Having recently watched Louis Theroux presenting the documentary on the white people of South Africa known  as the Boer, not all of them with the same attitude, but for some, I was embaressed, ashamed and appauled at the ignorance and narrow minded attitudes of a number of these particular white south Africans. There is the history of the inexcusable aparteid and being someone of a youger generation, honestly thought that those prehistoric, idiotic and racist attitudes were to remain in history. Sadly, we know that reality says otherwise. Racism is a daily part of our world’s existence. And the certain Boer select few within the Boer culture have a streak of racism are not alone in their attitudes, many countries still go to war over their differences, and in my eyes could also be considered as racism for the want for elitism and power in doing so. 

Why is it that there is hate amongst some over peoples race, difference in skin tone, culture or religion. Sure, we’re all different, emphasis on we’re all different, we all have our own individual fingerprints, eye colour, hair texture, bone structure, blood type, fashion sense and our own uniqueness in every aspect. Why is that there are some that just don’t seem to realise they are as different to those that they have racist feelings or hatred toward. We all have many things in common, the blood that runs through our veins, DNA, facial expressions,  imagination and talents. Every Human has the right to existence as much as the next person. And with that existence, comes entitlements to human rights and equality.   

Are these people that have racism at the forefront of their minds suffering from human superiority complex? And what exactly gives them the right to superiority? We all are part of the beauty of the planet, and all of us can learn from each other and each being a valuable member of society, evolution and nature have something to offer. We were all born of the same, with one mother and one father, maybe many brothers and many sisters. We are born insecure, dependant on others and vulnerable. For some they remain vulnerable in adulthood also.

All of us with different views and opinions, but to stunt the progression of any person, race or nationality is what I would consider almost unlawful. Some great people of the planets history and present day are some of the most influential and important persons on the planet. Barak Obama has made history and many question the credibility of that statement, his father being black and his mother white. Does it matter? why question his authenticity of ethnic roots? He is representing both black and white and that can only be a good thing. His parents united and are an example for all to realise. I feel there is no need for criticism or questioning for where his loyalty lies. We can all live harmoniously, and it is a choice that we can all make.

I see that the future is one for the cosmopolitan world, and it resembles progress. I do believe that peoples ancestory, culture and roots are still important and should not be forgotten, but at the same time we must look forward in unity. We should not distinguish by race, but by personality, talents and achievements. Not all of us live in a civilised part of the world and I only hope that people can change their attitudes and respect others as they would wish to be respected.

Equality should not have to be defended for as a right, and should come as a given from birth for all.   

Since starting this blog, I am becoming more educated in the topics that I often choose, frequently furthering my curiosity. I recently was interested in finding out more about what cosmetics contain, along with laundry detergents, and the daily products that we use, that end up being washed down the drain. We ignorantly use shampoos, shower gels and soaps that are a chemical cocktail on a daily basis. I already use Ecover as a washing up liquid along with the stores brand of eco-friendly laundry tablets, since doing my research I have since learned that ECOVER toilet cleaner neutralises upto 400 times faster than that of other products, their washing up liquid is 20x less toxic compared to other brands. I knew I wanted to purchase more environmentally friendly producuts over the other brands, but hadn’t really investigated in depth as to what chemicals were listed in the ingredients and the effects of those cocktails. Please also see my article below on Plug-In air fresheners, I have been seeking out alternative healthier and more environmentally friendly air fresheners too, and the good news is Ecover have launched an air freshener this year! Fab news, and I look forward to trying them out.

A stockist of the Ecover Air Freshener :   http://www.ethicalsuperstore.com

Select the Groceries and Everday Tab and go to cleaning products, there is a wide selection of the Ecover range including the air fresheners, they come in at a hefty £14.49 but would hope that as popularity increases that the price will decrease. The importance of reaching all budgets is crucial to changing peoples attitudes among the masses and for some, £14.49 is an extravagance for an air freshener. But no extravagence when it comes to helping towards saving the planet and I am sure if you shop around, you will probably find it cheaper or maybe on offer in some stores.

The result of many of the chemicals and other pollutants of many well known household products, cosmetics and cleaners, like bleach for example, that inevitably end their journey at the sea are not only affecting the World’s oceans but also many other environmental factors. The water on the planet circulates and the same goes for all that the water contains. Cruise ships often dump their waste directly into the ocean, nuclear experiments are conducted in the oceans, as well as rivers littered with rubbish and pollutants that are carried to the oceans.

