Ultimate Environmentalist: Giving Back

Welcome to the fourth and final edition of Ultimate Environmentalist! My past articles have touched upon Recycling, Smart Consumption and Activism. This final article is more about what you can do as a human (biologically) to help create a sustainable earth.

These suggestions comprise a short list but together they represent a great shift in thinking and understanding about how our species impacts the planet.

The ever increasing human population threatens to tumble the natural balance of give and take with the earth, and there are ways to fix this. Human life is also very valuable and with the help of modern medicine and technology we can prolong our lives and the lives of others.

1. Organ Donation - I like to call this Ultimate Recycling. There are many many people on lists waiting for an organ that can be transplanted into them. This is a pretty serious subject to talk about. Now, I don't want to promote a future like the ones envisioned in Repo Men, because that would be pretty screwed up. But I would like you to consider signing up for the option of organ donation if you die in an accident of some sort. In Ontario, organ donation is recorded on our Health Cards, so paramedics can know quickly what to do in an accident.

2. Give Blood/Plasma - The prospect of having needles stuck in you and sucking out a sizable proportion of your blood doesn't seem all to pleasing but it is very important to consider this. Like Jackie Chan said "Blood, it's in you to give". Look up the nearest Blood donation center in your town and get tested. You may be a great candidate to give the gift of life.

3. Use Birth Control/Contraceptives - Using these items is essential in lowering the population of our species on earth. Not only do you get to have sex without the prospect of having annoying kids, but you can feel proud about being earth friendly :P Using condoms and The Pill are great ways to achieve this.

4. Adopt a Child - When it comes to make the decision about raising a family, think about adoption. There are many children out there that are without parents and are being tossed around in Foster homes. Take this chance to offer a kid a safe home and caring parents. You can also have your own kids through natural birth, but keep in mind that it is possible to decrease our species population through adoption. Reduce the human population, reduce consumption.

5. Cremation - At the end of your life, you will be struck with a decision about what to do with your body. For generations, people have opted for burials in cemeteries. Cremation is not a new concept and it is an interesting one. By being cremated, you decrease the amount of space that would be needed for your burial and make it easier for the nutrients locked in your ashes to be distributed back into nature.

Controlling our population and caring for one another is essential in creating a sustainable planet. I have led you through recycling, smart consumption and activism. Now, it is your choice to do something. Even taking a couple of suggestions from each article would have a great impact on this earth, our communities and you as a person. We are all faced with tough decisions and no one but us can make them. Join with me in protecting our planet for future generations, before we lose the ability to do so.

Part 1: Recycling
Part 2: Smart Consumption
Part 3: Activism
Part 4: Giving Back

Ultimate Environmentalist: Activism

Sometimes it takes large and unsettling events to take place before people are moved into acting. But this is exactly what has to be done if we want to have any hope of living in a sustainable world and not screwing it up more than we already have. I don't mean to say every Thursday we go out and organize a large riot or protest in support of Environmental responsibility, but I would like to see a greater interest in showing our concern.

So that brings us to my third of four articles on Ultimate Environmentalism! As I had mentioned, being environmentally conscious can fall into 4 Categories: Recycling, Smart Consumption, Activism and Giving Back. The subject today being Activism.

While the word activism seems to imply staging mass protests and hunger strikes, this is not what I am suggesting. The best activism an individual can do is to simply channel their efforts into small, meaningful projects of their own or of a groups. All it takes is a little research, some elbow grease and determination.

Here are a few suggestions:

1. Start a Cleanup - Think Local. The best place to start is where you live. Start small and then expand. There are rivers, roads and parks to be kept up and there is always litter flying around. Clean up your local community and you will find a sense of pride unknown to you before. Also, as a group, you can be responsible for a section of highway or road near your town. Simply call up your local government for the deets.

