Share and Voice: ALLERGIES!! Uggghhh...

~Hey Guys!~

So, a couple years ago my body decided it was bored and thought it'd be a good idea to start having allergies in Spring. Sweet. Well, every year since (they started about 4 years ago), I have gotten them a little bit worse each year. You can imagine my anticipation of what this spring was going to bring. Low and behold, I thought I was dieing. So it got me to thinking...why is it that just in the past couple years I have gotten them? And why does it seem that each year I get them worse than the last? Hmmm....

I found some answers to my wonderment. Women's Health Magazine had an article on their website discussing this great issue. (you can read the full article on the site above, if youd like) Basically, what they reported was the increase in allergie symptoms of individuals is yet another issue tied into global warming, due to the growing seasons of allergens lengthening each year. This causes the release of pollen and other allergens to come full force 10 to 14 days sooner than 20 years ago. They report that the increase of CO2 in the air is causing weeds (that produce the allergens) to "reproduce like jackrabbits"...I thought that quote was awesome ha! But it totally makes sense. So, if that isnt enough, these released allergens are now kinda like SuperPowered, due to the increased CO2 that is fueling them like mad. OK, sorry for all the science talk.

ALSO... The pollutants in our atmosphere are also affecting this phenomenon. Pollen hitches a ride on the pollution that we inevitably breath in every second of everyday, carrying the little terrants right into, and DEEP into, our lungs.

So this may not be the most interesting of posts, but I found it really helpful in helping me to understand what the H-E-double-hockey-sticks was going on. It just was one more reading that opened my eyes a bit more about the importance of taking care of our planet :)

~Hope your all doing well...see you tomorrow!~

Share and Voice: Fair-Trade Coffee

~Hello all my lovely classmates :) ~

So weve all heard about "Fair-trade" products, but what does that exactly entitle?? With working in a place that has all fair-trade coffe, as well as our teas, I thought it would be important to share with you a little more about what the whole concept means, and what the benefits are. I gathered my info from this website...check it out.. Global Exchange.

Here's some basic facts about Fair-trade coffee I got from this website:

The term "fair-trade" means, cut and dry, a "equitable and fair" exchange between consumer and producer of products. The main reason behind this concept is to ensure the farmers of the coffe get a fair price for their harvests that will allow them to make a living. These farmers are typically small holders, who are usually poor actually. This is the exact reason this concept of giving them what they deserve is so important. They use the little money they make from being fair-trade for health care for their families, education, to name a few. Currently, coffee is the first product in the US ensured to be produced under fair labor conditions. I find that crazy that this is the only thing, right now, giving back to those who give us our luxuries.

On the website, there are important points as to why fair-trade is essential, and how it benefits basically every part of the exchange. Please look at it, I feel very strongly about supporting such a cause, and I think if everyone knew a bit more about what it actually meant, more would hop on the band-wagon!! (Is that the right word?? You know what I mean!)

~Hope you are all enjoying the weather :) See you soon!!~

Share and Voice: Forest Lake going Green :)

So, I saw a town on the Today Show this morning about Greenburg Kansas being a green town. That got me to thinking....what is MY town doing to be green?? I dont go home much, so I havent been able to personally witness what types of changes they are making to be more environmentally friendly. So I googled it :) Its not much, but this is what I found...kinda cool!!

City of Forest Lake website

Share and Voice: Make your own clothes :)

~Hey Guys~

I was just browsing around on the internet, investigating different ways in which the crazies out there are going green. I came upon this site that lets you design your own clothes! I thought it was so cool! There are many different options you can choose from; mens/womens, infant bibs and outfits, hats, hoodies, t-shirts, long-sleeved, (you can even make thongs!!), animal outfits....the list goes on and on!

So, I played with it and this was one of the numerous ones I designed that I liked the most. I know it ways Kansas as the state, but I couldnt figure out how to get the Minnesota one ha!! But its really cute! Take a look :)

Awww, isnt it nice!! I thought so :) Now if I only had money, Id buy it! Check it out for yourself!

Cafe Press

Share and Voice: World's Most Polluted Places

~Sumgayit, Azerbaijan~

So I was looking at Shannon's blog, and she had a post about Earth Day. So I checked out the web-site she had linked to, and investigated a bit. There were a lot of very good things I read and learned about, but one subject really stood out to me and took me by surprise.



One of the topics that stood out the most to me was 'The 10 Most Polluted Places in the World'. I read about these cities, and it was very sad to me. All the problems and the effects of all the activities going on in these places are not only harming the people that live there now, but there is evidence that they will continue to pollute these cities for centuries to come.



There is also the topic of harm on the children of these cities, and the hightened rates of defects among the children growing up around these pollutants. Although it is very interesting, it is very heart breaking. Like its not bad enough that these issues are very real, but in many of the cities discussed, it is pointed out there are no actions being taken to clean up the areas/problems, or any plans to do so in the near future.

Check it out...they are relatively short write ups about each place, but enough to be a definate eye-opener.

Share and Voice: "Blog-on" Blog Award!

Hello Everyone!

