Archive for April, 2010

Happy Earth Day

Thursday, April 22nd, 2010

Earth Day

Earth Day

For me Earth Day is both a day of celebration of our beautiful planet, realizing all it does for us… and a time to raise awareness that we aren’t living in a void. We are a part of an amazingly intricate system that sustains our very lives…. and that environment has become seriously out of balance through our disregard of the impacts of our actions on it.

Our planet has existed for billions of years, and will continue to exist no matter how much pollution we create…. its actually our survival that is at risk…. the survival of the human race. Strong words, I know, but many people don’t realize the severity of the state we have put ourselves in, and still resist making the change to start reversing the process. It really struck home today that it isn’t the planet we need to save…. we need to save ourselves.

The good news is that we have the technology, solutions are available… we just need to raise awareness from local communities to the government level, and start making those changes happen. There are Green Guides out there to help: whether you are switching to compact fluorescent lights, using non-toxic cleaning products, installing solar panels, or calling your senator about the upcoming legislation on clean energy and climate legislation…. there’s a lot you can do, but the change begins with you :-)

On April 22 1970, 40 years ago today the first Earth Day was celebrated across America, as millions of demonstrators, schools and local communities participated in a ‘teach-in on the environment’ that marked the beginning of the modern environmental movement. Its the only planet we have, won’t you join in today?

Healthy Food Improves Student Behavior

Monday, April 19th, 2010

Can shifting to a nutritious diet reduce aberrant behavior such as crime and violence? From the spectacular findings at Central Alternative High School in Appleton, Wisconsin, it seems it can! In 1997 staff and teachers took a stand against the violence, gun-toting, wise-cracking and truancy that become common student behavior in a most unusual way: they changed the menu at the cafeteria to fresh, nutritious food and removed all the candy and soda vending machines… and it worked! Dramatically!

Switching from the typical fast food fare including burgers, pizza and fries to old fashioned recipes with fresh fruit and vegetables saw problem behaviors in students drop rapidly. Since instituting these changes principal Luann Coenen has consistently filed a stunning figure of zero for drop-outs, expulsions, drug and weapon-carrying, and suicide. Zero. These problem behaviors simply disappeared when a wholesome diet was introduced and the worst chemical preservatives and additives were removed. In the words of one student, “Now that I can concentrate, I think its easier to get along with people”.

The benefits to students and staff are clearly tangible, but what of the increased cost? A mere $20,000 a year to turn the problem around. As Dr. Barbara Reed Stitt, who was involved in the study, puts it: “one child arrested would cost the schools more”. Shouldn’t we put our children first on this one? I’m relieved to know that such a simple solution exists out there!

You can read more about this in an ABC report, at the Feingold Association website and just googling :-)