College Detox Cheat Sheet

I'm a toxic waste dump?!

It is not uncommon for us to feel disheartened and depressed to learn that many things we do on a daily basis are turning our bodies into walking toxic waste dumps. Yet it can be equally disheartening/depressing to be bombarded by lofty alternatives, and pricy solutions that seem impossible to adopt.

What are my options?!

It's as though we have to chose between consuming toxic chemicals on a daily basis or living off the grid as an organic farmer/hunter-gatherer, making our own deodorant, and weaving our own cloths from native wild grasses. ( not so comfortable, sustainable, or feasible for the typical college student) 

But I'm broke, stressed, and would like to pass my classes...

As college students we are lucky if we have time to stuff our face with easy mac or a pop tart as we hustle to and from home, classes, labs, group meetings, practices, work...etc. let alone grow and construct our own organic salads between classes... 

Easy Fix 

Us college students can reduce our consumption and exposure to toxins by making small changes to our daily routines that can actually save us time and money. The list below provides advanced toxin avoidance tips and workarounds to those tips or "cheats" for us broke, short-on-time individuals to implement so we can reduce our toxin intake without dropping out of school. 

Thus the College Detox Cheat Sheet:

(Click the image for a PDF of the Cheat Sheet)

Advanced Tip: Harvest natural materials to construct your own clay

oven for preparing food.

Cheat Tip: Microwave your food in glass or ceramic containers instead

 of plastic.  Even plastics labeled “microwave safe” can leach harmful

toxins into your food.

Advanced Tip: Convert your human waste into organic usable soil, by

building and using an outdoor compostable toilet. 

Cheat Tip: Choose bathroom cleaners like regular old baking soda

(super cheap!) or cleaners with A ratings from the Environmental

Working Group over cleaners that contain chemicals hazardous to

your health.

Advanced Tip: Use a hollowed organic gourd to collect your drinking

water from a naturally occurring spring; before consumption test it

for bacterial or chemical contaminants. 

Cheat Tip: Use refillable water bottles made from glass or stainless

steel instead of disposable plastics. By doing so you’ll avoid potential

exposure to harmful chemicals/bacteria and prevent plastic waste.

Advanced Tip: Live off the grid and survive by hunting wild game and

gathering noninvasive plants for sustenance. 

Cheat Tip: When purchasing foods at the grocery store bring your

own reusable shopping bag, instead of using the lightweight plastic

bags at the store. It is common to see these plastic bags in  rivers and

gutters. When they sit it water,toxic chemicals seep out of them and

into our groundwater.

Class Reflection

Much of the material we covered in class is disheartening and depressing. We’ve learned that many of the things we do on a daily basis are turning our bodies and environment into one big cycle of toxin and pollutant exchange.

The topics we covered may have fueled our paranoia, motivated us to live off the grid as organic farmers or hunter-gatherers, make our own deodorant, or don our cormorant suits and march for environmental justice; but we are still college students and the demands of living toxin free, eco-aware, wale/owl/tree/water/air/ friendly, slum-reversing lives can seem like a daunting and nearly impossible task.   BUT we also learned that by making small changes to our daily routines, and sharing our ideas and thoughts with others, we can step out of our cycle of toxins and waste into a positive cycle of higher quality life.

This class also came with a big emphasis on sharing and action. I doubt I’m the only one inspired to share and spread the issues we’ve covered in class, or at least somehow incorporate what we’ve learned into our daily processes.  

For another class I was tasked with creating some sort of social change using social media. My first thought was to somehow utilize the blogging we do for SS3410.

My idea is to create an interactive Detox “Cheat Sheet” (on this blog, on Facebook, and as a pin) for college students. My plan is to address good strategies that may seem daunting for college students to implement since we are often short on funds, time, and energy. I don’t know about you guys but I don’t have the resources to eat all organic free-range foods free from pesticides that have never touched plastic and what not… So I’m framing alternative or (less hardcore) detox tips as “cheats” for ways busy stressed college students can still reduce their consumption and exposure to toxins and still have time to study or not careen (further) into debt. 

I hope to have it done soon, keep an eye out on my blog if you’re interested to see what I come up with.

Rhinos and Cougars and Whales oh my :)

Our class discussion of borders whales, cougars, and rhinoceri inspired me to search for tips on how to survive wild animal encounters. Us humans are pretty good at creating boundaries, enough so that we need help and expert advice when we cross them, especially into environments with animals that can kill us, and vice-versa.

