What you can do | David Suzuki Foundation

How to choose a non-toxic nail polish

2013-05-15T13:10:22Z

Some nail polishes contain chemicals of concern, but non-toxic options exist.(Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jronaldlee/4657664173/">jronaldlee via Flickr)

]]> Many Canadians believe that because nail polish is widely available on store shelves and sports no warning label, it is free of health risks. They are, sadly, mistaken.

Although cosmetics producers in Canada are required to disclose product ingredients, they don't have to warn you about the health concerns associated with those ingredients.

]]> According to the David Suzuki Foundation 2010 report What's Inside, That Counts, 80 per cent of cosmetics contain at least one ingredient linked with health and environmental concerns, including cancer, reproductive disorders, asthma and severe allergies.

Your bottle of nail polish has at least three.

1. Dibutyl phthalate -- Used as a solvent for dyes and as a plasticizer to prevent nail polishes from becoming brittle, this phthalate is classified by the EU as a suspected endocrine disruptor and as toxic to reproduction. Health Canada associates DBP with liver and kidney failure in young children when products (and polished little fingers) containing phthalates are sucked or chewed for extended periods. Although Health Canada banned six phthalates (including DBP) in soft vinyl children's toys, its use in cosmetics is not restricted. The European Union classifies DBP as very toxic to aquatic organisms.

2. Formaldehyde -- (Yes, seriously. In your nail polish.) Formaldehyde is a common ingredient in nail hardeners in concentrations of up to five per cent. In nail polish, tosylamide/formaldehyde resin is used, and may contain residual formaldehyde concentrations of up to 0.5 per cent. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies formaldehyde as a known human carcinogen.

3. Toluene -- According the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, toluene is a moderate skin irritant that can cause dermatitis with prolonged contact. It is also a developmental toxicity hazard and has been identified in human milk. Inhalation of toluene vapour can affect the central nervous system causing slight drowsiness and headache at low levels and Irritation of the nose, throat and respiratory tract at increased levels.

Does this mean you have to stick to plain nails to stay healthy? Not necessarily!

Although I've yet to discover a nail polish that is completely "natural," there are a couple of good resources to help you choose options that are safe for you and the environment. Check out Care2 for a list of 12 non-toxic nail polish suggestions (all of them are free of the three most concerning ingredients identified above) or visit the EWG's Skin Deep database for a comprehensive overview of nail polishes on the market.

We've lost more than 85% of our Lower Mainland wetlands. Isn't that enough?

2013-05-09T16:23:28Z

]]> Last year Metro Vancouver committed to protecting all remaining wetlands in the Lower Mainland as part of their Ecological Health Action Plan. While we've seen some positive steps towards this goal, Metro's Environment and Parks Committee needs to hear from you to move forward with actions.

Keep cats out of the garden

2013-05-05T23:17:36Z

Keep the cat out of the garden with these green solutions. (Credit: jefpober via Flickr)

]]> So the neighbourhood kitty keeps digging in your garden. Should you worry?

Probably -- a little. Cats are carnivores and their feces can contain parasites or pathogens not present in herbivore manure.

Luckily, there are several eco friendly solutions that will help to keep cats out of your much loved vegetable beds and away from your growing food.

]]> Cats prefer to walk on soft soil and will avoid prickly surfaces. Make your garden beds into a less inviting litter box with the following prickly solutions:

Cover the garden in twigs, placed a couple of inches apart throughout the bed,
Push pine cones or other prickly yard trimmings down into the soil around your plants,
Lay chicken wire over the beds. Alternately, upcycle the mesh produce bags from onions or potatoes by spreading them on the garden and anchoring them with twigs. Increase the hole size around your budding plants if necessary.

Use scent to keep the cats away

Interplant in the garden. Cats dislike the smell of rue, lavender & pennyroyal, Coleus canina and lemon thyme -- so plant a few of these throughout the garden space. As a bonus, interplanting will attract pollinators and can help to avoid pests too.
Cats steer clear of strong citrus scents. To ward off unwelcome fur balls, throw peels directly on the garden.
The scent of human hair deters cats. Empty your brushes onto the garden and reclaim your territory! (Stay away from moth balls though -- this is a commonly cited suggestion -- they are toxic to cats & humans).

Wash well to deter garden cats
If your visitor has a favourite location, try washing the area well with a hose (or water from your rain barrel!) to remove the scent or urine spray. Cats tend to choose the same spot repeatedly -- removing their previous stake on your garden will go a long way towards preventing reoccurrences.

Make cat-away spray
Mix up a batch of cat-away spray. Combine 1 tsp of black pepper, dry mustard & cinnamon in a spray bottle with a few drops of citrus essential oil and a crushed garlic clove. Fill to the top with water. Apply to your garden beds. Rumour has it that this magic combination of strong scents is unparalleled kitty repellent.

Create an outdoor litter box
Cats love mint, honeysuckle & catnip. Why not plant a small, separate, cat-friendly garden that includes a variety of these plants? Place a small sand box near by.You'll still have to clean up and properly dispose of your cats waste, but it my help keep kitty-- and her business -- out of your veggies.

