green sunscreen

found this article in my inbox to blog about and am finally getting to it. It is entirely relevant though since it's still summer :D

"Broccoli may outperform sunblock

By Rick Weiss

The Washington Post

WASHINGTON — George H.W. Bush: Call your dermatologist.

New research suggests broccoli, the vegetable that the former president famously demonized as inedible, can prevent the damage from ultraviolet light that often leads to skin cancer. And as Bush would surely appreciate, he would not even have to eat it.

In tests on people and hairless mice, a green smear of broccoli-sprout extract blocked the potentially cancer-causing damage usually inflicted by sunlight and showed potential advantages over sunscreens.

The product is still in early stages of development. Among other issues to be worked out is how best to remove the extract's green pigments, which do not contribute to its protective effects and would give users a temporary Martian complexion.

But scientists said the research represents a significant advance because the extract works not by screening out the sun's rays — which has the downside of blocking sun-induced vitamin D production — but by turning on the body's natural cancer-fighting machinery. Once stimulated, those mechanisms work for days, long after the extract is washed away."

solutions for the people and planet

see... i have great faith in humanity. they find wonderful solutions that benefit on so many levels when they put their amazing brains to work.

i found this over on treehugger. it seems the help reduce their carbon imprint the stat of Utah is going to a 4-day work week. it's absolutely brilliant. better for the people, and they get to have lots of buildings closed and not using resources. let's hope they find it works wonderfully and more states follow.

can they do a study on the reduced impact of telecommuting now :D

get your hands dirty

Today I found a chance to play in the last farmland in Seattle in support of Lettuce Link which provide organic produce and growing education to low income families.

Marra Farms is locate in South Park and we will be doing various tasks like weeding, building and planting to help feed hungry families in Seattle. It will be held on May 31st from 10-2.

If you'd like to join me and others here is a link

Seattle Works

love happens

The Earth loves you!

do one thing today that shows you return her love.

"Eventually I came to think there are three major reasons [for climate-change skepticism].

One is catastrophe overload. The end of the world has been going to come several times, and we're all still here. So it's: 'Wake me up when the real end of the world is coming.'

Then there's: 'If this were really as bad as you say, I would feel it by now. There'd be water lapping at my first-floor windows.' The problem is that the climate operates on a very long time lag, so if you wait until there's water lapping at your first-floor windows, you can be sure there's going to be water lapping at your second-floor windows. I don't think the message has gotten out: changes 30 or 40 years from now are already inevitable. There is warming in the pipeline already.

And then there is this question of what to do. People don't like to confront problems they don't have a clear answer to. And the answers here—to the extent there are answers—are very, very complicated. They're very hard. We know what causes people to be overweight, and we can't even stop that! And with global warming it's not as simple as 'eat less, lose weight.' It's 'do a million things.' As the mayor of Burlington, Vt., said to me, there's not one thing we have to do; there are hundreds and hundreds of things we have to do. And we have to do them on a global scale.

So that's pretty daunting to people. It's very much easier to pretend the problem doesn't exist."

—Elizabeth Kolbert in a 2006 interview with

I feel like I'm on some bouncing string... Like one of those Johnny-Jump-Ups that used to live on the hook in my basement. I am strapped into this contraption merrily bouncing along... Unfortunately my recent bouncing has not been quiet as peaceful and merry.

I feel trapped in this confusion of "what needs to happen" "what do I focus on" and "what the f*ck am I so depressed about now" I feel a bit alone in this bafflement, so I will try and explain whats happening in the hopes that maybe one person out there in the world can relate.

I feel a bit weird trying to grow a business when I see the world collapsing around me. It seems a bit odd to be worried about how to pay the mortgage and where to find "my ideal client." As an Aquarian I have been graced with always having my head stuck somewhere in the future 5 to 10 years ahead. I'm confused by all these people trying to "get ahead" Where do they think they are going? I'm not a drastic person but honestly, the economy ain't going to work the same way in the near future, and so I again wonder... "what's the point?" Our entire society revolves around a commodity that's running out. Why should I participate in it... and yet how can I afford not to.

