Comments on: Take Back The Climate

By: The Magnificent Seven

The Magnificent Seven — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 16:29:00 +0000

I also really like the movie, Trashed. http://www.trashedmovie.com/trailer.html

By: Mother Earth

Mother Earth — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:24:00 +0000

Truly awesome to see such a strong informed voice on this issue.

By: The Not Quite Crunchy Parent

The Not Quite Crunchy Parent — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:46:00 +0000

Great, well researched post. The more folks understand the issues the more things are likely to change

By: Going Crunchy

Going Crunchy — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 21:57:00 +0000

Hooray for you, and good luck! I’ll be reading your blog to see how it turns out. Shan

By: kiwimeg

kiwimeg — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 20:15:00 +0000

Thanks so much for including the link to the Institute for Self Reliance. I am acquiring a real interest in stimulating local economies and rebuilding communities and I am always looking for new reading matter!!

By: Jenn

Jenn — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 23:17:00 +0000

I don’t use Britta because our local drinking water is pretty great but I think it’s easy to see the connection to climate change…for all the great reasons you listed.
It still amazes me that for all those years I just threw stuff away with no thought. There are some weeks where I have almost no trash.
Now…if I could just get my fire department to green things up…

By: Maisie Greenawalt

Maisie Greenawalt — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 14:32:00 +0000

I applaud the detailed and commited look you are taking at plastic use. Have you made any inroads in eating a Low Carbon Diet? Check out our food calculator at http://www.eatlowcarbon.org

By: Fake Plastic Fish

Fake Plastic Fish — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 07:15:00 +0000

Hi Nimic. I really wanted the information for myself to understand the link. I doubt I’ll be saying anything about it at the conference.

Clif — you are right! I don’t use a filter, and I don’t encourage anyone to use one who doesn’t need to.

Jenn — you are right! The reality is that the filters are here to stay for a long while.

See, you are both right. And that’s why I am looking at a two-pronged approach — urging the company to take responsibility for the waste it creates AND urging consumers not to buy things they don’t need.

Clif — I have decided that my life will have been meaningless if you don’t join Twitter.

Humuhumunukunukaapuaa — Yeah, and her towels and sheets always smelled like metal too. Hey, thanks for the fudge sauce!

By: Humuhumunukunukaapuaa

Humuhumunukunukaapuaa — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 02:33:00 +0000

Jennifer said…

“I was wondering what is the best way to store water for emergencies (that earthquake scared the crap outta me!).”

Google ‘how to store water for an emergency’

Some returns –

http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/FreePubs/pdfs/ui338.pdf

http://theepicenter.com/tow02236.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_1296_store-water-emergency.html

–many more.

—

jennconspiracy said…

“Chlorine tastes bad.”

AND

Clif said…

“Since tap water in the U.S., especially in large urban areas, is about as safe as tap water can be, it seems worth the effort to cut down on filters unless a health hazard is present.”

For a long while now I have used Crystal Lite lemonade mix in tap water which 1) masks any off flavors in the water and 2) does not add to metal or plastic waste (except for the tiny container which holds each dose of concentrate).

For those with high concentrations of iron and/or sulfur in your well water — good luck!! Just ask Beth about her grandmother’s well water.

By: Clif

Clif — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 23:55:00 +0000

jenn, I think the amount of chlorine is very tiny…one drop for ten gallons of water or so. It’s supposed to be far less than can be tasted and kills harmful bacteria. If you let chlorinated water stand for a while the chlorine will evaporate from it (that’s why it’s not a good idea to put aquarium fish in tap water immediately). Put it in the fridge in an open container for a couple of hours and you’ll have cold water to drink without the chlorine.

Did you try calling your water department to ask if they might be putting a bit too much chlorine in? I’ve called mine here and they fell all over themselves getting back to me because they are very concerned that the quality of the water is made clear (pun intended) to the public.

Everyone can come up with a reason to use plastic. I think we want everyone to weigh their reasons to see if it offsets the damage plastic can do in the environment.

You’ve just said to give up on trying to change the habits of folks and rely instead on the good will of companies. But that means giving up on the grassroots effort that I think is what FPF is all about, isn’t it?

I think the Take Back the Filter plan is fine, especially ’cause Beth puts on that filter
outfit ,but that shouldn’t undermine the drive to try cutting down all uses of plastic that aren’t necessary. Since tap water in the U.S., especially in large urban areas, is about as safe as tap water can be, it seems worth the effort to cut down on filters unless a health hazard is present.