The Environmentalist in me

Last night Steve and I cuddled (as much as my body would allow) on the couch to watch the movie An Inconvenient Truth. Something I've been wanting to watch now for a long time. So finally I got the chance last night (altho' I'm sure it wasn't Steve's first choice). I know I've mentioned it before, but I feel that it's worth mentioning and worth seeing. It's written, of course, by Al Gore and therefore has a VERY American feel to it, and there are numerous American "bits" in it that make you wonder if they actually have anything to do with the theme of the movie itself. Overall tho', I enjoyed it, not because it was action-packed or anything, but thought provoking. Steve and I lay awake for a bit afterward just talking about it and what we thought. To our "unschooled" minds, I saw things very black and white, much as they seemed in the movie. There are tonnes of facts, numbers and charts to back up Gore's thoughts. Steve was kept wondering. There were a few references to events in the past that left him wondering what exactly happened and what were the consequences of these events. Gases that are all "natural" being released back into the Earth...were they here all along? Are they really bad for the environment?

So again (and I'm sure I'll say this at least a few times more) I think everyone should see this movie. It's amazing how something as simple as replacing our 60 W bulbs with the newer energy efficient ones and turning down the furnace when we're not at home can effect the CO2 we put into the air therefore lowering the spin of everything else that is affected. Really interesting stuff. Totally worth seeing (there said again!) and recommendable. You can also check out this site for more info (which is the official site). The DVD also has changes in the environment and stats that have happened since the making of the movie (2005), so that was cool.

My brother is also an environmental "quack" and I'll actually say "quack" 'cos he's alot more into it than I am. He's seen David Suzuki speak a couple of times and has gone to lengths to be earth friendly. This Christmas he gave everyone in the family glass water bottles and here's why:

"Why a glass water bottle?
For years, hikers, bikers, campers, and other outdoor recreationalists have favoured wide-mouthed water bottles made from Lexan polycarbonate plastic, like those sold under the brand name Nalgene. According to new research, it may, however, be imparting unhealthy doses of a chemical called bisphenol-A (BPA)... BPA has been identified as an endocrine disrupting chemical, or a chemical that easily mimics hormones when absorbed by the human body. In the case of BPA, the hormone being mimicked is estrogen...This uneven distribution of genetic material can in turn lead to cancer, miscarriage, and birth defects that include Down Syndrome. Low levels of BPA, including those well below the current regulatory safety threshold, have also been shown to affect prostate development, promote prostate tumours, affect breast tissue development and sperm counts, and even possibly create and enlarge fat cells....For several years now, experts have warned against washing polycarbonate bottles with harsh detergents and/or using older bottles for food or beverage storage, especially those with scratches, discolorations, or other readily apparent signs of age... Unfortunately, polycarbonate plastic bottles and containers are identified by the plastic recycling symbol #7, which is used for a wide variety of plastics and plastic mixutres that fall into the "other" category....Scientists also advise against the repeated use of plastic water bottles made from plastic type #1 PETE as there is evidence to suggest that such bottles leach a compound known as DEHA, whish is classified by the EPA as a possible human carcinogen, as well as acetaldehyde, which has received the same designation from the International Agency for Research on Cancer."
(Source - Labour Environmental Alliance Society 604-669-1921 Vancouver, Canada)

Now that said, I googled BPA and came up with this site, which I'll e-mail to my brother and you can believe whatever you want to believe.

Chow!