22. April 2010 by admin.

Let’s admit it,  most of us consumers have not been so keen and zealous in our stance towards green living. As mentioned in my earlier blog,  I for one am  not quite  an eco-friendly product enthusiast despite my positive outlook  on the importance of the use of and patronage for the said products.  I have tried using earth friendly products in the past up to now but it is only for very few items.  This kind of a so-so attitude towards going all out for a green world is not only true to me but to the majority, especially those   in developing and least developed economies.      People living in the West such as the United States and other developed and industrialized countries are fortunate enough to have tons of environment related advocacy organizations which are proactive in this endeavor.   Thus, there are more and more people in these countries who have become fully aware and have supported the cause for the common good.  But just the same, it is still not enough,  people are still not in sync and conscious about the use of organic and eco-friendly home products .

Why is it so?   Why is it that people are still not going green and don’t even bother to buy eco-friendly products (i.e., from food, personal belongings, cleaning items or even gifts) despite the massive info and awareness campaign about it?  Do you have any idea how many environmentalists are there in the blogosphere?  I was surprised to see myself that there are plenty of bloggers, probably thousands,  crowding out in the internet,  marketing and supporting environment conservation, broadcasting certain pressing issues such as impact of global warming and other related events, among others.     There is so much more to learn and I was overwhelmed to read various topics ranging from low profile items (organic food,etc.)  to big ticket environment related transactions (e.g. renewable energy and the like).

(Note: As much as  possible  when I share tips  for a certain issue, particularly if it concerns quality of life and humanity,   you may have noticed it that I don’t delve and go directly to the point at hand.    Rather, I try to explain further the rationale and importance of  the said tips and how would it be helpful and useful to your daily life.  What matters  most to me is that the message has been sent across and that I was able to accomplish my duty to give back to this beautiful world where I dwell and to stop contributing to the bigger problem. I   just felt it is one of my responsibilities  to  make others more aware  about it, in the humblest way I can).      

So, why are people,  like most of us,  are still reluctant to go  all out or even attempt to try going green, at least for our  home use?  Why is it that people would not even consider eco friendly products a necessity or a priority even if they are aware that using said products have so many benefits to the environment and to the humanity?  Oh, the series of questions is mind boggling.  

There are schools of thoughts but the following comments are based on my personal experiences and observations about eco-friendly products:

1.     Price

I may be wrong but there is this perception that eco-friendly products appear to be catered more or less to middle and high income earners as the same are marketed at a much higher price than regular products.   With the current precarious economy,  many of us would want to tighten our belts and save for the rainy days!  Some of us would choose which of the available options would give us the best bang for our buck.    If people can’t afford to splurge on these products and is being given an alternative choice,  I don’t think they  would go out of their way just to buy these products, unless as I said they have the dough for it.   This is the reason why sometimes organic products are branded as for the elite and not for the have nots.   A classic example are the fruits sold in the supermarket,  the price of organic apple for instance is about 1.99/lb. versus a regular apple for a sale price of $1.00/lb, which is half price lower . 

The foregoing are just samples for the small items , what more for  big ticket items?  How about for eco-friendly clothing?   I came across this organization selling high end fashion green clothing and mind you,  a  piece of “green friendly”  bermuda shorts  costs  a whooping  275 bucks!  Shocking isn’t it? I was able to see the rationale behind it,  it was of good quality and for a cause by the way! But just the same,  the price was just too much to bear! Some people would say that there is a need to balance the cost and the benefit but for people who are not affluent enough, who simply don’t have the means, they will just  buy the products that they can afford - the cheapest  available -  without even considering if the same is eco friendly or not.

Majority of the businesses and other manufacturers would probably argue that there is a limited market for green products, that it is costly and  time consuming, hence they are resistant to change.  However, if they really see the need and they have the social responsibility, so to speak- the concern for the environment and the heart to help majority of their consumers (specifically the “common people”),   then they could have started re-designing their process and technology   to fit in with the earth friendly world and produce green products gradually.  In so doing and in the long  run, there would be economies of scale (i.e.. lower pricing, among others) since people would be able to afford and start buying eco friendly products as  there would be no choices anymore on the shelves in the supermarkets for similarly situated products.  Who would not buy a product that is proven and tested to be good for their health and the environment, anyway? This is a great thing to do,  right?      Unless there is a political will to change this kind of attitude from all of us, then it may take a little while for us to go all out for green living! 

