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Mind the Store Campaign: Removing Hazardous Chemicals from Products We Us Every Day

Thursday, April 11th, 2013


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The Precautionary Principal: When the health of humans and the environment is at stake, it may not be necessary to wait for scientific certainty to take protective action. The precautionary principal is codified into law in many European countries, particularly when it comes to unproven chemicals and their potential long term impact on our health and the health of our children. In these countries the burden of proof that these chemicals may cause harm falls on the producer rather then the consumer. Yet here in the United States, land of the free and the brave, that burden of proof too often falls on all of us. As parents who want to make smart, healthy and safe choices this can be an impossible burden.

What does this really mean to you and I? In simple terms, it means that there are as many as 80,000

Credit: Safer Chemicals Healthy Families

chemicals that have been created by the chemical industry since the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) was enacted in 1976, yet these chemicals have never been fully assessed for their toxic impact on human health or the environment. These chemicals may be found in the clothes our children wear, the furniture our children play on, the shampoo our families use, and the products we use to clean our home.

Unbelievable but true. While we wait for legislation to update the TSCA, we at ClimateMama are honored to join with Safer Chemicals and Healthy Families and many parents around the country to ask the 10 largest retailers in the country, companies we all support and frequent, to help us MIND THE STORE and get the “worst of the worst” the Hazardous 100+ Chemicals out of their stores and protect our children and their health from from the impacts of these chemicals.

At ClimateMama we all do our best to shop wisely, check labels, and buy organic as often as we can. Yet, too often we can’t even pronounce half of the chemical names listed on products we buy, let alone know what is and isn’t tested, safe or hazardous. A long time ago, when my children where just learning to read, I decided that if they couldn’t pronounce the ingredients in a product I was buying, it likely was something I shouldn’t buy. My children are now teenagers and don’t regularly come shopping with me anymore. I want to trust that if there is a beauty product or cleaning supply for sale at my local store, that it is safe and I can grab it and go. Unfortunately too often this isn’t true, particularly here in the USA. Many products formulated for our use regularly use chemicals from the Hazardous 100+ list, yet when these same products are sold in countries like Sweden or Germany, these chemicals are removed!!! Say it isn’t so…but sadly it is…

Credit: Safer Chemicals Healthy Families

As a concerned parent, join us as we use our collective power to get these chemicals off our local store shelves.

Here’s how you can get involved: go to Mind the Store at Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families right now and send a letter asking the nations top ten retailers to reduce, eliminate or safely substitute for, chemicals of high concern from our everyday products. It’s easy, and something you and the kids in your life can do together, today!

Check in with us next week, as I will be visiting a local outlet of one of the TOP TEN retailers with a letter and an “ask” that they help me and my family by “Minding the Store.” I look forward to sharing my story and my experience with you. I hope that you too will join me and politely let your favorite stores and brands know that because you have your family’s health and safety in mind, you’ll be reading labels and voting with your dollars every time you go shopping. Let us know how your visit to the store went, and if your favorite retailer will help you “Mind the Store”…

Yours,

ClimateMama

PS What does this have to do with Climate Change? Simply, many of the Hazardous 100+ are derived from petrochemicals (fossil fuels). More complicated but equally relevant to me is the fact that my children and I seem to be part of a big “experiment” and at the mercy of companies that aren’t really sure “how harmful” their products are, but are willing to bargain with my health and that of my children while we all wait to find out. This same attitude and lack of adherence to the precautionary principal is ingrained in the production, distribution and transportation of fossil fuels and “big agriculture” products where the “experiment” not only involves my children’s health but that of our planet’s as well.

No one is “minding the store” as these billion dollar companies scar our earth, our environment, and poison our air and our water. We have allowed many of these companies to be “exempt” from rules that are set up to protect us. We assume that our government officials are regulating industry and looking after our health, welfare and “minding the health” of our planet for our children and future generations to come. In fact, too much is left to industry to self-police and too many unknowns aren’t answered.

The Mind the Store Campaign is a great starting point. It empowers us by giving us the tools to make a difference in a simple but meaningful way. Through our collective power I firmly believe we have the strength to help heal our planet and move us in the direction of a sustainable future and away from the precarious cliff we are standing on….

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Posted in Food, Health & Fitness, In The News, Politics, Product Reviews, Take a Stand: Action & Advocacy | 7 Comments »

Health Care Products, Proprietary Chemicals, Secret Ingredients, Sounds “Fracking Familiar!”

