The French Parliament has voted overwhelmingly to ban fracking, a toxic way to extract natural gas from rock thousands of feet below ground and pollutes groundwater and sickens people and animals in the process. The state of New Jersey is the only state to ban fracking in the U.S., though the process is underway in […]
Fracking: A Clear and Present Danger
I don’t like to exaggerate the impacts of the many environmental issues we face. But it’s impossible to overstate how dangerous fracking is. Fracking stands for “hydraulic fracturing,” a highly polluting process for tapping underground pools of natural gas. It involves drilling a hole a mile deep and thousands of feet long, then pumping down […]
What the Heck is Fracking? And Why Don’t You Want It Anywhere Near Your Water?
It sounds like it could be a new dance (“Let’s do the frack!”). Or maybe it’s a cool way to clean your house (“I really fracked my floor this week; it looks great now!”) But it’s not. Fracking is short for “hydraulic fracturing,” explains Chris Bolgiano in this Bay Journal article. “It involves drilling a […]
Putting on Lipstick Shouldn’t be so Risky. It Won’t Be – if You Support the Safe Cosmetics Act
If you’re anything like me, when you buy lipstick or eye make-up, it’s because you want to look better, not feel worse. But many cosmetics contain questionnable ingredients that have been linked to cancer, reproductive problems, and asthma and respiratory disease. I’ve switched to more eco-friendly, non-toxic personal care products, but shouldn’t EVERY cosmetic be […]
Skin Cancer is Scary and Ugly. Here’s What Mine Looks Like.
2.5kviews Skin cancer is scary and ugly. I should know. I’ve had it seven times. And every time, I’ve had to have it cut out or burned off in order to control it. Why do I get skin cancer so often? In part, I’m genetically pre-disposed. My ancestors were northern Europeans from Scotland and Poland, […]
Eco-Friendly, Non-Toxic Sunscreens: Everything You Need to Know
The best way to protect yourself from skin cancer is to avoid getting a sun burn. That means NOT laying out in the sun with no shade, unlike this person. But after you’ve taken all the right steps – stayed out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., worn a hat and long sleeves, […]
Top 10 Eco-Ways to Keep Cool While the Planet Heats Up
Do you love summer but hate the heat? Me, too, especially when it’s combined with the high humidity we have where I live in the Washington, D.C. suburbs. Here’s how I keep cool when 100+degree heat waves roll through town: 1) Use an air conditioner AND fans. A fan doesn’t affect the temperature of a […]
Dry Your Clothes for Free
Want to do your laundry the eco-friendly way? It’s a simple, two-step process: 1) Wash most everything in cold water (The only thing I wash in hot water is towels.) 2) Hang your laundry out to dry. Benefits? • Save energy, lower your electric or gas bill, and reduce your carbon footprint (the amount of […]