What I found was surprising, there are tips to avoid cougar and rhino attacks , but no tips to avoid whale attacks, not even for killer whale attacks except for don't don't try your best seal impression on an ice flow, and don't swim with captive whales...

I thought "well maybe their aren't tips for whale attacks because percentage wise people are on land more then they are in the ocean, so land animal encounters are more common" but I found many tips to avoid shark attacks and jelly fish attacks and so on, but still none specific to whales. The following article at this LINK helped put this into perspective. 

The following are tips I gathered from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. 

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153--290552--,00.html 
"Established cougar populations are found as close to Michigan as the Dakotas, and transient cougars dispersing from these areas have been known to travel hundreds of miles in search of new territory. DNA evidence collected from a cougar hit and killed by a car in Connecticut in 2011 showed it had originated in western South Dakota." Also here are some tips on how to minimize wild animal attacks on livestock. 



Below are some screenshots from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Some helpful tips for sharing space with cougars. + legal relationships in the state of Washington.

Also here are some tips for those of us who may encounter rhinos - good information to have either way.

HOW TO ESCAPE FROM A CHARGING RHINO 1. Climb a tree. The rhino is likely to avoid trees when running. Grab a branch at its base and use your legs to power yourself up the tree, keeping three of your limbs in contact with the tree at all times as you climb. If you cannot climb the tree, stand behind it. Rhinos will avoid large obstacles when running. 2. Run for scrub. A rhino probably will not follow you into thick scrub brush. Get as far in as possible. Adrenaline will prevent you from noticing the painful thorns until you try to get out. 3. Stand your ground and shout. If no tree or scrub is available to allow your escape, stand and face the animal (rhinos have poor eyesight but are attracted to movement). As the rhino approaches, scream and shout as loud as you can. A charging rhino may veer away from a noisy target. 4. Run in the opposite direction. A rhino will continue running in the same direction when it is charging and is not likely to turn around and come back for another attack. Once you have evaded the charge and the rhino has veered off, run in the opposite direction.

Slums + Clean Water and Education

Mike Davis's book, Planet of Slums, is rightfully uncomfortable and depressing. Our class discussions inspired me to find some information about how people are working to solve problems, and not adding to the problem with their "solutions".

Two of the issues we identified in class of high priority are access to clean water and education particularly of women. This is not the first time I've heard that educating women greatly increases quality for all members of needy communities. Does anyone remember when Greg Mortenson came to campus? Educated women = higher quality of life in societies.

If the following efforts are not really providing solutions, they are making an effort to highlight and chronicle water and education issues world wide. This website provides all sorts of video clips highlighting case studies of education and water relations and issues from across the globe. I found them by searching for information about the slums of Delhi.

"Building on the Cousteau legacy of exploration and “experiential storytelling,” Blue Legacy expeditions generate excitement and understanding about critical water issues and deliver “conversation-shaping” short films, blogs, images, and interactive elements that allow traditional and online media outlets to more effectively engage their audiences and drive productive discussion around the interconnectivity of water issues through the lens of watershed-first thinking." - Blue Legacy

The links below will take you to their video clips from different themed water expeditions. 

WATER AND ECOSYSTEMS

Water is the source of all life, the essential molecule that flows through our veins and those of our planet—riivers, lakes, streams and oceans that make Earth appear like a “blue marble” from space. Everything around us depends on water, from the largest sea creatures to the tiniest single cell organisms. MORE

WATER AND ENERGY

As communities grow and the global population continues to rise, our energy demands, and utilization of new generation sources, places increased strain on our water systems. From traditional fossil fuels and hydropower, to the cutting-edge developments in biofuels, water is a critical element of increasing generation capacity. MORE

WATER AND CLIMATE

Climate is a function of water. As the climate changes, so does the availability and access to water. Once water-rich areas are now dry, and once perennially frozen regions are melting to reveal new resources. All these developments pose significant threats to fragile ecosystems and levels of biodiversity worldwide. MORE

WATER AND FOOD

Whether growing food on land, or harvesting it from the sea, water is a key component of the process. Today, both agriculture and aquaculture have developed in scale and complexity as sophisticated technology has enabled growers to meet ever-rising food demands with higher yields and faster growing plants and animals. MORE

WATER AND COMMUNITIES

The rise of civilization has been intricately connected to the presence of clean, accessible water. Today, the relationship between communities and water is still evolving, and we continue to innovate to better conserve and manage the water around us. At the center of every community, is a source of water that everyone must share. MORE

