Litterbugs Beware!

Bishop supports MMDA’s revival of anti-littering law

By LESLIE ANN G. AQUINO
September 5, 2010, 3:57pm
http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/275693/bishop-supports-mmda-s-revival-antilittering-law

This was the heading of the newsletter I received today from the EcoWaste Coalition. Yey! I think it's about time. If people start having to take responsibility for their litter, they'll probably take more time in thinking about the amount of trash they produce.

Some years ago, I was on a jeepney (i.e. means of transportation in the Philippines originally made from US military jeeps left over from WW II), when I saw a mom and her young daughter eating peanuts. The kid  was about 6 years old and was trying to hold the peanut shells in one hand while eating with the other hand. The mom, on the other hand, would crack open a peanut, eat the kernel and throw the shell onto the jeepney floor. I guess the mom finally noticed the kid holding on to the shells, they were getting a bit too much for her small hand and she was looking helplessly toward the trash can a few feet away----the mother, took her kid's arm and shook it till the shells dropped to the floor. She snapped at her kid and basically told her daughter that she was stupid for not doing that in the first place. I wanted to scream and rail at the mother right then and there. However, at that time, I was a kid myself, and I didn't feel like I could get in the way of her revolting parenting skills.

That's just one of the littering incidents that happen everyday back home... It probably happens in a lot of other places, but it doesn't make it right. It'll take a while before Filipinos become as disciplined as most people are in Singapore, but baby steps towards a litter-free environment is way better than no steps at all.

No 'Poo Update

9 days of no 'poo!

I used Pantene shampoo on my hair last Wednesday, 25th of August. At that time I wasn't really planning on going no 'poo, I just figured I'd use less shampoo on my hair.

Day 1: no 'poo and no conditioner - hair was alright, not greasy and not dry, either
Day 2: 'no poo, used Sunsilk conditioner - soft, a little greasy but looked and felt alright
Day 3: 'no poo, Sunsilk conditioner - my scalp felt icky and greasy but my friends didn't say anything so I guess it wasn't that bad. I saw a few white flakes on my hair
Day 4: 'no poo, Sunsilk conditioner - greasy and itchy
Day 5: baking soda, Sunsilk conditoner - bad hair day in the morning so I put on a baseball cap. Was finally able to buy baking soda and ACV, worried about vinegar smell and had to go to class so just used baking soda and water. I just used a bit dissolved in water because i was nervous about it. My hair was still a bit greasy after washing it.
Day 6: baking soda, Sunsilk conditioner - 1 tsp used like paste and 1 tsp dissolved in water. Hair was still a bit greasy but the edges were dry.
Day 7: baking soda, Sunsilk conditioner - same as yesterday but hair felt better. Scalp was clean but stung a bit when I massaged the concoction in.
Day 8: baking soda, Sunsilk conditioner in the morning - my hair felt more like its usual self, not greasy or dry but had fly away edges. It was a bit itchy, though.
baking soda, Bath & Body coconut verbena conditioner in the afternoon - hair was a bit dry at first but became better as the night progressed. See picture below. After a night of dancing and smoky bar air, it looked amazing.

Day 9: B&B coconut verbena conditioner - less itchy than the day before but it wasn't dry or greasy.

I've started telling my friends here in Vietnam about what I'm doing but I don't think I convinced anyone to try it. I've told my sister and she offered to bring me organic shampoo... I think I'll try going no 'poo for 2 months. If there's a bad reaction and my scalp never adjusts then that'll be an option. But think about it... one less plastic bottle for the trash.

Ditch the Disposables Challenge 2010

As I've mentioned, I've been seriously thinking of my throwaway lifestyle so I've been reading a lot of blogs and articles to motivate me and give me ideas. I stumbled on this. What better way to help me start being greener by making a 2 month commitment? They say that it takes 21-66 days to make and action a habit, so if I do something for 2 months, that brings me to nearly 66 days :D

Right now these are the stuff that I do and should continue:

1. Use rechargeable batteries. Batteries are so cheap here in Vietnam and it would be easy to fall back into habit. I even bought some for my parents a while back. Good thing they bought rechargeable lamps (some with AM/FM radios) to use at the farm and for blackouts.
2. Luckily, I grew up with in a household that uses dish towels and my housemates did, too. 
3. I've got allergic rhinitis and there are days when it's so bad --- runny nose, seemingly endless sneezes ---tissue paper makes it worse so I use hankies or baby face towels. 
4. I used to love wrapping gifts, I would make each one different depending on the recipient. Recently, I've been avoiding the use of wrapping paper and I've been choosing reusable bags or I don't wrap at all. Still thinking of other ways to wrap gifts without adding to the trash.
5. Instead of disposable Q-tips, I use a small metal ear cleaner. It has a tiny spoon at one end, used to scoop out ear wax. 

