back-to-school SHOPPING

When shopping for back-to-school products (or anything else, for that matter). Stay away from vinyl (PVC) in your products. This #3 plastic (PVC) is called the "poison plastic" by the Center for Health, Justice and the Environment.

In addition to negative environmental effects, plasticisers used in PVC can leach out into the air over time. One of them--DHEP--is a suspected carcinogen.

Clean Water

The ELCA website has some great resources for "Our Faith In Action". Here is a link for information about the issue of clean water and how you can be an advocate for clean water. Clean Water for Our Communities - click here

living in the dark???

Here are 5 ways to save money and the environment this summer: close the shades, upgrade to an energy star air conditioner or rely on passive cooling, shade your air conditioner, line dry your laundry and get an energy audit.

Sandwich bag alternatives

For those picnics at the beach or your lunch at school or work, there is an alternative to ziploc sandwich bags. Try Fresh Pak's velcro closure, insulated sandwich bags made from 50% recylced material. http://www.blueavocado.com/products/fresh_pak-48-6.html

Medals and Ribbons

For those who have medals for running marathons, half marathons and triathlons and aren't interested in keeping them, you can donate them instead of throwing them away. Medals4Mettle awards these medals attached to a Medals4Mettle ribbon to children and adults fighting debilitating illnesses. http://www.medals4mettle.org/

mmmmmm - Ice Cream

How about enjoying some fun summer treats that are more earth friendly than most "treats". Some of the ice cream ingredients are Fair trade, organic or non-GMO (genetically modified organisms). Two brands, So Delicious and Ben and Jerry's, are even fairly common in stores. http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/201107/enjoy-icecream.aspx

Morning after the Mess

This year's "Morning After Mess" cleanup is Tuesday, July 5, 2011, 8AM to 11AM at Belmont Park. Last year, about 1,000 volunteers collected more than 8,000 pounds of trash.