A Recent Conversation on the Price of Gas

Random Friend: my parents and i were just fighting again about gas prices

Me: lol

Random Friend: my mom's like "i just heard they are making $200,000 a minute - this needs to be stopped"

Random Friend: and i was like "yep, you know how you stop it? stop buying it"

Random Friend: she didn't seem to think it was so simple

Me: It's not the governments job to regulate prices

Me: That would make us socialist

Random Friend: exactly, and that's what my dad just said "the government stepped up and regulated utilities in the 80s - they need to do the same now for gas"

Random Friend: and i was like "we shouldn't just sit around and wait for someone else to do something about it"

Random Friend: i'm glad someone's on my side

Me: lol

Me: But I still want to drive to Paramus

Random Friend: exactly

Random Friend: WE ARE SO GOING

Me: lol

Me: I thought so

Random Friend: but see? the gas companies deserve to make that profit because i'm willing to pay them outrageous amounts of money to drive up to see you and then drive up to paramus

Me: Exactly. I 100% agree

Me: In fact, if you really believe in capitalism (which I don't necessarily), kudos to them for charging so much and making so much

Random Friend: exactly!

Random Friend: that was my point

Me: And and! The rest of the world pays this much all the time

Me: The oil companies are just "living the american dream"

Random Friend: i know! lol

Random Friend: which is why america sucks

Me: Preach it sister

Random Friend: don't blame the oil companies

Random Friend: blame america

Me: You should have Jon Stewart's babies
Random Friend: i know!!! god i want to!

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

I thought I'd take a little break from saving the world today and tell you a story about something that happened to me recently. Well, I've probably told most of you this story, but I think the pictures really add something to it. So, here we go.

Oh! Look at the pretty ostrich! Let's stop to get a closer look!


Um...why is the ostrich running at us like that?


MAKE IT STOP! *frantic reversing* The ostrich is pecking my car!! AHHHH!


The aftermath says it all. Ostriches do, in fact, damage your car.

How to Save the World, Part II

Next up: bottled water.

To put it simply, just stop drinking it. What is the point? Bottled water is simply an advertising hype, trying to make you think of safety purity. The truth is bottled water is not cleaner or safer then tap water. In fact, in a recent study by the National Resources Defense Council, one-third of bottled water tested contained a contaminant. The bottled water industry is poorly regulated with a significant share of the market completely unregulated. When it is regulated, bottled water is subjected to less rigorous and less frequent testing then city tap water. And as if that's not all bad enough, bottled water is allowed to contain small amount of E. coli or fecal coliform (which indicate potential fecal contamination) while positive results are prohibited in tap water.

In addition to this frankly disgusting information, we are spending 240 to 10,000 times more per gallon for bottled water then for tap water. And, just in case you aren't yet dumbfounded, a quarter (on a conservative estimate) of bottled waters are actually just bottled tap water. And according to FDA regulations, they are allowed to call this spring water. Obviously the bottled water industry is quite lucrative. In fact, one researcher said, "At as much as $2.50 per liter (or $10 per gallon), bottled water costs more then gasoline." I don't think we can blame Venezuela for that.

As if it isn't bad enough that you're possibly drinking poop and paying a 10,000 times markup on it, bottled water is hurting the environment. Bottled water produces unnecessary garbage and consumes excessive energy. Worldwide, 2.7 million tons of plastic are used to bottle water each year. In fact, making bottles to meet America's demand for bottled water requires 1.5 million barrels of crude oil a year, enough to fuel 100,000 US cars for a year. About 86% of these bottles become garbage or litter and take...oh..anywhere from 400 to 1,000 years to degrade.

The simple solution? Buy a reusable bottle and fill it up...from your tap! Or better yet, reuse your old water bottles. After all, they should last you another 399 years minimum. If you just can't bear the thought of drinking straight from the tap, invest in a Brita pitcher or Pur filter that attaches right to your faucet. There is absolutely no excuse for the pure excess and waste of drinking bottled water. Are we really that lazy as a society that we can't fill up a bottle before we leave the house for work or the gym?

That being said, bottled water certainly has a place. But for people whose tap water is unsafe to drink. Here's my challenge to you. For one year, stop buying bottled water. Heck, stop buying bottled beverages all together, and use the money you save (which could be quite substantial depending on your habits) and donate it to an organization that helps provide access to clean water to the millions of people around the world that actually need it.

How to Save the World, Part I

In honor of...well nothing I can really think of except maybe my own personal motivation, I thought I'd give you all some of my favorite ideas for making a difference in the world. Most of these are things that I do or am trying to do in my own life. I think it's important to be aware of what's going on in our world (in case you hadn't guessed that by now) but it's not enough to just have that knowledge. We have to act on it. So, here's some suggestions from someone who is trying to blunder through it.