And these are the stuff that I'm going to add to it:

1. Ditch the 'poo ---> until I find baking soda and ACV, I'm going to be using warm water and/or lime/lemon juice to clean my hair and a bit of conditioner **cheating a bit, figured i can start with shampoo and go from there
2. Use cloth wipes for #1 even when I'm out ---> gotta give the credit to my Mom, who started doing this years ago, much better for my V and the environment!

These are some of my "problems"

1. Reusable shopping bags ---> I've got some for dry goods but I don't have anything for produce or meat. And I often forget bringing them because I rarely have a bag with me when I go out.
2. Paper towels ---> my housemates (who cook, because I don't) use paper towels to absorb the grease of fried food
3. Disposable chopsticks and straws ---> here in Vietnam, most takeouts (and even dine-in) include these. Even if you try to tell them you don't need them, they would usually forget and put it in anyway.
4. Water bottle ---> even if I do insist on carrying my own water bottle, some places require you to buy drinks from them. Tap water isn't an option because there is no central water treatment here.
5. Paper napkins/wet wipes ---> sometimes I have one or two hankies on hand but what do I do when I'm outside and I'm going to eat something very messy like crab? Not all restaurants here have a wash area
6. Cleanser, laundry detergent, deodorant and other items that I can make ---> ingredients are difficult to obtain here. 

Plans *Buying these stuff but will have to wait for a couple of months. I'm not very confident receiving packages here as they might get lost or be tasked by customs.

1. Sanitary napkins, pantyliners, 
2. Wet bag for travelling *in place of ziploc bags
3. Reusable sandwich bag
4. Produce and insulated bags for fruits, vegetables, meat and other wet goods

Note: I am not an environmentalist. I think for the present, you can just label me environmentally-concerned. I was talking about less packaging with a friend and she started saying "Oh you're one of those environmentalists." I wish I were... But I'm too lazy to be one.

Eco-friendly Party Tips

Day after the party, I was washing the dishes and started thinking of past parties/get-togethers and how much trash/clean-up we've had to deal with. My parents love throwing parties, my mom sometimes complains about the amount of work it includes but they'll throw one anyway.

I understand that it's something we can't avoid. After all, we all love spending time with friends and entertaining will always be part of our lives. I guess  the only way to go about it is to find eco-friendly ways to throw parties.

Invitations (and Thank You cards)

1. If you really MUST send something on paper, choose recycled paper or easily-biodegradable ones.
2. Send them via email, an evite, or set up an FB event

Tableware

1. Cloth napkins/towels instead of paper napkins/towels.
2. Use a tablecloth that you can reuse or repurpose.
3. Invest on lightweight but reusable dinnerware.
4. BYOC- if possible, ask your guests to bring their own cups. It might be a bit too much for some but they'll find out the benefits when they're served more vodka than usual. 
5. Have some reusable containers ready for leftovers instead of using cling wrap/aluminum foil/ziploc bags.

Food and Beverages

1. Go healthy and organic as much as you can. Consider the guests coming in and their preferences.
2. Consider the packaging of food items. n.b. my friend, Jo, keeps a cake box and aluminum-foil-covered-plate for her baked creations. If you can't bake, maybe you can keep a cake box and bring it to the bake shop when you buy cakes/baked goodies.
3. Opt for finger food that you can place on cloth napkins instead of using flatware.
4. BYOB - if it's a Bring Your Own Beer (or Drinks) kind of party, ask your guests to avoid cans and small bottles. Kegs and larger bottles are better -- in more ways than one. :D

Decorations

1. Opt for homemade decor that you can reuse.
2. Make it balloon-free. Balloons are fun but they're rarely biodegradable and bad for the environment. Use chinese lanterns or felt banners instead.
3. Do it outside or use natural light if possible.
4. For party favors, choose reusable hats, canvas bags as goodie bags and environmentally-friendly items instead of cheap stuff that will end up in the trash in less than a day.

Gifts

1. Ask for or give gifts with social merit. If you don't need anything in particular and your guests really want to (and can) -- get them to donate to a charitable organization of your choice. e.g. my friend, Chell, holds her birthday parties at an orphanage. She brings food, drinks and little gifts for the kids. Donations are always welcome.
2. Personalized gifts are a nice option for talented, crafty people. 
3. Avoid disposable gift wrappers or unnecessary wrapping. Use newspaper with a funky twine, cloth or reusable gift bags.
4. If you decide to go with a store-bought present, carefully select gifts. Don't just buy something because it's cheap or something expensive to show off. Choose something that the receiver will appreciate and will be able to use. 

