Sometimes the only way to face stupidity is to laugh. That seems to be the case with the tampon tax. You may be aware of the tax situation; while “necessities” or “non-luxury” purchases like groceries are exempt from sales tax, items that are considered to be essential to a person’s survival, only five states have […]
Depending on your point of view, back to school planning can be either joyful or a little depressing. We get it. We don’t want to rush the end of summer, but it’s possible to savor and enjoy summer while also looking forward to fall. And from a certain perspective, getting things organized can be a […]
A few flags are still strung up on porches a month after Fourth of July. Patriotism surged more deeply in my chest, however, when standing on foreign soil. The sense of otherness surrounding me reaffirmed my natal identity that I had, ironically, chucked aside to integrate into another culture. It was not until I was […]
The latest #periodsarenotaninsult hashtag campaign is proof that some good can come from even the most negative of provocations. Donald Trump’s recent inflammatory comments about ‘blood’ have prompted a movement where women, as well as many men, are sending Trump messages on Twitter all about their periods. The social media reaction comes in response to […]
Cecil the lion’s barbaric killing has certainly been in the spotlight in recent weeks, and the sad story is shedding the spotlight on trophy hunting. In case you haven’t heard the story, in recent days the world was shaken to see a beloved Zimbabwe lion, Cecil, slaughtered for the pleasure of an American dentist trophy […]
For me, summer is about fresh food, warm sun, and wholesome fun. Savoring the garden harvest and frolicking in sunshine are enjoyable in themselves, but having a good time doesn’t always coincide so nicely with our environmental values. Toys ‘R’ Us is a big box of plastic-molded and battery-operated diversion. Big-boy toys gulp diesel. Eyes […]
Even if you love the planet and want to be eco-conscious, it’s easy to let good green habits slip. Here’s a simple checklist for all of the little things that can add up to become pretty big things for a greener lifestyle. If you do even these 15 green habits on a regular basis, you […]
A close friend of mine recently told me a story about an experience she had in middle school where her class used a popular fast food restaurant as an environmental case-study. Encouraged by her teacher, she was one of several students who made a protest at a nearby restaurant by asking for their hamburgers to […]
You’re not the only creature out there frolicking under the summer sun. If you did any backyard gardening in June, you probably got up and close to the creepy-crawlies in our soil. It seemed to have rained all of June in Iowa, forming nice little breeding ponds for mosquitoes and quite a buzz around the […]
If camping is part of your family’s summer routine, or if you’re planning to venture out for the first time, this is a great chance to take a green approach to your camping adventure. With the very “nature” of the outdoors, you would think that camping would automatically be an eco activity, but that’s not […]