Gossip at the Watering Holes of the Vulnerable

President Obama is reversing Bush policy on endangered species by restoring the regulations that require U.S. agencies to consult with independent federal experts to determine if their projects have the potential to harm threatened and endangered species. President Bush had removed such restrictions, allowing agencies to implement programs without consulting either the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), thereby recklessly endangering vulnerable species. Today President Obama is issuing a presidential memorandum, which will require departments to consult with these two agencies once again on matters that potentially impact fragile habitats and species. This action will put us back in the place we were before the Bush administration loosened these restrictions. The departments of the Interior and Commerce will be also looking at whether a new rule needs to be established which codifies the traditional practice of consultation under the Endangered Species Act.

http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/center/articles/2009/washington-post-03-03-2009.html

The state of California reverses August 2008 stance on state of the Pacific fisher. The California Fish and Game Commission has designated this mammal as a candidate to be listed as a threatened or endangered species under the California Endangered Species Act. They are also reviewing the species to determine if full protection is needed. The Commission originally had followed a recommendation by the Department of Fish and Game to reject the petition to list the Pacific fisher. When a public-records act request from the Center for Biological Diversity showed that most of the department’s own biologists had in fact supported accepting the petition, the commission decided to revisit its ruling. The fisher may also end up as a candidate for federal protection. Although the Bush administration decided in 2004 that the Pacific fisher needed federal protection, it claimed there was a lack of resources to provide that protection. With the change in administration, it is likely that the fisher will fall under federal protection in the near future.

http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2009/pacific-fisher-03-05-2009.html
Editor of AGNADL

Green Hair Anyone?

Okay, well, how about a green hair salon then? Read about how Kara Walston is thriving with her eco-friendly hair salon--Hush Hush Bang Bang in Costa Mesa, California. It evolved from her practice of being environmentally friendly at home and just naturally extended to her business too. If you're an east coaster, you could check out Sprout: An Organic Salon in Baltimore, where according to Melissa Daum, the manager, when her clients walk inside, they aren’t accosted with the smell of ammonia. Instead, they’re greeted by natural fragrances. Hey, I might be able to go to a place like that. They even recycle their hair clippings. If you're in Jersey, you can visit a salon that's so green, even the name is green. Verde, French for green, is located in Collingsworth, New Jersey. You can recycle your old hair dryers and curling irons there and get a 15% discount on new products. If the old items still work, they get donated to a woman's shelter. To learn more about these fabulously green-built and green-operated salons, click on the link below:

http://www.enn.com/top_stories/article/39407

Editor of AGNADL

Walking for Water in the City of Angels

Walking seems to be a recurring theme I'm encountering today. Think it's a message? Yep, me too. But here's some news for you folks in L.A. There's going to be a "Walk for Water" event on March 22, 2009. For the press release and more information about this awareness raising event, click on the links below:

http://www.marchforwater.com/marchforwater/March_for_Water.html

http://action.foodandwaterwatch.org/t/5985/content.jsp?content_KEY=5365

For those of you who don't live in Los Angeles and won't be able to get involved with this event, you can still read up on it and make the switch to tap water from bottled water, if you haven't already. Stainless bottles are extremely durable and can be refilled and cleaned over and over again. No chemicals leaching into your water from the breakdown of toxins in plastic bottles and no landfill pile-ups from discarded water bottles. If you need to filter out unpleasant tastes or odors in your water, there are plenty of companies out there that have been manufacturing filtration systems for years. I use a Brita system and have two stainless steel water bottles I fill all day long. Make sure your water bottle is not plastic-lined. I've seen a few stores trying to pawn these off on partially-aware consumers, but your water is still coming into contact with plastic, which may or may not be one of the safer types of plastics to use.

While you're walking with your snazzy stainless steel water bottle clipped to your belt, chant this Navajo prayer and embrace the beauty all around you.

"In Beauty may you walk.
All day long may you walk.
Through the returning seasons may you walk.
On the trail marked with pollen may you walk.
With grasshoppers about your feet may you walk.
With dew about your feet may you walk.

With Beauty may you walk.
With Beauty before you, may you walk.
With Beauty behind you, may you walk.
With Beauty above you, may you walk.
With Beauty below you, may you walk.
With Beauty all around you, may you walk.

In old age wandering on a trail of Beauty,
lively, may you walk.
In old age wandering on a trail of Beauty,
living again, may you walk.
It is finished in Beauty.
It is finished in Beauty."

Navajo Chant

Editor of AGNADL

Happy News for the Hawaiian Monk Seal

The Hawaiian monk seal, which is critically endangered and headed toward extinction, has a better chance now of making a comeback. The Marine Conservation Biology Institute reports that Hawaii is slated to receive millions of dollars in the new federal budget for the Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery Plan. These funds will help to save the monk seal, America’s most endangered marine mammal and one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world.