• Book lovers will appreciate books even if they're secondhand.
• Buy items that can replace disposables. e.g Reusable shopping bags, produce bags, Skoy cloth, etc.
• Buy organic.

Clean-up check this post for eco-friendly tips

1. Choose eco-friendly cleaning products or better yet go with a homemade all-purpose cleaner.
2. Think before tossing.

Ready for an eco-friendly party?

To Do: No Poo

Another "go green" idea.

I can't remember when it started but hair fall has been my problem for years. You'd think Chewbakka was around by the amount of hair you'd find lying around. There was a time that I was so scared of washing my hair or even touching it, for fear of losing even more hair. I've cut my hair, tried various shampoos and hair treatments, but it still hasn't gotten much better. So next thing is to go natural. Might as well shoot two birds with one stone. 

I've read that some people have junked shampoo and just rinse their hair with hot water. Others just use conditioner. I want to ease my hair into it by starting with one teaspoon of baking soda with one cup of water followed by an apple cider vinegar rinse (2 tablespoons in a cup of water).

Got the following from this site:

• Knead a few tablespoons of olive oil into your dry scalp and hair. Swathe your oiled-up curls with a shower cap and take a thirty minute breather... snooze, toss back a latte, whatever. Then just shampoo as usual to reveal a refurbished mane that even Fabio would envy.
• Every night, rub your scalp and massage your mane with a solution of 50/50 distilled white vinegar and water. This homemade "hair-product-residue-remover" leaves behind the glistening, polished locks you've always dreamed of.

Some tips:
• If your hair becomes frizzy, try using less baking soda or leaving it on for a shorter period of time. Adding honey may also help. 
• If your hair becomes greasy, try using less apple cider vinegar, switching to lemon or lime juice, leaving out the honey, and/or using a comb instead of a brush. Also, make sure you’re applying the apple cider vinegar just to the ends of your hair. 
• If your scalp itches, try the following essential oils; tea tree, lavender, rosemary. If your hair becomes dry, try a tiny bit of oil (any oil, I use olive) smoothed on bottom of hair.

Next thing to do is make a list of the stuff I need and hit the imported goods store... Will update later :D

My Fair Lady

Ladycup LOTOS

This is a picture of my menstrual cup with it's cotton baggie. After careful research and much deliberation, I took the plunge and ordered one from Ebay. I got it for $22 (USD), shipping to the Philippines included. I chose this particular brand because it's the smallest and squishiest. I used it for the first time this month. First time I tried it, it just wouldn't go in. I must have done all the folds I learned but it just wouldn't go in. So I left the bathroom, rested a bit and when I tried it again, voila, no trouble at all. It popped open without any prodding and only leaked a bit before I took it out. It wasn't that uncomfortable but I was annoyed by the stem so I cut a bit of it. I can't remember how long I left it in but the second time I used it, it got stuck in my vjj for hours. I was a bit worried but I read on the forum that sometimes it happens and the more I worry, the more stressed I'd be and I really wouldn't be able to take it out. Anyway, the second time it popped, it really hurt and I figured twice for my first time was enough. Boiled the cup and put it away. I think I only used 4 sanitary napkins for my whole cycle.... Still trying to gather courage to use a menstrual cup for the entirety of my next cycle. 

Maybe I should invest on cloth pads. 

P.S. I ordered some cloth pantyliners from Etsy for light days and backup for my menstrual cup. Really going to try to eliminate this disposable item from my list.

Throwing Away the Throwaway Lifestyle

I got into the concept of environmentalism when I was in college when I joined my school's environmental organization. There were some things that were easy for me to do but there were some that weren't. Until now, I'm still struggling with doing what needs doing without offending acquaintances or alienating friends and family.

In a little more than a month, I'll be living alone. Really alone, no housemates or friends around. I'm taking the time to inspect my lifestyle so I can be ready to make some changes. I want to escape from a throwaway lifestyle.

Step 1: Organize ALL my things. I've accumulated stuff and brought in a lot of things from home. I need to make sure that I'm not buying things I already have, or things I don't really need.

Step 2: Consider alternatives for disposable objects.
-menstrual cup and cloth pantiliners to replace sanitary napkins
-wet bags instead of ziploc bags
-reusable utensils and cups/mugs instead of plastic dinnerware
-recyclable toothbrush and razors
-cloth towels and wipes
-reusable bags instead of plastic bags

Step 3: Avoid creating trash.

Gotta be ready for the challenge. Wish me luck.