Green Magazine

Carrot and apple salad

When summer comes with its warm days the desire to stand at the stove fades quickly and we just want to eat fresh and light. At home we’re eating so much salad. Yesterday I prepared a salad with a few different ingredients, but at the same good and tasty: carrots and apples. I grated (like  julienne) 2 carrots and 2 yellow apples from organic agriculture, I added the almond kernels and bathed with the juice of a half lemon. I seasoned with soy oil, salt and a little pepper and flavored with fresh mint leaves. Very delicate and refreshing. I eat it with bread with green olive paste. This salad has to be prepared and served immediately.

Remember that in summer are very useful those foods that stimulate skin pigmentation, which makes it more resistant to sunlight. Foods rich in carotenoids,ate  able to stimulate the melanocytes to produce melanin. They are fat-soluble pigments that are perfectly assimilated fats made with food. Among them there is the beta carotene, which is the precursor of Vitamin A and it also protects from sunburn because of the dissolved fat cells in the skin helps to filter out ultraviolet radiation.
Some fruits are veggies rich in beta carotene are cherries, pineapple, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, carrots, tomatoes, apricots, peaches and melon.

Aspartame and Acesulfame

Aspartame, or APM and also known in Europe by it’s additive code E951 is the name of an artificial, non-saccharide sweetener used as a sugar substitute in many foods and beverages.Aspartame is the methyl ester of a phenylalanine/aspartic acid dipeptide. Blends of aspartame with acesulfame potassium—usually listed in ingredients as acesulfame K—are alleged to taste more like sugar, and to be sweeter than either substitute used alone. Aspartame was discovered as an ulcer drug, not a sweetener. Every diet drink you used to drink was a dose of medication .
The concern of aspartame ingestion during pregnancy is not limited to obvious birth defects, but changes or damage to certain areas of the brain. The potential damage includes parts of the brain involved in complex learning as well as hormonal control (e.g., hypothalamus). Problems resulting from this sort of damage would not be seen until after the child reaches puberty.
Reactions or side effects of Aspartame:
Long-term exposures to Aspartame can cause following reactions or side effects:
Abdominal pain, anxiety attacks, arthritis, asthma, asthmatic reactions, swelling, edema (fluid retention), hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia, brain cancer (animal studies conducted prior to approval), breathing difficulties, laryngitis, burning on urination, poor concentration,chest pain,chronic cough, chronic fatigue, confusion, death, depression, diarrhea, dizziness, excessive thirst or hunger, fatigue, distortion of reality, redness of the face, hairing loss (baldness) or thinning hair, problems and change the menstrual cycle, muscle spasms, nausea and vomiting, clouding of thought, memory loss, panic attacks, convulsions, tachycardia, loss of vision, weight gain.
Acesulfame K: Acesulfame K does contain the carcinogen methylene chloride. Long-term exposure to methylene chloride can cause headaches, depression, nausea, mental confusion, liver effects, kidney effects, visual.
The best thing to do is avoid all artificial and chemical sweetener substitutes. They have NO food value, trick the body into thinking it is eating something sweet, and they have by-products of harmful toxic side effects.

http://www.disinformazione.it
http://www.holisticmed.com
http://www.sweetpoison.com
http://www.medicinenet.com

Green at work

Getting your office staff to buy into the concept helps hugely to going green. These are some top tips that could be an easy starting to think and behave green:

1.Avoid stand- by status.
You can save energy by optimizing the energy settings for computers and other devices . Set computers to energy-saving settings and make sure to shut them down when you leave for the day (“standby” settings will go ahead drawing power even if not in use). Printers, scanners, and other peripherals that are used occasionally can be switched off until they’re needed. And of course, turn off lights in spaces that are unoccupied.

2.Digitize
Keep things digital and dematerialized whenever possible. The more you do online, the less you need paper. Keep files on computers instead of in file cabinets (this also makes it easier to make offsite backup copies or take them with you when you move to a new office).

3.Printing green .
Review documents onscreen rather than printing them out. Send emails instead of paper letters. Eliminate blank pages from documents before printing and convert to PDF for paperless document sharing. Print on both sides of the page when appropriate and use misprints as notepaper. Try to choose printers and photocopiers that do double-sided printing.

4.Packaging green.
If your office delivers packages, reuse boxes and use shredded waste paper as packing/ refilling material.

