ur mums favorite geologist

Metal/Steel/Glass Straws!!!- As everyone knows, straws impact the environment in a very negative way, so why not make the change? Plus, they’re fairly cheap! 

Cloth Produce Bags- Why take one plastic bag just to wrap up a few veggies or fruits? Cloth Produce Bags are a one time investment, and are way more convenient than grabbing the plastic bag! 

Re-Usable Grocery Bags- These are not the cheapest things in the world, but you can get a pack of three off of Amazon.com for around $30, and again, it’s a one time investment, and one that is way more convenient than making the people at check-out put everything in multiple plastic bags.

Reusable “Ziplock” Bags- Perfect for freezing fruit in the freezer, putting certain things in the fridge, taking snacks to school, and for storing your other perishable items! Another plus to these- They’re cheap as hell most of the time!

Metal or Steel Water Bottles- Pretty much everyone has these in their cabinets. There is no reason for all the plastic bottle that are being thrown away everyday, when the Reusable Water Bottles will keep your drink cold/hot for hours at a time, where as plastic will keep your drink cold for a good 1-2 hours? Cut down on all the plastic making it’s way out into the landfills! 

BUYING THINGS IN BULK!!!- This has to be a favorite within the zero-waste community! When you buy things, such as almond butter, pasta sauce, or anything in a glass jar..keep the jar!! You can bring your jars to most health foods stores or most any grocery stores in general and you can buy your items in bulk! None of all that extra waste! Just what you plan on using!

Bento Boxes/ Non-Plastic Lunch Box- These are a one time investment also! There is absolutely no reason that you should be eating out of PLASTIC containers that you will eventually throw away, these are so much more easier to clean than plastic is, and it is much better for the environment.

Portable Silver Ware!- There is not a lot to say about this one. Ditch the plastic forks and spoons, instead, take these! 

Lists like this imply that environmentalism is entirely the responsibility of end users/individual consumers, and not the corporations that create the incredible amounts of waste and toxic refuse that are poisoning the planet.

Straws - metal/glass straws are not suitable for people with disabilities, especially those that involve hands shaking. They’re especially bad for immunocompromised people because they’re nearly impossible to get clean. The entire “get rid of straws” campaign was caused by a single photo of a turtle who’d been injured by one - which ignores the thousands of ocean creatures who are killed by abandoned fishing nets every year. (Most plastic ocean waste is fishing supplies.)

Cloth Produce Bags: Need to be cleaned between uses; may result in wet produce damaging other groceries that shouldn’t get wet; will require items that need to be weighed separately to be pulled out and placed directly on the scale at the cash register. 

Re-Usable Grocery Bags: (OMG you’re suggesting $10/each for these? No! You can get the synthetic fiber ones for between $1 and $3 at most stores.) Actual cloth bags are only better if people re-use them, and most of the people who get the pretty fabric ones discard them when they start to be frayed or torn.

Reusable bags require more energy to produce than common plastic shopping bags. One reusable bag requires the same amount of energy as an estimated 28 traditional plastic shopping bags or eight paper bags. “If used once per week, four or five reusable bags will replace 520 plastic bags a year”, according to Nick Sterling, research director at Natural Capitalism Solutions. A study commissioned by the United Kingdom Environment Agency in 2005 found that the average cotton bag is used only 51 times before being thrown away. In some cases, reusable bags need to be used over 100 times before they are better for the environment than single-use plastic bags. 

Reusable “Ziplock” Bags: These are one-shot use items. You can, technically, re-use them, but they’re a pain to clean, they stretch and tear easily, and it’s a real hassle to get soft foods into or out of them. And like many “environment saving” techniques, they don’t work for people with certain disabilities - if your hands shake constantly, a wobbly plastic bag won’t stay still long enough to fill up, and won’t stand flat to serve from.