I ask that after you have read this post that you try some of Ecovers products even if its only their washing up liquid to begin with. Last year they sold nearly 5 million bottles of washing up liquid, so why don’t you contribute to making that number increase and I can vouch for the products value for money and ability to still remove grease and grime having switched to Ecover washing up liquid for some time. You can also check their website from the link below:

http://www.ecover.com/gb/en/ 

There are other brands also competing in the market for eco-friendly products that are more environmentally friendly. However, Ecover is a proven brand that has been demonstrating their ability to produce effective and environmentally friendly products as well as recently launching their 3 year partnership with Water Aid, working towards achieving goals of providing clean water for communities in Ethiopia. They are a company that seek to realise the importance of their products and have an objective that coincides with the products they market and sell. They have an ethical approach and almost a responsibility as shown in their actions of support. Now its your turn, go and buy some Ecover products!

I personally used incense sticks as a fragrance for the home and I often found it quite calming and relaxing, I have just researched for more information on them and they too, are toxic. Carbon Monoxide being one of thier deadly emissions.

http://www.naturalnews.com/021598.html - Article on Incense sticks

I have never really been into air fresheners in the form of aerosol sprays as I had read somewhere that they can decrease lung strength or capacity and they are not natural so that also gives the game away a bit. I will admit that almost two years ago, I did purchase a glade plug in air freshener, but after reading the small print and the warnings advice that you often get on many household chemical infested products, I am sorry to say that the electrical unit for the device when into the bin and on its way to landfill. I recall having read the information on the box and it stated that you should dispose of the unit and the refill fragrance carefully and properly as the chemicals used may cause environmental damage, especially to fish. After having thisread the provided information, I was left feeling a little put out as a consumer who was exposed to this apparent acceptance of chemicals that can cause harm being manufactured and produced to reach demand and fill thousands, if not millions of homes, not just across the UK, but worldwide.

I have copied the details of the information as provided on the packaging from a famous supermarket’s online shopping website:

Preparation

Toxic to aquatic organisms, may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment. Do not empty into drains. Use only as directed. Do not touch the unit with wet hands or metallic objects while in use. Do not allow children to play with this unit. The unit may become slightly warm while is use. Do not allow materials of any kind to cover the unit. Unplug when the bottle is empty, replace the bottle only when the unit is unplugged. If spilled, wipe up the perfume immediately. Some fragrances damage certain surfaces. Do not place on or use within 50 cm of plastic, painted or polished surfaces. Never plug another appliance or cable in an outlet above the warmer unit. If skin contact should occur, wash with soap and water. In case of accidental contact with eyes, rinse well with water. Seek medical attention if irritation persists. Retain the outer carton for full use and safety instructions. Do not touch the wick. For cleaning, unplug the unit and use a dry cloth or paper towel. Contains 2,4-dimethylcyclohex-3-ene-1-carbaldehyde, octahydro-5-methoxy- 4,7-methano-1h-indene-2-carboxaldehyde, citral, (R)-p-mentha-1,8-diene. May produce an allergic reaction. 

DANGEROUS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

 End of Product Information

 Well, in capital letters, it states DANGEROUS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT amongst the other points that it is toxic to fish and so on. I have done my research on these plug-in air freshener units and the information that can be found on them has been that of people’s pet birds have died from exposure to the Plug-in, along with goldfish and other aquatic pet fish having died for the same reasons, there are also stories and news reports of the plug-in air freshener’s causing many house fires.

Link to Daily Mail article on house fire caused by plug-in air freshener:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-497446/Plug-air-freshener-overheats-sparks-house-fire.html

Link to The Air Purifier Guru Article on House Fire Caused by Plug-In Air Freshener:

http://www.airpurifierguru.com/wst_page5.html

Link to PHYSORG.com – Research on AIr Fresheners, Laundry Detergents….. Good read as their reseach showed that once the laundry product was used it then gave off chemicals which were not listed in the ingredients that are regulated as toxic or hazardous by law…

http://www.physorg.com/news136035644.html

Links to further reading on the toxicity and effects of plug-in air fresheners:

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/air-fresheners-easy-greening.html

http://www.mcs-global.org/Documents/PDFs/AirFeshenersandPlugins.pdf

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/371779_toxicfragrance23.html

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/371779_toxicfragrance23.html

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=64952§ionid=3510210

http://www.ei-resource.org/myblog/Study-Says-Fragrances-are-Toxic-Fragrance-Industry-Says-they-Are-Not.html

http://www.schoolmoldhelp.org/content/view/1298/42/

http://www.african-grey-parrots.co.uk/parrot-articles/home-hazards-for-african-greys.html

There was at one point a while back, an urban myth on the dangers and hazards of plug-in air fresheners, people thought it was a disgruntled employee having a stab back or that the manufacturers would not unleash onto the public something that was hazardous. The research that was carried out was some time after the urban myth evolved and proves the point that there are houselhold products available to purchase which can be harmful and damaging to both health and the environment. I suspect that it is no myth, I am not an ex-employee and my only reason for writing this piece is my efforts to hopefully change peoples view points, attitudes and habits for the better and hopefully provide some informative and educating reading.  

