"Crude" - the story of oil in Ecuador

Last week I was fortunate to see two great movies relating to the environment and the food we eat. The first was Crude, which a lawsuite against Chevron for the large scale spillage and contamination of the Amazon in Ecuador when Chevron decided to drill.

In essence, the company dumped all their waste into nearby watersheds, contaminating the drinking water of thousands of residents. It also buried excesses by piling small amounts of dirt on top - later families that had homes on top found that their teenagers were dying of cancer. In one scene that stays in my mind, a baby was covered in a red rash. The nurse at the hospital said it was due to all the chemicals, and that eleven to fifteen out of every twenty babies had it. (Chevron has said that the deaths are due to poor sanitation.)

The amount of damage was shocking, but I wasn't shocked that we had never heard of these disasters - like many industry giants today, the oil industry has a lot of money and power behind it, so claims or lawsuits usually don't have a chance. In this case, a NY law firm was backing the indigenous tribes that were filing for damages. By the end of the film, an independent investigator judged that the damages were an estimated 37 billion; however, at this time the company is appealing the ruling.

For more information, please keep reading up on oil and check out the website: www.crudethemovie.com

save energy to keep green & clean

Props to ConEdison, who now has some great ads in the NYC subway with questions about your "EQ" or Energy Quotient. While most of us already know that showering uses less water than a bath, for example, I was surprised to learn that cell phone & other charges still use electricity when they're plugged in but not charging.

So for these super-hot days, keep cool & green by:
- using A/C only when necessary, or just using a fan or best opening a window
- if you have windows or shades, pull the shades down for the day and open windows at night for natural temperature control
- stay away from dehydrating drinks & foods such as coffee, meats, and alcohol
- drink plenty of water
- but don't water the street! (you wouldn't believe how many people I saw today using water to clean the streets. :-( If you have plants, be sure to water them early in the morning or late in the evening so most of the water doesn't evaporate.)

poco a poco

In Spanish there's a phrase - "poco a poco", which translates to "little by little" or step by step. As we approach the holiday weekend and get a chance to slow down, I think it's a great time to take a closer look at the pattern of our lives.

It could be said that many of our errors, failures, and disappointments come from expecting too much, from doing too much, or trying to force things to go our way. It happens in society, government, and business, but also in the small scope of our lives. When we expect too much from life, find ourselves exhausted, or make decisions we later regret, we call it stress, but beneath that is our pushing ourselves and trying to always be in control.In yoga, the term "Isvara pranidhana" refers to the process of letting go of that desire, of surrending all to a greater power.

So over this long weekend of beautiful weather, outdoor events, and family time, let your independence rise to the state of taking everything in stride, and allowing yourself to do everything "poco a poco" - one small step at a time.

queens botanical gardens

I'm always trying to get more time outdoors and to find places in the city that are clean, naturally beautiful, and offer a great place to relax. While Central Park is great, in the summer it can get crowded and it still doesn't offer a lot of privacy. While I'm not sure about the other boroughs, Queens has Botanical Gardens located in Flushing that offer a quiet retreat from the busy urban landscape.

I was there yesterday for a walk through and learned that they recently started charging admission ($4/day for adults). While is it sad that we have to pay to enjoy nature, the good news is that there are now fewer people in the park, and when I was there Friday afternoon it seemed pretty empty of people, although full with birds and wildlife.

Other bonuses include that they have a sustainable building/welcome center, offer memberships at a low cost (makes a great gift), and have a variety of plants in bloom throughout the season. I've now marked the Queens gardens as a place to go when Forest Hills gardens gets repetitive and Central Park is too far away or too busy. It's not that far by car or you can take a 7 bus or the LIRR to Flushing. For more info their website is http://www.queensbotanical.org/.

vegan cupcakes & happy father's day!

The long and hard search to find great vegan desserts may be coming to an end. Little by little, more and more yummy, cruelty-free delectables are coming across my path.

Last night, I was at a friend's wedding celebration in New Jersey and they had a gorgeous cupcake tier that was completely vegan. I had not one, but two cupcakes (a chocolate with coconut frosting and a vanilla with chocolate frosting) and they both were very tasty. The cake part was something special, and the frosting soft and whipped but not too sweet. I have to say these are the best vegan cupcakes I've tasted yet, topping Babycakes and Whole Foods (both of whom, by the way, provide vegan baked goods in Manhattan).

The source was Sweet Avenue bake shop. Unfortunately, since it's in New Jersey, I don't see myself getting there in the near future. But hey, I can dream... (and they do deliver...)

And before I forget, Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there! Mine is super great so be sure to thank yours on this special day!

are your cosmetics safe?

I just came across a great site that reviews all types of cosmetics and skin care products for levels of toxicity, animal testing, and safe ingredients. It has a sunscreen section that lets you know of any misleading spfs and potentially harmful ingredients, as well as both UVA and UVB protection.
Check it out at http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/ Safe sunning!

back to the main stream

All of last week I was blissfully situated in the woods. I was completely cut off from modern everyday life - no cell phone, hot shower, or flushing toilet. I wasn't just camping or hiking, but I found myself at Tom Brown's Tracker School, located in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. There, I was surprised to find that a) the Pine Barrens are anything but barren and b) the roads and woods reminded me closely of Martha's Vineyard - sandy drives, medium height bushes, and a mix of youngish trees that were filled with more wildlife that one could imagine.

As I slowly readjust to the metropolitan world, I am praying that the essence of the experience will remain with me: the indescribable feeling of being completely immersed in nature, with no walls or barriers between me and the soft earth, the stroking breeze, and the chime of numerous birds from the leafy green latticework above.

The course was practical but also spiritual. During the week-long stay, our group of 62 "standard class" students were taught subjects concerning survival, tracking, and awareness. The school's philosophy (which I found both intriguing and comforting) views the teachings not as a man vs. nature battle, but as ancient skills which, through practice, slowly meld your way of living into one in harmony with the pristine perfection of the natural world.

While so much can be said for the intensity and depth of the course, I will consider it a success if just one reader takes a moment to: stop and smell the roses or flowers (literally), enjoys the time spent outside just a little more, or looks with appreciation and gratitude at the food on their plate that was so graciously given by none other than Mother Nature herself.