2.    Accessibility and Availability

In New York City or in other metropolis throughout the world,   accessibility may not be a crucial issue   since you can easily find eco products in supermarkets and in some organic retailer stores.  Despite this however, some supermarkets sell only few items and at a higher price.  On the other hand, organic store retailers are very limited and you really would have to go out of your way and search for their location,   how much more if you are situated in far flung areas?  In my case for instance,  I have to take an effort to sometimes use the subway or take a bus just to reach the e-friendly store where I often buy small items such as nuts, jams, vinegars, etc. because there is no organic store available within the vicinity.    What more for people who are not even aware of these things, they would just buy any products available in the nearby supermarket or in a local Asian market which sells fresh fruits and other commodities at a very affordable price.  

3.    Inadequate/Lack of Relevant Information

It is a fact that almost all of the people would prefer to buy eco-friendly products if only they have the means and an adequate knowledge about it.   Yes, we can see e-advocates campaigning, lobbying, protesting over the internet , the tri-media or even in the streets, but do most people know what and why they do it?  There are skeptics around that they would think of this as merely a media hype- these people have doubts on whether or not said products are indeed organic or earth friendly.

The problem is,  there is not much information on the importance of using earth friendly products.   There should be like a personal level campaign to inculcate in the minds of everyone that going green, especially in the organic product industry, would truly give them positive effect in their lives and the environment as well.  The governing rules and regulations (e.g. government certifications, etc.) covering these products particularly on food should be publicly disseminated not only to the upper class of society but down to the grass roots level.

Now, the Useful TIPS!

Having said all of the foregoing and as a smart certified grocer shopper myself, I have some useful tips for those of you out there who for the first time, the “greenhorns” so to speak,  are contemplating to try buying and using earth friendly home related products.  There are lots of remarkable earth friendly/recycled products to choose from but the following suggestions would include some basic must have items which I am currently using:

1.    For a start, you may try buying an eco friendly bathroom  tissue paper and paper towels. Some of them may not be as inexpensive/expensive, as immaculate and as soft as the regular tissues that we’ve been used to.   But definitely, using an organic product will give you an assurance that what you’ll be using is free of  chemicals,  bleach,  dyes and perfumes,  and that they are naturally biodegradable, safe for septic tanks and no animal testing.

One brand that is being marketed today is that of Seventh Generation which has produced a very popular 100% recycled tissue papers, bathroom tissue and paper towels.  What is good to know is that this company has very strict guidelines and they are in collaboration with the Environment Protection Agency (Design for Environment Program).  

2.    Home cleaning products are also a must.  Seventh Generation has variety of these products (detergents, shower cleaner, etc.) in their line too.  What I’m using right now for cleaning which I bought from BJ’s superclub is an inexpensive natural all-purpose cleaner from Clorox , named “Green Works”.   It really works, perfectly cleans and it does not emit a bad smell as others do have and it has the same cleaning power as traditional cleaners.  Greenworks is 99.93% natural and is supportive of the cause to protect and preserve our planet and its environment.  To wipe the dust off and dirt, use your old clothes and towels for cleaning, as an alternative to the recycled paper towel.

My favorite very useful baking soda will always be in the list.  You can use it in disposing of your garbage to neutralize odors.  You may grind up lemon, lime, orange peel or the smaller  specie “calamansi” in the disposal.  Likewise, a dash of baking soda on  the carpet before vacuuming will freshen  and produce a good smell.  Baking soda with a drop of vinegar are great cleaning products too.  In fact, they’re cheaper and don’t have nasty chemicals and awful smell.

3.    Personal care products such as moisturizing lotion, styling gel, face and hands liquid soap, lip balm, shampoo and others which I bought from an online store which has utmost respect for nature and is environmentally conscious and accountable.     Their products are relatively reasonable compared to the leading designer label beauty and cleansing products.