2. Plant a Vegetable Garden - This really only works for a short time of the year for people living in a Northern Community where winter leaves its mark on 6 months of the year. But it is a viable proposal that provides a cheap food source and some outside fun. At the same time, start thinking about a compost pile in your back yard too.

3. Take Public Transportation - Or Carpool. Buses and taxis are out there for us to use and sometimes they are worth it. My university is only down the road from me so I can easily take the bus. It also doesn't hurt that we get a bus pass along with our tuition. When going to a friends house or the out on the town, try to fit all your friends into 1 or 2 cars. You will find that you can reduce the amount of gas you use and increase your cash reserves at the same time :)

4. Spring Cleaning - Every year I go through my old clothes and items, wondering why I ever wore such haggard things and bought such useless objects. Aside from throwing out broken things, I donate still good clothes and items to organizations like the Salvation Army and the Thrift Store. This gives your stuff a second life and gives someone else a second chance.

5. Buy an Electric Vehicle - If you can afford it. They don't come cheap, but they are a great way to curb our carbon emissions and pave the way for a cleaner future. Plus some of them look so cool!

6. Education - The best thing you can do is to educate yourself on the science of Climate Change and support Environmental legislation from the government. Sure, there is a lot of controversy around climate change and what is causing it, but if you don't know both sides to the story then you are not as well informed as you should be.

7. Buy from Companies with Good Environmental Records - This one takes a little research on your part. Try looking online for some profiles of major companies and think twice before you use your money to buy their products. As the saying goes, "Vote with your Wallet". Check out Responsible Shopper, a website dedicated to helping you out with this.

8. Install Solar Panels - Again, only if you can afford them. Solar panels have come along way since they first lit up a solar calculator but they still have a long way to go before they can become cost effective. The panels we have now are not as efficient as we would like them to be, but efforts are underway to change that. Installing solar panels would be a nice step for you to take to tell the world that you care.

9. Walk/Bike - Probably the simplest type of activism you can do is to leave your car at home. Ride the bike path to work or take a jog around the Marina. Not only will you get some great exercise but you will also get people's attention. A little inspiration is all that is needed for people to change their lifestyle and you can provide it.

Activism is not just for large crowds and rowdy citizens. It is also for individuals who want to make a difference and who are willing to act. Take part in rallies and group meetings but remember that it all starts when you decide that speaking up is worth your time. Hopefully you can take away something from this article. Implementing at least two or three of these suggestions is a great start to making this world a better place.

Next time on Dragons Make Igneous Rocks, Ultimate Environmentalism: Giving Back!

Part 1: Recycling
Part 2: Smart Consumption
Part 3: Activism
Part 4: Giving Back

Get to Know a Mineral: Cummingtonite

As I am studying geology, I felt it would be nice to introduce some of the rocks and minerals that I look at in my studies. So let me introduce you to the world of geology!

To begin, a mineral must meet 5 criteria in order for it to be as such.
1. Occurs naturally
2. Solid
3. Formed by inorganic processes
4. A characteristic chemical composition
5. A crystal structure

A rock, on the other hand, is simply an aggregate of minerals. Rocks can be made up of many minerals or in some cases, just one.

The first mineral I would like you to get acquainted with is Cummingtonite. Go ahead, laugh..................................................now that you`re finished laughing, lets get to it.

Cummingtonite is a metamorphic amphibole with the chemical formula (Mg,Fe)₇Si₈O₂₂(OH)_2.
It was first described in 1824 near the town of Cummington, Massachusetts (hence the name). It is also found in Scotland, South Africa and Sweden.

Cummingtonite is commonly seen in metamorphosed magnesium rich rocks, but is also known to occur in some felsic igneous rocks like dacites. It can also be found in the iron formations of the Lake Superior region.

For all the geologists out there, here is a list of Cummingtonite`s properties:
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Crystal Habit: Fibrous, lamellar and radiated
Cleavage: Perfect {110}
Streak: White
Optic Sign: Biaxial (+)
Extinction: Inclined
2V: 65°- 98°

Also Get to Know:

Cummingtonite
Garnet

Ultimate Environmentalist: Smart Consumption

Now for the second of four installments on being environmentally friendly. As I mentioned before, being environmentally conscious can fall into 4 Categories: Recycling, Smart Consumption, Activism and Giving Back.