Maybe this article will help raise awareness and encourage people to share their experiences and stories on the subject. My opinion is that the plug-in air fresheners regardless of the information I have found on them through research, are an unecessary item that displays the blind consumerism of many, is a product that clearly states it is dangerous and adds to the already surmountable landfill.

Don’t Leave Electrical Appliances on Standby

Many of us with use the remote to switch off the TV or stereo, leaving the appliance running on standby.

This actually means the appliance is still using up electricity and wastes a considerable amount of energy. By switching off at the main power button, or even the socket, you could be saving both energy and money.

Items left on standby use up to 85% of the energy they would use if fully switched on. An extra million tonnes of carbon will be released into the atmosphere through this power wastage.

Tumble Dryer

Electric tumble dryers are commonly the second biggest energy user in the home, after the fridge. They are obviously used a lot less, but still use a huge amount of electricity when switched on.

You can avoid using the dryer so often by line drying clothes whenever possible or using an indoor clothes dryer when the weather is bad.

If you do need to use the dryer, then ensure the clothes are as dry as possible after washing, eg, they have gone through a fast spin so that there is minimum excess water. This will reduce drying time considerably.

Lighting

In most homes, about 10-15% of the electricity bill is for lighting so energy saving light bulbs can cut your costs considerably. Traditional bulbs waste a lot of energy by turning it into heat but energy saving bulbs work in the same way as fluorescent lights, the tubes coating glows brightly as an electric current passed through gas in the tube.

They may be more expensive to buy than traditional bulbs, but they are worth the investment as last over 10 times longer and use up to 4 times less energy. Where you would use a 100w ordinary bulb, you would only need a 20-25w energy saving bulb. With savings like this, changing bulbs throughout your house could really cut your electricity costs.

No matter what type of lighting you are using, always turn the lights off when you leave a room.

Solar Garden Lights

There are a number of different solar powered lights available at the moment for use in the garden. These lights are highly energy efficient and convenient as do not require external extension leads or special electric fittings. These lights contain solar cells which convert the suns energy into electricity. They charge up during the daylight and light up as it gets dark. They are not usually hugely bright but are less intrusive than electric lights and look nice in the flowerbeds.

Economical Washing and Drying

Your washing machine and tumble dryer are two of the appliances in your home that use the most energy. You may not be able to cut down how often you use them, but you can make some small changes to how you use them that will help you save energy and money.

When using the washing machine, between 85-90% of energy is used just to heat up the water. Therefore, dropping the water temperature of your wash could significantly decrease your energy consumption. Over a year, by using a warm wash rather than a hot wash, you could cut consumption nearly in half.

Other tips for conserving energy when washing are: Only use the machine when you have a full load, and if you have to do a smaller wash, use the half load function. The spin on the machine may mean that more energy is used but by spinning your clothes you are removing more excess water, therefore reducing your drying time in a tumble dryer.

Fix a Dripping Tap

A dripping tap can be not only annoying but if it is a hot tap it can cost you in both water costs and water heating costs.

If left to drip, over time a hot tap can waste enough water to fill half a bath. So don’t pour water and your heating costs down the drain, make sure you fix it.

Efficient Cooking

There are a few easy ways to save energy when cooking which can also speed up the amount of time you spend over a hot stove. Always use the correct size pan, and when heating water only use the amount you need so the electricity is not burning unnecessarily to heat the excess.

If only using a small pan, then use a smaller burner. Boiling water in the kettle first will save the time the burner needs to heat the water, and putting a lid on will help it come to a boil quicker.

When making a cup of tea, only boil the amount of water that you need. Boiling a full kettle unnecessarily is a waste of electricity.

Fridge and Freezer

The location of your fridge can make a difference in how energy efficient it is. Make sure it is out of direct sunlight and not close to the oven. It is best to keep it against an outside wall so that the heat it generates can escape easily, and always make sure that there is a few inches space all around the fridge so that air can circulate.

