A Few Strings About Long Distance Animal Trade

Well, for me, I feel that sometimes, people who protest the way FARM animals are treated do not take in consideration the whole situation; i.e. the owner of the farms, the people who work there and make a meager living doing what they do, you get the picture. I came across HandleWithCare.tv and they present an idea about ending the trade of live animals from Brazil and Australia. As for Brazil, the cattle industry has boomed over the last 30 years, and is the main contributor to the destruction of the Amazon rain forest, which, as you know, is very important to our planet. But, what these guys are trying to accomplish is not to end the meat trade entirely, or to up root farmers from their homes or kill the business' in the Middle East. And I agree. I think we have the technology in our society today that we can afford and allow for meat to be slaughtered locally, to drastically reduce the energy used to transport the thousands of animals across the Atlantic, not to mention the stress and decrease in living conditions aboard the boats and trucks. I dont blame the farmers, its how they make money to live. I dont blame the shipping companies, they are doing the same thing. But, we can make what they do have less impact on our environment. Like, making better trucks that use less fuel, or the same thing for the ships. But, by keeping the slaughter close to the fields, we cut down on all of that instantly. I believe its a good idea and a worthy cause. Check out this video and leave some comments about what you think.

A Video (Or Two) About Oil

Here is a great commercial. This is something people should care and ask for a change in. The greenwash that ExxonMobil has placed all over their ad's is not only false, but its disgusting. Watch:









And here is the rebuttal offered by Avaaz.org, which monitors numerous


By the way, An agency in the UK had the Exxon video banned from British TV based on the falsity of their claims about liquid gas really being clean. Weird.
What do you think of this? Leave your comments below.

A Few Words on Smoking

OK, read this article first:

CLICK HERE FOR THE ARTICLE



Well, lets just be clear about this before I start. I am a smoker. It's a personal choice, as it has always been for me. I started after I was 18, and I enjoy it. ITS A PERSONAL CHOICE. No one forces me to smoke. No corporation threw cigarettes in my mouth. I realize the health risks. But due to the fact I am relatively young, I don't plan on smoking my whole life. In fact, I'll be quitting before I'm 30, just as my parents did before me, and their parents before them (guess its a lucky number in my family). Now, on the other hand, I'm very against giant corporations hiding their true intentions behind fact sheets and biased reports. But, if we are going to say that tobacco corporations have ulterior motives, let's also count fast-food chains. How long did it take McDonalds to put health information on their food? AND ITS HORRIBLE FOR YOU. one burger is over half of your allowed daily fat intake. To me, people who fight against the tobacco giant, are TOTALLY DISREGARDING THE REAL ISSUE: You forget to realize that its HUMANS who smoke. ON THEIR OWN ACCORD. WE NEED TO REALIZE ITS A PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. You make the choice, you inhale, you buy another pack. And ya know what? WHO CARES? I don't understand how people think they're point of view is so dead-on, that they can yell and scream at people to change their ways, instead of working together. You say you want to outlaw cigarettes everywhere. So, you want to take down a billion-dollar industry? Why don't start with plastic bottle companies? Or processed food, which is a REAL CAUSE FOR ALARM in America, because, well, we are fat as well. You say smoking cause strokes. Yes, it does. But what else does? Burgers, fries, fat food, processed food, LIFE. Yes, you could have a stroke REGARDLESS if you smoke. So, what I'm trying to say, is that, you say the tobacco companies are skewing their facts...what are you doing? Seems like the same thing.

As for those "truth.com" commercials. You are worse than PETA. And that's insane. It's easy to produce a commercial with thousands of babies with horrible facts stapled to their plastic chests, than say, go out to schools and actually educate people, instead of these scare tactics, just like PETA uses. Here is an idea. Instead of trying to completely eliminate something, why not make it better? Why not lobby scientists to work on a process that makes cigarette butt bio-degradable? And you say you want to "take down the evil corporate giants"? Ok, well what about the thousands and thousands of employees? Especially the low level employees? What do they do? What about the actual humans? Can you hire them? It's easy to yell and scream at a gigantic corporation. Anyone can do that. To make actual change takes effort, and a calm heart. Bleeding hearts are great and all, but you need to focus to create a lasting impact. And that, is the main reason i do not agree with PETA. I like what they try to be, but their execution is nothing but PR scare tactics and ways publicize their agenda....just like other corporations...like tobacco...weird, eh?


I AM NOT SAYING I AGREE WITH THE STATS AND REPORTS THAT BIG TOBACCO PUT OUT. I'm sure there are discrepancies. EVERYONE HAS A MOTIVE, EVEN THE MOST WELL-INTENTIONED. It just angers me that people take away the human aspect of these issues, but blaming "Phillip Morris" or whatever. ITS A COMPANY. They try to make money in our CAPITALIST society. Just like Taco Bell, Nike, and thousands and thousands of other companies. And while they may not be the most honest or even truthful, by copying their tactics to somehow impede them.... just seems childish. Because it is. "Oh, people will stop doing something they get pleasure out of because our organization is gonna take down the Giant Tobacco Company!" I remember an episode of South Park that touched on this subject once...CLICK HERE FOR THE SOUTH PARK EPISODE "Butt Out"


I'm sure people will argue with me on this, and tell me I'm a product of "their" system and yadda yadda yadda. I MAKE MY OWN DECISIONS. You should too. Its one of the great pleasures of being Human. Yes, Human. That whole "free will" thing...