Wednesday, February 20th, 2013


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We often assume that corporations and our government have our best interests and our health, at heart. We often assume WRONG. Take a close look at this info graphic from our friends at Women’s Voices for the Earth. What’s hiding in plain site in your bathroom cabinet? Did you know that:

96% of shampoos
98% of conditioners
97% of hair styling products
91% of antiperspirants
95% of shaving products
83% of moisturizers
63% of sunblocks
91% of lip moisturizers
71% of lipsticks
50% of foundations

contain FRAGRANCE? Sounds benign right? It most certainly is not benign! You and the kids in your life are being exposed daily to what could be upwards of more than 100 chemicals found in “fragrances” and that manufacturers can keep all these hidden ingredients a secret. Some of these ingredients are KNOWN to trigger allergic reactions, neurotoxic and respiratory effects, immune system impacts and other health problems.

Sound familiar? Many of our Climate Mamas and Papas have been following our posts on fracking, which we KNOW is poisoning our air, water and our climate. Companies that frack gas wells, regularly add over 500 “proprietary” chemicals to fracking fluid, chemicals that do not need to be disclosed. Many of these chemicals can triggering adverse health impacts and some are known carcinogens. This fracking fluid is regularly pumped into our earth, some of the fluid comes back out, but some also stays deep in the ground. Companies do not need to disclose the chemicals they use AND This process is exempt from the clean water act.

Why do we and our government allow companies to get away with these practices? Right now we have no clear way of avoiding these hidden chemicals being pumped into our ground or being part of our daily cleansing and hygiene routines. Women’s Voices for the Earth tells us there are 3 things you can do right now to fight and expose hidden chemicals in our health care products

Buy from companies that disclose all ingredients;
Ask companies that don’t disclose their ingredients to change their policy ;
Learn more about policies that promote right-to-know and how you can support them at Women’s Voices for the Earth at www.womensvoices.org

Read the full report Secret Scents: How Hidden Fragrance Allergens Harm Public Health at www.womensvoices.org/secretscents

Yours,

Climate Mama

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Posted in Health & Fitness, In The News, Product Reviews, fracking and pipelines | No Comments »

Green Gift Guide: Planet Friendly Gift Ideas

Friday, December 7th, 2012


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In our quest to “tread lightly” on the earth, gift giving sometimes presents challenges for us as we try to be mindful of what we use, give and receive. We love to give, to bring smiles to the faces of those we love, but finding that “just right gift,” that also is made with caring for the planet in mind, isn’t always easy. Particularly at this time of year when high pressure sales tactics both subliminal and overt “in your face” messages to buy, buy, buy seem to be everywhere!

So, as a way to help guide you through the holidays this season, and before you enter the mall, or go online for gifts we have 2 great resources that we think can help make your holiday gifts (or anytime gifts) extra special and meaningful.

1. Women’s Voices for the Earth Holiday Shopping Guide; and
2. Plastic Antidote’s Gift Guide, our GO-TO Gift Gurus all year long.

Women’s Voices for the Earth Non-Toxic Shopping Guide includes tips and resources on finding safer products from clothing and electronics to baby products, toys, and personal care products, and has sections on Do It Yourself/DIY ideas and book selections. The Guide also includes top picks for safer products in each category from women who are experts in their fields. Some of our favorite and most trusted ClimateMama “go to Green Bloggers” make recommendations in this guide including our Green Carnival Pal, Diane MacEachern from Big Green Purse. Download the Guide today!

Plastic Antidote Gift Guide: Guest Post by Michaelanne Petrella, Social Media, Plastic Pollution Coalition

Plastic Antidote is inspired by a vision of a world where all people have access to affordable and safe reusables – a world where going plastic-free is easy. With its work, Plastic Antidote seeks to shift current consumer habits away from conventional choices into affordable and environmentally-friendly products. Plastic Antidote is a non-profit, and is not focused on maximizing profits but maximizing social benefits and consumer values.

We humbly submit this holiday shopping guide in the hopes that it inspires you to think about gifting in a different way. In a time of widespread consumerism, give the gift of less consumption.

Plastic Antidote 2012 Gift Guide

“Go Plastic-Free” Deluxe Kit
(2) Eco Friendly Stainless Steel Straws-Single
(1) Endurance Stainless Steel Wine Glasses, Set of 2
(1) Book: Plastic-Free: How I Kicked the Plastic Habit and How You Can Too
(1) PPC LunchBots Uno Blue
(1) PPC Green Garmento
(1) Repeat Bamboo Utensil Set
(1) Citizen Love Rainbow Bag, Limited Edition*

*RAINBOW BAG from CITIZENLOVE
This very colorful tote is approximately 18″ tall by 14″ wide (45×35cm) with comfortable handles. Every bag is made from a different part of the printed fabric, so each is unique. Please choose deeper or lighter colors palate. Printed on 80% recycled cotton / 20% recycled bottle fabric. Made with love in the USA.