Make sure you defrost your fridge and freezer on a regular basis or whenever necessary. An iced up freezer will make the freezer work harder, therefore wasting more energy than needed. Only set your fridge to as cold as you need it and avoid keeping the door open for long periods of time as the more cold air that escapes, the harder the fridge has to work. You should check the seal regularly as well, as if it is damaged then cold air will be escaping also.

You should never put warm or hot food into the fridge as this will make the fridge work extra hard to try and keep it cold; always allow food to cool down first.

Another good tip is to defrost frozen food in the fridge as this helps to keep it cool as it thaws.

Towel radiators can be expensive to run, so where possible keep them turned off when not needed.
However, some towel rails cannot be switched off manually and will run whenever your heating is on. 

Radiator reflectors - Reflector panels can prevent heat loss and increase the temperature in a room.

Use a duvet with a high enough tog to keep you warm without having to use your heating unnecessarily

A PowerDown can save you money by turning off all scanners, printers etc when the main desktop unit is switched off. A laptop version will be available soon.

Kids can play a part in saving energy too. Teach them to turn off electrical items when not in use, rather than leave them on standby to save money and energy.

Single glaze windows lose up to 20% of the heat in your home. Whether you install double glazing for security, home improvement or noise reduction, you’re saving money on your heating bills.

Article from The Guardian, MAY 12 2007

World asks town that banned the plastic bag: how can we do it too?

Traders and customers say boycott will stay after six-month experiment

CUTTING DOWN

· 17bn plastic bags a year are given to British consumers. The average Briton accepts five a week.

· Anya Hindmarch launched the limited edition £5 I’m Not A Plastic Bag this year. It has been criticised by some because it was made in China, but Hindmarch said they were careful to carbon offset the project and the intent was not to make a profit but “cast a spotlight on the issue”.

· Taiwan is prohibiting not only plastic bags, but also disposable plastic plates, cups and cutlery used by fast food vendors. Threat of fines of up to £152 have resulted in a 70% reduction in the use of plastic bags, and a 25% cut in landfill waste.

· Ireland’s 15p “plastax” on carrier bags, introduced in 2002, has led to a 90% reduction in use.

· In France, reusable plastic bags – heavier, easier to recycle and less likely to blow away – now account for more than half of the market.

· In 2002 Bangladesh became the first country to ban plastic bags. A movement against them began in the 1980s in Dhaka, where bags were found to clog drains in the monsoon rains, causing flooding.

· San Francisco has become the first US city to ban plastic bags. The ban will be enforced later this year

(End of article) 

Plastic bags are a serious problem and are a pollutant to natures shores, oceans, rivers and lands.

The amount of plastic bags each year that go to landfill alone is astronomical as well as the amount of time they take to photodegrade, (approximately 300 years), and lets not forget to mention that photodegradation means it is necessary that sunlight is an ingredient in this process, so that it will eventually turn to a powder. Landfill? Sunlight? so there will still be masses of bags that haven’t turned to a powder and what is the consequence of the powder now, rather than the actual bag?

Many species of marine life also suffer the consequences of the plastic bag in mistaking it for food and the end result is that of a creature that cannot eat, has been sufocated or gets trapped and tangled and manages to drown to it’s death.

Cut down your plastic bag usage by re-using and limiting your need for each bag.

Think;

Do I really need to wrap the food item in the fridge? – Use a re-usable plastic container

Do I need to accept the offer of plastic bags when in the supermarket? – No, use a back pack or purchase a re-usable and durable bag that will last for use time and time again. There are some great silk bags available that virtually shrink to a really  small size, great for keeping in your handbag, then you have no excuse to use the plastic bags carrying one of these.

Choose bio-degradable bags for Bins

Re-use as many plastic bags as you can

Cut down the amount of waste within your home, reducing the amount you fill your household rubbish bin. Recycle as much as possible and look for products with less packaging or made of recyclable materials.

The production of plastic bags in itself is a cost to  the environment also.  

SAY NO AT THE CHECKOUT AND DO NOT ACCEPT THE PLASTIC BAG

Raise awareness and stop using plastic bags, as  a reminder or a way to remember;

Think of the creatures that have plastic bags in their stomaches, blocking their intestines, causing excruciating pain and even death, not forgetting the ones that may drown. And if there are no healthy fish or marine life, then we will enevitably go hungry. I know it’s a grim and maybe too much information sort of thought, but it’s true and factual, we cannot ignore these issues.

Think of the beaches shores and oceans that will soon look like a mosaic of pastic, logo ridden bags across the globes seas and beaches, nice swim?