Last time I wrote about recycling and the role it plays in our daily lives. I would now like to turn your attention to the idea of Smart Consumption. It's a relatively simple idea, use less energy and products. I know many of you already employ this idea in your everyday lives, but I thought I may as well compile a list of ways to increase the effectiveness of your approach.

Smart Consumption can be divided into 2 categories: What you Buy and How you Use it.

The first category is all about knowing what you are buying. Whether the item at hand is efficient, reusable, practical or useful. Here is a list of suggestions:

1. Reusable Containers - Items like Tupperware, lunch boxes or refillable bottles are great for keeping waste like plastic and paper bags out of landfills. A little upkeep is all that is needed to maintain these items and you may find that there is a small financial gain from using these products.

2. Buy Local Products - This one is a no brainer. The transportation of goods across large amounts of land creates tons of emissions and these are not helping the health of our planet. Plus, buying locally injects money into the local community, something that is of need during the present economic downturn. Many cities have already spearheaded events to promote local shopping and many city websites include the names and locations of such shops.

3. Library Books - The idea is to borrow books instead of buying them. Now, I know that it is nice to own your books to put on your shelves as a reminder that you have read them. But think of all the paper that could be saved if a majority of people stopped buying books and simply started taking them out from the library. Also, with the dawn of items like the Kindle or the iPad, ebooks will start to take form. E books are an interesting avenue to pursue for the reduction of paper use and to increase reading rates across developed countries. It is a little known fact that library's have free ebooks to give away. Check out the Thunder Bay Public Library for some of these!

4. Electronics - It is important for our society to progress technologically, but that doesn't have to mean that you go out and buy the next biggest gadget as soon as it arrives! E waste is a big problem and will only grow as our dependency on technology increases. The world reserves for many of the metals used to create these items only have lives of around 100 years. So after then, we are doomed if another source isn't found. The best way to approach this is to simply cut down our spending. Do you really need that new iPad? You know they are only gonna release an updated version of it close to Christmas and then one shortly the next year. Think before you buy.

5. Textbooks - Here is a simple task, buy used textbooks! Not only do you save money, but you reduce the amount of paper used. And then when you are all finished, go ahead and resell them.

6. Thrift Store - Now, I'm not saying to make your entire wardrobe thrift clothing, but I am asking you to take a look and see if you like what you see. Anyways, thrift stores are great for finding costumes for Halloween and parties :)

7. Fix Things - Instead of going out and buying a new chair or other miscellaneous item, go ahead and try to fix it. Or get someone else to fix it. This reduces the consumption of products and extends the life of the ones you already own.

8. Unsubscribe from Flyers/Newspapers - A lot of the flyers we get are unnecessary and wasteful. Simply call up your provider and ask to be removed of the mailing list. In the case of newspapers, that poor dying industry, they can be found online. Like Thunder Bay's The Chronicle Journal.

9. Bring your own Coffee Mug - From my past work at McDonalds, I have had customers come up to me with their own coffee cups and ask me to fill them up and charge them for a corresponding size. I don't know if other restaurants like Tim Hortons do this, or if I was even allowed to do this :P but it is a good idea. The Study at Lakehead University offers discounts on coffee purchased with your own mug.

10. Light Bulbs - Probably the easiest form of smart consumption is to buy CFLor LED light bulbs. These are far more efficient than incandescent light bulbs, which are scheduled to be phased out by 2014 in the States and 2012 in Canada.

11. Use Less at Restaurants - This is for places like McDonalds. When going to the condiment stand, simply take what you need and no more. Don't take 50 napkins, multiple straws for spit balling or tons of ketchup or mayo packets that you are only gonna spread over your tray liner.