ChicoBag- Produce Stand Bag, 3 Pack
The Produce Stand collection by ChicoBag is a part of their reusable line of produce bags designed to maintain optimal humidity and air flow keeping fruits and vegetables fresh and healthy. The Hemp-Cotton blend bag is designed for green beans, nuts, grains and bulk food items. The fabric is a 70 percent hemp, 30 percent cotton blend and is designed to absorb excess moisture and restrict airflow. Kick your single-use produce bag habit with the Produce Stand Collection by ChicoBag.

“Rethink” Reusable Water Bottle
Sport this Plastic Pollution Coalition (PPC) “Rethink” Bottle wherever you go, and inspire others to Rethink their Drink. Comes in Ruby, Black, and Silver. Bottles made specifically for PPC. The Plastic Pollution Coalition was created with the vision of a world free of plastic pollution and the toxic impacts of plastic on humans, the environment, wildlife and marine life.

Endurance Stainless Steel Martini Glasses, Set of 2
Make the perfect martini even better in the RSVP Endurance stainless steel Martini Glasses. With brushed exteriors and highly polished interiors, they will keep a martini cold much longer than glass. Terrific for poolside, boating, picnics, and for serving desserts. Set of 2. 8-ounce capacity.

Repeat Bamboo Utensil Set
How about a pack of five bamboo utensils to round out the perfect utensil set? Great for the whole family! A handy carabiner on the back lets you clip and carry a fork, knife, spoon and chopsticks wherever you may roam. Perfect for a busy lifestyle and our precious planet. RePEaT utensil holders give plastic bottles a second shot at a useful life – and an opportunity to stay out of our landfills. Made out of RPET (recycled PET plastic), we like to call it “RePEaT” because it lets plastic reincarnate into something kinder and gentler.

Bamboo Flatware & Chopsticks:
–Heat and stain resistant, won’t impart or absorb flavors,
–Lightweight, strong and long lasting,
–Hand finished with top grade natural, food-safe wood oil

“Go Plastic-Free” Basic Starter Kit
(1) PPC Stainless steel bottle (Choice of Color)
(1) PPC Stainless steel straw
(1) To-Go Ware RePEaT utensil set (Choice of Color)

Plastic-Free: How I Kicked the Plastic Habit and How You Can Too

Used with Permission

A Practical Guide to Kicking Your Plastic Addiction! Like many people, Beth Terry didn’t think an individual could have much impact on the environment. But while laid up after surgery, she read an article about the staggering amount of plastic polluting the oceans and decided then and there to kick her plastic habit. Now she wants to teach you how you can too. In her quirky and humorous style—well known to the readers of her popular blog, My Plastic-Free Life—Terry provides personal anecdotes, stats about the environmental and health problems related to plastic, and personal solutions and tips on how to limit your plastic footprint. Illustrated with full color photographs throughout, Plastic-Free includes handy lists and charts for easy reference, ways to get involved in larger community actions, and profiles of individuals— Plastic-Free Heroes—who have gone beyond personal solutions to create a change on a larger scale. Plastic-Free also includes chapters on letting go of eco-guilt, strategies for coping with overwhelming problems, and ways to relate to other people who aren’t as far along on the plastic-free path. Both a practical guide and the story of a personal journey from helplessness to empowerment, Plastic-Free is a must-read for anyone concerned about the ongoing health and happiness of themselves, their children, and the planet. This beautiful hard bound book contains no plastic materials and will be shipped to you in plastic-free packaging.

Stainless Steel Mini Containers, Set of 3
These mini containers are the perfect compliment to the other stainless steel containers, and are ideal for packing smaller items like berries, raisins, nuts, grapes, olives, hummus and dips. Also great for vitamins while you are traveling.
Containers are made of #304 (18/8) food-grade stainless steel. Mini 2.5-oz. = 2.25″ diameter x 1.75″ tall

Contact Plastic Antidote

Website: Plastic Antidote

Social Media:
Facebook.com/PlasticAntidote
Twitter.com/PlasticAntidote
Pinterest.com/PlasticAntidote

Plastic Antidote helps to fund the important work of the Plastic Pollution Coalition. You can learn more about them here: www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org
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P.S. We LOVE the fact that both guides recommend our friend Beth Terry’s book, Plastic-Free: How I Kicked the Plastic Habit and How You Can Too, as a special gift this holiday season!

