Say it isn’t so? I have been blessed with hormones that gave me acne not in my teen years, when everyone expects to get zits, but in my late 20’s and beyond. For the past year or so, I have found Oil of Olay’s “anti wrinkle/anti blemish” lotion to work wonders. I know totally not green of me. I confess, I am not perfect. Please forgive me.
But NOW, I read this on Slate about Oil of Olay’s exfoliating plastic debacle.
Recently, the Coca-Cola company decided to stop selling food products (read breakfast cereals, snacks and drinks) in the UK that contained artificial dyes. Bravo Coca-Cola and to all the other companies that decided to do this! Bravo for listening to the hoards of consumers in the UK who decided to fight back and won! Here is the glitch though, despite knowing that consumers do not want these dyes in their food and the harm they can do these companies, like Kraft and McDonald’s, still continue to produce these items for us folks here in the US.
Mad now?
I am.
Why should you fight back?
We workin’ mamas do love to complain about the lack of flexible options in our own and other workplaces (got a 1/2 hour??). Ever dream of working fewer hours to pick the kids up from school yourself, still doing meaningful work that pays the same as your full-time gig? Dying to spend more time doing crafts? Helping with homework? Not pumping?All good stuff that can be awfully challenging within the confines of a conventional 40+ hour work week. So, if you need to work, want to work, whatever your schtick, and you’re seeking more flexibility to tip the scales a bit more toward the home life, one option is job sharing. Or so I’ve heard.
When I returned to full-time work when my first child was three months old, I worked four 10-hour days - ugh. But lucky, lucky for me my husband took the next three months off; he could because he’s self-employed; no health benefits but there are serious upsides - namely flexibility and control over the almighty schedule. At the time there was a whole spread in our local paper about two public school teachers who job shared a classroom. I was amazed. And so jealous. As with anything, of course, there are trade-offs - pros and cons for both the job sharers and their workplace. But I can only imagine because I’ve never known anyone to do it. Which is precisely why I’m asking you!! Read the rest of this entry »
Not that you have loads of reading time or anything. And not like a report titled Family Values at Work: It’s About Time would, say, make you put down your Wonder Time or Brain, Child magazine (or The New Yorker if you didn’t cancel it like I did to prevent the 3-foot high bedside pile-up!).
That said, you really oughta read it!! It was just published by a group with the inspiring name MultiState Working Families Consortium (eight forward-thinking states - yours?). And it’s all there. The whole conundrum: The problems with caring for sick children, the embarrassing state of maternity leave in our country, the lack of workplace flexibility, the fact that U.S. policies haven’t adjusted to the fact that June Cleaver took her apron off and has a corner office now, and on and on.
An overview of the report should lure you in: Read the rest of this entry »
Just today I was thinking about phthalates. Why? Because I attended a brown bag discussion called Toxic Tuesdays at our local library where staff from the Oregon Center for Environmental Health and a co-founder of Rachel’s Friends (think breast cancer prevention advocacy) discussed personal care products - mainly their (scary) ingredients and effects on human health.
Yikes is my general reaction. Turns out phthalates aren’t just limited to toys. Of course, they’re hard to avoid because they’re not labeled as phthalates. Why not? Because that would be far too clear, mamas, and in this country, the idea of a clearly written product label is about as likely as reasonably priced gas. But beyond the doom and gloom, I am glad to report that there’s actually some good news in all this! Read the rest of this entry »
I grew up on the east coast but married a gentle man and now live in the friendliest city ever (Portland, Oregon). So while I can thank the bus driver as well as the next person and hold the elevator door open for people miles away, I still have the potential to get REALLY ANGRY. Ever since I opened the newspaper on Saturday and saw the short article (in the Living section, already!) on Bisphenol A and - in a mini rage - tossed every Nalgene bottle I could find, I’ve been pissed. Why? So glad you asked.
OK, Phase I is over - anger. Time for Phase 2 - action. Read the rest of this entry »
I love that there’s an organization called A Better Balance that works solely to improve the whole work-family balance conundrum. They describe themselves this way:
A Better Balance is a legal advocacy organization dedicated to empowering individuals to meet the conflicting demands of work and family without sacrificing their economic security. We are engaging government and the private sector to bring about systemic change. Since 2005, we have been working to help people across the economic spectrum care for their families without losing their jobs or suffering other discrimination because of their family responsibilities. Workers should not have to face impossible choices between earning a paycheck and caring for their loved ones.
Like, I couldn’t have said it better myself, mamas. So when they come calling, I wanna help. And they are calling. They are asking people who work a reduced schedule to complete a questionnaire about their experiences, which they describe like this: Read the rest of this entry »
Just when you might think the “big guys” are not listening. A major health care chain in the Midwest will stop offering bottled water at its 20 hospitals starting Sunday. SSM is among the first health care chains in the nation to take such a step toward reducing bottled water. How many bottles will be eliminated?
*cue Twilight Zone theme *
Did you know that just 6 media conglomerates control most of the media in the US?
This may seem unimportant to you and your family and I assure you there are some folks that are banking on that and expecting you will be passive, but don’t be fooled; it’s important to the freedom of all Americans.
Have you ever wondered why some news stories, even really important ones, are buried in the back of the newspaper or only mentioned in your alternative weekly? Ever wonder why the media makes almost no mention of certain alarming or newsworthy topics and other topics (Britney Spears’ escapades, Anna Nicole Smith’s death) get non-stop coverage?
In a free country, media concentration hinders vigorous public debate and limits the news, viewpoints and perspectives presented to citizens — often to their detriment.
The problem just got worse when Bush’s FCC basically gutted a rule that limited the number of both newspaper and television stations giant media conglomerates are able to buy up in the same city.
And independent or dissenting voices are being silenced.
In 1931 Scott Paper Company introduced the first paper towel roll>
Image source: Istockphoto
Growing up my mom did not use paper towels to the extent I do now. The ease of ripping a piece from the roll, wiping up a spill and disposing the paper into the trash can was something not to be ignored. The thought of whether or not a roll of paper towels was made from recycled materials or virgin wood pulp was not a concern. In the year 2008, the green movement is gaining momentum, and I am finally giving serious thought to my paper towel. Keep reading… Read the rest of this entry »
