“Climate change will affect the availability, quality and quantity of water needed for basic human needs, thus undermining enjoyment of the basic rights to safe drinking water and sanitation for billions of people, warns the latest UN World Water Development Report.” United Nations
Today as we are all advised to wash our hands because of our world crisis, please take a moment to pause and think about our water. On World Water Day become mindful of your relationship to water on our planet. How do you use water? How many times during the day do you turn on the water faucet? Who keeps the water we drink and use safe? How does the water get to our houses? What can we do to conserve and keep our fresh water clean and safe?
The water we have on Earth is the only water we will ever have. It is used and reused as part of the water cycle. Please be mindful how you use it.
“Today is #InternationalWomensDay and we recognize that women are still far from equal to men in today’s societies. We still have a very long way to go. Those who will suffer the most from the climate- and environmental crisis are the ones who are already the most vulnerable, socially and financially. And that tends to be women living in the global south… We can not have climate justice without gender equality. And remember; what we women want today – and every day- is fundamental equal rights, not congratulations or celebrations.” Greta Thunberg
It seems an irony to be celebrating International Women’s Day after the primary elections in the United States turned away Elizabeth Warren, an outstanding candidate, from running for president. I would like to know where the women of this country are? Why would they vote for old white men when they have a better female choice? It is a mystery.
On this day we are celebrate all the women we know and all they do to make the world a better place and make the lives around them better everyday!
Women and girls need education and family planning so they can take control of their own lives.
Time Magazine’s issue this week is about women leaders of the last 100 years. Just imagine a 100 years from now! 100 women
As we enter March the world is gripped with a great uncertainty. The Coronavirus is creeping up on us, and in the United States we have a government that is more interested in their image than actually dealing with the Coronavirus crisis. This administration is good at one thing, blaming everyone else for their problems. We can’t trust what they say because they lie constantly, don’t believe in, or understand science, nor the experts. Gut feelings will not solve a health pandemic.
More uncertainity is brought about by the primary elections being held. The public is uncertain as to who has the energy and ability to take on and lead the United States with integrity. Please vote for science and honesty in your primary election.
Then there is our warming climate. Yes, I love warmer winters, but enormous challenges face us in the future.
And more evidence the Trump administration is not honest with us.
“One of the saddest lessons of history is this: If we’ve been bamboozled long enough, we tend to reject any evidence of the bamboozle. We’re no longer interested in finding out the truth. The bamboozle has captured us. It’s simply too painful to acknowledge, even to ourselves, that we’ve been taken. Once you give a charlatan power over you, you almost never get it back.” Carl Sagan
This March search out truth, share ideas that only have reliable sources, wash your hands, find beauty everyday, and practice mindfulness! The Actions for Happiness mindfulness calendar below:
With some planning you too can have a plastic-free day!
Join me for a plastic-free day. Reducing single-use plastic consumption is an important way we can make a positive difference for our earth. Start with one plastic-free day a week to change the way we live our lives. Join me for a plastic-free day
With a little planning and organization the night before you can have a plastic free day.
First pack your lunch in a reusable plastic-free container, and bring your reusable cup and utensils.
Avoid plastic, purchase produce in bulk without plastic
Next bring your reusable shopping bags to shop for dinner. Making a sheet pan dinner is easier than take-out. Here is a list of sheet pan dinners to last you almost a month. Purchase produce items without plastic wrap and plastic bags. Choose a new grocery store if yours doesn’t offer bulk produce of carrots, onions, potatoes, apples and broccoli. For a protein source visit the meat counter to avoid plastic wrap and Styrofoam trays. Eggs can be purchased plastic-free. Here is a sheet pan dinner using a can of garbanzo beans, and vegetarian sheet pan dinners here.
Why is it important we avoid plastic? Just a 9% of the single-use plastic in the United States is recycled. Plastic breaks into tiny particles, and is eaten by fish, turtles and other marine life. Plastic is made to last, and will stay on Earth hundred of years and maybe forever. I can’t imagine the future of our Earth if we don’t contain this harmful monster.
