that GREEN blog

What do the human body and the planet earth have in common?

Water. If the human body has about two-thirds water, our planet has about 70% of it, which establishes the fact that water constitutes a major portion in both body masses. And that is what’s alarming. If 70% of the earth’s surface is made up of water, then humankind should have been very wary of anything that would pollute this major portion of the planet. Alas, the human race has done otherwise. Water pollution is now a global problem.

Today, water pollution is rampant and the chief source of water pollution is the human race. We are the very ones that need water most and, yet, we have polluted it, even to the brink of extinction.

There are many types of water pollutants but these can be segregated into four classifications: natural, agricultural, municipal and industrial pollutants. Natural water pollutants could include all the natural phenomena that happen from time to time such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes that cause major upheavals in the ocean floor and storms that cause flashfloods. Even global warming could be qualified as a cause of water pollution.

Agricultural pollution consists mainly of poultry and other agricultural animal wastes that are carelessly thrown off to bodies of water near farms. It could also be the fertilizers or pesticides that are used to make better crops, which erode into lakes, rivers or streams. Municipal wastes are those that come from residential areas. This is the liquid waste that households throw into bodies of water. Industrial pollution consists of all the wastes that major industrial firms chuck into the waters. This last classification is the most severe and most rampant among the three – and it is also the one that has caused the most damage. Industrial waste could include contaminants that are hard to take off from the waters once they spread – petroleum from oil spills or nuclear wastes.

The bodies of water in the world are in catastrophic danger, what with all the industries in the world today, plus our individual wastes all put together! No wonder mankind now drinks from bottles instead of just scooping water from running streams. The effects of water pollution to humanity is staggering. But we should also consider all the other life forms that suffer – the fishes and other animals such as birds, and plants. And what happens when humans eat the very fishes that live in polluted waters? Do you still want that answered?

But where there is life, there is hope. There is something that we can do – you can do – to save the only planet that we have. You could be an advocate, in your own simple way, of retrieving the lost beauty of oceans, lakes, rivers and streams. Here is a list that might get you to consider in fighting water pollution:

1. Primarily, you should prevent water pollution. Just like an illness, it is much simpler to prevent its occurrence rather than to cure. Begin at your own home. Make sure that you conserve water. You can never imagine the water shortages that happen all over the globe. So if you have a constant supply of water at home, use it wisely.
2. Plant trees (if circumstance would allow you). Having more trees or plants in your yard would prevent pollutants from flowing freely into nearby bodies of water. Since they keep the soil from eroding, water pollution or, at least, the quality of the water is improved.
3. Do not throw any form of garbage into any body of water. Sign up for any organization that aims in cleaning up beaches (or lakes, or streams). Be an active member of such organizations.
4. Never throw water pollutants down your sink or toilet bowl. Make sure to dispose wastewater properly. Think of the many septic tanks that contribute to water pollution. Now, ‘get the picture?

Luckily, for all of us, there were concerned lawmakers out there that have made legislations on water pollution. The U.S. alone has several anti-water pollution laws such as the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, The Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, which was amended in 1988. These laws prevent further damage to U.S. waters.

Although water pollution is an extensive problem, bridling it is still possible. And everything begins with each and every individual in each and every home. And yes, that population includes YOU.

For more information go to: Facts About Water Pollution

I’m sorry, this is going to be a rant, I’ll just tell you right now…. I’m kind of frustrated.

Phil Nail, was quoted in an article at Top Hosts as saying… “… and buying green credits doesn’t make your company green” Errrrr And, according to AISO’s website, many of the so-called green Web hosts out there don’t run any environmentally friendly technologies at all, but instead buy RECs as a marketing tactic in hopes of making you think they’re helping the environment…. I say, with friends like that, who needs enemies?

Well, I run a green web hosting service and we buy REC’s. I recycle religiously, I garden my own food, I buy local when I can’t get what I need or don’t have room to grow. I bicycle when I could drive, I buy sustainable organic and fair trade as much as is humanly possible. I accept all the bags of leaves and grass clippings I can get from all the neighbors in my town, and I do my best to research where the money from my green tags is going. What more could one want from a small company? Should I not BE a small business because I can’t afford a windmill of my own or the solar panels that should run a green hosting business. The individual that I buy my hosting from is a greenie too, the way he lives, etc… in the backwoods… How could we collectively be better role models? Last I checked, being poor didn’t make one bad, and being rich didn’t make one better. I mean, is THAT what this is all about… egads, big business?