The planet we inhabit is very sick. I think diagnosis might be a combination of cancer, AIDS, depression a really bad rash, plus a fever and boils. In my most evolved of moments I know that it doesn't matter and that the Earth will still be here long after we have thoroughly destroyed it. But in my everyday waking moments I feel paralysed. Why aren't we doing MORE. Why am I trying to build a stupid reflexology practice? and What is everyone thinking? I don't know what to do. So I bounce... trying to find a way to bring in income while and play the game of living in 2007. But underneath the voices are getting louder and I'm not sure how long I can keep playing.

So what's keeping me back? Well for starters, I have no idea what needs to be done first. Who do I talk to... why didn't I get that environmental education endorsement I wanted? If I tell someone I can heal not only people but water and plants and soil are they just going to dismiss me and walk away. Where's my place? Who are my people? and Where do I sign up? I'm bundling it all up and sending it out ... I want to help, I know I can help, please show me the next step or introduce me to the right person.

I know it's too late for some places, for some people and for some animals... but I also believe that this is a chance for the human race to shine. For us to put down our weapons, our fears, our judgements because who cares what the person next to you looks, thinks or act like if we don't start changing our relationship with the Earth they won't be there to hate, and we won't be there to learn to see through our hate and love them.

I'd like to see Al Gore switch the title of "Global Climate Crisis" to "Global Climate Opportunity" he's the man who could do it... then instead being inundated with yet another crisis we could see this for what it is... a chance for us to evolve and become so much more.

politics, population, and planting

This is not the happiest of posts, some political stuff in front and more inspiring things below.

The axis of evil might lie closer to home:
Gas increases and the Bush AdministrationOne girl documents "What I learned from Bush"


Now how to fix our cities
Carl Sagan on Population and Poverty

The lighter, happier stuff:
Planting trees, start young
21 things you didn't know you could recycle
Yay Seattle! now when do you think they will build it?

Bottled Water

Lots of new information coming out on this. I find it funny that people think tap water is not very healthy when it is monitored several times a day and the bottled stuff from coke and pepsi has lower standards and testing results are kept classified. Unfortunately good bottled water is often shipped from far away places, loosing it's environmental and health benefits by the fuel consumed during travel. High end restaurants in San Fransisco and New York are embracing the low environment impact and are cutting imported water from their menu's.

Here's the article
Top 5 reasons to avoid bottled water

SierraClub fact sheet

So raise your glass high, drink up and refill from the tap.

Water Travel

I have been traveling a lot in the last two months and I am so grateful for the opportunity to see other parts of the gigantic country I live in.

At the end of June my spouse and I were blessed with the opportunity to go on a cruise to Alaska with his family. It is a vacation I would never have chosen for myself. Why because I tend to be a frugal, hippy type traveler, prone to pick international destinations and hostels, no frills and no extras. Plus my water travel tends to happen in a kayak, not a floating city. I have to say, I had more bags for these 7 days than I took in my last 2 trips combined. We had an amazing time and the experience has made us likely to participate on another cruise at some point. If a country to run half as efficiently as that ship seemed to run... wow! we would be living in an amazing place.

But here is the secret, I was extremely hesitant to go on this adventure. I hate those giant ships, they are an eyesore and the environmental destruction they do! Ack! I was besides myself with the disgust. To prevent myself from finding an excuse to cancel or ruining my trip with an illness, I decided to do some faery work in advance hoping to neutralize my impact on the trip. It worked and I had more fun that I ever anticipated. What's even better is my husband had so much fun for weeks after he would look at me and say "I miss our cruise."

Yesterday while cleaning out my pile upon pile of old magazines what should pop up but a wonderful solution to our vacation woes. A eco-cruise line!

