Greening our lifestyle and activities can be a daunting enterprise, especially when we start with a strong will to go green, little time and a vague idea about what is the problem, what’s causing it and how to fix it. So the idea of providing consumers and businesses some indicators in the form of third-party ratings, labels and certifications about one product and/or organization environmental performance seemed at first a good one. That was until the stakes became to high. Continue Reading »

Not surprisingly Green Age’s 2009 top 3 personalities have made the headlines for the right reasons. The months preceding Copenhagen have brought the spotlights on many individuals and organizations, but no one had been more expected than President Barack Obama. Some have been disappointed by his position, more by the lack of concrete results, and to sum up this year’s climate talk “We do not have the fair, ambitious and legally binding agreement that millions around the world hoped the world leaders gathered in Copenhagen would deliver. They are not done yet, and neither are we.” posts 350.org on their web site. As important this event was, let’s not forget there is a life outside climate change negotiations; organizations and individuals that have made a real difference in advancing the cause of a cleaner and a safer world, conservationists, scientists and activists alike have helped push environmental and health issues one (at least) step further. So without any delays, here is our top 3:

#3: The Climate Change Activists. Copenhagen and environmental talks could not have been the same without them, they are at the heart and soul of the contestation movement, and although they some times have made the headlines for the wrong reasons, it would be silly to ignore their roles in telling the world what was really happening in Copenhagen: tcktcktck, 350.org, avaaz.org, Union of Concerned Scientists and so many more that have rallied millions of people under the banner “A Fair, ambitious and bidding agreement now”. Keep the beat up, people! and so many more that have rallied millions of people under the banner “A Fair, ambitious and bidding agreement now”. Keep the beat up, people!

#2: Ken Cook, without a moment of hesitation is the environmentalist who, in our humble opinion, can contribute the most to environmental and health protective reforms. His non-profit, Environmental Working Group that he started with Richard Wiles in 1993, has raised to become one of the most respected voice in the green community through acute analyses. This year alone, EWG’s work in toxic chemicals in umbilical cord and many children products, school clening supplies, farm subsidies and water pollutions have helped change the conversation and speed the ban of some of the most harmful chemicals. He was also named ultimate green game changer by Huffington Post.

#1: And the winner is … President Barack Obama. We can’t think of anyone who has had more impact on the green and sustainable scene since Al Gore and the release of the Inconvenient Truth in 2006. President Obama did not wait long before pushing green initiatives. Even before taking office, he and his staff met with hundreds of NGOs, green and cleantech professionals. Immediately after moving to the White House, (and we’re going to cite our friends from Grist.com) “he appointed the greenest Cabinet ever, chock-full of top-notch scientists and long-time climate advocates. His administration has made massive green stimulus investments, set EPA moving forward to regulate CO2 and chemical policy reform, pushed green jobs, promoted eco-friendly retrofits, established new fuel-economy rules and efficiency standards, launched national retrofit programs, delayed mining and drilling permits, set new energy standards and goals for all federal departments, created a White House garden and farmers market, and oh so much more”. Unfortunately he has deliver more mountaintop-removal permits than his predecessor – although he plans to make it more constraining; we’re still waiting for him to take a position in regards to GMOs and conventional biofuels; and – but that is not very fair to charge him for this – he has not been able to impose (or convince) the Houses and the world of the necessity to adopt and implement drastic measures to curb the world’s CO2 emissions. But hey, in less than a year, he has done more than the last 3 presidents combined.

You can live without it but It is when you start using it that you realize how powerful and useful GreenHome is.

On the very top of the sustainable pyramid, we find the green gurus, they think green, they speak green, they live green days and nights. They were actually born green and see the world with a very acute green consciousness. After their green life on earth, they’ll probably ask to be buried naked under a tree.