“The consequences of climate change will affect every aspect of an electricapower system, from generation transmission and distribution to end-user demand.” Moody’s Investors Service Read more here.
I find this Moody’s report(above) crucial as Mr. Trump and Secretary Mnuchin are clearly in denial of one of the greatest threats facing our planet, climate change. They are ignoring the facts and they are attacking a seventeen year old who clearly knows more about science and the reality of climate change than they do. Yes, her focus is on science and the future. Trump and Mnuchin think profits and making money. I wonder if the Moody’s report is fake news? Mnuchin VS Greta
Why don’t they just ignore Greta? Why do they belittle and make fun of her? They are the adults?
No water needed!
What expectations should we have from the leaders of the United States? First, they shouldn’t make fun of people, and especially a 17 year old. Yes, disagree, but don’t make fun of people because you disagree with them. Agree to disagree, without put-downs! Second, I expect that our officials work for the best interests of the people of the United States and the people of the world, prioritizing keep them safe. They need to listen to the scientists and search for the best information avaliable, not just gut feelings. They should care about people over profit and money. Finally, I expect they tell they truth and follow the rule of law. Bad values will catch up with the economy eventually!
It is more expensive to fix things than to keep it in good order in the first place. What do Mnuchin and Trump care? They will be long gone when things are beyond repair, and people are suffering from air and water pollution, droughts, fires flooding and rising seas.
There is no planet B and there won’t be a way to go back and start over. We must reduce our carbon output and keep our air and water clean now and not next year!
Fridays for our Future
Climate change will do more than sabotage our power sources. It will also harm the wine industry
Finally, things you can do today, choose one to help the Earth!
Ancient Persepolis, a woman approached me telling me she loved me because I was so kind.
Two years ago I was lucky to be one of the few Americans allowed to visit Iran. We were there for 8 days visiting cultural and historical places as well as meeting many Iranian people. After 40 years of hearing what an awful country Iran is, we were thrilled to find a friendly engaging people. They are interested in, and like the American people. Everywhere we went we were approached by the charming people. The wanted to talk to us and find out how we liked their country and how we liked their food. Many times a day they would approach us offering us candy, asking to take pictures of us, wanting to engage with us. They seemed to find pleasure that we also had unpleasant leaders, and we often heard, “We both have bad governments, butwe the people, we are friends!” Our guide said the Iranian people never chose this government, the Ayatollah was able to take over during the Iranian Revolution.
These soldiers wanted me to take their picture.
A holy day in Iran
A dry river bed in the heart of Tehran. Water is more valuable in Iran than oil.
These friendly beautiful people do not deserve harmful sanctions or a war between silly reckless men! Read more at, The Iranian people are not the enemy
Never purchase items with glitter. Glitter doesn’t break down and can exist for a thousand years in the ocean or soil. It is harmful to animals and wildlife.
A consumer is powerful. The choices we make, and what we purchase changes marketing and products, and as consumers we can make a big difference by the choices we make. The choices we make can make a positive change on the environment creating a more sustainable world.
The Arctic is melting, and much of the earth is experiencing record hot temperatures, our children are demanding change. What choice do we have?
As a wise consumer you can help to reduce your harmful impact on our earth by increasing your shopping awareness and taking your consumer power seriously. If everyone does a little it can add up to a lot!
Being sustainable consumers are priorities for our household. These are our suggestions for ways to use your consumer power:
Heighten your awareness of packaging and waste, choosing products with minimal or no wasteful plastic packaging.
Always shop with reusable bags.
Never purchase products with glitter or Styrofoam. They can’t be recycled.
Shop reuse stores. Some of my favorite clothes and items come from consignment stores.
Shop bulk items.
Buying in bulk is a good way to manage food waste, and plastic waste. Bring your own bags or containers.
Shop retailers that pay living wages, and are local over big box stores.
Buy nothing and reuse what you have!
Purchase items that will last instead of cheap junk.
Avoid all single-use plastic
Make your own choices, don’t be owned by corporations like Apple, Target, Amazon etc.
Health4earth 