5.Commute green
When possible go to work by carpooling, taking public transit, biking, walking, or a creative combination thereof. For those who think bike riding is for kids and tattooed couriers, consider a high-tech folding bike or an electrically assisted one.

6.Green dressed
If you buy new, get clothes made with organic or recycled fibers. Avoid clothes that need to be dry cleaned, and if they so demand it, seek out your local “green” dry cleaner.

7.Use Green Materials
Use recycled paper and envelopes that have been processed and colored using eco-friendly methods. Pens and pencils can also be made of recycled materials, and refillable pens and markers are preferable to disposable ones. Use biodegradable soaps and recycled paper or cloth towels in the bathroom and kitchen, and provide biodegradable cleaners for the custodial staff.

8. Lunch Time
Bringing lunch to work in reusable containers is likely the greenest and healthiest way to eat at work. Getting delivery and takeout almost unavoidably ends with a little mountain of packaging waste. But if you do order delivery, join coworkers in placing a large order. Also, bring in a reusable plate, utensils, and napkins. If you do go out for lunch, try biking or walking instead of taking your car.

9.Green cofee break
* Ask the office manager to get fair trade coffee for the break room and make sure everyone has a small recycling bin so that recycling is just as easy as throwing paper away.
* Use Ceramic coffee mugs instead of paper or Styrofoam cups.and keep some handy for visitors so that you reduce or eliminate use of paper cups.
* Purchase sugar in large quantities and use a sugar bowl.

10. E-fax better :
Fax confirmations are emailed (not faxed, because that is two pieces of paper per confirmation: one for you, one for the receiving end). If you must fax, then efax works the best.

Conference Bike

Conference bike is a revolutionary way to bring people together. The ConferenceBike is pedalled by 7 riders sitting in a circle. One person steers while the other 6 pedal (or not) as the bike moves effortlessly along. It was originally conceived as an artwork by Eric Staller, who today is known as the father of the art movements “linght painting”  and “art cars”. Actually the CoBi are being used in many places around the world. The Earth Center – a ‘green’ theme park in York, England,  the bike has become a symbol for sustainable transportation.

Some example of its usage are:

Pennsylvania - work with visually impaired

Family riding - In cape Cod

Conferencebike Berlin -DonBikes.com

Conferencebike Scotland

waistcoat craft

Do you know fleece material ? It is a synthetic fabric made from PET and other fibers that keeps you warm and is a perfcet alternative to wool for vegans. Another characteristic of this fabric is that due to its composition if you cut it, it doesn’t fray. With some handstitches I did a waistcoat to my “Little Princess”. It is simple, but makes effect. The fabric is a light pink pile bought at Tessuti Raponi. In this place you can buy stock finest fabric at low prices, some of them are put into basket and sold by weight. At the begining I bought it to make a blanket, but last year I did not have time to make it. This year I decided to make the waistcoat. Waistcoat are fashionable again and actually fashion is considering easy wearing, non stitch and free cut styles.

To close it I used a pink ribbon that was enriched with some beads. If you want to avoid stitching, you can consider opening 2 holes (cut line) on each side and pass a beautiful wide ribbon through them.
Try to make it, make a DIY ( do it yourself) . With a rectangle and 2 internal ovals the shape is done. Then you can make fly your immagination to create the closure shape trying it on. Buying the fleece or pile by weigth and with some immagination we can make our own waistcoat to go out or to wear it at home during cold winter nights.

Here below you will find the instructions to how to make a waistcoat:

To make the ovals I have first done the shape on a carton piece ( a biscuit box) then I marked it on the fabric with a pencil.

Kid waistcoat instructions

Oxfam is an international relief and development organization that creates lasting solutions to poverty, hunger, and injustice. We can support them through their fundraise oxfam unwrapped. If a special ocassio is approaching, then we can give something unique to our family, friends or loved ones. A gift that really makes the difference.

How does Oxfam Unwrapped works:

-You select your gift from their Oxfam Unwrapped online catalog.

-A personalized card is delivered to you or your friend or loved one – it shows how your gift is making a real difference.

-Your donation becomes a gift for those who need it most.

From water jugs to school books to goats, all Oxfam Unwrapped gifts benefit those living in poverty.

Here some examples of their gift ideas:

Cooking stove

plant vegetable garden

Pair school uniforms

Building tools

School desk and chair

Donkey

Make the difference, buy these special gifts.