Metal or Steel Water Bottles: Get hot. Get too hot to touch if left in the sun for a few minutes. Can’t see if it’s clean inside. Are heavier than plastic, and hurt like hell if you get bumped by one. Are usually smooth on the outside (because they are smooth on the inside because that’s easier to clean, and they’re usually made from one sheet of metal), which is harder to grip, especially for, again, people with disabilities. The mouth is bigger than plastic bottles; making it smaller would make them even harder to clean.

Buying Things In Bulk: Works great if you have (1) places to store stuff, (2) money to buy a lot at once, (3) a vehicle that will carry large amounts of items. If you have to shop by walking or on a bike, your ability to buy in bulk is limited. If you rent a single room in a large house and you have half a shelf in the kitchen for your food, you can’t buy a 20-lb sack of rice.

Bento Boxes/ Non-Plastic Lunch Box: …Is OP under the impression that bento boxes aren’t plastic? I mean, they don’t have to be, any more than US-standard lunchboxes are, but most bento boxes I’ve seen are plastic, not metal. Also: Plastic is microwavable; metal is not. The picture shown doesn’t indicate how the bento box is going to be packed and carried; non-bento plastic lunch containers generaly have lids.

Portable Silver Ware: Picture shows wooden flatware, which is (1) hard to find and (2) hard to clean. Why not just show metal flatware, the kind most of us have in our kitchens? And sure, you can bring a set of your own flatware to picnics and potlucks, but most people won’t, just like they won’t bring plates or cups. Providing non-disposable utensils means needing a place to collect the dirty ones, and a plan for what happens if you run out. (You can run out of plastic ones, but the general plan is “bring more than you need.” An extra 50 plastic forks is less than $5. An extra 50 metal ones is not.) 

Encouraging people to bring their own means everyone has a baggie for them. It means the hassle of putting dirty ones back in the baggie, possibly before someone’s gotten their clean ones out. (If the kids eat first, or last, or whatever.) So you need two baggies: one for the clean ones, and one to collect the dirties, which will need to be washed before they can be reused. 

And again, “carry non-disposable with you” can be problematic for immunocompromised people; it’s not like it’s safe to just keep them in a pocket. They need a safe and clean container, and if they put the dirty ones back in the container, they need to sterilize that container later, so if it’s a ziplock, they’re throwing it out.

NONE OF THESE are absolute problems. I use reusable shopping bags. I keep a set of flatware at work and use it instead of plastic forks/spoons when I get a meal from a cafe. I use ziplocks for leftovers and for packing my lunch. We buy rice in 20 to 50lb bags, and meats in bulk packs. But I don’t have a dishwasher, so I don’t use anything that can’t be cleaned by hand (metal straws, metal water bottles), and I have no idea why bento boxes would be better than the reusable ziplock boxes I normally use for my lunches.

When promoting “living green!!!” tips, keep the following in mind:

Is it safe for immunocompromised people?

Does it work for people with limited mobility, or whose hands shake, or who are not physically strong?

Can small children use this method, or does it increase the amount of management they’ll require?

Does it work on a sharply limited budget, or in a food desert, or without a car?

I use reusable bags and I use them until they fall apart. In most cases, this is more than 100 uses.

I use a heavy duty plastic reusable bottle (not metal) for working out. It’s easier to clean than metal, and I intend on using it until it falls apart. So far, that thing has saved a lot of single use bottle.

What these lists never realize is: It really does look different for everyone.

And straw bans are preventing a lot of disabled people from being able to eat and drink in public. I’m all for reducing the use of single-use plastics, but “get rid of all plastic” is…

It would literally kill people. Literally.

Oh, and I like being able to see. I really like being able to see, ya know.

Understand that yes, plastic waste in our ocean is responsible for killing turtles. But the number 1 plastic responsible killers for them are PLASTIC BAGS and BALLOONS being mistaken as a food source, along with other plastics that they eat and cause problems. As well as fishing gear, such as hooks and nets, boat prop strikes (being hit by boats going too quickly for the turtles to get away in time) and tumors caused by the papillomavirus which is believed but not 100% confirmed to be caused by pollution from water run off. Tbh that last one? A huge thing people don’t know, but is absolutely devestating.

