From the 1890s through 1910, thousands of Americans used solar water heaters to heat water for their homes.

Out with the Old and In with the New

I was doing research for an article on alternative energy when I discovered an interesting fact. From the 1890s through 1910, thousands of Americans used solar water heaters to heat water for their homes. But as soon as natural gas became available, as a relatively cheap, new alternative, solar systems were abandoned.

Now, a century later, we are investing our time and money into solar technology. Why did we have to wait so long? What if we’d been improving the technology for the last hundred years? How far would we have come?

And then, I thought about western medicine.  We turned our backs on centuries of wisdom. Eastern medicine was discounted as foolishness. Home remedies used for generations were labeled as dangerous or ineffective. Again, something new—antibiotics—replaced the old.

What about food? Modern agriculture? The “green revolution,” using synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, did indeed increase yields. But at what cost? For thousands of years we replenished the soil with manure and compost. But the new method replaced the old. And now our fields, the lifeblood of our crops, are stripped of nutrients and contaminated with poisons. So what do the big agricultural businesses do? Do they look to the past and embrace the wisdom of those who came before us? No. They create genetically modified plants and contaminate the entire food chain with poorly or virtually untested unnatural food.

If we are to find solutions to the problems we face today—depletion of fossil fuels, world hunger, global warming, clean water, pollution, and more, we need to embrace the wisdom of the past, while we look to the future.

While we at OLM believe that the information itself is accurate, we were immediately skeptical of the idea that Johns Hopkins Hospital would make such “alternative” claims going against everything they stand for…

Recently an email titled, “Cancer Update from John Hopkins Hospital, US – Please Read,” began circulating arond the internet within the alternative health community. In most of these emails the spelling of Johns Hopkins Hospital is spelled incorrectly (“Johns” is spelled “John”).

The email states:

• Every person has cancer cells in the body.
• These cancer Cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have Multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients That there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment it just means the tests are unable to detect the Cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable Size.
• Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person’s lifetime.
• When the person’s immune system is strong the cancer Cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and Forming tumors.
• When a person has cancer it indicates the person has Nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic, But also to environmental, food and lifestyle factors.
• To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing Diet to eat more adequately and healthy, 4-5 times/day And by including supplements will strengthen the immune system.
• Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells and also destroys rapidly- growing healthy cells In the bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract etc, and can cause organ damage, like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc.
• Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and
• organs.
• Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of Chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction.
• When the body has too much toxic burden from Chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.
• Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other Sites.
• An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply.

While we at OLM believe that this information is accurate, we were immediately skeptical of the idea that Johns Hopkins Hospital would make such “alternative” claims going against everything they stand for, and furthermore, we found it doubtful that this would not be much bigger news easily found on main stream sites all over the internet. In addition, there are a lot of mistakes in the email that we doubt such a professional and respected institution would allow to go out to the general public.

The email went on to state:

*CANCER CELLS FEED ON:

• Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it is harmful .A better natural substitute Would be Manuka honey or molasses, but only in very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in color. A better alternative is Bragg’s aminos or sea salt.
• Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the Gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk and substituting with unsweetened soy milk cancer cells are being starved.
• Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little other meat, like chicken. Meat also contains live stock Antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer.
• A diet made of 80%fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline environment. About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live Enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells. To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including bean sprouts) and eat some raw Vegetables 2or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures of 104degrees F (40 degrees C).
• Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high Caffeine Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer fighting properties. Water-best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.
• Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines becomes putrefied and leads to more toxic buildup.
• Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes To attack the protein walls of cancer cells and allows the body’s killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.
• Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6, Flor-ssence, Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc.) to enable the bodies own killer cells to destroy cancer cells. Other supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body’s normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells.
• Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. Anger, un-forgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life.
• Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells.
• Noplastic containers in micro.
• Nowater bottles in freezer.
• Noplastic wrap in microwave.

The last half of the email left no doubt in our mind that this email is a hoax. And, much of the advice in the last half, while likely coming from an alternative health care practitioner, is full of half truths and inaccuracies.

When people find out the truth about an email such as this it discredits the whole cause. This makes us wonder if this email was designed to hurt the alternative medicine movement. Either way, it’s pretty sad.

These are a few of our favorite videos that parady green issues

You probably have already seen at least a couple of these, but we figured any treehugger would enjoy seeing them again.

This green parody, Coal, by Free Love Reform was done so well some people didn’t realize it was a commercial until the last few seconds.

Another great green parody by Free Love Reform, Pizza Dabbers.

When this BP Spills Coffee video came out in June, it would have been too soon to laugh if this green parody video by UCBComedy.com wasn’t so damn funny!

This Grocery Store Wars video was an instant classic created by the brilliant minds at FreeRange Studios.

Another one of the greats by FreeRange Studios . This one is about factory farming. Check out their continuation of this story as well, The Meatrix II and The Meatrix II ½.

If you know of any more we should add please leave us a comment and let us know.

In five steps

Recycle

Place recycling bins next to every trash can with each possible type of bin that makes sense for the area. The cafeteria is the best place to start. Make sure each bin is clearly labeled. In fact, a nice trick to ensure understanding and compliance is to show examples above the recycling bins. (See the picture from Whole Foods.)

