Duane Elgin coined the term “voluntary simplicity.” It is a way of living that involves consciousness, awareness, resourcefulness and fulfillment on the part of the human. A life of voluntary simplicity reduces waste and provides humans with a sense of purpose and happiness. The key to living this lifestyle is the want to live it. In order for it to fulfill you and make a difference, it must be a voluntary act. Below are some ways to help you start living a life of voluntary simplicity.

Create sacred relationships with the people, plants and animals around you. The energy you put out is often the energy you will get back in return. The special relationships that we have with others help us find fulfillment.

Explore yourself and figure out what skills are unique to you. These skills are what you should be using in your everyday life. For example, if you enjoy helping people and trying to make them feel better, maybe you should find a career in the healthcare field. Finding an outlet to express your skill can help you feel balanced.

If you or a loved one has ever needed diagnostic scanning for a medical condition, chances are that radioactive isotopes were necessary. Although we tend to think of nuclear reactors in terms of either power generation or weapon development, they play a much more everyday role in medical technology.

Most radioactive isotopes are created in either a nuclear reactor or particle accelerator (cyclotron) facility. While some are derived from radioactive materials like uranium, others come from non-radioactive precursors. For example, cobalt can be subjected to neutrons in a reactor, to yield the radioisotope cobalt-60. Different radionuclides are made at the same time in a reactor. A particle accelerator only makes one form at a time.

Nuclear medicine procedures include Positron Emission Tomography (PET), bone scans, and renal scans. While radioactive isotopes are necessary, a patient is only exposed to a small level of

The plastic produced by so-called “disposable” plastic water bottles is a major factor in the waste that goes into our dumps and landfills. While most every plastic bottle is recyclable, on a slim margin of those are actually recycled, due in part to the limited availability of recycling receptacles in relation to their more common cousin, the good ole’ “trash can.” In fact, more than 40 million plastic bottles a day are thrown in the trash instead of the recycle bin. It is evident from this that action needs to be taken, not just to recycle plastic bottles, but to stop their use all together.  
To many the allure of “clean” water in relation to tap water is the major selling point the bottled water industry is counting on. While water in urban areas is usually clean enough to drink from the tap, many times it is also enhanced with minerals such as fluoride, which you may (or may not need.) Water from wells in rural areas can be just as questionable. While drinking from the tap probably won’t kill you, if you are still worried about the quality of your tap water there are more eco-friendly ways to get clean water than investing in bottled water. 

As of 12pm EST today we have put our first set of books online for sale. We have a major promotion going on and you don't want to miss this. The current package includes a lot of extras and over 22 prizes to be won.

The absolute best part of this is that a lot of companies are helping us out and for every book sold for the next 72 hours we will plant 5 trees!!!! There is no better time to jump in then now.

Click here for more information.  

The air becomes polluted when harmful amounts of gases, dust, fumes and odors are released into the air. In large amounts, these types of pollutants can be harmful to the health of all living things. Primary pollutants are ones that are directly released into the atmosphere, and an example of a primary pollutant would be the carbon monoxide emitted from cars. Cars and industry are the main causes of air pollutants, and some of the statistics for the impact that automobiles have on the environment is astounding.

Carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide are the main pollutants that come from cars. During the wintertime, carbon monoxide emissions are at their highest, because cars require more gasoline to start since the temperature is so cold. In order to reduce this increase, the Clean Air Act requires that oxygenated gasolines be used during the colder months in some metropolitan areas. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this type of gasoline along with routine system checks has helped reduce carbon monoxide emissions by about 25 percent from 1983 to 1992. Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas, because it prevents the blood from carrying oxygen to the brain and other bodily organs. The American Lung Association says 30,000 people died in 1998 as a result of car emissions.

There was a time when the only wind turbines available were either the traditional windmill or that portable hand-held variety known as a pinwheel. But that was before the current emphasis on alternative power sources. Now, even a standard catalogue may provide several options.

EfstonScience offers the GUS™ Wind Turbine in four different sizes. These structures can be used  in conjunction with other power supplies, but also operate independently. Generated electricity is stored in a battery pack. Solar cells can also be included in the assembly to allow optimal power production.