Thank you again to Hannah for giving me the 'Blog-on' Blog Award :) Im was happy to hear you guys found that particular topic equally alarming and shocking. SO, now I get to pass it on! Although I found all of your posts great and interesting, the one that I found myself spending a lot of time indulged in was that of....AUTUMN!!! Woo-whoo!! Her Share and Voice: Gorgeously Green I found was very practical and contained information that we can all benefit from everyday. Not big huge changes, just simple things that will help us all live better everyday, and at the same time help the environment. Congrats Autumn!! It was great to read, thank you for sharing it with us :)

~Award Instructions~

1. Leave a comment below so that I know you "picked up" the award
2. Creat a Share and Voice post that says you've recieved the award and indicate who the award is from
(be sure to hyperlink).
3. Also indicate to whom you are going to pass on the award and why. Be sure to hyperlink the blogger (use
main blog URL) and the blog title (use the specific URL for that blog post).
4. Copy and paste these instructions at the bottom of your post.
5. Publish the post.
6. Visit each blogger you've awarded and leave a comment telling them they've won.
7. Continue the process.....

Share and Voice: SMOKING!!

~More Harmful than I thought...~

Ok, so we all know about the harmful affects of smoking...its been drilled into our heads since we can remember. But, what i have found interesting is the little amount we know about how it affects our environment. Well, theres the littering of the butts ($700.00 fine..thanks Sara :) as well as the pollution that goes into the air also. I also was surprised to realize how the manufacurization (is that a word??) of cigarettes. SO, if your interested in reading more about this, take a look :)

How Smoking Affects our Environment

It might not be THE most interesting thing, but I found it kinda striking. Its just crazy because there are so many people that DO smoke, and to think about if they didnt, the benefits that would come from that. I just have never thought of it outside of the normal bubble of smoking.

Share and Voice: ENVIRO-Cool Blog Award!

So I got the honor of recieving the 'Outstanding Blog Award' last week from Ben...thank you so much!! Ben gave it to me for the pictures I posted of my lake in the summer :)


And so now, I get the chance to pass this on to one of YOU! Well one post really stuck out to me this week.....So without anymore stalling, I would like to extend this award to Kathy@Choh's Changing Environment for her awesome pics and Share and Voice about the toilets at school!! Probably the coolest thing EVER! I am very eager to go check them out myself, and see what this whole contraption consists of. Thank you for sharing this with us Kathy, it was very interesting and informative. Its a great step in the right direction!

So Kathy, here are the instructions for passing this lovely award on!

1. Leave a comment below so that I know you "picked up" the award.
2. Create a Share and Voice post that says you've received the award and indicate who the award is from (be sure to hyperlink).
3. Also indicate to whom you are going to pass on the award and why. Be sure to hyperlink the blogger (use main blog URL) and the blog title (use the specific URL for that blog post).
4. Copy and paste these instructions at the bottom of you post.
5. Publish the post.
6. Visit each blogger you've awarded and leave a comment telling them they've won.
7. Continue the process.... :)

Share and Voice: World's on Fire

Hello Class :)

I was shown this video this summer and it was something that gave me chills from beginning to end. Everytime I watch it, it still has the same effect. Please watch it closely, take the time to really read what is portrayed on the screen, as the facts will really make you think about what other parts of the world are actually going through. When I watch this, I think about how people living in Hollywood and New York spend rediculous amounts of money, everyday, on themselves and services for them. Luxuries that amount to what could possibly be the difference in life or death for a person in an under-developed country, could put a child through school for a whole year, could feed a village of people for a month.

So please, watch this music video. Watch it again, and again. Listen to the words, read the facts that flash up, look at the people. It is SO compelling. To be honest, my mind completely changed after seeing this. I hope it will have the same effect on you. Enjoy :)

Sarah McLachlan~ 'World's on Fire'

~Fly~

Share and Voice: Sunset on the Lake :)

Hey guys :) Well, I was looking through my pictures today, takin' a little trip down memory lane, and came across some of my favorite pictures I have ever taken. These are from a couple summers ago, Im not exactly sure but Im thinking 2005. I had some of my hockey girls bunkin' at my place, and we took some kyaking adventures on my lake in the evening. This was from a particularly calm night, and one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen on my lake. So, to give you a little glimpse into what my summers entail :) Enjoy!

~Welcome to Running with the Wild~

Hello!! And welcome to my environmental blog :) I appreciate you being a follower, and I hope this will be something of interest to you to check out each day. With this blog, I hope to provide you with tips on how to become more environmentally friendly everyday. Also, I will share with you things that I have recently on an everyday basis to be more ~Green~ :) Annnnddd, you can play hangman...I know!! Have fun :)

There are 5 possible types of posts on my blog. They include:

• Advocacy Project
  
• Eye Openers
  
• Reflections
  
• Reviews
  
• Share and Voice
  

If you notice at the bottom of this post, the categories will be listed as labels. This post is has been labeled with all five kinds of posts. You will also see the number of each kind of post in my Labels Gadget at the top of the page. All post titles from now on will begin with one of the categories above.

The members of my web group are:

1. Brenda
2. Noah
   
3. Shannon
   
4. Sara H.
5. Valerie
   

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I hope you are all finding fun new ways to enjoy your blogging times, and any and all recommendations you would have for me are much appreciated. Please give me any feedback you have. Once again, thank you for becoming a follower of my blog :) Have a nice day!