Creative Waste Reduction

Let's share ideas for reducing waste. Here's a slideshow about turning items that might end up in the trash (and landfill) into planters. What other ideas can we come up with?

Safer Sunscreens

Sunscreen will help to protect your skin from skin cancer, but make sure to use a sunscreen that has safe ingredients. Fortunately, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) does yearly research to give us the information we need to make good choices.

>>See EWG's 2011 Sunscreen Survey.

EWG is also requesting that the FDA have "truth in labelling" guidelines for over-the-counter sunscreens, and that they are more stringently regulated, to ensure product safety.

A Forum on Fracking

Wednesday, May 25th - 6-9 pm
New York Society for Ethical Culture Auditorium
2 West 64th Street (off Central Park West)

SPEAKERS:

• EPA Whistleblower WESTON WILSON


• Cornell University Biologist ROBERT HOWARTH


• Food & Water Watch Executive Director WENONAH HAUTER


• Environmentalist SANDRA STEINGRABER

. . . and please sign the petition to ban natural gas drilling in New York State.

Rolling Stone Covers Hydrofracking

See the new article in Rolling Stone on
Josh Fox and hydrofracking. Besides reading, what can you do? Support the pending legislation to protect our water from this threat:

• Assemblyman Bob Sweeney's
  NYS Bill A07400 calls for a ban of hydraulic fracture drilling in
  New York State and no further issuance of drilling permits.


• As of May 2 the NYS Assembly passed this bill—we now need the state senate and Cuomo to approve.


• Please contact your state senators as well as Governor Cuomo to indicate your support of this bill.


• Pass this information on to others!

A highly, highly recommended documentary film

Despite its odd name, Forks Over Knives is a momentous film. And I really mean that. This fast-moving documentary explores the mounting evidence of research showing that degenerative diseases like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and even several forms of cancer, can almost always be prevented—and in many cases reversed—by adopting a whole foods, plant-based diet. Sound too easy? Then watch and learn.

The film is a jaw-dropping assemblage of fascinating studies, stories, struggles and breakthroughs, most of which are being hidden by the all-powerful agribusiness sector. (This is the beauty of documentaries—they expose what the mainstream media does not!) Two renowned doctors (both were raised on farms eating meat and drinking milk) describe how they fought against the conclusions of their research—until they couldn't avoid the facts any longer. The cameras also follow everyday folks who have chronic conditions as they adopt a whole foods plant-based diet to treat their ailments. And it works!

If you're a meat-eater, don't feel threatened. This isn't a vegan flag-waving film. It's a science film. The bulk of the information comes from the most comprehensive nutritional research project ever conducted, called The China Study. The study was compiled into a book (of the same name), and the book inspired the film. And interestingly, the book inspired Bill Clinton to adopt this diet. Now he swears by it. (It also inspired me and many of my friends and relatives to adopt this diet...and all of us are happier and healthier for it.)

So learn the science, let go of the myths. Think you need to eat meat to get enough protein? Think milk is the best source of calcium? Learn the truth. Having trouble losing those extra pounds? Have low energy? Low libido? Having trouble sleeping? Need caffeine to get going in the morning? Learn why. The information in this film has saved lives, literally. Have a look. It's worth your time.

It's playing at Sunshine Cinema in the lower east side.

Bike Month Events

International Compost Week! Bike Tour
May 07, 2011 | 11:00am - 2:00pm

Meet at the Community Compost stand, East 16th St. & Union Square East, Manhattan

Join the New York City Compost Project in Manhattan for this bike tour of two community garden Compost Demonstration Sites in the Lower East Side, and attend the Lower East Side Ecology Center Compost Facility open house from 1:30pm - 3pm.

More information & Registration

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Trees of the Lower East Side Bike Tour
May 15, 2011 | 1:00pm - 3:00pm

Meet at St. Mark's Church, 2nd Ave. & East 10th St., Manhattan

Join our Education Director for a leisurely bike tour of the neighborhoods' notable and ecologically beneficial street trees.

More information & Registration