CT Green Scene

Help for Hay Fever

by Dr. Amy Wiesner

With spring now here and warmer weather approaching, many people will soon be suffering the effects of seasonal allergies. Seasonal allergies, commonly referred to as hay fever, are caused by the immune system’s response to the pollen of trees, grasses, flowers and weeds. The pollen most commonly causes itchy eyes and throat, runny nose, congestion and sneezing and inflammation of the mucous membranes.

Eating healthy foods and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help to mitigate symptoms as these keep the immune system strong. Avoiding alcohol, dairy products and sugar will help, as will eliminating artificial colors and flavors, preservatives and other additives.

If you are excessively sensitive to pollen, however, more steps may need to be taken.

About 80% of our immune system is found in the digestive tract. If it is healthy, you will be less likely to get sick. However, if you eat an unhealthy diet and don’t eliminate properly, this will cause an imbalance that will affect your immune system. Probiotics are healthy microflora that help to stabilize the immune system. Taking them on a daily basis is preventive for both acute and chronic illness.

Environmentalist Céline Cousteau Speaks at Fairfield University’s Open VISIONS Forum April 4

People and the Natural World: An Exploration of Connections 
Monday, April 4 at 8 p.m.

$45
Celine Cousteau, 
Granddaughter of the legendary Jacques Cousteau, ambassador of the environment and native cultures

World explorer and environmentalist Céline Cousteau, closes the popular Fairfield University lecture series Open VISIONS Forum (OVF) on Monday, April 4 at 8 p.m. when she speaks at the Quick Center for the Arts. Tickets are $45. This OVF event is an Arts & Minds presentation.

The name Cousteau is familiar to legions and is synonymous with underwater exploration. The OVF speaker is Jacques Cousteau’s granddaughter and Jean-Michel Cousteau’s daughter. She has pursued the family passion and made it her own and for OVF, she will speak on “People and the Natural World: An Exploration of Connections.”

Taking Out the Trash

By Brittany Shutts
    

It’s hard to beat Germany’s recycling system. Multicolored trash bins line the exceptionally clean streets of German cities where the citizens separate colored glass, paper products, packaging, and food and plant waste. There are even some bins for clothes, shoes, and scrap metal. Black bins are only for waste that doesn’t fit into any of the other categories. Seventy percent of the waste in Germany is recycled every year, whereas the U.S. only manages to recycle 28%.
   
One of the biggest differences between the systems in Germany and the U.S. is that it starts with the manufacturers. It is their responsibility to minimize the amount of waste that is created, recycle any unavoidable waste or convert it into energy, and dispose of waste that cannot be recycled without causing environmental harm. In contrast to the “polluter pays” principle, the U.S. uses the “consumer pays” principle, which requires taxpayer funding for waste management. Since businesses in Germany bear the financial burden, controlling waste and recycling becomes a greater priority.

Sunday and Monday at the Audubon Greenwich

Sunday, March 27
"Poultry for All" Event
With the film, ' Mad City Chickens'
2:00-4:30 pm

Raising chickens at home is getting more popular easier every year. Come be inspired to have your own coop and learn the basics of how to get started when Melina Brown, founder of the Southern CT/Westchester Backyard Poultry Meetup, and Derek Sasaki and Traci Torres, local experts and owners of Norwalk-based My Pet Chicken LLC, visit Audubon Greenwich to discuss the how-to of raising your own chickens and show some of the many unique breeds available. This event will include a presentation about what is involved with raising chickens in your backyard, a screening of the acclaimed film, 'Mad City Chickens', and ample time for Q&A.
 
Mad City Chickens is a sometimes serious, sometimes whimsical look at the people who keep urban chickens in their backyards. From chicken experts and authors to a rescued landfill hen or an inexperienced family that decides to take the poultry plunge—and even a mad professor and giant hen taking to the streets—it’s a humorous and heartfelt trip through the world of backyard chickendom.

Also check out the article about backyard chickens previously posted on this site.
 
Suitable for all ages. Tickets still available but RSVPs are greatly appreciated. $12/adult. Youth admitted free. National Audubon Society & Southern CT/ Westchester Backyard Poultry Meetup members enjoy discounted admission ($8/adult). Audubon memberships will be available on the day of the event. To RSVP, contact Jeff Cordulack at jcordulack@audubon.org or leave a message at (203) 869-5272 x239.
 