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Posted in Climate Mama News, Holidays, Lifestyle & Fun, Plastics & Plastic Free, Product Reviews | No Comments »

Top 3 Back to School Supplies: Binders, Treats, Books

Sunday, August 19th, 2012


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What’s the relationship – Treats, Books, Binders and Climate Change? In fact the relationship between all three and climate change is KEY if we hope to get a handle on reining in the worst impacts of climate change – We MUST learn how to adapt to the human caused changes happening to our climate that are already with us, AND mitigate the impacts that are coming our way – So, the types of treats we give our kids, where we source their back to school supplies (and all the products we purchase) and the messages and information we share with our kids about climate change are all important for our planet and serve as valuable life skills and lessons for our kids. We need to learn and model how to live our lives with a “lighter footprint” with less impact on our planet. The kids in our life are never too young, nor too old to learn these life lessons.

Check out our “Top 3” back to school items that we see as ways to help connect the dots for you and the kids in your life between how we live our lives and empowering us all to take action on climate change.

BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLIES: We LOVE our Naked Binder school and office supplies! Last year was the first time we tried out these supplies. Over the course of the year, my kids “Naked binders” were personalized, and “made their own” standing up incredibly well to the test of time, wear and tear! The binders and folders were often the topic of conversation amongst their friends and teachers, helping everyone see how we can be

Credit: Naked Binder website

“school cool” and mindful and caring of our planet at the same time. Naked binder makes pocket folders, tab dividers and 3 ring binders from FSC certified, 100% post-consumer waste binder board, 100% cotton cloth, a FSC certified papers and metal rings – no plastics, vinyls or toxins. All Naked Binder products are made and sourced in the US.

Naked Binder “thinks sustainably” and makes sure it’s clear from the moment you visit their website. They define a sustainable product as: one that is economical; efficient to create; crafted from renewable non-harming sources; works better for a longer period of time; and it’s easily returned into the recycling stream. Sounds good to us! You can buy the products directly from their website, also making your footprint smaller as you do less driving around!

TREATS: Our friends at Healthy Child Healthy World have turned us on to UNREAL, a new type of candy that is “UNJUNKED.” I know the “candy” caught your attention. Candy and back to school?? Yes, we all try to teach our children that healthy snacks are important. And while I am all for promoting organic whole fruit, veggies and nuts as snacks, sometimes I just want my CHOCOLATE (and I know my kids occasionally feel the same way TOO!) So, as you start planning those after school treats, consider stocking up on some Unreal candy.

Unreal was started at the behest of a kid, Nicky, who wanted to find treats that were free of things he couldn’t pronounce and contained ingredients that he knew, recognized and were made out of “good” things, not junk. Unreal uses real cane sugar, real milk from grass eating cows, no artificial flavors, no corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, fats or artificial preservatives and twice the cacao as other leading brands. The ingredients used are non-GMO and are sourced responsibly. Unreal tells us they are ready to compete, head to head, dollar to dollar, taste test to taste test with leading brands of candy.

My kids and official taster friends loved the cool design on the packaging (which Unreal is working on making in a more sustainable way) and thought the candy tasted amazing. But was it actually better then the regular chocolate bars and candy coated chocolates and peanuts they sometimes eat? The verdict – certainly as good and maybe even better, so as a replacement it was a home run! Unreal seems to have all the right “ingredients” down to the people that are working at the company, and the right game plan to encourage other companies to unjunk their food too!

BOOKS: A shout out to author and our new friend, Chuck McCutcheon. A while back we wrote a post about our chat with Chuck and his book: “What are Global Warming and Climate Change? Answers for Young Readers.” As one friend recently told me: “Talking to my kids about sex was easier then trying to explain climate change!” So as with the sex talk, having a great book that serves as a reference for your discussion is key. Chuck’s book helps you answer many of those tough questions. In honor of the second anniversary of the publication of his book, Chuck is offering a giveaway: Simply buy one copy on Amazon.com, notify him via his website and he will send a second copy to you or to anyone you want for free!

This post is in solidarity and in support of the Green Mom’s Annual Back School Carnival! Check out Mindful Momma for a full listing of supporting blog posts and a wealth of information on how to make your kids transition to school “greener” and a little more “sustainable!”