WATER AND DIPLOMACY

While water is often used to draw borders, it is also a vital resource that can bring nations together. Given the increasing need for international solutions to address complex, cross-border water issues, Blue Legacy proposes a new paradigm for viewing the world—a watershed-first approach. MORE

WATER AND INDUSTRY

The economy is driven by the production capacity of industry, which has always been dependent on water to prosper. From shipping canals to beverage products, water is both a product and a means for industrial development. Finding innovative ways to more effeciently and safely use water is essential for industry's long-term success.  MORE

WATER AND MINING

Minerals are the fundamental building blocks of modern society. Yet, extracting these essential raw materials from the Earth’s crust can pose significant risks to the surrounding waterhsed. Consequently, it is vital that all stakeholders are given the opportunity to weigh-in on decisions involving mining development.  MORE

Black Creek Nature Sanctuary

As the comments and reactions shared in class suggest, I am not alone with my mixed reception of our most recent presentation. After the presentation I was motivated to do my own research of local nature preservation/conservation efforts.

What I came across was a surprise. I found that an area I frequently explored as a child was actually a nature sanctuary created by, the Michigan Nature Association(MNA)

Most of my childhood was spent in, on and around the Lake, specifically Sedar Bay AND The Black Creek Nature Sanctuary Trail is basically right across the street!

Sedar Bay

Black Creek Nature Sanctuary

I don't know if I am just out of the loop, but I feel like maybe I should have known about this before now. Why are local nature conservancy efforts secrets?! Maybe this bothers me because I'm local and feel silly for not knowing, or maybe it's because I study communication, probably a combination...
There are all sorts of locations that are protected, I had no idea. This makes me wonder if these groups have awareness campaigns? Am I not a member of their target audience? Are they busy doing something else?

MNA Sanctuary Locations 

Directions to Black Creek Nature Sanctuary from Campus

Fate of our Fresh Water

For as long as I can remember I have been grateful for my close proximity to Lake Superior.

Only recently has it occurred to me that the relatively peaceful environment of our coast is unique.

In numerous places around the world people face live or death situations daily because of water access issues and related war activity. The documentary Blue Gold along with the research we are doing for our group project on the privatization of Great Lakes water has helped me realize that although there is significantly less bloodshed on the Great Lakes coast over water access, tensions exist and are worthy of attention.

Here is a PDF from the Michigan Land Use Institute chock-full of information and action steps

Deciding the Fate of the Great Lakes

      "Rainfall and snowmelt replenish each year only about one percent of the water in the lakes,
        rivers, and aquifers that make up the Great Lakes basin. The other 99 percent of water in the
        basin is finite and nonrenewable"


 

Educate Yourself

Reading Toxic Bodies fueled my paranoia of toxins! Ahh! But it also provided constructive advice on how to reduce toxin exposure in our lives.

From Nancy Langston's list of ways to reduce toxins she recommends "before choosing to take supplemental hormones, whether for menopause or for contraception, educate yourself about the potential benefits and risks. No one can make that decision for you; each woman is different, and for many women, the decision to take supplemental hormones may be the best option. For other women, other alternatives may be better."

This brought to mind those Nexium commercials where they present a medical doctor struggling with a jackhammer, or doing horribly at violin; then show a construction worker, or violinist struggling to self medicate for their heartburn. Their message is "You wouldn't want your doctor doing your job, so why are you doing hers?"
Does this message conflict with the importance of educating ourselves and being responsible for our own personal health? Are we competent enough to know if we should buy antacids or seek professional help? 

There are most definitely things that experts can help us with especially trained medical experts when it comes to medications! Self medicating can go life-threateningly wrong. BUT I don't think our personal health should be solely "left up to professionals." My view is that patients are basically responsible for their own wellbeing. We can educate ourselves, and with the help of experts, make smart health choices. BUT as Nancy points out, "As individuals, we have many choices to make that allow us to reduce our own personal exposure. For women and men of reproductive age, these choices are particularly critical. Yet it's always important to remember that personal choices alone won't protect us: political action is a necessity." 

We are not in complete control of everything we are exposed to. Nancy recommends some action steps that reach beyond our personal policies into government. Voicing concerns to political leaders is a biggie. Here are some sample questions she linked on her site. (these ones are directed at candidates and elected officials regarding children and toxins)  
Questions

What Nancy brought to my mind is basically that we need to take responsibility for our personal health, which includes our relationship to the environment and ecosystem in which we live. (Holistic medicine anyone?) And also that we should stive to be educated and work to reduce exposure to toxins through individual and political action.