Up first: Fair Trade products

I'm a big proponent of fair trade products. Generally, fair trade products are produced by people who are living in extreme poverty (often women). These people can be a) employed by sweatshops or b) employed by groups or organizations that attempt to sell their handcrafts at a fair market price. Hmm. Tough choice. Not only does fair trade put money in the hands of those who need it, it also gives us a great opportunity to have access to beautiful hand crafted items from around the world without ever leaving the comfort of our desk or couch.

Here's a selection of some great resources to get Fair Trade/World Craft products. I've ordered from most of them, for both myself and as gifts and everyone has been more then delighted with their items.

The Hunger Site- Not only does this site have great fair trade items, many of them give you a profile on the organization or person that makes them. They also tell you how many cups of food they are able to donate to those in need from your purchase. While you're there, click the button to donate more food on the main page. I've ordered three things from this site and all arrived promptly and were absolutely beautiful.

thegroovymind- This site has a little of everything, and most importantly, fair trade coffee. I love coffee. I don't drink fair trade very often. I get very mad at myself for this. Make a small change in your life and make a big difference in the abusive coffee industry.

Ten Thousand Villages- This is my newest find and perhaps my favorite. It's part of the Mennonite Central Committee., which makes me somehow trust them more. They also have excellent information about fair trade, the artisans they work with, etc. They also have stores! and there just might be one in your area. And, perhaps the most fabulous of all, a gift registry. Whoa. Expect to see more of this.

A Greater Gift- This website is probably the most user-friendly and appealing and probably has the widest selection. This organization has been around a long time and does great work and they're a great choice to make sure that your dollars are being used well. They also have a handy gifts feature that helps you pick the perfect item for any occasion and person.

Worldstock- Part of overstock.com, I'm most suspect of this site. However, they do claim to be creating jobs and buying environmentally and economically sound products. I bought some great coasters made of African bottle caps from them and I had a few problems with the shipping and after a couple grumpy conversations, everything worked out just fine. They have some items you won't find anywhere else and some higher end furniture items. It's definitely worth checking out and if you see something you love, get it! A little help is better then no help at all!

Fair Trade Federation- If all else fails, this website has a list of fair trade merchants broken down by state.

World Vision Gift Catalog- This isn't exactly fair trade, but it's certainly a unique gift. Don't know what to give? Make a donation in someone's honor. World Vision lets you choose. Give a goat, fishing supplies, food, hope for sexually exploited girls, or a well. What a great way to honor someone or give a gift to the person who has everything. Instead of giving them something to dust every month, give them something that keeps on giving everytime they think about it: the knowledge that somewhere a child is thriving instead of starving because of a gift made in their name.

This is just a glimpse into the world of fair trade products. If you're looking for more info, just type fair trade into your search engine and see where it takes you. All of us buy countless gifts each year. Getting fair trade products for just a few of those gifts can make a huge difference in the lives of those who need it most. Next time you get invited to a shower, give a fair trade frame, serving piece, or candle holder. Your gift will certainly stand out in the midst of the typical wedding items. If you do decide to give fair trade, enclose a little note about fair trade items and where you got it so that they can fall in love with fair trade too. Not only will they love the gift, but you'll feel great about giving it.

Bloggers Around The World

I ran across this article awhile ago somewhere or other. I think it's cool that blogging has enabled people across the world to express themselves and what's really going on in the world. Getting news from blogs is kind of like getting from the Daily Show in the US, so it's nice to know that blogging is a means of distributing truth in countries that lack the freedoms we take for granted. I also thought it was interesting that there was a group called Reporters Without Borders. Just didn't know that. The see also links at the bottom are also interesting. As I side note, I have lots of thoughts for things to write on and just not enough time to do it, so entries are coming, I promise!

The Globe Better Put on its Mittens!

In light of the coldest Easter in fifteen years or something, I thought I'd post on Global Warming! How appropriate. This was the last article I expected myself to post because I'm generally a pretty staunch supporter of global warming. Mostly because it's decent science and it makes sense. This theory, however, also makes sense. I go agree with one of the comments made that we can't completely dismiss global warming because really how can millions of people producing carbon gasses not have some kind of effect on the environment. So the Caitlin solution to climate change? Keep implementing policies to limit carbon emissions because really, what can it hurt? But keep researching other explanations as well. That's my two cents.

Strange Maps

I have another new favorite site! It's a blog of strange maps, appropriately titled Strange Maps. Wow. This map is probably one of my favorites. Check it out!