From a recent article on CNN.com:

In 2005, when government scientists tested 60 soft, vinyl lunchboxes, they found that one in five contained amounts of lead that medical experts consider unsafe — and several had more than 10 times hazardous levels.

But that’s not what they told the public.

Instead, the Consumer Product Safety Commission released a statement that they found “no instances of hazardous levels.” And they refused to release their actual test results, citing regulations that protect manufacturers from having their information released to the public.

Read the full story HERE.

And, be sure to trade in your children’s vinyl lunchboxes for organic cotton lunchbags.

I’m Organic co-founders Judy and Jill disagree over the meaning of a recent article in the New York Times. Discussion follows…

Judy says:

Having lived this long, I know that there is always resistance to change, but I was still disappointed to read an op-ed piece in the New York Times yesterday titled, “12 Rms, 8 Bths, 38 Wind Turbines By RICK MORANIS I’m just so incredibly excited about the idea of having our whole co-op reduce its carbon footprint.”

It is written as if from a member of a co-op building on Park Ave. to the board of directors. It refers to “harvesting rainwater immediately” by using eminent domain to take over the occupants’ terraces; hanging their laundry from the cable lines; putting wind turbine generators on the roof to light the play room, and replacing imported flowers with worm farm/herb planters, and, of course changing the light bulbs. There’s more, if you want to read it.

It is quickly apparent that it is a sarcastic attempt at humor about the suggestions many people have of reducing our carbon footprint. I love a good laugh more than most people, but this unfunny article reveals a lack of conscience and/or belief that it is true that the ice caps are melting and we will all be affected by the climate change that is the result.

We do have to take responsibility for the fact that our lifestyles are seriously harming the place we live and we have to make some changes. Changing our light bulbs can make an impact and it’s easy and will save us money too. I don’t think climate change can be stopped without government regulations of the major polluters, so along with the steps we can take, we must put pressure on our government to make these changes, with our calls and emails, our votes and the power of our pocketbooks.

I liked best what Al Gore had to say about us not going from denial to despair, but moving into action instead; that there is still hope. Lets spread that hope and inspire others into action.
What do you think?

Jill Says:

While I agree that we need to spread hope and inspire others into action, I read the articled by Rick Moranis in a different way. I thought it was funny, as in chuckle at ourselves funny, not really laugh out loud funny. It seems like a ‘sign of the times’ article. Whether Rick Moranis is serious about the environment or not, I don’t know. But, it is true that change is happening, that it’s become fashionable to be green, and that some solutions may sound a little funny at first. Moranis pushed this point to the extreme to be silly and show us how serious some people have gotten over this issue. Was he laughing AT us? I guess it depends if we laugh at ourselves sometimes, then maybe he was laughing with us.

What you YOU think?

We’re very excited to offer you the new “Organic Love” tee! Just in time for Valentine’s Day, give your sweetie a gift that won’t stick to his/her thighs and will spread a message of love. Check out our unisex tee, women’s tee, and tee in a tote. Order by February 7th to guarantee delivery by Valentine’s Day!

I read an incredibly inspiring article this morning by environmental journalist Stephen Leahy. He details how organic agriculture is a powerful tool for combating climate change. Climate change looms as the biggest threat to civilization, as the media has broadcast extensively as of late. Now, we have another way to do our share and make a real difference.

Did you know that “If just 10,000 medium-sized farms in the U.S. converted to organic production, they would store so much carbon in the soil that it would be equivalent to taking 1,174,400 cars off the road?”

And that “In the United States, organic farming systems use just 63 percent of the energy required by conventional farming systems?”

Organic farming methods increase the humus and quality of the soil, which chemical fertilizers can never do. So, organic farms not only take less energy to produce, they also will be better able to deal with the effects from climate change such as absorbing large rainfalls and still offering yields during periods of drought. “Organic agriculture is about optimising yields under all conditions,” says Louise Luttikholt, strategic relations manager at the International Federation of Organic Agriculture (IFOAM) in Bonn, Germany.

The article also details how organic agriculture is experiencing “explosive growth” around the world as governments realize the impact organic farming has on climate change, poverty, and even hunger. A highly recommended read!