A Harsh Reality About Rivers

Well, being born by the ocean, and living within 20 minutes of the ocean my whole life, I must say that rivers and lakes freak me out. And you, say, " whoa whoa whoa buddy, you'd rather swim around with sharks than trout?" and I'd say, " Well no, but at least I can see the bottom when I'm surfing or swimming. And have you ever seen a Sturgeon? HUGE!!! " And I guess that's what freaks me out. I CANT TELL WHATS AT THE BOTTOM! Or, scratch that, anything that's below the surface for that matter. I also enjoy the whole wave aspect, and to me, lake's seem too quiet and too undisturbed for me. It just seems to me that some freaky fish has a way better chance of surviving at the bottom of a huge lake, not bothered, top-of-the-food-chain, etc. And, you'll never get to swim next to dolphins in a lake. ( always amazing to see them swim next to you while you surf, but its totally different to be within 5 feet of one, really amazing creatures.) But, this all has little to do with the article of the day, coming to you from CNN science. (CLICK HERE FOR THE ARTICLE)


Just as it is with most natural resources...they are dying. But, as I have stated before, hope is never lost. The list of 10 worst polluted/contaminated rivers is really an eye-opener. I mean, its something that is, quite frankly, easy to take care. I don't really have much of an opinion (besides my irrational fear of Lakes, not really a fear, more of a strong dislike) on this issue, but it's good knowledge and please leave a comment if you live by one of these lakes and have an insight to whats going on a local level. I'll update again before the day is over. Add me on twitter @GreenLifeUSA

Ciao!

An Easy Way to Make a Rug

Making a braided wool rug is a great summer project to undertake. Not only will you have a lot of fun, you will also make a unique and very personal braided rug for any of your rooms. Choose between round, oval, rectangular or square braided rugs and add new warmth and vibrancy to the rooms in your house. They can also be used a rug runner in your hallway to add some cushion to a wood floored hallwayMaking braided wool rugs is not at all difficult. All you need are the materials and instructions listed below:


Materials:

Colored wool
Scissors
Darning needle
Sewing needle
Thread
Sturdy string


Instructions:

Take three strings of wool at a time. Choose the length of the string according to what’s most convenient for you.

Tie the ends of the three strings together in a loop. Once the loop is ready, slip it around the leg of a table or chair to anchor it in place. Choose a comfortable place to sit in front of the table or chair.

Hold the strings tautly so that the string is straight and taut. Start braiding. Hold the three strips apart. Then starting with the right strip, pass that strip over the center strip. Then pass the left strip over the new center strip (what started out on the right). Continue alternating from right to left side as you braid one strip over the other in a three-piece braid.

Keep braiding until you have a long, consistent braid. You can keep sewing up more strings to the ends of the braid as and when you run out of string. Some people prefer to use short strings and keep sewing new pieces regularly. On the other hand, some people prefer using long lengths of string at a time. Choose what’s most convenient for you.

Now that you have a very long braid you will coil it into your rug. Use a flat surface, ideally your floor, and start coiling one end of the braid. Wrap a flat circle around the end. Curl two or three circles to start.

Use darning needle and heavy string lace back and forth across the circles positioning your needle over one braid then under the next. After lacing the first three circles together, start making the rug larger.

Keep adding more and more circles to the center. Also keep securing each circle with lacing as you proceed. This will ensure a uniformly flat braided rug.

Keep circling around and holding the rug tight until it reaches the size you want.
When your braided rug has reached the desired size, cut remaining braid, if any.

Then, trim the edges of the end and sew it into the previous circle.

Viola! Your very own braided wool rug is ready!

Leave some comments if you had any difficulties or success! Hope all is well! Be sure to follow us on Twitter!

A Little Something for Smiles

This really has nothing to do with the environment, but it does point out a very real fact: the Bush Administration had serious objections to global warming and its impact...and it makes for comedy gold. Adam and Eve drove an excursion...

A Lesson on Famous People

HAHAHAHAHAHAH. HAHAHAHAHAHA. It's amazing. Watch this video


Now, is it weird that Republicans...instead of actually TRYING TO HELP THE PLANET...are worried that Al Gore invested in a company promoting initiatives that would help our planet, that he makes NO PERSONAL PROFIT FROM? No, thats called smart business. And secondly, so what if he makes a profit? He was a smart! and invested wiesely! Since when is that a bad quality of an American? Oh, he does have to make a living somehow by the way...Why cant Republicans try to help? JUST HELP. Don't try to turn this around. Don't say that Al Gore has ulterior motives. Because if he did, don't you think he would just retire with the MILLIONS HE MADE FROM THE BOOK AND THE MOVIE? I do. its crazy man, just crazy. His new book is coming out in November, called Our Choice, and it's going to be well-thought out, well researched and well written. Because his is well thought out, well researched and he writes well. Its frustrating sometimes.