That is it for the purchasing side, now for the using part of things.

1. Conserve Energy - A simple task to do is to turn off electronics like your TVs and video game consoles when not using them. Also, around 17% of your energy bill is due to Phantom Energy, energy that is used by items plugged in and still sucking power from the grid. Unplug devices like your computers and hairdryer to avoid this.

2. Water Conservation - Living in Canada, we do not have to worry about fresh water shortages like many parts of the world. This doesn't mean that we shouldn't do our part though. Taking shorter showers and turning the tap off while brushing your teeth are easy ways to conserve water. An interesting approach is to purchase a rain barrel to collect rainwater. You can then use this to water your plants and garden instead of the hose.

3. Turn down the Thermostat - Of course you must be comfortable in your home, but lowering the temperature of your thermostat can go a long way in reducing power consumption. Try wearing a sweater or a blanket next time.

4. Online Banking and Billing - The Internet has opened many doors of ease and efficiency and this is one of them. Instead of getting paper forms and invoices, simply fill them out or pay them over the Internet.

5. Be Mindful of Peak Hours - Try to find out what time of the day has the most occurrence of energy consumption. Energy companies usually charge more for this time slot, so by moving your laundry cleaning to a different time, you may be able to save some money. Also, your move may decrease the pressure on the energy grid felt at Peak times.

6. Plastic Bags - Plastic bags are an annoyance for environmentalists. They take a long time to breakdown and clog up our landfills. So you can do your part by using reusable shopping bags found almost everywhere now.

In order for our planet and our species to survive, we must usher in a new era of technology and understanding to aid us in preserving what "green" we have left and to manage our existing energy supplies effectively.

Hopefully you found this article to be informative and helpful. I will continue next time with my next installment of Ultimate Environmentalist: Activism.

Part 1: Recycling
Part 2: Smart Consumption
Part 3: Activism
Part 4: Giving Back

Get to Know a God: Amaterasu

Welcome to the first of many installations of Get to Know a God! We all know the stories of Yahweh, Allah, Buddha and some of the more popular figures, so I thought it would be fitting to do some digging for gods that we are not so familiar with. This way it can be seen that humanity has dreamt up a lot of crazy things over our many years of existence and that a lot of what we still have today, showcased in religion and spirituality, are simply stories and myths that have survived the ravages of time.

The first one on the docket is Amaterasu, a Japanese sun goddess who was born from the left eye of the primeval being Izanagi. She is given the title of The Ruler of the Plane of Heaven and is one of the principal Shinto deities.

Amaterasu is said to be directly linked to the Imperial Household of Japan and the Emperor.

The worship of Amaterasu to the exclusion of other Kami (spirits) has caused the following to be dubbed "the Cult of the Sun".

To learn more about Amaterasu`s story, please visit this lovely page.

Ultimate Environmentalist!

Green is everywhere these days. From electronics to household cleaners, everyone is trying to influence the way you act and what you buy by uttering this simple word. The problem is that the more "green" is used to describe everyday items and activities, the faster it loses its true meaning and becomes just another advertising ploy.

The truth is that being green is relatively easy, you just have to think about it and then implement your thoughts. Luckily, I've thought of "Green" actions so you don't have to :P
The way I see it, being environmentally conscious can fall into 4 Categories: Recycling, Smart Consumption, Activism and Giving Back. I shall begin with recycling.

Recycling, at this time, is probably our best chance at conserving materials and keeping harmful products out of landfills and the natural environment. This process hinges on a country's willingness to pay for recycling plants and their operations, as the process is not cost effective. It costs more to recycle materials than to mine or create the same material, brand spanking new!

In most parts of the world, there is no incentive for people to recycle besides the obvious "it saves our planet" reason. For example, in Quebec people can recycle their pop cans and get some money back for doing it. This is surely a way to increase the rate of recycling and provides do-gooders with some nice pocket change.