4.    Some eco food related items which I normally buy from organic stores like bread, nuts, chips, jams, salad ingredients and dressings, apple cider vinegar, brown rice vinegars are in my list. 

5.    Start using cloth napkins for meals and keep dish towels for kitchen sink use and yes, carry your good old cloth traditional handkerchief!

By the way when you go out for shopping, as much as possible,  bring some of your reusable bags to make an impression that you are not supporting the plastic grocery bags that supermarket nowadays are giving us for packaging. If you don’t have any, there is the so-called EnviroVogue reusable tote bags made from recycled plastic bottles. You can purchase them on line at envirovogue.com.  In any case, there are stores that use paper bags out of recycled paper, as one of your options.

As I said there are so many things to know about green living and what I’ve shared with you is just the tip of the iceberg.  However, with all these things in mind,  I trust you will consider the said tips and start eliminating various types of waste from our world. Trust me, this is something we can all be proud of. You can make a big difference when you start supporting e-friendly products. So, take the time out and start venturing green living today!

Note: My next blog on environment is about green fashion.  

Posted in Environment | Print | No Comments »

16. April 2010 by admin.

Early this year, you  may  have noticed  and read in the news that several advocacy groups both from governmental and non governmental organizations have already initiated efforts to  disseminate information and  encourage all  people worldwide to take part in the global action to prevent environmental degradation and its adverse impact on our planet Earth.

These groups hold yearly celebrations  both at the local and international level to inspire worldwide awareness and appreciation of environmental issues.  There are two important related  events being celebrated   this year: one is the Earth Day 2010 on the  22^nd of this month and another is the World Environment Day , being spearheaded by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP),    scheduled on the 5^th of June.   Said events are expected to be people and e-friendly activities as several groups all over the world will observe this in many interesting ways  such as tree planting, school essays and competitions, street rallies/clean ups, recycling drives, bicycle parades and the like.

Likewise, on  March 27, 2010 at 8:30 p.m. (local time) ,  the so-called Earth Hour  succeeded its mission calling for all individuals, families and  business communities throughout the world to stand up and get involve by turning off their lights for an hour with the end goal of having a sustainable future specifically to fight against climate change.

I became aware and had the opportunity to be involved in environment related discussions when I was still in the public sector.   The responsibility is far more different when you are assisting policy makers to formulate and address related issues on environment vis-à-vis when you are part of the group in the streets lobbying and advocating behind these issues.    My personal contribution and duty then as a responsible bureaucrat  was to make sure that the recommendation, at least from the technical level,  should always include strategies on how to resolve issues confronting the environment and that proposed projects be implemented in an  e-friendly atmosphere.   

Now that I am in the private practice and as part  of a blogosphere organization, I felt obliged once more  to share with you some useful thoughts about Earth Day 2010, which incidentally will mark its 40^th anniversary this year.    Earth Day 2010 was first launched in the 70’s here in the U.S.   basically calling all the people worldwide to be mindful of the protection and conservation of our planet Earth and its environment.

As private individuals and as inhabitants of  this  world ,  it is our utmost responsibility to contribute in the humblest way  we can to make our planet Earth clean and healthy!  Why is there a need to care about the Earth and its environment?   It is simply because we have only one Earth which is our home -  this is where we live, eat, breathe, raise  and enjoy the company with our loved ones. IT MAKES SENSE, right?   If children in the lower/primary and middle schools are now being taught on these issues, how much more for us grown ups!  If we care and love this place, its next generations, your children’s children,  we should have the heart to actively involve even in the little things.  

You may say, oh well, there are  high profile organizations like the UN  and its affiliates actively handling these matters.   But the UN and other groups like the Earth Day 2010 can only do so much at their level.  The initiative should come from us, ordinary citizens, who comprise by the way, the  bulk of the pie.   We have a vital role to play, we are the major stakeholders,  and as such our contributions are  deemed  important.

I’m far from being an avid green activist,  but as being part of this world,  I would like to share with you some very helpful, practical, simple and useful tips on how to save our planet and its environs . 