Buy Local Food Whenever Possible

Sounds like a pretty cool field trip, too. This is a great opportunity to teach students where their food comes from.

Start a Garden

Grow your own organic food, and get the students involved. The best way to get students to start eating healthier is to get them involved in the process of producing healthy food. And gardening is therapeutic. Before you start thinking that you just don’t have enough room to start, research gardening in small places, and ask the students for their thoughts. Don’t forget to compost to further reduce landfill waste and as a means to enrich your garden soil.

Reduce Paper Consumption

Recycling is great, but reducing is better. Put used paper in the fax machine to print on the back side, or try web based fax services like eFax. Post important updates on websites and get parents to sign up for email lists. When you do buy paper, choose environmentally friendly, recycled paper.

Educate and Involve

Get the students and parents involved. Get them excited. Teach students and teachers the benefits of turning off lights when not in use. Make sure everyone knows how and where and what to recycle. Get feedback and ideas whenever possible. Create exciting projects. Why not encourage the shop class and the science class to team up to build a solar panel or a wind turbine for the school?

Being green, or being environmentally considerate, is more a mindset than a certain set of actions. It’s all about conservation, consideration, sustainability, and looking to the future. With the right mindset, your daily choices will result in a greener lifestyle.

Reduce, then Reuse, then Recycle

Recycling is great, but reusing something that may otherwise be thrown into the recycle bin requires little-to-no energy. You can always recycle the item later. Reducing your consumption is the best choice. If you don’t need it, don’t buy it!  Consumption for the sake of spending money or “keeping up with the Jones’s” is not a sustainable lifestyle.

Before making any purchase, a green consumer will consider both the environmental implications caused by the manufacturing of the product as well whether or not the product is something the individual really needs in the first place. If you don’t need it, don’t buy it.

Older is Generally Better

While the new Lexus 420h hybrid SUV is pretty sweet to look at and gets pretty decent mileage, discarding an older Honda Civic for the new hybrid is not the greener choice. The environmental footprint of building a new car is massive. It will take years for the slightly improved mileage to pay off that footprint.

Local is Better

Buying an apple at a local fruit stand versus purchasing an apple at your local grocery that was shipped cross country or across the ocean is a greener choice. The shorter the distance traveled, the smaller the carbon footprint.

Buy Used

There are some very trendy used clothing stores where you can get designer clothing for 20% (or less) of the full price. Used cars, used bicycles, and used televisions can all be had at a substantial discount guaranteeing you a cleaner, greener conscious.

Strive to be Self-sustaining

Living off the grid is great, but even small steps can enrich your life by giving you piece of mind, a healthy hobby, and a healthier body. Consider starting a small vegetable garden. Maybe just start with tomatoes. After your initial success you’ll probably be hooked and begin taking more and more steps towards being self sufficient.

Avoid Chemicals

Most chemicals are not good for the environment or for us. Limit your use of plastics, use low VOC or no VOC paint when remodeling your home, and forgo chemical air fresheners and detergents. You’ll live a greener lifestyle and enjoy a healthier home.

Conclusion

Take a few steps and start thinking about your choices and actions as you go through your day. It’s all about consideration. As time goes on, you will train your brain to be more and more aware of environmental implications.

For an easy step by step guide to reducing yoru carbon footpritn while savign money be sure to check out Going Green Today.

Poland’s Health Minister, Ewa Kopacz, was heavily criticized for her decision not to purchase the swine flu vaccines. The Polish Ombudsman, Janusz Kochanowski (appointed as the mediary for citizen rights) threatened to sue Kopacz for her decision.

Kapacz considered purchasing the vaccines for Poland, but decided the pharmaceutical company’s terms were unacceptable. Instead, she adopted an anti-swine flu strategy that resulted in the virus being less virulent in Poland than other countries.

The European council’s Committee on Social Health and Family Affairs said Ewa Kopacz’s decision was the right decision.

This 1985 Toyota MR2 gets 30 mpg and is still running fine. It derserves some recognition.

In a sea of larger, seemingly much more imposing cars the 1988 MR2 sticks out like a sore thumb hitchhiking back to a time only recently forgotten, the bike rack, a flag it waives unabashed, with a youthful vigor that contradicts it’s retro style.

The car shouts “I’m over here!” with unequivocal confidence in the otherwise quiet graveyard of larger but comparatively complacent and submissive automobiles.

It’s ready. It’s waiting. It’s beckoning. It needs to be driven. Stepping into this car gives one the feeling of transformation to an unbridled state of mind. This car is not controlled by the driver any more than the driver is controlled by the car. Instead a symbiotic relationship is formed where the driver intuitively understands the need to get squirrely on every single corner with little regard to speed or traction.

While not particularly powerful or commanding, persuasiveness is unquestionably one of the prevailing virtues of the MR2. Driving with pure abandonment of any consideration towards opinions of onlookers, this vehicle long ago put away any pretense of shame or self-consciousness.

After the ride, upon exiting, with no remorse, this car tosses you out awkwardly, pouts, taps, and hisses relentless with indignation. It will not rest for long.