Beth Fiteni

A Gem in the Catskills

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by Beth Fiteni

Though in existence for over 40 years, I only recently discovered a gem in Woodburne, NY called Sivananda Yoga Ranch. It is a sweetIMG_2055 little nonprofit retreat center where guests and volunteer staff follow a daily routine to keep body, mind, and soul healthy. The day includes yoga and Kirtan (sung prayers) twice a day and two healthy vegetarian meals made with their own garden vegetables when in season. They also just got their solar panel project up and running! The tradition followed is based in 5 principles of proper exercise, proper breathing, proper relaxation, proper diet (they teach workshops on permaculture and earth care), and positive thinking. Though based on Hindu tradition taught years ago by Swami Sivananda, the philosophy embraces the idea that there is one God with many faces so all faiths are welcomed, respected, and reflected in their small library of spiritual books. With a beautiful view of the mountains, simple affordable accommodations, and peaceful nooks for relaxation, the Ranch provides a nice get away to get centered & refreshed. It is one of multiple international Sivananda retreat centers around the world, and I look forward to seeing more of them—especially the one in the Bahamas!

 

 

Reimagining New Year’s Resolutions

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by Marisol Maddox

The beginning of a new year in our Gregorian calendar is culturally a time of renewal and fresh starts. We often focus on trying to improve ourselves as individuals, but maybe it’s time to re-envision what it is we are striving to achieve. I posit that we have been underestimating our capabilities, and we should realize that the self-reflective resolution making process creates an opportunity for more meaningful introspection and change. Perhaps in addition to a personal wellness goal, we can choose a goal that relates to our larger values system, and our footprint on the world.

Impact. The word has largely come to be associated with something negative, but there are positive impacts too. Spend some time thinking about the ways in which you impact the world and its inhabitants. Do your actions result in the kind of impact that you want to have? Focus on tangible actions. What are some small changes that you could make that would lead to a greater positive impact?

  • Pledge to not buy clothing you do not need.
  • Buy a certain percentage of clothing from fair-trade, eco-fashion companies.
  • Avoid buying plastic- seek out non-toxic alternatives.
  • Only buy non-toxic/ eco friendly gifts for kids’ birthdays.
  • Volunteer for a local organization that could use your help.

Play. “What is the extinction of a condor to a child who has never seen a wren?” – Robert Michael Pyle

If you have kids, consider how much of their play time and interactions include screens and technological devices. How often are they getting to enjoy the outdoors in an unstructured way, so that they get the chance to use their imaginations? Pledge to consciously unplug a bit more than you have been.

Listen. With tremendous partisanship and polarity comes the challenge of finding ways to bridge that gap (from both sides) so that respectful dialogue is once again possible. In order to do that effectively we need to hear what the other person is saying. In order to hear, we need to be quiet, and actually listen. Do you feel yourself not so much listening but just waiting for the chance to speak? What is the difference between listening and really hearing? Perhaps you could aim to be more present in conversations with others, and try to notice the difference in the way that it feels. Becoming a better listener will impact all of your relationships, not just the political divide.

Share your thoughts in the comments section. We would love to hear your new year’s resolutions! We wish everyone a blessed and green ‘17.

Film Review: “Seed”

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A key message of the new documentary Seed is that though the human race depends on a few main crops, the biodiversity of the earth is vast and there are many varieties of plants that we have not endeavored to cultivate. This not only dulls our palate, but is also a cause for species and biodiversity loss. Currently, 90% of the world’s seeds are sold by chemical companies like Monsanto. Many are genetically engineered and patented, placing genes from one species into other species, to encourage desirable traits such as increased growth and weather tolerance. But this doesn’t mean they are infallible. In fact, 1.4 billion lbs of pesticides are used globally each year. The film showed a community in Hawaii suffering health effects from pesticide drift on Monsanto test fields. Renowned activist & author Vandana Shiva pointed out that spliced genes may carry viruses with them, and that genetic engineering takes place throughout the food supply though nobody has actually voted for it. The film features a Canadian farmer who was sued by Monsanto for patent infringement, because his field became cross-pollinated with their genetically altered seed. If a farmer buys a company’s seed believing the advertisements that it’s better than the seed he/she saved, and that crop fails, then the next year the farmer has to buy new seed again but may lack funds to do so. In India, 270,000 farmer suicides have been recorded due to debt.

