Wakefield, 12 July 2009 -- Would you like some endocrine disrupting chemicals with that cheese?  A recent scientific study in the international journal Science of the Total Environment indicates that chemicals leaching from packaging into food may increase human exposure to acknowledged toxins such as bisphenol A and phthalates, possibly contributing to adverse health effects. The Swiss environmental toxicologist who carried out the study, Dr. Jane Muncke, notes that "food packaging is a large but underestimated source of food contamination," and "even manufacturers of plastics do not know the full extent of chemicals that are present in their products."

(Photo credit:  http://www.ehow.com/how_2283077_use-cheese-slicer.html)

Wakefield, 9 June 2009 -- A little addition to this issue - the ocean trash problem is so serious it is hampering search and rescue efforts for Air France Flight 447, which crashed in the Southern Atlantic Ocean last week:  Search for downed plane highlights ocean trash problem.

Wakefield, 8 June 2009 -- Today on World Oceans Day we're highlighting one of the most important ocean organizations on Earth, and its visionary Founder and Research Coordinator.  The organization is the Algalita Marine Research Foundation and the person is the incredible Captain Charles Moore.  Together they have opened the eyes of the world to the utterly important plight of the world's oceans, especially through their ongoing, cutting-edge research in the Pacific Ocean. Why is this issue so important? Here's one reason:  Ocean plankton are at the base of the global food chain, and Algalita research indicates that plastic particles now outnumber plankton 6 to 1 in the Central North Pacific Gyre.  Fish eat the plastic, thinking it's plankton, and it makes it's way up the food chain, wreaking havoc with wildlife along the way, that is killing the wildlife, and more slowly killing those of us who eat fish.  To get a great overview of the issue from many angles and learn a lot more about the incredible Captain Moore, read the article Our Oceans Are Turning Into Plastic... Are We?

Hear and see Captain Moore eloquently describe the issue with words and pictures at the 2009 TED Conference.  In the above photo, he is holding a sample of plastic debris from the Pacific.

How can you help?  Tell others about the plastic in the oceans and wildlife.  Live sustainably - decrease your consumption of plastic now.

(Photos courtesy of the Algalita Marine Research Foundation)

Everywhere, 5 June 2009 -- Today is World Environment Day.  Did you know that?  It took us by surprise, and we thought we were on top of stuff like this.  But really, every day is World Environment Day.  On this day a special film has been released globally on the Internet for all to see for free until June 14, 2009.  This film is what we call a 'must-see'.  The brainchild of talented French photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand in collaboration with the French film director Luc Besson, HOME tells the story of Mother Earth from beginning to now, coursing through 54 countries.  And where we go from here is up to us.  As the film states, ''it's too late to be a pessimist,'' now is the time to ''cultivate the sun,'' using ''moderation, intelligence, sharing.''  Wondering what these words mean?

Learn about the people and organization behind it:  http://www.goodplanet.org/en/

Ottawa, 13 May 2009 -- There's a new book out there that will help you decipher the toxins surrounding you in everyday life, and the effects they could be having on you.

Slow Death by Rubber Duck documents a two-year project in which the authors - Rick Smith & Bruce Lourie, respectively the Executive Director and Chair of the Board of the NGO Environmental Defence, which helped get bisphenol A banned in children's products in Canada - subjected themselves to an array of everyday toxins in real life ways, and had their bodies monitored through blood and urine samples taken before and after everyday activities.  In their words, 'The results will surprise and horrify you. You'll never look at a rubber duck the same way again!'