Monday, March 28
Africa’s Painted Dogs: Conserving African wild dogs in Zimbabwe  
A special guest lecture by Dr Gregory Rasmussen, Director and Founder of the Painted Dog Conservation project.

Reception: 6:00–7:30 pm
Lecture: 7:30– 8:30 pm
 
African Wild Dogs, also known as Painted Dogs, are one of Africa ’s rarest and most social carnivores. In the last century their numbers have declined 99% and there are now only 3000 - 5500 individuals remaining. They face persecution from many quarters, often being caught in snares, run over, shot or poisoned. Despite the difficulties studying this highly nomadic species, Dr Rasmussen spent years researching them in Zimbabwe , home of one of the last viable populations. In 1989, realizing that research alone would not save the dogs, he set up the Painted Dog Conservation (PDC) project (www.painteddog.org) near Hwange National Park . Dr Rasmussen will speak about his life with this intriguing species, their chances for survival and how PDC plays a vital role in the local community through conservation, education and employment opportunities.
 
Dr Gregory Rasmussen grew up in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe ) and obtained his doctorate at Oxford University in England . He is a member of the IUCN Canid Specialist Group, the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (also at Oxford University ), and is supported by the Wildlife Conservation Network, based in San Francisco . He was featured in the TV series “I Shouldn’t Be Alive” when his light aircraft crashed in Hwange National Park and he spent a day and a half alone in the bush with both legs and pelvis broken before he was found. After numerous surgeries he is once again able to spend time in the bush working to conserve Africa 's Painted Dogs.
 
Reception: 6:00-7:30 pm/Talk: 7:30-8:30 pm. $10 per adult will be given in support of the Painted Dog Project. Under 18 are free. RSVPs appreciated to Jeff:  203-869-5272 x239. Contact: Jeff Cordulack at Audubon Greenwich on 203-869-5272 x239.

St. Luke's LifeWorks Green Technology Event

On Wednesday, March 23rd at 12:30 pm, St. Luke's LifeWorks (SLLW) will be commemorating a solar energy initiative and partnership with a reception at the Center for Children and their Families building on 141 Franklin Street in Stamford, featuring brief remarks from Congressman Jim Himes. SLLW has selected to partner with Soltage, LLC, a full-service, renewable energy company that develops, finances, builds, and operates solar energy stations on client sites. Soltage, LLC will own and operate the system for 15 years, enabling SLLW to purchase electricity at a discounted rate of 17%. After 15 years, SLLW will likely own the system.
 
“Even through this harsh winter, the solar installation has been operating as we had hoped,” said Jason Shaplen, Chief Executive Officer of St. Luke’s LifeWorks.  “It’s a win-win situation for us. We’re able to go green and help preserve the environment. We also pay less for electricity, allowing us to put the money we save towards our mission to help people move from the streets to health, jobs, and homes.”
 
“In this tough economy, SLLW is achieving lasting economic benefits that, due to their nonprofit status, can be 50-60% greater by working under our solar services model than if they bought the system themselves” said Vanessa Stewart, Chief Operating Officer of Soltage. The reduced electricity costs will directly contribute to SLLW’s ability to help break the cycle of homelessness by helping people achieve – and maintain – permanent housing and stability in their lives. In addition, this cutting-edge initiative exemplifies St. Luke’s LifeWorks’ commitment to being a results-oriented and cost-effective organization.

To visit the web site, click here or call 203-388-0100.

Image courtesy of hangontomato.com.
 

Fairfield Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan Interactive Public Forum

Thursday, April 14th
6:30 p.m.
Informal Reception
7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Presentations and Break-out Sessions
 
Osborn Hill School
760 Stillson Road, Fairfield
 
Featured Speakers
Ken Flatto, First Selectman
Kirstin Etela, Fairfield Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Chris Lyddy, Deputy Chief of Police
Joe Devonshuk, Director of Planning & Zoning
Bill Hurley, Town Engineer
Sarah Levy, Public Health Educator
Mark Nielsen, Greater Bridgeport Regional Planning Agency
 
Learn about:
The 2010 Fairfield Bicycle/Pedestrian Survey
Fairfield’s sidewalk inventory and accident data
Bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure
 
