Your Questions About Green Living

Disposable products are an environmental hazard?

I have to do a speech on comparing reusable products (Bottles, bags etc) to disposable bottles, plastic bags and other things. Here is what I was able to come up with:

Australia is one of the world’s best sources for tap water in the world, however, despite this; we rely on bottled water companies to keep us hydrated. The following are useful facts on this environmental issue:
•Australian’s spend over half a billion dollars on bottled water per year.

•Bottled water and pre bottled beverages, such as Gatorade, are made out of PETE (Polyethylene teraphthalate) plastic, which takes over 700 years to begin to biodegrade, and thousands of years before it is completely gone, and this plastic has been around for little over 70 years, so no bottles have ever degenerated.

•Producing and delivering a litre of bottled water can produce hundreds of times more greenhouse gases than a liter of tap water, and it is thousands of times more expensive.

•Australia recycles only 36% of PETE plastic drink bottles. This number is 15% in the US.

•In a single 24 hour period 30 million disposable bottles are placed in the dump in the US alone. Luckily, this means that just 10% of America’s population consumes a disposable bottle each day. This is not unrealistic, as this would equate to roughly 2 million people in Australia, buying and disposing of fully recyclable bottles.

•Over 50 million liters of oil is used to make bottled water each year.

•The quality of tap water is greater than that of bottled water.

•PETE bottles should not be reused over long periods of time. Dangerous chemicals may leech into the water, affecting you health.

These few short facts prove the hazard that the environment takes from just one unneeded luxury. Only now, are we beginning to understand its futility. Each year, the amount of bottled water consumed increases by 10%. For how long can this go on for? Are we really going to continue to produce such a hazard for our own benefit?

This being analyzed, it seems almost pointless to continue ‘urging’ consumers to recycle their bottles after their short lived lives. It just is not happening. The three strikes and ‘you’re out!’ rule should be more like ‘one million strikes, and you’re out’. However, the cost of recycling these bottles it very high, and so is the oil it requires.

So, now that many countries and states around the world are placing a ban on the production of bottles water, what do you have to store your water in? The answer is to, as I thought was I great slogan I saw; to ‘Smash the Trash’ and to go reusable. That’s right, reusable bottles and healthier, more durable, eco friendly and makes the water taste better than the regular PETE bottles. So do what I decided to do and ‘go green’, you’ll save yourself, and the environment. And after the very long lives of these bottles, they can just be recycled.

Plastic bags are another major issue for the environment. So far this year, over 400 billion plastic bags have been used by consumers around the globe. These numbers are staggering, and the very fact that these bags are not durable and difficult to recycle, they end up in landfills, harming the environment and water life. Although these CAN be recycled, only 0.6 of these are placed in the recycling bin.
One alternative is the infamous eco bags which I am sure many of you know of. These are durable, reusable and biodegradable bags made of recycled HDPE, Polypropylene or PETE. You can find these at Coles or other supermarkets.
These few short rules apply to all disposable products, even cameras. And in the long run, you will save yourself a lot of money from making the right decisions.
To conclude this I will assure you that because of actions chosen by us people, disposable products have become a bio hazard. And something must be done to stop this from contributing to global warming and other issues.
(Talk about energy drinks)

Why Isn’t God Helping America win wars anymore?

Unless you are stupid, it’s pretty obvious Iraq is a failure.

Do you think We got 9/11 and the rest of our current misfortunes, like taking 2nd place to China and India in the world stage because of:

1. Our little habit of killing more civilians than enemies in wars
2. This nations lack of morals (Racism, Crime, Greed, etc.)
3. Our sickening hypocrisy on environmental issues and continued abuse of the planet.

etc.
Spare me the patriot rants because Jesus seems sick of them, too. No wonder he has left us to the dogs lately.

How come the youth of America (30 and under) spend less than 5 minutes a month on the election?