Another setback for recycling is the lack of availability or access to depot. In some towns, a recycling plant may not be near so their waste is sent straight to a landfill. In other towns, a plant may be nearby but it may not be able to recycle specific materials. For example, in Thunder Bay(the town I live in) our recycling plant is not able
to recycle a few of the types of plastics found in bottles and containers. Depots for recycling material like electronics and batteries can be hard to come by and the effort of storing them at home causes many owners to simply discard these items.

The list of materials that can be recycled continues to grow all the time. But I thought I would list some of the major players so that you may have a better idea of what you can do:

1.Paper - Everyone uses paper for something so it is essential to recycle this material. I would recommend something I like to call "Giving Paper a Second Life". This is to simply use it as scrap paper for anything you need to do like doodling or math homework calculations :P Then give it a third life by sending it to the recycling plant.

2. Plastic Drinking Bottles - More or less, plastic water bottles are a big scam. All it is is bottled tap water sold to you at a crazy high markup. Also, oil is used in the creation of these bottles, causing us to further rely on fossil fuels. I recommend buying a reusable drinking bottle and filling it up with tap water. The chemical BPA has been phased out of these bottles, so they should no longer be hazardous to your health. If you are a fan of the flavoured water, why not just add flavouring of your own to the water in your reusable bottle. Please take note that the caps on the these bottles are often non-recyclable and it is better if you simply take them off and throw them away.

3. Cans - My first recommendation would be to cut down on your consumption of pop :) Think Healthy, be Happy. Recycle your pop cans after your finished. I believe that Beer Stores will take your beer cans for 10c/can so there's some incentive for ya!

4. Beer Bottles - It's a common occurrence to see long lines at the Beer Store of people returning their empties from the night before, so keep up the good work! And if you didn't know this,now you do.

5. Creative Construction - I will admit I have not tried this but it is quite an interesting idea. Instead of throwing things out that can not be recycled, why not use them to create something cool and interesting! For example, this CD lamp;





6. Sand/Dirt from the Winter Snow - This one may sound strange, but just go with me here. During the winter, I put sand on my driveway to make sure I don't slip. When the snow melts, it is left there. I know we have no shortage of sand or dirt but simply sweeping it up and storing it in a box for next winter is a good way to keep your street clean and to save a little money.

7. Electronics, Batteries and Ink Cartridges - I have included all 3 in this one as they all have the depot problem. Finding a place to recycle these items can be tough, but it is important you do. Electronics contain rare metals that are expensive to mine and simply recycling them will help. Batteries leak acid, so it is obvious why they must be disposed of safely. Ink cartridges are expensive, so why don't you try refilling them first. Then when they are past their usefulness, find a depot.
I have tried to come up with some ways recycling can be done and I hope you find my list helpful. My last recommendation would be to set up a "depot" of sorts in your house for your own to-be-recycled items. Glass, plastic, paper and the other items I have mentioned can be stored quite easily in containers and having these at your house increases the likelihood of you recycling.

So remember those 3 R's: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle!

Come back and visit next time for Ultimate Environmentalist: Smart Consumption.

Part 1: Recycling
Part 2: Smart Consumption
Part 3: Activism
Part 4: Giving Back

Back, and I'm in the Bush!

Heyo! Well a lot has happened in the world since I last posted something. America has experienced a failed bomb attack in NYC, Louisiana is flooded, the Gulf is experiencing a an unprecedented oil spill and 2 days ago the DOW plunged almost 1000 points. While here in Canada all we have to talk about are the scandals coming out of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Government. Oh and Britain had an election, which has probably gone to the Tories.

And I am now done exams (the reason for no recent posts) and I am now working at an Exploration Bush Camp for the summer. 5 and a half hours away from my town and everyone I know. Yay for me :P

I will try to post a new segment every few days, but we'll see how that goes. I'm just glad I have satellite TV and internet.

Hope everything is well with anyone who reads this post and have a good summer!