Help the Advisory Committee identify:
Streets and areas of special concern
Possible bike routes, bike lanes and sidewalks
Bike racks and other bicycle/pedestrian facilities in town
 
 
For more information, contact:
Lauren Lanham, Assistant to the First Selectman
203-256-3030
llanham@town.fairfield.ct.us
 
Brian Bidolli, Executive Director, GBRPA
203-366-5405 X25
bbidolli@gbrpa.org

Beans, Greens, and Protein

by Brittany Shutts

Cutting back on the meat in your diet can take your palate on the road to new gastronomic adventures and help the environment as well. According to Worldwatch, livestock and their byproducts account for 50% of the greenhouse gas emissions in the world. Meat consumption in the United States, especially, is far from being sustainable. Studies show that the U.S. alone consumes almost 10 billion chickens, pigs, cows, and turkeys every year. The horrors of the livestock industry, the growth hormones, and the antibiotics are enough to kill even the heartiest appetite.
   
Going meatless just once a week will lower your risk of cancer, reduce your risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, lower body weight, and prevent long-term weight gain. Eating beans and peas will increase your intake of other important minerals, such as protein, folate, zinc, iron, and magnesium. They contain less saturated fat and total fat.

Is Nuclear Energy as Bad as We Think?

by Dr. Amy Wiesner

In light of the devastating earthquakes and tsunami in Japan, and the damage done to the nuclear power plant in the affected area, it seems important to have as many facts as possible regarding the consequences of the nuclear plant’s breakdown.

Nuclear energy was first discovered just before World War II, when scientists experimented with splitting atoms to create large amounts of energy, or fission. Initially in the US, this new technology was solely used in a military capacity, but after the war, continuing experimentation was accomplished via the Atomic Energy Commission to find nonviolent uses of nuclear energy, including using it for electricity. The first nuclear energy plant in the US became operational in 1957 and more plant construction quickly followed.

Radiation Leak: Something to Worry About?

Thousands are rushing to pop iodide pills for fear of the radiation leaks at the Fukushima Daiichi plant after last week's catastrophic earthquake and resulting tsunami damaged cooling systems in the reactors. The word on the street is that folks on the West Coast are simply panicking. But are they? When the BBC reports that the Japanese emperor Akihito made a rare appearance to say he is "deeply worried" about the situation, perhaps things are a bit more dire than we're led to believe. Below is an excerpt from Reuters.

Workers briefly abandon Japan nuclear plant as crisis worsens
By Shinichi Saoshiro and Chisa Fujioka
TOKYO | Reuters--Wed Mar 16, 2011 9:38am EDT

"High radiation levels prevented a helicopter from flying to the site to drop water into the No. 3 reactor -- whose roof was damaged by an earlier explosion and where steam was seen rising earlier in the day -- to try to cool its fuel rods.

The plant operator described No. 3 as the "priority." No more information was available, but that reactor is the only one at Daiichi which uses plutonium in its fuel mix.

According to U.S. government research, plutonium is very toxic to humans and once absorbed in the bloodstream can linger for years in bone marrow or liver and can lead to cancer..."

To read more, click here.

Image courtesy of Greenpeace.org.

The Spring Cleaning Arsenal

by Brittany Shutts

Household cleaning products are often more dangerous than the microbial adversaries they were designed to kill. Indoor air pollution can reach levels between two and one hundred times the level of the pollution outdoors. A study from New Scientist in 1999 shows that mothers in households that regularly used aerosol sprays and air fresheners had 25% more headaches and experienced a 19% higher incidence of depression. The infants in the study suffered from 30% more ear infections and 22% higher rates of diarrhea.

With that in mind, finding the right products to clean your home may seem a daunting task. We discussed this topic in a previous article on this site. Increasingly, there are products on the market that offer a more natural and non-toxic way to clean.

The labels on cleaning products aren’t required by law to disclose more than the active ingredients, and the word “natural” can be misleading. Seventh Generation is one company that has nothing to hide. They have a policy of disclosing the ingredients on the label of their products. For many other products, the Material Safety Data Sheets are a valuable reference for comparing ingredients. Click here to access the database.

