A Caution to Parents About PVC School Supplies

Having raised children myself, reading this recent Discovery.com article about the high phthalate content in PVC materials in school binders, backpacks and other plastic items used by our kids every day sends out big warning signals. Phthalates are used to soften plastics. Many toys and other items with phthalates were banned in Canada, the US and EU but the product continues to be used in the production of school supplies and clothing.

"Vinyl lunchboxes, backpacks and even 3-ring binders were among the 75 percent of supplies tested by an independent laboratory for the CHEJ that were found to have elevated levels of the endocrine disruptors. Research has linked phthalates, which are used to soften plastic, to birth defects, obesity, asthma and infertility, among other ailments. Some were banned in toys in 2008."  news.discovery.com/

It's buyer beware, especially since many products do not list phthalates in the contents labels. Phthalates are also found in food wrap, vinyl lunch boxes, modelling clays,thermoses and water bottles, office supplies, shiny rain gear, electronics and plastic eating utensils. If you sew things for your kiddies or for crafts be sure to ask for contents info from fabric suppliers, too.

For more info check out this pdf publication produced by the Center for Health, Environment and Justice. It also contains a green list of safe products, how to determine what has PVC content and related data and info. Well worth spending a few minutes to read.

Update Dec 2014: This website notes it's best to avoid microwaving foods in plastic, and avoiding using items with scented products "as much as possible, including air fresheners, and dryer sheets, and not using recyclable plastics labeled as 3, 6, or 7". 

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/12/141210140823.htm

Cooperative Enterprise Beats Economic Downturn

Sorry, I've been busy with co-op things but I did run across this BBC article about Mondragon, one of many successful worker-owned cooperatives. There is much on the net about this cooperative's working model that can be applied to many situations, from banking to manufacturing to housing initiatives.

Cooperatives work!

Have a look then do some more research:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19213425

A Co-op is Like a Village

Sorry for the delay. Crunched my foot two weeks ago and have been feeling sorry for myself ever since. Well, not really. I took a step the wrong way and came down on my ankle hard enough to cause severe bruising to bones, tendons, muscles from baby toe up to and including the ankle. Pulled a calf muscle on the other leg so have been doing a sort of double hobble dance - much to the amusement of folks in the neighbourhood. I'm glad there are no broken bones. I am not glad to be missing work for the doctor's prescribed three weeks. I love my hockey games! And I have missed taking Bruno for his walks and feel very doggy-deprived. Oh, well.

So here's the thing about living in a co-op. Your neighbours know almost everything about you. This is not always a bad thing. When trouble happens your neighbours are always there to offer help, comfort and an encouraging word. Someone left a huge bag of citrus fruits on my doorknob. No note. Someone went to the corner store for me. Someone else drove me to Costco for my semi-annual Big Shopping Day. The co-op has a few dollies for our use so said friend and neighbour loaded up the dolly and pushed the cartload of groceries right to my front door. Then took the dolly back to the storage room.

 The co-op is likened to a small village and so it is. In the past few years we have lost a few co-op residents to old age or to illness. The death of a loved one is always a horrible experience and there is no way just a few words can truly provide all the comfort the survivors need. But there are little things neighbours can do to ease the burden. Some of the neighbours formed a group to provide cooked meals for grieving parents for several weeks. Respecting privacy, others have slipped condolence cards through the mail slot or quietly watered plants and swept outside the doorways. At general meetings those who passed are acknowledged and a few moments of quiet reflection take place before the meeting commences. Collections may be taken for flowers, food or other smalls needs. Laundry is found folded and ready to take home from the laundry room. Little things done quietly and with dignity.

We end up stronger as a community, kinder to one another and more mindful and respectful. 

Folks here don't tend to move out very often.