Poaching is still a problem as well. Not all countries protect our turtles.

The answer to saving turtles is not banning plastic straws or plastic bags outright.

What WILL help turtles?

Better waste management and cleaning our oceans.

Basically research into biodegradable things that the average consumer can use. I don’t know about disabled people but I recently bought biodegradable “non plastic” bendy straws that look and feel like plastic and are not reusable. They were like $4 on Amazon as much as I spend on a bag of straws anyway.

But? If someone can’t use anything but a regular plastic straw they AREN’T GOING TO KILL A TURTLE IF THEY HAVE TO HAVE THEM. I did it because of where I live and the likelihood my straw COULD end up in the water.

Corporations and governments not properly keeping our waste out of oceans is responsible for turtle deaths. I can’t trust my own waste management to do that.

Not whether or not Sally isn’t doing her part because she uses plastics.

I live in the Florida Keys. On a tiny island less than a mile wide. We had a major hurricane (Irma) not long ago and they’re still pulling debris out of canals and our mangroves.

Oh? And my county? They don’t have a recycling program. They barely use proper sized waste bins to contain neighborhood garbage because we have problems having to export recycling if we used it. We do have a landfill..on a tiny, sea level island. But it’s small. I understand we have reasons for why we have trouble with waste here but we should be better.

I have had to call our waste people to come out and get overflowing bins because they are RIGHT ON THE WATER and someone put a thing of packing peanuts that exploded in and they were getting in the water. I live in a beautiful place that cares about turtles and EVEN OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUCKS AT IT.

It is. I repeat. Not anyones fault who uses straws because they must that sea creatures are endangered or dying. It’s how we are not handling the waste issue period and demanding our governments and corporations take care of these issues. By blaming straws you are letting corporations claim that it’s you as an individual’s fault. And it simply is not.

Demand better care for our waste. And if it suits you, use more biodegradable products in your own life to show that your money is going there.

But do not shame or threaten people who need plastic products to live. It’s ableist and gross.

You know, the plastic thing that supports a six pack of cans of beer or soda. Btw, you should cut these before tossing them. They’re dangerous to birds and, yup, turtles.

Some small brewers are now using a non-plastic alternative that is, while not specifically designed to be edible, safe if eaten. The rings should still be cut before you throw it away. Oh, and they can make them out of the waste left over from brewing (they’re wheat based but as gluten-avoiders can’t drink beer anyway…)

Others are using glue.

I have a six pack in my fridge that is held together not with rings but with caps that rest over the cans. They’re still (recycled) plastic, but won’t tangle animals.

YOU CAN’T VOTE ONLINE.

YOU CAN’T VOTE FROM YOUR PHONE.

IN MANY STATES THERE ARE LEGAL CONSEQUENCES FOR PHOTOGRAPHING YOUR BALLOT.

DO NOT WEAR CAMPAIGN GEAR TO THE POLLS.

DO NOT TRY TO PERSUADE PEOPLE TO VOTE FOR A CANDIDATE AT THE POLLS.

DO NOT ENGAGE IN ANY KIND OF POLITICAL DISCOURSE AT THE POLLS.

NO ELECTION IS EVER A SURE THING, EVEN IF YOU’RE IN THE BLUEST OR REDDEST OF STATES.  IF SOMEONE TRIES TO TELL YOU THAT YOU CAN SIT THIS ONE OUT, THEY ARE EITHER IGNORANT OR MALICIOUS.

LIKE EVERYTHING IS THE SAME AS A KIDS PLAYGROUND

BUT BIGGER

the St. Louis City Museum:

Playground for adults and children.