Yours,

Climate Mama

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Posted in Climate Mama News, Food, Lifestyle & Fun, Product Reviews, Recycling, Schools and Colleges | No Comments »

Green Momma Parties: Detox your Home, Empowering and Fun too!

Wednesday, June 20th, 2012


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At ClimateMama we regularly have the honor and the pleasure of meeting wonderful people and organizations that give us hope and inspiration by providing the tools that empower us in our daily battle against climate change and by helping us in our quest to create a better, healthier and safer world for our children and ourselves. One of these special organizations we would like to introduce you to is Women’s Voices for The Earth (WVE), a national organization that works to eliminate toxic chemicals that impact our health and the health of our children by changing consumer behaviors, corporate practices and government policies.

We feel strongly that by changing our own behavior to create a more sustainable world (at home and beyond) this helps us build the confidence and experience to encourage others to do the same. So in support of WVE, we want to tell you about a GREAT program they have launched called “Green Momma Parties,” a fun way to get you and your friends involved in making your home a safer and healthier place. So in the midst of the craziness that is your life, as you take on yet another “job,” arranging summer camps, family day trips, fun family vacations and juggling day care and babysitting, carpools and new schedules, what about planning a little structured summer fun for you and your friends?

The WVE Green Momma Party is a fun, do it yourself creative idea with a “mission” – helping you get educated about dangerous toxins that could be lurking in your home and then DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT. The Green Momma Party Guide has practical and economical solutions for each room in the house, and new DIY recipes, making it much easier to spread the word and educate families and your BFFs about the

Go Climate Mamas!

importance of safer products. The Guide comes with an evite link you can use, DIY recipes and “how-to videos.” It even has “action steps” your friends can take right at the party that make it easy for you and your friends to contact YOUR elected officials to demand safer products – that’s our kind of party! (Maybe the next “party” can be a “get together” with your BFFs at your local State House!)

Many of our Climate Mamas and Papas are watching closely as the world meets June 20-22nd in Rio de Janario, Brazil to try to figure out how to create The Future We all Want, in the midst of government bickering and inaction on climate change. Many of us are experiencing first hand or reading and hearing daily reports about extreme weather events the world over and climate change doomsday scenarios; problems and issues that feel too big to get our arms around and too far out of our control. Part of taking control back is doing something positive for yourself, your family, your community and beyond. Taking back control should also mean having the opportunity and ability to have some fun while you are at it as well! So, grab your friends and consider hosting a Green Momma Party. A Green Momma Party is all about learning, sharing ideas, and making changes – it is NOT about buying products.

Check in with MomsRising for some great tips on Green Momma Parties, from some amazing “Green Mamas!” Do you know about any other great ideas, that help us learn more about what we can do to take better care of our homes and our planet, while having some fun along the way? Share them with us!

Yours,

Climate Mama

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Posted in Climate Mama News, Climate Mamas & Papas, Games & Toys, Green Moms Carnival, Health & Fitness, Lifestyle & Fun, Product Reviews | 2 Comments »

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Welcome to Climate Mama

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You are a mother, a father, a grandparent, an uncle, an aunt, a teacher or a child at heart. When you hear the Native American saying, “We don’t inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children”, it makes you stop for a moment and think. You love nature, travel, adventure and believing in a world that is special and unique. Climate change and global warming are words that alarm you, that often seem too big to get your arms around. You care about what’s happening to the world and notice small changes in your own life that seem to point in the direction of a threatened environment. But you wonder if these changes are real, and if they are you can’t imagine what you can do to help change what is happening.

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Climate Mamas and Papas

mama papa

Climate Change so often seems too big to get our hands around. We wonder where we can start and how we can actually make a difference. Each one of us has a different path that we will follow. Some of us cut a wider swath than others, but each of us has a role to play. We would like to introduce you to some amazing individuals, Climate Mamas and Papas who are making a difference, who are, through their daily lives, affecting the lives of all of us. They inspire us, empower us, and challenge us to reach for the stars, to strive to do the best we can to help change the crash course we are currently on with our environment. Lets meet some of these amazing people and find out what inspires them. Meet our featured Climate Mama, Desiree Di Mauro today!

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Featured Partner & Campaigns

 

The Climate Reality Project is one of the world’s leading organizations dedicated to mobilizing action around climate change. With a global movement that is more than 2 million strong and a grassroots network of trained Climate Leaders, Climate Reality is "spreading the truth and unleashing the cultural momentum to solve the climate crisis."

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