A bit below, you’ll find the green movers: green entrepreneurs, green activists, green living people that are amongst the happiest that the world is turning green. They can be impatient, and not find themselves at the right place at the right time, but this is fine, they’ll keep pushing and moving things around until they feel they are making a positive difference. Their mantra is “failing is not an option”. They are convince of the urgency of the situation and will do a lot to improve it. Continue Reading »

At a press conference in Ottawa on Friday, Canada Health Minister Tony Clement said the government would take “prudent” action in banning the sale and importing of baby products containing the chemical. Canada will be the first country to regulate and limit the use of bisphenol A. Laboratory studies have shown that when infants are exposed to the substance, it can lead to future behavioural and neurological problems. However, he said that the levels of bisphenol A (BPA) that most Canadian adults are exposed to is not harmful. This announcement has led many retailers to pull products containing bisphenol A from their shelves such as Wallmart, which announced that it will immediately stop selling products with BPA in its Canadian stores, and will stop selling baby bottles with the chemical in U.S. stores next year. More info on CTV Canada.

We are many to believe children are completely adverse to hand washing. In this final post on the topic, I share some experiences that tell otherwise.

Continue Reading »

Part III b): Soap and the antimicrobial solution

Why are bar soaps still in popular demand? What is so special about antimicrobial hand soap? And why disease outbreaks are still occurring even when hand sanitizer dispensers are widely available? Are non-alcohol hand sanitizers really safer than alcohol ones?

This is the post to read to get some answers Continue Reading »

Part III – a) Keeping My Home Germ Free & Effective Hand Washing

Avian flu, rhinovirus, SARS, norovirus, MRSA, e-coli, salmonella, malaria and cholera are names of diseases and conditions that are increasingly prevalent in our modern world. Health professionals all around the globe are constantly assessing the pandemic risk, issuing warnings and recommending steps to prevent those pathogens from spreading. Foodborne, airborne and Viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) (1) illnesses are particularly contagious through direct contact with a contaminated surface and in presence of a sick individual. Cross-contamination usually passes from hands to eye, to mouth and to nose. The solution health professionals, from the CDC to your physician are promoting is simple: wash your hands and avoid contact with a contagious individual. Experts will often add to the usual list of recommendations the use of antimicrobial products. Despite these precautions, contagious diseases outbreaks are on the rise, and the environmental and social change will most likely cause a migration of “new” germs (2) and lead to an increase of outbreaks. The next three posts look at some solutions to prevent the spread of contagious illnesses.

Continue Reading »

This is the time of the year the kids bring back home contagious illnesses they caught who knows where and from. Soon the siblings get sick as well, and we have to take time off from work. Schools and classmates are the usual suspects, but chances are hand hygiene negligence played the most part. To reduce the incidence of pathogens we are stocking antimicrobial products in our home cabinets, a behavior that is not without incidence on health, safety and the environment. In a three part series, I intent to address the issues surrounding this controversial topic, starting with revisiting the roots of poor hand hygiene, then sorting out some “staggering” evidence and finally offering some sound solutions that everyone – including schools and your work place – can easily adopt while keeping toxic products at bay and lowering our carbon footprint.

Part 2 – Our immune system is up against a steep hill. Continue Reading »

The first time I heard the term greenwashing, it came from Steve Ashkin, a respected and outspoken green advocate. We were at a green cleaning conference in San Diego, California in 20004 (he was the keynote speaker) and we had the “Pope of Green Cleaning” just for ourselves over dinner. What a treat!

He was reflecting on his long journey to greening the cleaning and maintenance industry. “A conference like this one would have attracted 20 to 30 people two years ago. Continue Reading »

This is the time of the year the kids bring back home contagious illnesses they caught who knows where and from. Soon the siblings get sick as well, and we have to take time off from work. Schools and classmates are the usual suspects, but chances are hand hygiene negligence played the most part. To reduce the incidence of pathogens we are stocking antimicrobial products in our home cabinets, a behavior that is not without incidence on health, safety and the environment. In a three part series, I intent to address the issues surrounding this controversial topic, starting with revisiting the roots of poor hand hygiene, then sorting out some “staggering” evidence and finally offering some sound solutions that everyone – including schools and your work place – can easily adopt while keeping toxic products at bay and lowering our carbon footprint.

Part 1 – Is catching a contagious illness an ineluctable outcome of social life?
Continue Reading »