Archive for October, 2009
Would you let your kids play with Asbestos?
Saturday, October 24th, 2009Of course not! You know that asbestos is a fibrous mineral that can get into the air and damage your lungs. It was placed in buildings to prevent the spread of fires – and very effective at doing so. PBDE’s are also effective at preventing the spread of fires. They are a class of fire retardants that are used in everything from baby clothing to carpeting. But did you know that it is also being detected in the blood of whales? The chemicals are prevalent enough in whales that they are experiencing breast cancer. Even worse, chemicals like those found in flame retardants are getting into the food chain. They are everywhere. It is time to get the word out about these harmful chemicals and start working to find a safe alternative.
Cotton Candy Sky
Saturday, October 24th, 2009Lately have you stopped to smell the roses? This morning I was driving to work and the sky was still dark. As the minutes passed the sky became pink and blue. I thought to myself, “It looks like cotton candy.” I have never seen the sky so colorful, but then again, every morning I am usually anxious and worried about being late for work. It has become a challenge to step away from life and inhale the scenery.
So now, for just a minute, I think about my favorite flower, and although I love roses and their sweet smell; my favorite flower is the lotus. The lotus represents the immense power of the human spirit. It grows stronger and more beautiful in muddy water.
The Earth, as I sit in front of my synthetic computer, is becoming submerged in man-made mud. It is my belief that the Earth, just like the flower it grows, will emerge more radiant and more beautiful. But how? I want to be the one to make a significant change, but I feel too helpless, too poor, and too insignificant to make any sort of progress. This should not be an excuse. The least I can do is show appreciation- afterall, appreciation doesn’t cost a thing.
It saddens me that we do not stop ourselves enough to think about our favorite flower, or listen to the birds chirping in the morning. They sing for anyone who is willing to listen. When was the last time you felt the air tickle your skin?
I cannot believe that in my short time on Earth I can afford to forget to do such things. I have forgotten to stop and smell the roses; therefore I have abandoned my earth. It has never abandoned me. So, for the sake of my home I promise to stop and smell the roses. Tomorrow morning I will look up and say, “It is cotton candy that looks like the sky.”
-Alexandra Casanova