Not a fruity umbrella drink in site, no casino or dance club on board and no stupid art auctions! Ahh the beauty of being with people who do yoga on deck in the morning and get out in kayaks or snorkel gear to interact with nature. So I'm setting aside funds and someday I'm going to join one of these beautiful, environmental journeys. A place where I can be thoroughly pampered, see nature, and make a difference. It's a win all around!

Oh and for those who want to offset their travels through carbon funds here are 2 options
carbonfund
co2balance

Upcoming retreat

Linked here is a description of the upcoming retreat I am co-facilitating June 8th-10th on Whidbey Island. It will be a wonderful weekend of giving to the Earth and receiving for yourself. I will post more as details make themselves more known.

Right now there will be work around our current environmental chaos and easy, small steps you can take to help. There will be sweat time in a Finnish sauna, gardening, labyrinth walking, shamanic journeying and much more. Plus we are staying in the cutest farm house ever and eating delicious local foods prepared by me and the catering staff at the Whidbey Institute. It will be a weekend full of magic!

I hope to see you there!

http://ravensongretreats.com/index.html

new climate change group

http://www.2people.org/

Their goal seems to be to get politicians to commit to making global warming, climate change, and carbon emissions are on the ticket in the 2008 elections. They have some simple tips for everyday life; small changes that can create great positive change when done by many. Check it out, join if you feel so inclined !

Remember:

"Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little."
~Edmund Burke

the reflexology 12 step

Stress Reduction: Reflexology calms and balances the body, sooths the nervous system, and puts you in a state of bliss.

Immune Support: Reflexology works from the inside out and focuses on returning your body to perfect health.

Detoxification: Toxins get stored in the feet due to gravity. Receiving foot reflexology improves circulation and moves accumulated toxins out of your body.

Better Foot Function=Energy: Reflexology improves flexibility, decreases foot pain, and helps align bones put out of place by shoes and sports. This increases your energy levels by allowing you to walk better, getting natural reflexology with each step.

Whole Body: Reflexology is based on the belief that the whole body is mirrored in the feet, hands and ears. By working these areas you can provide pain relief or address any dis-ease or discomforts you may be experiencing anywhere in the body.

Better Sleep: Reflexology balances the mind and body, helps hormonal and endocrine imbalances and sooths the mind allowing all cares to fall away. One hour of sleep on the reflexology table is equal to 8 hours as your body immediately descends to delta brain wave activity.

Improved creativity/ productivity: Reflexology puts you into a deep meditative state, the place where ideas are generated and problems solved. Serendipitous moments happen on the reflexology table and after.

Grounding: Taking your feet out of their shoes can help to ground you to the present moment making you more aware and thankful of all the small wonderful things that happen daily. Plus it literally connects you to the ground and closer to the energy of the Earth.

Shoes Kill: Your feet do you numerous services daily and their reward is often shoes that disfigure them and make them hurt. Support naked feet and celebrate wiggly toes with a session of reflexology.

It feels great: You deserve to feel great because you are great. Reflexology helps you remember to take a little space and time all for you, and what a bonus that you walk out in a state of bliss!

Earth-Friendly: By doing good things to improve your health you will most likely start doing better things to help the planet(like get more reflexology!). Plus! All lotions and oils used in session are organic and on the first Tuesday of the month Amy donates all profits to the Nature Conservatory.

healthy feet=healthy spine=healthy life: If the feet are balanced, healthy and functioning properly, then the spine is allowed it's full range of motion. If these two things are flowing your whole life is full of ease. Why?Because the bones and muscles are working right, which moves lymphatic fluid and blood around, which carries vital nutrients and oxygen to your cells and carries wastes away to be eliminated. Plus the nervous system can communicate more efficiently which all adds up to a better life full of energy, creativity and joy.

eco-footprint

Happy New Year everyone! Here's a good way to see your impact on the environment and maybe make some changes in the new year! More updates soon.

I'm a Conservation International Eco-ally. What are you? Measure your ecological impact at www.conservation.org/ecofootprint