Think, YOU can help make a difference, you can participate in our great challenge of saving the planet.

There is a device called save-a-flush which can be used to decrease the amount of water used every time you flush the toilet, Thames water are giving these away free, and there are companies out there that sell them for a small price also.

 Another version is the Hippo, they each do the same thing, in reducing water usage, please read which type is required for your cistern type, more info available at Thames Water.

Not only are you reducing your consumption of water, you could also be paying less for your water bill as the save-a-flush as the producers claims state that your family can save 2 thousand gallons of water a year.

Links where the save-a-flush can be found and ordered:

free at:

http://www.thameswater.co.uk/UK/region/en_gb/content/FreeStuff?SECT=Right_Image_000040

Can be purchased from:

http://www.save-a-flush.co.uk

More water saving tips and suggestions:

• Use less water by turning the hot tap down, rather than the cold tap up, if you want cooler water.
• Brushing your teeth with the tap running wastes almost nine litres a minute. Rinse your mouth out from a tumbler instead.
• Cool water kept in the fridge means you won’t have to run the tap for ages to get a cold drink.
• Just taking a five-minute shower every day, instead of a bath, will use two thirds less water, saving up to 400 litres a week.
• Kettles should be filled with enough water for your needs but not to the brim. This will reduce your fuel bills too.
• Once a week is all the watering your lawn needs, even in the hottest weather. Over-watering can weaken your lawn by encouraging roots to seek the surface.
• Tell your parents, friends and colleagues to get a water butt. Collecting rain water for you to use on your garden.
• If you have a fish tank, you can make use of the dirty water produced when cleaning it by putting it on your houseplants. It’s rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, which provides an excellent fertiliser.
• Water your garden during the coolest part of the day. That way less of the water will evaporate.

Vegetables and fruit should be washed in a bowl rather than under a running tap, then re-use the water for houseplants

Buy water-efficient household appliances

Waiting until you have a full load before using washing machines and dishwashers

Fill up the dishwasher: Hand-washing dishes typically uses about 63 litres per session.

A modern dishwasher can use as little as 15 litres of water per cycle. But make sure you fill the dishwasher or you’ll be wasting even more than if you were to wash up by hand.

Before starting your washing machine, wait for a full load – it uses less water than two half loads.

The bucket and sponge: Rather than washing your car with a running hosepipe, try using a bucket and sponge instead. Better still, fill the bucket up with water from the water butt. Just 30 minutes with a hosepipe will use more water than the average family uses in a day. And, using a bucket will give your car a much more precise wash

I was visiting my local supermarket after finishing work on the weekend. The supermarket was as it usually is on a Saturday with the parents with the baby in their arms, the families out in force, the week day workers all doing their weekly shop, pretty much when rugby meets an enclosed space and bright lights, let the battle begin type scenario. The checkouts all laiden with queues with there being not one short queue and generally the place looks like its been ransacked or people went mad stocking up for the preparation for the worlds worst storm or armageddon, as there were many shelves emptied entirely of products which left not a lot of choice left to pick from whatever remained or a long wait for when the shelves are restocked with what you actually want (The staff were out in army fashion on their sections stacking and re-filling the bare shelves that were emptying as fast as they were stacking). The interesting thing was that one of the end aisle’s was stacked top to bottom shelf full of the store’s own brand. I had noticed, and thought how interesting it was to see that the cheaper versions of certain products looked as though they hadn’t been touched, not even handled. Every product was perfectly placed and each carton stood proud next to it’s neighbour, the packets were all puffed up and neatly arranged, with the white of the very basic packaging drawing the eye in. It was like a glowing wall of white variants of glossy packaging gone mad. The items were generally cashew nuts, ground coffee, juices, flour and so on. The point is we are supposed to be experiencing a recession, apparently, one of the worst since the Second World War. 

I personally have tried certain items from the cheaper brand at this particular store and all were of satisfactory proportion. I would only buy the things that are cheaper that I know won’t really be affected or compromised in taste or quality too badly, like coffee, tea, mozarella and nuts.  With the supermarkets competing for profit margins, they too are seeking out the more eco-friendy and fair trade items to hit the conscious consumers as well as those on a budget. Which is good news all round. I couldn’t help but find it odd that the cheaper brand products hadn’t been touched, unless they had just been stocked up of course. If the latter is not the case, then I wonder why there were so many of the cheaper brand products, as if you are choosy in what you pick a bargain can be had, and if we are in a recession, is food something that the UK consumer will not compromise on?.