This is why saving seeds of original, heirloom plants is so important. Large seed banks in New Mexico and Norway have been established. The international organization Slow Food maintains the “Arc of Taste” featuring numerous uncommon edible plants from around the world. On Long Island, the LI Regional Seed Consortium hosts an annual seed swap in Riverhead. See www.lirsc.org. The LI “cheese pumpkin” was almost eliminated in favor of other varieties, but several local farmers had saved the original seeds and the cheese pumpkin is making a comeback. One LI farmer, part of the consortium, raises 350 varieties of tomatoes. Many organizations are calling for GMO labelling in the U.S. which is already the law in over 60 other countries. See www.seedthemovie.com and @Seed_TheMovie

The Dirty Dozen: Highlighting Pesticides in Produce

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For those unfamiliar with the Environmental Working Group (EWG), their list of the “Dirty Dozen” can be a great tool for prioritizing organic purchases. The list was revised this year, based on USDA data, to most accurately reflect the 12 fruits and vegetables that contain the highest levels of toxic pesticides. These pesticide levels were measured after produce had been washed and sometimes even peeled. The findings by the USDA revealed that 146 different pesticides were found amongst the produce tested.

Key findings that stood out to me were that, “a single grape sample and a sweet bell pepper sample contained 15 pesticides,” “single samples of strawberries showed 17 different pesticides,” and the average potato contained “more pesticide by weight than any other produce.”

I find it helpful to carry a credit-card sized version of this list in my wallet so that I always have it with me when grocery shopping. It can sometimes be difficult to find organic versions of produce but this list helps me to prioritize. It has had a significant impact of my shopping habits because I will go without certain products, like celery, if I can’t find an organic version. I would rather do without it than know that I am ingesting something toxic. I love strawberries but I don’t love the idea of being exposed to 17 different pesticides, so I only buy them in season and from farms that use organic practices. I do eat them a bit less but I have found that I enjoy them more when I do.

On the other end of the spectrum, EWG issues a list of the “Clean Fifteen.” This list singles out produce that is least likely to contain pesticide residue (after being washed). I was overjoyed to find that the avocado, one of my favorite things to eat, is on that list.

For basic staple items, it is good to know that I can buy a bag of onions and not worry as much if they aren’t organic. By the same measure I have developed a strictly organic potato-buying habit because I know that the fungicides used by conventional farmers permeate the skin and become enmeshed within the potatoes themselves. Washing them, in that case, does little to nothing.

If you can buy everything organic that is great because you are voting with your dollars to support farmers that use organic methods, but doing anything that you can makes a difference, both to the farmers and to your health.

To read about EWG’s methodology, as well as to view sources for some studies showing the dangers of pesticide exposure, please visit EWG’s Executive Summary.

-By: Marisol Maddox

Changes to Product Toxins Law Happening Now

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Sign the Petition for a Stronger Chemicals Law

You may not have heard about it, but there are changes about to happen to the way toxic chemicals in our consumer products are regulated, and it may not be for the better.

On 5/17 a “final draft” of legislation to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) became public and a vote is expected in Congress soon. Both chambers have been meeting since February to reconcile the Senate and House versions. The bill is an improvement over a 2013 version that was favored by the American Chemistry Council (industry). The new version improves current law in some ways but still goes backwards in a few ways, so the public health community is not supporting it.

Key Issue: State Authority or “Preemption”

The states have led the way in taking action against toxic chemicals during the many years that EPA has been hamstrung by TSCA. California is most famous for policies like Prop 65 (product warnings about cancer and birth defects). In New York, NY advocacy groups including several Long Island breast cancer groups have been pushing for a Child Safe Products Act, and fear that this law will reverse years of progress. The Child Safe Products Act is seeking to address arsenic, lead, mercury, benzene, and tris (flame retardant) in children’s products in New York. Under current law, states are allowed to restrict a chemical as they see fit unless EPA decides to impose its own restrictions.

While this new final version does allow for State actions that have been taken as of April of this year to still stand regardless of what EPA does (“grandfathering”), future state actions are the issue. Unless they apply for a waiver, States are blocked from taking action early in the process of EPA’s review of the chemical, which can take up to 4 years. If EPA declares the chemical unsafe, states are allowed to step in and impose restrictions while the EPA considers its own restrictions. When EPA finishes its own restrictions, the state preemption takes effect again. Hard to follow? True! The complication reflects the chemical industry’s influence. Recent pending state policies – particularly around toxic flame retardant chemicals – are still highly likely to be blocked by the bill. That means millions of people, and fire fighters in particular, will be exposed to these chemicals for years.

Issue: Imported Products

This version makes it very difficult compared to current law for EPA to require notification when a chemical is getting into the country in an imported product including toys, shoes, clothes, etc. EPA will look at a chemical and might decide, for example, that a chemical is ok when used as part of an industrial process, but poses too much risk when used in the home. But how will EPA know if the use patterns of the chemical change in the future?  [Read more…] about Changes to Product Toxins Law Happening Now