Chemical-free cleaning doesn’t have to be complicated, though. The simplest means to clean your home are probably already in your kitchen. They are safe for you, for children, for pets, and the environment. Some of the basics include white vinegar, baking soda, and liquid soap or detergent. By using these simple components, you can ensure that you know exactly what is on the tip of your sponge without expending your energy scouring labels instead of kitchen sinks.

It's World Poopin Day!

Via Mashable

On March 13, 2011 you — our dear reader — will have a chance to poop on your friends. For charity. As strange as it may sound, “World Poopin’ Day” is a pretty smart way of mixing social media with under-served water sanitation issues.

“Poopin” can refer to one of two things. In net-speak, it is the term used for sending messages through a friend’s Twitter or Facebook account when they’ve left their cell phone unattended. There is even a list of rules associated with poopin, like “2. Stealth is rewarded” or “6. Accept defeat with grace and dignity.” The anatomical definition of pooping is, well, yeah.

Yeah, poop is funny, but it’s not funny,” World Poopin Day spokesperson, Cybele Diamandopoulos said. “Humor is definitely key, but we don’t want to lose sight of what we’re doing.” The stats are a little shocking. According to Water.org, more people on the planet have a cellphone than have a toilet. The water in American toilets is cleaner than nearly 1 billion people have to drink. Each year, diarrhea kills more young children than AIDS, malaria and measles combined. To put that in perspective, the world loses 70,000 classrooms of kindergartners every year due to diarrhea.

That discomfort with talking about poop is actually core to World Poopin Day, an awareness campaign benefitting Water.org and GiveLove to drive awareness to water sanitation issues, especially in developing countries, like Haiti. There, we've partnered with GiveLove to create a design collaborative called HaitiOnward, to bring sustainable solutions to the people of Haiti.

You can join the cause by signing up at WorldPoopinDay.com using your Facebook or Twitter account. Accounts will be randomly poopin’d at some point on March 13 from a selection of five messages expressing support for water sanitation issues. The posts will share the hashtag #poopin along with information highlighting the issues and a call to donate. You can also text “poopin” to 27722 to make a $10 donation.

 

Oceana: Our Endangered Oceans and What We Can Do to Save Them

by Heather Burns

About ten years ago, I sold everything I owned and set off around the world with only a one-way plane ticket and what would fit into a backpack. I was young, naive and full of hope about what the world had to offer. I bounced around from Athens to Malaysia to Laos to Cambodia, and finally settled on a 21-square kilometer island. There, I completed Dive Master training and got a job working at a local dive shop.

I logged nearly 300 dives in the saphire waters of the Gulf of Thailand and knew where every grouper and clown fish colony hung out. I also noticed when the coral began to turn white nearly overnight and the fish I'd come to love, disappeared. Little did I know, the dramatic decline in the ecosystems I adored was part of a much larger issue.

Ten years and a few eco-awakenings later, I'm still full of hope - as my belief that the power of the human spirit, when applied collectively and collaboratively, can heal the world - but it will take commitment and action. That's why what activist and actor Ted Danson has to say in his new book, Oceana: Our Endangered Oceans and What We Can Do to Save Them, (released March 15, 2011) is top on my reading list.

 

 

Book Trailer: 'Oceana' by Ted Danson from Oceana on Vimeo.

CONNECTICUT FARM BUREAU ASSOCIATION HOSTS AGRICULTURAL PLANNING AND ZONING CONFEREnCE FOR MUNICIPAL LEADERS AND FARMERS

With a recent UCONN study showing Connecticut’s agricultural industry contributes over $3.5 billion dollars and 20,000 jobs to the state, the need for farmers and municipal leaders to work together has never been higher. A conference on March 31, 2011 organized by the Connecticut Farm Bureau Association will bring the groups together to discuss the fundamentals of municipal planning and zoning and help educate attendees on how they can work to support local agriculture.

“This is our second annual conference and those who attend will receive an overview of the fundamentals of planning and zoning and discuss effective strategies to encourage agricultural growth in municipalities,” says Joan Nichols, Government Relations Specialist at Connecticut Farm Bureau Association. "So much of Connecticut agriculture is impacted by local zoning regulations and decisions that it is critical producers understand how municipal zoning impacts their agricultural operation, and more importantly, what they can do to improve the local regulatory climate for agriculture in their communities.”

