Tuesday, June 30, 2009

For Water: Single use Plastic vs Reusable Plastic vs aluminum vs Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is the best and single use plastic is the worst.  Take some time each day to prepare to bring your water with you.

Eighty-six percent of single use plastic water bottles sold end up clogging landfills, and they take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade, according to the American Recycling Institute. Plus, transporting bottled water from far-flung places like Fiji and France to U.S. stores takes another bite out of the planet, gobbling up about 1.5 million barrels of fossil fuels a year.

Stainless steel bottles keep drinks cooler longer and fresh tasting. Stainless steel water bottles are the best choice health-wise. There are no known safety issues; stainless steel is non-reactive so the bottles do not leach and do not have to be lined.  Stainless steel is recyclable in all communities that recycle. 

Aluminum and reusable plastic bottles both have possible health issues. Aluminum bottles need a inside liner to keep the water safe and its hard to keep it from wearing away. Some Plastic reusable bottles have health issues and some have wear problems. Stick with stainless.

Friday, June 26, 2009

Global Warming is Killing Polar Bears

The Cherokee, like most Indian nations, believe that we don't own the Earth, but are Mother Earth's guardians.  Since the beginning of the industrial revolution we have done a very poor job.  During the last 30 years the Arctic Sea Ice has decreased by 40%. Polar bears are staving and drowning because of our actions.  Global warming is real.  For eight years the Bush administration refused to enact any policies that could possibly decrease global warming; in fact they reversed any policies that were already in place. So we are 16 years behind where we should of been not just 8.  We can't wait one day longer. If you don't believe me just ask the Polar Bears.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Phosphates, No Way

You won't find any phosphates in products found on our site. Check the ingredients of anything you buy, but you probably already know that. Phosphates are water-softening additives that are used in some laundry detergents, not ours, to enhance the performance of surfactants. They can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea if ingested, and because it is corrosive, it can cause severe skin irritation. When phosphates enter waterways, they act as a fertilizer, spawning overgrowth of algae. This overabundance of aquatic plant life eventually depletes the water's oxygen supply, killing off fish and other organisms.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Chlorine Bleaching Toilet Paper, Very Toxic

Some companies use chlorine to make their toilet paper white.  To be totally fair these same companies also use chlorine to remove lignin from the wood which helps shelf life, feel and strength of toilet paper.  The chlorine bleaching process creates very toxic by-products like Dioxins. The Dioxins end up in our drinking water and soil. 
Populations exposed to high levels of dioxins have increased risks of birth defects, cancer, diabetes and heart disease. You can learn more about studies on dioxins at the Nation Institute of Health.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Soft Toilet Paper

The harvesting of millions of trees for toilet paper is caused by the desire for softer versions, which require the fiber from standing trees. Some of these trees are even being harvested from rare old-growth forests in Canada. The impact of this harvesting is two-fold; first, reducing the number of carbon-dioxide absorbing trees available and, second, destroying habitats for endangered species. Old growth trees which absorb carbon-dioxide and provide homes for our precious wildlife are more important than the softness of toilet paper.

Waste of Trees

Americans could save more than 400,000 trees if each family bought a roll of recycled toilet paper...just once.