REPORT #1717
"Women usually historically are the ones, I think, to instigate social change."
Lisa Rosenthal
Eco Mom
MOMS MAKING A DIFFERENCE
AN ENVIRONMENT IN DANGER: If greenhouse gas emissions continue to grow steadily, temperatures in the U.S. are projected to rise 5 to 9 degrees Fahrenheit in the next 100 years. If this happens, it is likely ecosystems like Rocky Mountain Alpine Meadows and some barrier islands will disappear entirely. The resulting rise in seal level will pose threats in innumerable ways, including storm surges in low-lying coastal areas and threats to buildings, roads and other infrastructures in climatically sensitive places. Reduced summer runoff and increased winter runoff are likely to cause flooding, while storm surges may reduce the availability of fresh water.
MOMS DO THEIR PART: In public opinion surveys, women express significantly higher levels of concern about the environment than men, says a sociology professor at Oklahoma State University. And a new group of women termed "eco moms" are living proof of this. They are driving a movement called "local lifestyle activism," made of mothers striving to bypass the unresponsiveness of the government to environmental concerns. They do this by running a household fueled by natural products, reducing waste through composting, seeking alternative transportation and even choosing one night per week to turn off all electric devices. EcoMom Alliance, a non-profit organization boasting 11,000 members around the world, is the giant of the eco mom movement.
ECO MOM WEAPONS: While eco moms propose countless ways to reduce the climate crisis, many of them involve simple changes in the way you go about your day.
· Change out five household light bulbs for energy efficient compact fluorescents.
· Set up a compost pile to discard your green waste. Over 1/3 of trash sent to landfills comes from this kind of waste.
· Buy locally grown, organic, natural food.
· Use eco-friendly cleaning products. Look for the "DfE" label, which insures that only the safest ingredients from each class of chemicals is used. DfE-certified products include Clorox's Green Works line, Method products and Vaska Laundry Products' LD150 Laundry Detergent
· If you're thinking about wood floors, consider bamboo. It matures in three years, regenerates without replanting, and requires minimal fertilization or pesticides.
Don't forget about the little ones. Environmentally conscious mothers keep their children away from toys and products that contain phthalates, substances mainly used to increase the flexibility of plastics.
SMART WOMAN CONTACT: Cindy Copeland, cindy_copeland@comcast.net