Raising Animals or Tending Your Vegetable Garden: the Importance of Thinking Ecologically

Have you been wondering about your own food purchases in the grocery store?  Do you have questions about organic farming, or how to farm your own vegetable garden as organically as possible?  Would you like to spend an evening that can inform your own choices? Come and hear Mr. Bill Duesing who has a passion for organic farming and is concerned about the state of agriculture around the world-- our food supply.

As part of the Libraries town-wide read of the book Eating Animals, Mr. Bill Duesing, the Executive Director of the Connecticut chapter of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut, will speak on Tuesday, March 15 at 7:00 PM about the need to think ecologically about our food supply. He will give an illustrated talk and show some of the healthy connections growers and consumers are creating in Connecticut and beyond. He will also talk about animal agriculture and its effects in Connecticut and throughout the country.

Both organic farmer and author, Mr. Duesing has been raising animals in Oxford, CT since 1972 and exploring how to eat since long before that. In addition to his position at NOFA, Mr. Duesing also serves as the President of the Community Farm of Simsbury and is a Board Member of the Connecticut Farmland Trust. Mr. Duesing is a graduate of Yale University.

In an interview Mr. Duesing said, “I will provide a middle ground between the vegan view and existing industrial agriculture. I've thought a lot about animals … have raised goats and cows, pigs, turkeys and chickens for eggs and meat on my farm in Oxford.  I agree that most of the animal agriculture practiced in this country is horrendous. It is very bad for the environment, for the farmers, for the animals and for human health. However, animals are a part of nature and most ecosystems and are also a part of many sustainable and organic farms.”  

Bound to be both an informative and interesting evening, all are invited to attend. Please call the Fairfield Public Library at (203) 256-3160 to register, or you can register online at the Library’s website:  www.fairfieldpubliclibrary.org.

Image courtesy of VictoryVegetableGardens.com.

Hot Teas for Colds and Flu

by Brittany Shutts

They say that the cold won’t give you a cold, yet at some point during the winter everyone seems to get sick at once. Old wives tale or not, some symptom relief is in order. Before you turn to the Dayquil, Nyquil, or any other “-quil,” try a relaxing cup of tea. Are you suffering from a runny nose, sore throat, fever, chills, or cough? There’s a tasty tea for every symptom.
   
When the people around you are sneezing and red of nose, boost your immune system. A daily dose of green tea is a great place to start. A study from Japan shows that this powerful plant not only prevents cancer but other viruses, such as colds and the flu. A mere five seconds of contact with the flu virus is enough to make it non-infectious. Japan is onto something. If that’s not your cup of tea, try it in capsule form.

The Benefits of Meditation

by Dr. Amy Wiesner

To consider sitting silently, without thinking for an extended period of time, can sound intimidating. Yet there have been many modern studies that have shown meditation to not only affect the mind beneficially, but the body as well.

So what should you know about meditation that would allow you to consider adding it to your daily routine?

Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years in the East. There are references to it being practiced in India as early as 1500 BC. Later, it was used in Buddhism and Hinduism, including yoga, to calm the mind and body. It was practiced mainly for religious purposes until its beneficial actions attracted interest in the West where it was then studied for its positive effects to mental and physical well-being.

Business Flights Down, Carbon Footprint up

Environmental News Network reports that many companies in the U.K. have decreased their business flights due to the recession. They claim they have remained competititve and reduced their carbon footprint. What's more, these companies have decided they may not need to bring back those lost business flights once the economy gets better.

See excerpt below.

Flying less is more, businesses say
March 3, 2011

"The report, Moving on: why flying less means more for business, found that nearly all companies who have reduced their flying say it’s possible to stay profitable and competitive while flying less.
The key findings of the report were:

• 47% of companies have reduced the number of business flights they've taken in the past two years
• Of those companies which have cut their flying, 85% do not intend to return to 'business as usual' flying
• 86% of companies are either reducing their carbon footprint from business travel or intend to do so
• 63% of companies that responded now have a policy in place to reduce business flights, or are intending to develop one

The main benefits cited by UK businesses of changing travel practices were cost savings and reduced carbon emissions, but these were quickly followed by the ability to work during travel disruptions, having less staff away from the office and greater staff productivity."

Click here to read more.

Image courtesy of Continental Airlines.