With all the recent attention to the problems associated with propellors - particularly for birds and bats - the GUS (Greenpower Utility System) is designed differently. It has a compact vertical shape, and the company claims that it can make up to 50% more electricity with this layout. In addition, it’s also touted as quieter and faster to respond to wind changes. A light wind of 4 mph (1.5 metres per second) is sufficient to generate electricity. And a gale up to 130 mph (60 m/s) can still be effective.

A field research study has found that the oceans are acidifying at a much faster rate than previously surmised. Ocean acidification is also caused by the omnipresent bad guy – carbon dioxide. Increasing levels of CO2 are advancing ocean acidity, more than that predicted through computer models. Carbon dioxide dissolves in water to form carbonic acid which has a pH value of 5.7.

The eight year field study conducted near Tatoosh Island off the coast of Washington state, measured the acidity of seawater and found that acid levels had increased by ten times as compared to computer calculations.
Acidity of ocean waters is a prime concern because it has a corrosive effect on marine flora and fauna. More specifically, the caustic water could severely influence the existence of shellfish species that have a carbonate exoskeleton.

The oceans are changing fast. In the past 30 years, increasing carbon emissions have raised the levels of carbon in ocean waters by 30 percent. As seawater acidity increases, exoskeleton of mollusks, corals, sea urchins and stony weeds among others begins to corrode.

It’s almost a century too late for the Titanic, but some pioneering work by U.S scientists may finally bring some light to a hitherto baffling natural phenomenon – Why and how do giant icebergs break off?

The conclusion of their research also bears on the effects that melting icebergs would have on sea levels, courtesy global warming. The journal ‘Science’ reported that the scientists have found that the stability of icebergs is directly related to their rate of formation over the seas.

Icebergs are orphaned broken off chunks of ice sheets. Ice sheets are formed over ocean waters by frozen rivers which freeze over with snowfall and ultimately flow into the oceans. Ice sheets extend into the seas and then gradually break up. For example, the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica extends 500 miles over the ocean before the edges break off and form icebergs. Some icebergs then again extend for just a few miles.

Now, the scientists have reached a theory which explains the variability seen in iceberg formations. The study concludes that the rate and size of iceberg formation (a process called calving)is directly depends on the speed at which the ice sheet is spreading over the sea waters. A swifter spread means cracks form throughout the shelf and make it break up. A slower spread means that deep cracks do not form as fast and the ice sticks together.

Starting an environmental club can make you a more active person in the environmental scene. This is a great idea if you find yourself bored after work or if you are looking to spend more time with friends and family. It also looks good on your resume or if you need volunteer work to add to your college application letters. Below are some steps to help you start your own environmental club.

Make a list of all of the people you think would be interested in joining your environmental club. Call or email them to see if they would like to participate. It’s important to have as many members as possible, because you might have some that drop out along the way.

Develop a mission statement for your club. What are your goals? What are you hoping to accomplish? This will give the group a focus, and it will also be nice to refer to when new people are interested in signing up.

Setup a time and place so you can meet with your club members at least two times a month. You should discuss meeting dates with all of the members, because you might have to meet more or less depending on everyone’s schedules.

Some might claim that it fits with the stereotypical image of Canadians - nice and not too complicated. According to a recent study by Statistics Canada, the number one beverage of choice is water. Not only is it consumed by the most people, but it is also accounts for the largest volumes of any beverage.

The numbers come from a study conducted in 2004. Participants tracked all their foods and beverages over 24 hours. Across all age groups, water was important, although there were some age differences.

Most young children, aged one to three years, drank more milk than water. Older children and teenagers preferred sugary soft drinks and fruit drinks. In fact, more than half of all 14 to 18-year-old boys had soft drinks on the survey day. Older adults generally consumed fewer beverages, and coffee was a close second to water. Overall, Canadian adults tended to drink water, coffee, and milk. In comparison, similar US studies have found more soft drink consumption, especially by adults aged 20-39.