Health

NYC Green City Challenge 2011

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On October 23, 2011 the NYC Green City Challenge was held where people rode bikes around the city to visit some of the city’s “green highlights.” Winners received beautiful awards and a bag of green goodies. The challenge ended at Union Square, where I was invited to speak about how to reduce toxins in order to look beautiful and feel great, and also about how to have an ethical diet that doesn’t harm the planet. Many companies sponsored the event and offered exhibit booths at Union Square, including NYSERDA and Raw Food DVDs. I always learn something new: there is a company here on Long Island called Ciao water that sells bottled water in biodegradable plastic bottles. The plastic is infused with natural enzymes that will break the bottle down in about 5 years time. Other exhibitors included: Enagage Green, which offers eco-friendly bags, Green Apple Cleaners, Brooklyn Greenroof, Tri-State Biodiesel, and Ethicus, a website compiling all things green in NYC. See greencitychallenge.org.

Eco-prizes!
Tri- State Biodiesel
Green Apple Cleaners
Ethicus
Ciao water
Engage Green

 

Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Health Center event

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The Mount Sinai School of Medicine’s Children’s Environmental Health Center (CEHC), run by esteemed environmental pediatrician Dr. Phil Landrigan, held its annual luncheon in Greenwich, CT on May 9th, 2011. Dr. Landrigan helped get lead out of gasoline in 1978, and also advised the EPA in the 1990s, leading to the Food Safety Protection Act. Several hundred activists and young mothers attended this event, and they were treated to an organic lunch and an expo with organic baby products. CEHC is at the cutting edge of knowledge about chemicals that can negatively impact a fetus or baby. They are gaining increasing knowledge about hormone-disrupting chemicals such as BPA (bisphenol A) which is used in some baby bottles, and tends to feminize male fetuses. New York State recently banned the sale of BPA baby bottles thanks to work of breast cancer groups. CEHC notes that BPA is also found in tooth sealants but in low quantities, as well as in cash register
receipt paper.

Dr. Phil Landrigan and Beth Fiteni
(L-R) Laura Weinberg, Karen Miller, Beth Fiteni at the Greening Our Children expo, Greenwich, CT

“Bag Lady” Event Supports Breast Cancer Group

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The Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition (HBCAC) held its annual Bag Lady fundraiser on May 5th, 2011 on Long Island. Beautiful donated handbags were auctioned off to raise funds for the group’s ongoing work to help people with breast cancer and, more importantly, to raise awareness about prevention. It was a fun night that attracted hundreds. It also featured a young student who was given a scholarship by HBCAC to go do research with renowned scientists who are working on the effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals on breast cancer.

The unstoppable survivor Karen Miller, Pres. and founder of HBCAC, and friend Rhonda Weinman


The Long Island Small Farm Summit Inspires

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The Long Island Small Farm Summit, run by a coalition including NOFA, North Shore Land Alliance, and Slow Food Huntington was held at SUNY Old Westbury on Friday. The best part was its surprisingly great success with over 400 attendees! The keynote speaker was Joel Salatin, the self-described “environmentalist capitalist lunatic farmer” of Food Inc. and Omnivore’s Dilemma fame. He delivered an inspiring and humorous talk on 10 urban myths about farming, that had the full auditorium in stitches. The goal of the event was to raise awareness about local food efforts such as community gardens, farmers’ markets, and school gardens and to promote action toward sustainable food policies. Exhibitors included local farms, Sustainable Long Island, tables with books about farming and gardening, and of course yours truly (Sustainability Institute at Molloy College). It was a very inspiring event and clearly showed that the empowerment of having access to local, healthy food is an issue that has struck a chord on Long Island and beyond. See: www.longislandsmallfarmcentral.com.

Joel Salatin of Polyface Farm

BCERP – Breast Cancer & The Environment Research Program Nov. 16-18, 2010

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A project of the National Institute of Environment al Health Sciences (NIEHS), BCERP held its annual conference in NYC this year (it rotates around the country). It brought together breast cancer advocates, students, scientists, and Judith Enck of the US EPA to discuss the latest research on such chemicals as PDBEs (Flame retardants), BPA (bisphenol A), and high fat diets in relation to breast cancer. Top scientists from around the country, who are funded by NIEHS, reported their recent findings. Not surprisingly, chemical exposures especially during infancy and puberty, and high fat diets were in most cases indeed found to increase breast cancer risk. They are also increasingly finding breast development in girls earlier than normal. Interestingly, consumption of healthy unprocessed soy foods was found to reduce risk.

To me, the real question now is how to get this information out to the general public so they can make healthier choices — through physicians, school lunchrooms, restaurants, etc. that influence our decision-making. We are starting to do so bit by bit…. See hbcac.org and ribbet.org.

Karen Miller & Samantha Graham of Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition at BCERP meeting

Have a Green Halloween

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Thank you to Elizabeth Hashagen who interviewed me for this Go Green with 12 segment!

Link to video clip that just aired today! : )

http://www.news12.com/news/article.jsp?articleId=232879