How safe is the stuff you put on your skin?

Here is another on-line resource I'd like to recommend: The Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Cosmetic Database. If you have a skin-care, cosmetic type product in the house and you "think" it's supposed to be safe, search for it in the database and see how it fares. You might be pleasantly--or unpleasantly--surprised.

For example, recently I looked up a body lotion/moisturizers I've been using but have nearly run out of. I had bought it specifically because the way it is marketed, I thought it was a good product in terms of not putting harmful chemicals into it and onto my skin. This product is sold in the "organics", "naturals" type section of a local grocery store (and at some other local stores). But a search in the Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database revealed it isn't such a safe or healthy product after all--rated of "moderate hazard"--and that there are many out there that would be a better choice. Further, the database revealed that the company who makes this product is not compliant with the "Compact for Safe Cosmetics" treaty that they signed! So to that company (which I will opt to remain unnamed): "I turn my back on you".

Click here for the database. (You can also access it from their home page. I've provided a link to that under the websites link in the sidebar at the right.)

In January, a friend of mine was part of organizing a film screening on campus for America, The Beautiful. There are several resources out there on this topic, and this film is also one that highlights some problems with significantly harmful chemicals being put into (some) cosmetics--and companies who are not transparent about this at all.

The documentary: Blue Gold

Also available at the Kingston Public Library is the documentary, Blue Gold: World Water Wars. This is a film by Sam Bozzo that also looks at issues of water--the necessity of water for life, and serious problems of freshwater depletion, pollution, corporate and corrupt government actions where profit and greed rules above people and planet. Like Flow, it is disturbing, frustrating, alarming, and also provides examples of positive actions and solutions people are working and fighting for.

Although I haven't (yet) read them, a few books on this topic that one may also find of interest include:

• Blue Gold: The Battle Against Corporate Theft of the World's Water (2002) by Maude Barlow and Tony Clarke [available at KFPL]
• Blue Covenant: The Global Water Crisis and the Coming Battle for the Right to Water (2007) by Maude Barlow [available at KFPL]

Apparently, the City of Kingston, Ontario in which I live has set a goal of becoming Canada's Most Sustainable City. If Kingston -- and the people involved in planning and steering decisions -- are truly going to achieve this goal (and I hope they do), it will require vision, creativity, and courage (backbone, guts, a powerful humanitarian and earth-itarian vision coupled with much action). Looking at water usage and conversation issues must be one important aspect of this -- and an aspect that finds solutions and relationships across many sectors. Some examples off the top of my head include:

• Building codes. Solutions include: substantial rainwater collection systems should be mandatory in all new developments, the use of graywater wherever appropriate and as much as possible.
• Decisions about expansion and housing developments. Solutions include: seriously looking at what population and water usage can the watershed truly support to not be depleted and then to keep housing within that limit. If you want more people, then you MUST find innovative ways to reduce water usage and the impact on the watershed.
• Food sources. Solutions include the dominant use of local food systems as a must and where within local food systems, sustainable practices are mandatory including rainwater collection systems as the key source of irrigation rather than groundwater/rivers/lakes, as well as looking at methods of growing foods that are also water-savvy (e.g., hyrdroponics).
• Surface treatment and the issue of paving. Solutions include: having more non-paved surfaces and when a surface is paved, use only permeable paving materials so that rainwater goes into the ground and the groundwater table instead of running-off into the lakes
• Pollution issues in all forms--and the prevention of further polluting and damaging water sources. This is a huge issue to look at as pollution comes from so many sources.
• Trees. Plant trees. All streets and parks etc should be tree-lined (and how about with trees that produce food for people???). Tree roots and other plantings hold water in the watershed and help prevent run-off (as well as providing shade, homes to birds and creatures, oxygen, and other positive things). There are also ways of planting other plants and shrubs so as to catch water and slow/prevent run-off. This is also very helpful and important--not to mention aesthetically pleasing and adding plant diversity.
• Other water conservation methods: low flow toilets, shower-heads etc. Why are new residences not being built with these things? This is unacceptable.
• Say NO to bottled-water and the irresponsible mining of water by corporations for profit (and with no concerns for planet or people) and the privatization of water. Please watch the documentaries and read more to learn about these issues.

The list could go on as there as many innovative things that can and should be done. Many of these ideas are touched on in the documentaries, as well as more pertaining to the issue of serious issue of major multinational corporation's attempts to privatize and own water.

The documentary: Flow

I watched this documentary recently --with thanks to the Kingston Public Library for having it in their collections. For a description, visit the film's website: www.flowthefilm.com. The film raises much that is unsettling, deeply troubling, as well as things that are hopeful. I recommend it.

For those of you who visit the blog regularly, you might have noticed I've added a link in the sidebar to charity:water, an organization founded by Scott Harrison. I feel moved by Scott's description of how he came to this project, and of his description of charity:

"Charity.

For me, charity is practical. It's sometimes easy, more often inconvenient, but always necessary. It's the ability to use one's position of influence, relative wealth and power to affect lives for the better. charity is singular and achievable.

There's a biblical parable about a man beaten near death by robbers. He's stripped naked and lying roadside. Most people pass him by, but one man stops. He picks him up and bandages his wounds. He puts him on his horse and walks alongside until they reach an inn. He checks him in and throws down his Amex. "Whatever he needs until he gets better."

Because he could.

The dictionary defines charity as simply the act of giving voluntarily to those in need. It's taken from the word "caritas," or simply, love. In Colossians 3, the Bible instructs readers to "put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness."

Although I'm still not sure what that means, I love the idea. To wear charity." (2006)

Thank you Scott for your work, vision, heart, and ability to inspire.

There were many inspiring words and scenes in the film Flow. Near the end, there is a scene of a "Play Pump". Essentially, it is the children's play on a merry-go-round like device (akin to a piece of playground equipment) that pumps water from a well. The photo below is from PlayPumps' website:

(One qualm I have about the Play Pump system--based on my initial reactions--it is the design feature for "advertising" on two sides of the storage tank and "educational" messages on the other two sides. I don't buy into either of these as a positive.)

* * *

There is so much that is troubling in the world, and so much that is beautiful and good. Let's persist in standing up for the good.

Tree Canada

Today, I have savoured what could be described by all accounts as a very relaxed, lazy sort of day. It has included in part reading gardening magazines with legs outstretched and tea nearby, thinking about what I might plant this year to continue developing a welcoming outdoor space for birds, insects, butterflies, and people alike. Percolating in the background were issues related to work, thankfully about nothing out-and-out negative--but rather with thoughts about the "what's coming nexts" and challenges to find solutions for. While reading an issue of Canadian Gardening magazine, I came across reference to an organization called Tree Canada. From their website: 

"Tree Canada is a not-for-profit, charitable organization established in 1992. Under the direction of a 13-member volunteer Board of Directors, Tree Canada provides education, technical assistance, resources and financial support through working partnerships to encourage Canadians to plant and care for trees in an effort to help reduce the harmful effects of carbon dioxide emissions. Tree Canada is a leader in promoting the value of urban forests in Canada."

The logo above is also from their site. Anyone interested in greening rural or urban spaces through tree planting might enjoy checking out the site. It has resources for children and teachers on it, and I noticed there is an option to make a donation on the site with 85% of the amount going directly to the planting of trees in Canada. 

I also learned that apparently Kingston, Ontario won a Green Streets Canada award from the organization last year for "creating an urban forest". I couldn't find details of the Kingston project on the website but I am very curious. Any Kingston and area readers know details of the project that won the award?