For more information on the Hawaiian monk seals and how you can help, click on the link below:

http://www.mcbi.org/what/monk_seals.html

Editor of AGNADL

Cruise Line Not Only Recycles, it Donates

Holland America, a Seattle-based cruise line started a new program last year. It's call Ship to Shelter. The program involves taking those unused portions of shampoos and lotions, sorting them into bins, and bringing them through customs to be donated to charitable organizations such as the Cooperative Feeding Program. They in turn give out the free supplies to homeless people. Although it's a lot more work for the cruise line to gather, sort, and get the items through customs, the extra work enables people who otherwise might not be able to afford these toiletry items to have free access to them.

According to Marti Forman, the CEO of the Cooperative Feeding Program in Florida, the program came not a moment too soon. With charitable donations down right now, many organizations don't have the extra funds to make toiletry items available. Feeding people has to be their first priority. Thanks to Holland America, they don't have to make a choice between giving out food and giving out self-care items to the homeless. Holland America has also expanded this donation movement to passing on televisions, uniforms, office supplies, plates, eating utensils, and pots and pans.

To learn more, click on the link below, and while you're thinking about it, consider making a donation of time, money, or unwanted goods to your local charity to give them a helping hand during a time when they can surely use it. I have several bags of donation items that are waiting in my garage for me to drop them off somewhere. This is the week I'll get off my duff and make good on that intention. What about you? What will you do this week?

http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/wayoflife/03/01/ship.to.shelter/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

Editor of AGNADL

Who Knew? Some Interesting News Tidbits from Care2

Who knew that eating berries could help you stave off cancer? Or better yet, that using the freeze dried version of berries, specifically black raspberries, was even more effective? Link below to learn more about this nutrition magic:

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/better-berries-to-fight-cancer.html

Who knew that breastfeeding was better than bottle-fed? Okay, so most of us already knew this, but did you know that more manufacturers are now making glass baby bottles to fill the need for a bottle parents can feel better about when mom expresses milk in advance to have it on hand for when she wants to escape for a little while? Well, they are, plus they're also making safer plastic bottles to use when you need something more lightweight. Link below to learn more about this:

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/second-best-to-breast-glass-baby-bottles.html

Editor of AGNADL

Public Libraries are Alive & Well

Despite economic challenges in other sectors, the public library system is alive and well in the United States. Being a published author, I'm an unlikely candidate to be saying, "Why buy that book when you can check it out for free?" But I know there's a time and a place for everything, and if you need a reminder that there are lots of great free things to do in this world, here's a reminder that free books, videos, and music are only a library away. A world of ideas and a world of fantasy worlds awaits the mind eager for mental adventure and stimulation at your local library. Cost: Nothing. Value: Priceless.

Then when things turn around for you, and they will get better, go back and start buying lots and lots of books so people like me can afford to have time to write them. In case you weren't aware of it, most writers, unless they are monumentally famous, still have other jobs, leaving their writing to be squeezed into available free time slots. We use our free time to create something for you to read in your free time. So, yes, buying books is important. But if you need to cut back for a time, don't forget that you can still enjoy good reads without busting the budget. While you're at it, see if your library has a section of donated books that you can purchase at obscenely low prices, thus building your personal library while helping your local "Friends of the Library" volunteer groups help out your local branch. It's a win-win situation for the patron and the institution.

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/socialist-propaganda-to-benefit-librarians-and-the-libraries-that-recruit-them.html

Editor of AGNADL

Laughing Babies

Regardless of what is happening in your life right now, this video is bound to make you smile and probably giggle too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HhCqRjjFGI&feature=PlayList&p=1425740C92CF433B&index=14

Editor of AGNADL

Take Charge of Your Health to Pay Less for Health Care

King County has instituted the "Healthy Incentives" program to create a culture of self-care among county employees. It ties the cost of health care to the commitment their workers make to take better care of themselves through diet and exercise. The principle behind this is that these wellness-focused employees will have fewer lifestyle-based chronic illnesses, which cost more in terms of medical costs, absentee rates, and personal tragedies. Although health care costs are on the rise, instead of passing on a higher share of health care cost to employees, the program actually lowers costs for those people who do the work of self care, taking part in health-enhancing activities. Not everyone is thrilled about the program because of the levels of accountability involved, but others are glad someone is holding them to their commitments.

For more info, click on the Seattle Times article link below:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2008798417_wellness01m.html

Editor of AGNADL

More signs that spring is around the corner. These photos are from Brownsville, Washington on the Kitsap Peninsula. Send us your photos that show that spring is on its way to your neighborhood.


Editor of AGNADL