I will preface this by saying that for the two or so people who actually read my blog, I am sorry it has been so long. Life has been, as usual, complicated. Today, though, I am actually really feeling the need to express something that has been weighing heavy on my mind.
The "green" movement is growing larger and larger, and those of you who know me are aware that I am fairly passionate about trying my best to create a healthy home and planet for my family. However, as I was reading my well loved copy of Natural Home and Garden magazine today, it occurred to me that the economy of my household and of many others I know prevents most of us from doing all we can. In the midst of the useful articles on gardening, food preservation, etc. there are ads on VOC-free paints, sustainably built items, paraben- free cosmetics, etc. The more we come to know about the condition of our world, the more overwhelming it becomes; also, the more EXPENSIVE it becomes.
So, scientific studies, you're telling me that the VOCs released by my mobile home may be slowly poisoning my family. The good news? I can build myself a new house made with sustainable materials and VOC free chemicals? Yeah. I'll get right on that.
So, you're telling me that the shampoo that I can buy for $2 will likely disrupt the endocrine functions in my kids, or one day cause them to get cancer. The good news? There's one I can buy that costs $8 a bottle. And my four year old just dumped it out "making bubbles".
So, you're telling me that the food I buy is nutrition-less and full of pesticides. The good news? I can buy sustainable, organically grown food that is so much better for my family and for Mother Earth, at roughly four times what I can barely afford now.
In an economy where many families are barely making ends meet, we as the American public really are trying to make more responsible decisions for our world. We just can't afford it. Unhealthy foods cost more than healthy ones. Poisonous chemicals cost less than plant based items. Less processed foods cost more than more processed foods. Why? Because the major corporations that feed us all this poisonous garbage make money doing it. Because if we stay healthy, pharmaceutical companies can't make billions of dollars on our fat, toxic butts. So what's a girl to do?
I'm guessing most people's answer is to make more money to afford the good things, if after all that's what's important to me. The problem? I'd like to see my kids, not spend my life making someone ELSE money. The other major comment? "Don't worry, the FDA wouldn't continue to allow these things if they were really harmful... they're just reactionaries." If you still believe in the FDA, you're SO very deceived. Most of the upper level people that work for federal regulation come from the corporations that perpetuate the issues I have previously stated.
I may sound paranoid, I suppose, but don't take my word for it. Watch a documentary. Read articles. Educate yourself. It's pretty scary stuff, but ignorance isn't bliss. It's just ignorant. Also, be aware of "green" items that aren't... alot of companies are trying to hop on the "natural" bandwagon simply to separate you and your hard earned "green". I am going to continue to post things that I find helpful. I want (and need) them to be economically and ecologically friendly. Most of the time I find that when we do things as our ancestors did them before corporate greed took hold of the world, we come out in better shape. If everyone does a little, it adds up to a lot!
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