Earth Day is Everyday

As I outdoorsy kind of person – the planet and all (well almost all) of its inhabitants are important to me.
I spend Earth Day re-evaluating what I have done to protect this environment I run and live in.
I am currently reading, “The World Without Us”. An interesting and well written book about the environment.
The chapter on plastics is particularly depressing.

“Except for a small amount incinerated, every bit of plastic manufactured in the world for the last 50 years or so still remains. It’s somewhere in the environment.”

Plenty of the plastics are being recycled now but they are refashioned into even more plastic manufactured goods.

A few things I’m doing to reduce my consumption of plastic:

• Buy larger containers of shampoo, hand lotion, soap, etc.
• Use products with less plastic packaging. (Buy in bulk.)
• Reuse plastics bags and liners.
• Look for products in glass bottles.

What are you doing? ( Would love to hear your ideas.)

And excellent resource on plastic in our society and how to reduce it - > Fake Plastic Fish
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Cell Phone Hell

I sometimes run with my eyes downward - nose to the grindstone. Along the roadway I spot a busted cell phone. Sadly, as an icon of todays throw-away society, it is left for dead.
Of course, I brought this little treasure home. (Along with other litter.) But this phone was beyond repair - a cell phone in Hell.

"Only 3% of the population recycles their cell phone." [Source:nokia]

So only 3% go to Heaven - the rest end up like this. A picture of some 426,000 of them. (Click on image for the zoom.)
And this problem is not just here in the USA but world wide.

"Some 15 million old telephones are tucked away in drawers somewhere in Sweden."

There are plenty of organizations who will put your phone to good use. Let’s change these numbers.

50 Ways to Leave Your Cell Phone

"One ton of cell phones contain a kilogram (2.2 pounds) of silver and some 300 grams of gold."

A better approach - keep using your old cell phone until it dies. The fact that most cell phones are replaced every 18 months is absurd!

Where is your old cell phone?

Collective Good

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Running With a Magic Wand

This weeks theme at Runner's Lounge TIaRT is…Choose Your Superpower. "What superpower runners would have if they could?

My Superpower

I wish I could unfold
a magic wand.
And when I ran by litter
I could point my wand
and presto - the debris
would magically disappear.
No rabbits in my hat – or abracadabras.
Just an invisible wand I could run with.
Help me make the world a better place.

I would like to give Magic Wands to other runners, like me, that pick up trash while running.
Including:
Eco-runner
Polka Dot Shorts

"There aren't many things that are universally cool, and it's cool not to litter. I'd never do it." - Matthew McConaughey

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