Sustainable Seafood all the talk in Boston

2013-03-27T08:34:45Z

(Credit: Marine Stewardship Council via Flickr)

]]> The Boston Seafood Show bills itself as the largest North American Expo for seafood. It's a good indicator of what's happening in the seafood industry. This is where you'll find over 19,000 buyers, suppliers, importers, exporters and us -- the conservation groups influencing the way we do business and protect our oceans.

I've been involved in this movement since its inception. I've watched as we've moved from sustainable seafood being a 'nice idea' to a fully integrated topic within every area of industry discussion. Not only are we on the conference agenda, but industry representatives can no longer fail to appreciate the imperative of changing the seafood business -- before it's too late.

Our successes have come after a lot of hard work, coalition building, educating and persistence. We're asking businesses to become part of a sustainable industry that sells only environmentally responsible seafood. In comparison to food-based organic certification schemes which have been developed over 25 years, sustainable seafood schemes have only been underway for about six. You would expect a diversity of perspectives on what a credible eco-label for seafood needs to include, and we've been there to make sure the bar for certification stays as high as possible.

Internationally, these sorts of discussions with European and North American partners are taking place through the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative, of which I'm a member.

There are no simple answers: seafood is a global commodity touched by countless systems. From consumers who don't understand the various labels they see on their supermarket fish, to industry and conservation groups working to agree on credible sustainability certifications. We're contending with multiple certification schemes, with various strengths and weaknesses. Imagine how much easier it would be if we had one benchmark we all agreed on.

Meanwhile, the pressures on our oceans remain. About 57 per cent of seafood consumed around the world is caught in the wild. As we know, many fisheries are fished at or beyond capacity. To meet the demand for seafood, aquaculture around the world has increased 86 per cent in the last decade.

While we've come a long way in educating people about the need to run sustainable fisheries and buy sustainable products, the focus now needs to be on the rigour of certification to improve our fisheries and aquaculture practices, remove the strain on our oceans and leave behind a sustainable supply of fish.

I'm proud of our contribution to a national project called SeaChoice. Working with our industry partners, discussion by discussion, we're shining a bright light to navigate some foggy seas.

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By Bill Wareham, Science Projects Manager

On Sunday April 21, let's walk for the Earth

2013-03-20T12:55:36Z

]]> Last year's Walk for the Earth, which took place on April 22, was a resounding success. Let's take to the streets again this year to help the environment on Sunday April 21, in Montreal. The AQLPA, the David Suzuki Foundation, ENvironnement JEUnesse, Équiterre, Greenpeace, Jour de la Terre Québec and Nature Québec invite Quebeckers from across the province to take part in this all-ages event.

The Walk is part of a larger global movement aimed at stopping the development of fossil fuel energy, resolving the climate crisis and protecting the rights of future generations.

Sign the April 21 Declaration and encourage your friends, family and colleagues to do the same so that our voices will be heard in Ottawa, Québec City and throughout the world.

Join Canada's 30x30 Nature Challenge in May

2013-03-18T07:09:33Z

]]> This May, join us for the David Suzuki Foundation's 30×30 Nature Challenge. Commit to spending 30 minutes in nature for 30 days. Get out into nature and add some green to your daily routine. Check out www.davidsuzuki.org/30×30challenge for updates in the coming weeks, or join our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter.

Registration starts on Earth Day, April 22nd

If your organization is interested in signing on or would like to learn more about the 30×30 Nature Challenge, please contact Aryne Sheppard, Senior Public Engagement Specialist at asheppard@davidsuzuki.org

What makes a green bouquet?

2013-03-13T16:25:19Z

(Credit: kazandrew2 via Flickr)

]]> A typical floral bouquet may well be a pesticide-laden , grown by children in a country far away, under hideous working conditions. It's not the nicest way to say "I care".

Luckily, your blooms can plant the seed for long-lasting happiness when you choose fair-trade flowers or potted plants.

]]> Fair-trade flowers are available from major retailers like Choices, Whole Foods and Thrifty Foods. Other florists may also have fair-trade or local options available by request. If not, point them toward buds certified by one of three organizations: FairTrade Canada, the Rainforest Alliance and Veriflora.

Although there are subtle differences between certifiers, they all provide similar assurances to the buyer and benefits to the grower. These include restrictions on certain agrochemicals, equitable wages (often double the standard) and a firm commitment to avoid child labour.

Fair-trade certification is a huge step toward showing your loved ones you care about their health and the world. But it doesn't guarantee that the flowers you're giving are completely free of harmful chemicals. This is because no one tests imported flowers for chemical residues.

Even better than choosing a bouquet, look for live flowers. Something that grows is an enduring symbol of your love, one that's infinitely more romantic than a short-lived burst of colour that dies within a few days. A locally grown, pesticide-free plant is a great choice. Many household plants produce impressive flowers, with the added benefit of increasing the air quality in your home! Or, for a fresh twist on the flower-giving tradition, surprise your garden-loving friend with a thoughtful selection of spring seeds or bulbs.

Whether your choose a fair-trade bouquet or a beautiful live plant, your sweetheart will be delighted by the care you put into choosing an arrangement that's as good for the world as it is thoughtful!