But before proceeding to the tips,  it would be prudent to give you a brief scenario of  the impact of the said environmental degradation.   Based  on UNEP’s yearbook, apparently there  are cumulative effects of the degradation of the ecosystems, the overexploitation of natural  Clean and e-friendly street along Forest Park, Queens , New York City (myusefultips photos  4/10)

resources, cost  of climate change, and the economic and human loss because of conflicts and disasters. Another effect as espoused in another report is the endangerment of the lives of certain plants and animals mainly due to forest reduction, pollution and hunting activities.  As technology improves, the more the problem on pollution is hard to resolve.  Those of us  living in the metropolis can attest to this that pollution has become a problematic area to handle with.   We may be aware that there are some industrial companies which may be guilty in releasing dangerous levels of chemicals, oil, garbage, and sewage into the atmosphere,  not to mention littering and landfills.   All these keep polluting the land, oceans, rivers and seas and if not eradicated and prevented,  we might all end up extinct!  

The Useuf Tips 

Starting from our Respective Families

Everything starts at home…within our respective families.   The parents being the head of the family have the primary duty to teach their children on how to make their surroundings clean and healthy.   If possible, they should set as role models to them, both in words and deeds,  on what and which  lifestyle to follow.   Activities such as biking, recycling, reusing,  and avoiding buying necessary things are just a few to mention.  

• Kids nowadays are being taught in school on how to recycle things (e.g. soda aluminum cans, plastic and glass bottles)  so it wouldn’t be hard for the parents to ask them to help out sort the garbage for recycling and take them to recycling centers.
• Another way is to turn off the lights  when not needed. Unplug any appliances when not in use.  Anything plugged into an electrical outlet emits an electromagnetic  field which apparently is harmful to health.  Use incandescent bulbs.  These are available in leading commercial establishments. 
• Conserve water.  Turn off the faucets when not in use.   Properly dispose of water plastic bottles. 
• Wash  your clothes once a week (full load).  It  is more energy and cost efficient than washing every other day (which contains only a half load).
• Use silver wares and real plates when eating and clean them afterwards - better to use a human dishwasher!   
• Start planting flowers and vegetables if you have a space in your home’s front or backyard    

Newly planted  flower plant in the front yard of a home along Park Lane, New York  City (myusefultips photos 4/10)

• Buy and use “green” and eco-friendly products, as much as possible.  Said products conform with the  guidelines of  the  concerned  environmental protection agency where ever you’re located.
• If your work is relatively near from your place,  it is advisable  to walk or ride in a public transport, or use your bicycle instead of using your car so as to lessen the fuel emissions in the air.  
• Last but not least is to avoid using plastic bags, plastic plates and the like.    There have been some hard efforts and plenty of lobbying to implement existing laws and guidelines.  Apparently, this is one thing that is hard to police and monitor -  what is needed is a political will not only from the authorities but from all of us as well. 

To the Community We Belong

• For sure, there are groups of environmentalists in your area  where members of your family or anyone can volunteer in their activities like  cleaning  up the beaches, drainage system, and important landmarks in your community.   These activities can be fun not to mention the worthy cause and the new faces and friends you will meet in these gatherings.
• Do not litter. Pick up trash in public places such as the playgrounds and plazas.
• Plant a tree to beautify your neighborhood and to keep the air clean.  We all know that trees give off oxygen for humans to breathe.  
•  

                   The  neighborhood at Richmond Hill,  New York  City  (myusefultips photos 4/10)

• Participate in any fundraising activities for environment related projects. You may also join groups and help them distribute flyers and posters as part of their info campaign on environment related projects such as global warming and its effects on us and other living things.   There are lots of resources on the web which are very useful and informative.  

You may have some other tips to share , so don’t hesitate to share it with me, with your friends and neighbors.

Taking care of our planet and its environment should neither be  a burden nor be done only for one day.  In  fact it should be a  lifetime commitment.   If you have been so lukewarm about environment related advocacies, I hope you will try your best to actively participate from now on and start rolling your sleeves  and get to working with the rest of the group.

Posted in Environment | Print | 3 Comments »