While I would give my eye teeth to host all my thirty some sites and those of all my clients on truly solar/wind powered servers, AISO makes it cost prohibitive for me to do so. (they are over ten times more expensive as all my hosting expenses put together, including our green tags) there is an addon price for every service I need. As a reseller who hosts design clients, I have little choice but to buy energy credits to help make a difference. (Just like I use electricity in my home until I can come up with the fundage to install solar panels) Researching where that money is going can be a full time job, but it’s a step in the right direction. If Mr. Nail would create a program that is as affordable as it is green, we’d see a HUGE difference in the number of truly industrious and sincere site owners that wish to participate in sustainable technology.

As it is right now, I don’t think that saying, “… these so called green web hosts” and “… and buying green credits doesn’t make your company green” is helpful at all. Not to mention the fact that it is counterproductive. (and YES, buying green tags for home and office in addition to all other sustainability practices makes us GREEN) Those comments don’t take into consideration those very small and home based businesses that are making every attempt to be sustainable in their business practices doing everything they can from recycling at the office and at home, buying sustainable products to gardening their own food and/or buying local.

I agree with Michael Bloch’s (from ThinkHost) opinion of the situation much more…

“Around the world, there’s an awful lot of data center infrastructure already in place and while it would be nice to have solar panels and wind turbines directly powering each one of them, it’s horribly expensive at this point, somewhat wasteful of current infrastructure and is going to be some time coming.”

“The purchase of green tags is a great way for hosting providers to do something environmentally positive right now by ensuring the equivalent power that they use is fed into a grid somewhere from renewable sources such as solar and wind (these are the offsets we use). It’s a big picture concept and a practice that should be encouraged rather than being seen as the poor cousin to direct renewables powering.”

These things are all intertwined and they all must work synergistically as must we who are all, in our own spheres, striving to effectively promote public awareness. I can understand attacking those that are proven to only trying to ride an economical ‘green’ wave, but those sort of sweeping statements really leave out the conscientious small business, which in my humble opinion is the backbone of all larger ones. I don’t mind paying a bit more for sustainable technology, but not more than ten times more. Sorry, those condescending statements just really rubbed me the wrong way this morning. I’m going out to the garden and work off some of this steam…

Politicians are finally making some sensible environmental decisions – albeit on a small scale for now.

Quality used, new, misprinted and overrun cardboard boxes. Why pay the high price of brand new boxes, when you will only use them once? And you don’t have to cut down a tree to make a used cardboard box! Wonderful idea and as much as people move around these days, timely.

If you’re buying boxes and not getting them in the alley behind the grocery stores in your town, then try Used Cardboard Boxes

There is now a “Green” product to wash, wax, polish and seal (a complete detail) 100% of all vehicles WITHOUT WATER inside and out.

No hose, no soap, no mess or clean-up. No need to waste hundreds of gallons of water each time you clean your car, truck, R. V. motorcycle etc. etc. Also many household uses.

No need to contaminate the surface water tables with run off caused by soapy oily water and detergents.

INTRODUCING NO WET GREEN/CLEAN waterless wash, wax, polish and sealant. Just spray No Wet “Green” on the surface of the vehicle, wait a few seconds (No Wet is now lifting the dirt from the surface of the vehicle and encapsulating all of the dirt) wipe with a cotton towel, allow another few seconds for the waxes and sealants to do their job and buff with a clean towel. You’re done.

There are no abrasives, kerosene, silicones, or petroleum distillates in No Wet “Green. No Wet “Green” is completely earth friendly. 100% “GREEN”. Non toxic, biodegradable. Volatile Organic Compound Complaint. Derived from bio-based organic sources, meeting all criteria to be a “Green” product.

Be aware. Care enough what happens to our planet. Get into the 21st century and help make sure there’s a 22nd century for the generations to come.

No Wet Concepts has been producing and supplying waterless vehicle cleaning products under different branding’s worldwide for over 12 years and is proud to have recently developed/produced our first “Green” product. No Wet Green/Clean is the only product of this type that can be called a “Green” product.

No Wet Green Clean can be contacted for wholesale/ retail pricing and if you are looking to sell it for them also … 732-723-9100….800-790-5052 Spotswood NJ USA and you can visit their web site www.nowetgreenclean.info

They even have a very informative video about NOWET Green Clean. It may take a few seconds to load. You will hear the word “duco”, this is the painted surface. http://www.nowetcarclean.com.au/video.html

If any of you have used this product, please comment about it.