Earth is a place dominated by water, mainly oceans. It’s also a place our researchers study to understand life. Trillions of gallons of water flow freely across the surface of our blue-green planet. Ocean’s vibrant ecosystems impact our lives in many ways. 

In celebration of World Oceans Day, here are a few things you might not know about these complex waterways.

1. Why is the ocean blue? 

The way light is absorbed and scattered throughout the ocean determines which colors it takes on. Red, orange, yellow,and green light are absorbed quickly beneath the surface, leaving blue light to be scattered and reflected back. This causes us to see various blue and violet hues.

2. Want a good fishing spot? 

Follow the phytoplankton! These small plant-like organisms are the beginning of the food web for most of the ocean. As phytoplankton grow and multiply, they are eaten by zooplankton, small fish and other animals. Larger animals then eat the smaller ones. The fishing industry identifies good spots by using ocean color images to locate areas rich in phytoplankton. Phytoplankton, as revealed by ocean color, frequently show scientists where ocean currents provide nutrients for plant growth.

3. The ocean is many colors. 

When we look at the ocean from space, we see many different shades of blue. Using instruments that are more sensitive than the human eye, we can measure carefully the fantastic array of colors of the ocean. Different colors may reveal the presence and amount of phytoplankton, sediments and dissolved organic matter.

4. The ocean can be a dark place. 

About 70 percent of the planet is ocean, with an average depth of more than 12,400 feet. Given that light doesn’t penetrate much deeper than 330 feet below the water’s surface (in the clearest water), most of our planet is in a perpetual state of darkness. Although dark, this part of the ocean still supports many forms of life, some of which are fed by sinking phytoplankton. 

5. We study all aspects of ocean life. 

Instruments on satellites in space, hundreds of kilometers above us, can measure many things about the sea: surface winds, sea surface temperature, water color, wave height, and height of the ocean surface.

6. In a gallon of average sea water, there is about ½ cup of salt. 

The amount of salt varies depending on location. The Atlantic Ocean is saltier than the Pacific Ocean, for instance. Most of the salt in the ocean is the same kind of salt we put on our food: sodium chloride.

7. A single drop of sea water is teeming with life.  

It will most likely have millions (yes, millions!) of bacteria and viruses, thousands of phytoplankton cells, and even some fish eggs, baby crabs, and small worms. 

8. Where does Earth store freshwater? 

Just 3.5 percent of Earth’s water is fresh—that is, with few salts in it. You can find Earth’s freshwater in our lakes, rivers, and streams, but don’t forget groundwater and glaciers. Over 68 percent of Earth’s freshwater is locked up in ice and glaciers. And another 30 percent is in groundwater. 

9. Phytoplankton are the “lungs of the ocean”.

Just like forests are considered the “lungs of the earth”, phytoplankton is known for providing the same service in the ocean! They consume carbon dioxide, dissolved in the sunlit portion of the ocean, and produce about half of the world’s oxygen. 

Want to learn more about how we study the ocean? Follow @NASAEarth on twitter.

AND FUCK DRYER SHEETS LITERALLY NOBODY EVER HAS ENOUGH OF A PROBLEM WITH STATIC TO WARRANT PAYING OUT THE ASS FOR THAT SHIT

DO YOU WANT CLEAN CLOTHES? YOU DON’T EVEN NEED TO BUY FUCKING DETERGENT JUST MAKE YOUR OWN* IT’S SO GODDAMN EASY AND 80X CHEAPER

FUCK THE ENTIRE LAUNDRY INDUSTRY *Fuck The Entire Laundry Industry Recipe

1 cup Washing Soda (not Baking Soda. Different things.)

1 cup Borax (not Boric Acid. Also a different thing.)

Step one: acquire $5 bag of baking soda from Costco.

Step two: lay that motherfucking baking soda out on a baking tray.

Step three: bake the baking soda on a tray in an oven at 400° for 1 hour (to make the moisture evaporate, leaving washing soda)