To those in Washington making decisions for a “Better America”:
You want to know why a lot of us 30 and under don’t spend more than 5 minutes a month on the presidential elections? That’s about how much time we get from those elected. When is it going to be our turn? When will we have a voice in our lives? I am really sick of old white men determining the way my life should go. IT IS TIME, for you to give up the complete control of the reigns and share them with the next generation. We are not living in the 40’s or 50’s. What is deemed immoral by those standards does not hold today. How dare any of our “elected officials” determine whether or not a gay couple should have the same rights as a heterosexual couple? Almost every other civilized nation has realized that gay men and women are just as “normal” as the rest of us. How dare they determine who we can and cannot love? Isn’t this a free country? How can they determine agriculture or environmental issues, when they aren’t going to be around to witness the atrocious hardships based on their decisions? It seems to me, many of those in offices have been there for a while and nothing, but nothing, has gone right for some time. You blame us. You blame our hip hop culture. You blame our Rock culture. Hell you even blame video games. Stop putting the blame on others and start embracing it. You are so focused with the way you feel this country should be run, or what you feel is in our best interest without even asking. I am white, 26 years old from KY, but I grew up with many different races and cultures (Unlike my parents, aunts and uncles). I have a more open mind for people’s religion, beliefs and way of life. I think it is unfortunate that when many of you were in school, you were surrounded by the same people you are today sitting in office. Leave your entourage, media cameras and even your close friends behind and go to a soup kitchen. Don’t do it for media, do it to get to know those that have it the hardest. Visit the schools that are in your constituencies; get to know some youth. I know the people with the money greatly influence decisions, but there are so many SO VERY MANY of us that don’t have that money, and we need our voices heard.
Are you sick of kids shooting up schools? We are. WE are very sick of seeing our fellow brothers and sisters taking their aggression out this way. It’s not surprising. It’s frustration. You say blame video games, maybe the only real release for some kids whose single mother has to work 2 jobs and they are forced to entertain themselves. You say blame music, the same outlet that lets a little girl let loose in her shared bedroom without being able to go outside for fear of being shot. Many of you privileged parents say blame them. Blame the parents for not raising their kids. That’s hard to do when you are working 3 jobs just so you can afford to put clothes on your kids’ backs and food in their stomachs. The stress of having to live in this society is felt to the smallest of children. I constantly, as a child, saw my mom cry at the dinner table with bills in front of her. She never could seem to get ahead. 20 years later, my mom is still crying at that table.
I don’t have a solution to all of the problems, but collectively we will come up with it. Each and every generation can work together to preserve those morals we need to preserve, and maybe, just maybe let go of those we need to let go of (I.E. Racism, Poverty…). I call these morals because somewhere stuck in your head, they will always be here. BTW Mr. President, I loved it when you were on the campaign trail and talking about how “children are our future” (As if we never heard that before). So speaking for my cousin, one of those children you took healthcare from, Thank you. I certainly hope she doesn’t have an illness my aunt and uncle will have to pay forever for. BTW, since we are speaking about America and what it needs. $275 million a day on a war is excessive. Do you think maybe, just maybe we can use some of that money for Katrina Relief? Just one day’s spending. Call a cease fire, for one day, and give that $275 million to the Americans that are fighting for the faith they have in this government (i.e. New Orleans).
I think President Bush is planning on going out with a bang. Currently, we seem to be angering many of the larger empires (I.E. China, Turkey, Iran…etc…) and of course he’s ready to take a stance on Environmental Issues. He has one year left and has made a lot of money from Afghanistan and Iraq’s oil. I look at my mom, blindly following what she is told, maybe not educated enough to see what’s happening, but faithful non-the-less. Mr. President, Congressional Leaders, the young blood of America is not that blind. We see you for what you are and what you are doing. We had computers in grade school, not 20 years into our careers. We are connected, with friendships, to many different cultures, different people from all over the world. What you share with us is not necessarily what is happening. We know the truth.
Do us a favor. Bring us to the table. As it stands, it’s going to be these friendships from myspace, youtube and facebook that may ultimately bring peace to the world. Men in mynammar are posting blogs for support. Youth everywhere taking cameras to show what “protection from police” really means. I don’t like the fact that we will have to spend so long to fix what you have taken such a short time to screw up. One FULL generation of living and corruption by remaining in complete power is a form of dictatorship, no matter how you look at it.

Can the left and right possibly come to an agreement on an environmental issue?

I’ll take it for granted that the divide is wide as it pertains to global warming, but can we not maybe all sense some urgency over this “Frack” issue and its effect on our water quality?

Although I vote right on most issues I would hope that democrats could see the benefit of getting agressive on this issue as a way to make in roads into the territory where they have fallen far out of favor. Big points could be won with middle america on this one. I hold no hope that Republicans will act on this.

Some assistance in understanding America’s political system, please?

Alright, I’m very “young” and I’m very naive when it comes to politics. Right now, I’m trying to understand the difference between Republicans and Democrats. I have a good idea of each of their beliefs and ideals, but I can’t say I understand them for sure. I see it this way: Democrats try to keep everyone balanced and well-off, very serious about environmental issues, and are considered “wimpy”. Republicans tend to believe more in moral values and think people should take care of themselves to get where they want to go and not rely on government, and are considered “inconsiderate”. Now my thought is probably crucially innaccurate – remember I’m verrrryyy naive about this! So I need some explanation on the whole thing, and I’d preferably like it if you could give it to me in very basic language so I can better understand. Thank you so much!