TresSugar

Thirsty For Change? US Mayors Tap Tap Water, Ban the Bottle

LibertySugar — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:15:18 -0700

The US Conference of Mayors, meeting in Miami, banned bottled water this week. The cities will no longer use municipal funds to purchase water bottles.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, who proposed the resolution along with 17 other big-city mayors, said:

"Cities are sending the wrong message about the quality of public water when we spend taxpayer dollars on water in disposable containers from a private corporation."

But Newsom isn't exactly the first person on the tap-water train. Sixty American mayors have already canceled their hydration contracts, and some places in Canada have also banned the bottle.

Rejecting plastic water bottles is more environmentally and financially sustainable. Millions of bottles a day do not get recycled, and the plastic takes at least 1,000 years to biodegrade.

The American Beverage Association feels betrayed. In a statement, the association reminded those ready to turn on the bottle that private companies come to the rescue during emergencies that compromise public water systems. The statement also notes that plastic bottles are 100 percent recyclable.

Should thirsty city workers be subjected to tap water? First plastic bags, now plastic water bottles, whatever will we do?! Well, here are some great alternatives to the plastic water bottle.

Source

Green With Ennui: 4 Ways Eco-Mania Wears Out Its Welcome

CitizenSugar — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:30:43 -0700

Organic or local? Fuel-efficient hybrid or used car? Will your plastic water bottle kill you? And, FYI, biofuel, which sounded so smart a few years back, could destroy Asian rain forests.

Sigh. Americans have been inundated with information since environmentalism went mainstream with An Inconvenient Truth and "green" became buzzword. It's possible that weariness is what's polluting our air and a backlash is a brewing.

The New York Times calls it green noise. Too much information on constant rotation. Some of it is contradictory. Most of it is vexing. And it's all overwhelming.

But this influx of pro-environmental info isn't just overwhelming people, it could be annoying them. What makes it so counter-productively obnoxious? To find out four ways, read more.

Marketing Ploys
Green is chic! Civilized. Enlightened. Like public radio and brunch. Or so advertisers would like us to believe. In 2007, Americans were between 22 and 55 percent less likely to buy green products than they were in 2006. Market research found people rolling their eyes and saying "not another green message."And let's not forget those ploys that are just bizarre and the marketing against the marketing. I need a nap with an organic blankie.
Conflicting Information
It seems every new piece of information contradicts the last. One man interviewed in the Times article flipped a coin in frustration to settle on his new car: a used Ford Escape hybrid. And then his brother, who works in the solar-power industry, asked, “Where are you going to bury the battery?” Oy!

And I'm not even touching the great Nalgene debate - those reusable plastic bottles, which as late as last summer were smart alternatives to bottled water, that are now a waste of petroleum and, possibly, cancer causing. Gulp.
Scare Tactics
The polar bears are drowning. We're the last generation to roam the earth. Those hurricanes are only going to get worse. Dr. Susanne Moser, the co-author of Creating a Climate For Change, told the Independent there's been too much emphasis on doomsday scenarios and the changes we're told to make yield few visible results. She compared it to a strict diet that only promised less weight gain in the future.
Eco Hypocrisy
The media is not letting the touted green life go unexamined. Did that celebrity just fly a private jet after speaking about global warming? Oh yes she did. Even Al Gore, the prince of greenness himself, has not escaped the media's hypocrisy meter.

Does any of this ring true to you? Is there a limit to the amount of green you can view before you see red?

Source

The How-To Lounge: Planning a Pool Party

DearSugar — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 10:00:00 -0700

Since the 4th of July is right around the corner, it's time to start planning for your pool party! To help you be the hostess with the mostess, check out some fun party planning tips that is a sure fire way to have a hit of a party.

Click here to read more

Take the weather into consideration. If it is going to be incredibly warm, think about starting the party towards the end of the day after the peak sun hours
Make sure to have plenty of bottled water. Drinking alcohol in the sun can dehydrate you, quickly, so make sure your guests stay hydrated
Avoid glass at all costs, especially if children will be attending your party. Opt for plastic or paper glasses, plates, and utensils. Be sure to have a few large trash cans by the food and drinks so your back yard doesn't get too trashed
Arrange some snacks for grazing on a table close to were your serving beverages, even if you are serving a meal later in the day. The sun has been known to make people hungry, especially if they are drinking on an empty stomach
Be sure to have a variety of beverages available - some alcoholic, some non-alcoholic. I suggest making a speciality drink, something fruity and summery like a mojito or a margarita that you can make in a big batch
Arrange some summer flowers on the tables surrounding the pool. Peonies, sunflowers, roses, etc. are some colorful, seasonal options
Make sure to have plenty of towels for your guests. It's a good idea to have an array of sunscreens as well, even some extra hats so your guests don't get a sunburn
A party isn't a party without music! Make sure it accents conversation, not overwhelms everyone
If you need some good food and drink idea's, consult my friend Party Sugar's guide to help plan a perfect 4th of July 4th of July party!

Have fun and remember, alcohol and water doesn't mix well, so be safe!