?

The film follows the careers of two doctors, Caldwell Esselstyn and T. Colin Campbell, and their findings on diet and its effect on health, specifically heart disease and cancer. The film documents various phases of they studies and the conclusions that they have drawn from them. The diet is essentially a vegan diet sourced from whole foods. It also follows past and current patients (including the films writer/director) and their success with the diet.

So you should go out and get it and follow it right? No. This is a pretty good film. It is uplifting and interesting. But there are some huge problems with the research.

I’m not a doctor but many other doctors out there have pointed out huge flaws in the findings and assertions of Dr. Campbell’s findings. Most agreed that a similar diet that including lean meat and low fat dairy would have had similar results. Most of the problems that are associated with meat come more from the way we process it and less from the meat itself. Also in some cases genetics, unfortunately, play a larger roll than diet. In the end there is a lot to be said about a plant based whole food diet. All of our diets should be centered around plants and we should have almost no processed food. But lean meats, eggs, low-fat dairy, and certainly protein in general are not going to cause us the terrible harm that is stressed in the movie. Keep in mind, the more active you are the more protein you need so don’t restrict your protein intake if you are active.

2.5 out of 5 for a message that is partly right

Trailer below:

Milk In Glass Bottles!

Here is a throwback that I’ve been waiting a long time on:

Milk in glass bottles, delivered to our front (actually back) door. Through Green B.E.A.N. Delivery, we are getting milk from Hartzler DairyFarms delivered. We buy the skim milk. They sell their milk in glass half gallon containers that they collect, sterilize, and refill with milk. The only waste is the cap. The milk is non-homogenized and delicious. It is expensive but worth it for the taste and the reuse of their bottles.

If you live in the tri-state and happen to see one of there bottles at the store pick it up and enjoy. I hope to stop by their farm in the near future and check it out. 

Green Links For The Week Of 10.28.12

Sorry I've been away for a few days. I still have a lot to say but I've been a bit too busy. Here are the green links this week:

Samsung Supplies Solar Powered Internet Schools For South Africa

Recycled-plastic Levis: Do these bottles make my butt look big?

Antarctic Ozone Hole Is The Second Smallest It's Been In 20 Years

Empire State Building Cuts Energy Waste, Becomes Unexpected Model of Efficiency

Next-Generation Antireflection Coatings Could Improve Solar Photovoltaic Cell Efficiency

Movie Review: Bag It

BAG IT: IS YOUR LIFE TOO PLASTIC?

(2010)

written by Michelle Curry Wright

directed by Suzan Beraza

Something to make you really think when you hear, “paper or plastic?”

The premise is simple. A regular Joe, Jeb Berrier, decides to track the life of a plastic bag. Along the way he begins to find out all sorts of interesting things about the life of plastic and what all is made of plastic. He runs an experiment on himself to see what happens when you eat out of cans and plastic and what types of toxins it introduces into your body. There is a break down of the types of recyclable plastics and what really happens to them, which is discouraging to say the least. It’s not all bad though. Near the end he goes over various ways to prevent using plastics so much and ways to introduce legislature that either prohibits, taxes, or eliminates the usage of so much ‘disposable’ plastic.

I really enjoyed this. It was done in an entertaining fashion. There are enough quirky takes on things to keep you watching about something that is strangely frightening and doesn’t sound very interesting to watch. I can’t recommend this film enough. It is currently streaming on Netflix (as of the date of this post). I am attempting to get it screened for free at my local library. If you get a change to see it try to get as many other people you can to see it. Write your local library if they have a film night and recommend it.

5 out of 5

Trailer: