Chemicals: Villains of the Natural World...or Not

Recently, something fascinating was brought to my attention by a speaker on biomimicry. Interested in what that means? Read on to learn more...

There is a common misconception. This misconception is that chemicals are man-made hazards that pollute and threaten an otherwise chemical-free natural world.

Chemical [kem-i-kuh l] (noun)
1. a substance produced by or used in a chemical process.
2. of or relating to, used in, or produced by chemistry

Chemistry? Remember chemistry class? The science class that tried to teach you about the structure and property of substances and the changes they go through. And the Periodic Table of the Elements! Everyone knows that. But most of those elements didn't seem so evil...Carbon, Oxygen...the building blocks of life are contained in that colorful table.

So maybe chemicals aren't pure evil. Certainly combinations of them can be harmful to the health of living things - but chemicals are the building blocks of everything - natural and not.

There is this perception that the word "chemical" is evil, yet nature offers some incredible natural chemical solutions to very real world problems. Seashells inspiring self-assembling in nanotechnology. Plants inspiring biodegradable plastics made from CO2. Peacocks and butterflies inspiring color with light instead of pigments.

If we are going to truly understand chemistry enough to make real change - we need to stop villainizing chemicals and look to understand them instead. Biologists are being invited to the design table. Taking inspiration from nature to design for a sustainable future.

"Learning about the natural world is one thing. Learning from the natural world, that's the switch. That's the profound switch." -Janine Beynus, Biomimicry
Learn more at biomimicry.net
http://biomimicry.net/inspiring/

Inspiration to keep going

I will be honest with you - I am not a saint. I know hard to believe eh?  Well not really.
So while I do have strong values and a passion for sustainability, I don't have perfect days.

I was feeling a little bummed out that both work and personal sustainability efforts were feeling a bit stalled of late.  Trying to get past habits and bad behaviors that we all get accustomed to that is leading the unsustainable life style we are cranking on.

Well I spent a few days a couple of days ago up in Nelson BC where one of my sisters lives full time and my other sister lives part time.  Nelson is one of this magical places that embodies contradictions: clear cuts and hippies, conservatives and liberals, insane athletes and a whole lotta coffee. It is everything that is there that gives the area its culture and flavor of passion.
I had the pleasure of being inspired and reminded that life can be what ever you want to make it and you will still be successful and live a full life. I was also reminded that what I do does mean something and not in what I do just for work, but how I live my life. That when I make decisions to buy local, from a coop, organic, fair trade, or Nothing, I am making a difference and creating a world that I think helps more people than less.

So I am taking this inspiration to the streets - yep join in!
I am calling on everyone to make a decision to change a single behavior that they didn't think they every could and just do it.
Ideas? What about:
- Never using a take out cup
- Buying only organic milk
- Buying only Fair Trade coffee
- Checking out craig's list for purchases before getting something new
- Building a drying rack and stop using the dryer.

Want some more inspiration? Leave a comment telling the world what your commitment will be and for the rest of the month all names will be put into a draw for a $100 gift card to prAna. Yep I am now buying your sweet sustainability love. But I have a feeling you are going to be greatly inspired and see the difference that you make!

Can't wait to hear your ideas... OH wait - what's mine. No more cheese unless it is organic. Ack - this one ain't easy. I love cheese and Organic cheese is spendy - but time to put my money where my mouth is...

Outsourcing the impact on our poor

A couple of days ago two of my girlfriends suggested I come to this talk being put on at the opening of the River Rally in Portland Oregon.
I got the chance to hear from Robert Kennedy Jr. environmental lawyer, activist and President of the Waterkeeper Alliance and Lisa Jackson the EPA's Administrator.

I am embarrassed to say I have never heard either of these leaders speak before, so I was really along for the evening of some food, maybe a glass of wine and a chance to hang out with my friends.

As soon as Mr. Kennedy took the microphone and started talking about the issues going on in this country and the history of the Waterkeeper Alliance my jaw dropped and I was held captivated.
One issue he touched on briefly struck a cord and brought me to tears; as it is something I see continuously in my work. This is the environmental burden we are shifting onto the poor of this country and the world.
Communities of affluence usually have the education, skills and money to push back on environmental pollution.  The poor do not. Places tend to be cheap for a reason, are they near agricultural run off, polluted lands, industrial areas.
I also see the poor of this country being denied access to environmental innovation - I am often told poor people can't buy organic food, solar panels for their homes, cars with good gas mileage. We have a system now that is makes environmentalism elitist.

I wrote about this in a recent blog post on why we need to support organic agriculture as the workers in the fields are being exposed to chemicals in the form of pesticides or insecticides with conventional farming. What are the long term affects of this?  Why should cheap food or clothing be cheap when it is putting people's lives at risk.  And the people who are working in the fields especially here in the United States are doing so out of necessity - most are immigrant labor. And this is where the social piece falls in place - are these people able to defend their rights?

I then was inspired to hear Lisa Jackson speak about the continued need to fight the environmental battle - "just because the lakes aren't on fire, doesn't mean we have saved the environment."  She spoke with such passion and vision for a country that can make the changes we want to see.

The tie of environmental and social justice is so intertwined it speaks to the same battle. I  was inspired and energized to do my part.  Because really it will happen as we each take on a piece and fight the fight for those who do not have the ability to do so - this is our responsibility.
Take one your "I should's" and make it an "I did". You know what to do. This is a values system - all of us living it creates change.