All right is it just me or does the current rise in gas prices seem a bit ridiculous? I understand that we are at war, and our oil supply is tenuous, but isn’t it a problem that the major oil companies are reporting enormous profits. The US is at war, the ENTIRE US including the oil companies. I am all for companies being profitable, but come on, at who’s expense. We have little choice in the fact that we need to continue to go back and forth to our jobs, to earn money to feed our families. Yet even there we are bombarded by high costs for food, directly related to the fact that our illustrious President has encouraged farmers to change crops to corn to produce Ethanol to reduce oil consumption. The sad fact is that Ethanol actually reduces fuel efficiency, which means our cars go less far on the same purchase of gas as before. WHAT DOES THAT SOLVE???? We need to stop the insanity. If we all drove less, used less gas and sent a message to the oil companies that it’s time we as a country worked together and all absorbed some of the burden instead of letting the little guys take the big hit.

Stand up and be heard. Send a letter to your legislators and let them know that your fed up, and you expect them to do something that will start to reduce the exorbitant costs we’re all facing.  We are willing to do our part, but we can be expected to shoulder the entire burden.  Enough is enough!

As our thoughts once again turn to Earth Day and the harm that the chemicals and packing materials used for household cleaners cause our environment, it is well to remember that many of them are also detrimental to our health.

For example, in a study published in the October 12, 2007 issue of American Journal of Respiratory and
Critical Care Medicine, doctors from the Municipal Institute of Medical Research in Barcelona reported
that use of household cleaning sprays increased asthma risk in adults.

They studied 3,500 adults and found that those who used household cleaning sprays (for example, spray air
fresheners, furniture cleaners and glass cleaners) had a 30-50% higher risk of asthma than those who seldom or never used spray cleaners.

The incidence of doctor-diagnosed asthma was highest in those who used the cleaning sprays at least four times a week.

The cause of the increased asthma risk is not known, but the scientists who conducted the study hypothesized that it was some irritant in the propellants used in the sprays because the cleaners themselves only increased the risk of asthma by 10-15%.

The scary part is that the incidence of asthma in children has increased dramatically over the past 15 to
20 years.

And the scientific community has been at a loss to explain the causes behind this increase.

Children are usually much more sensitive to household cleaning products than adults.

Perhaps it is no coincidence that the use of household sprays and other household cleaning products containing potential irritants has also increased dramatically over this time period.

This, and similar studies, deserve wider publicity than they have received in the press.

Household cleaning sprays are convenient and inexpensive. Most people are completely unaware of the
negative effects that they can have can have on both the environment and on their health, so household
cleaning sprays have become almost ubiquitous in American households.

Use safe, healthy products for your family. I like Shaklee Get Clean products. This company is real “Green”. No hidden agenda here, just good things for you and the planet. Check out my other site featuring these type of products http://www.shaklee.net/earthforce

Well once again April 22nd. has come and gone.  Many people participated in clean-ups, educational events and tree plantings and for one week the earth breathed a sigh of relief.  The effort was a good one, but what if we continued the effort and made everyday Earth Day. 

This concept may seem foriegn to many, but like myself there are others that believe we can make steps everyday to create a healthier world.  Here are some ideas you could use to join the effort:

1. Use less water.

2. Ride your bike, walk or use public transportation.

3. Get a re-usable shopping bag.

4. Recycle, Recycle, Recycle.

5. Use cleaning products that are concentrated, non-toxic and bio-degradable.

6. Turn off lights and appliances off when leaving a room.

7. Wash your car with biodegradable, non-toxic cleaners.

8. Plant a tree or two or twenty.

9. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs.

10. Encourage your legislators to make some of the same changes your willing to make.

We can all make a difference, one day at a time.  Do a little, help a lot!

Don’t forget!  On Tuesday April 22nd environmental supporters, children and families worldwide will celebrate Earth Day.  This day and weekend is dedicated to celebrating and restoring our big blue marble.  Whether its clean-up of shorelines, tree plantings, or any other activity to preserve and protect, please try to participate in some small way.  Check your local newspapers for activities in your area. Or go to www.earthday.org to connect to the Earth Day Network of events. 

As Americans we are born with the freedom of choice.  This is true in how we spend our hard earned cash as well.  The choices we make at the store are like votes we cast for our elected officials.  Imagine if all of a sudden people stopped purchasing products that were toxic to the environment.  Manufacturers would see the drop in revenues and very quickly would create focus groups and changes would happen very quickly.  This would be true with fossil fuels as well.  We have a say in what we use, but for some reason most Americans seem to be complacent and willing to accept whatever we’re handed.  Let’s start to create change!

Stop buying toxic products for your home!