Green Light

	Should I buy farmed or wild salmon?

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green light

Welcome to magazine – your one-stop resource for practical advice, inspiration and ideas for families and individuals who lean green. We cut through the confusion and clutter to bring you a broad range of earth-friendly alternatives that encourage you to live well and make a difference. You can be sure if you read it in green*light it’s a choice you can live with.

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Oh, those hot summer days. In this issue of green*light bite, we've included earth-friendly tips for enjoying the great outdoors. We know you'd rather be out there hiking, biking or kayaking (we sure would be!) so we've kept this short and sweet.

Green BBQ Tips

If shopping for BBQs, consider gas instead of charcoal. It's cleaner burning and consumes fewer scarce resources. Add to this its easy use and clean-up, and you'll never miss that charcoal flavor.

Consider one of these organic BBQ sauces from Kauai Organic Farms, Consorzio, or Annie's Naturals and making healthier

meat selections, like organic chicken and grass-fed beef, which may be available at your local grocer—just ask—or buy online at Niman Ranch or Organic Valley.

Bug-Off

Fun in the sun can be hampered by Mother Nature's industrious insects. These picnic invaders are a nuisance and can pose health risks; mosquitoes, for example, carry the West Nile Virus and other diseases. Here are ways to ward off bugs without poisonous sprays or toxic creams.

Mosquitoes
Non-DEET Options: The Centers for Disease Control announced earlier this year that repellants containing oil of lemon eucalyptus, such as Repel are as effective as low dosage DEET products. Oil of eucalyptus shouldn't be used on children under the age of three. Bite Blocker, a soybean, cocoanut and geranium oil concoction has also tested well against lower dosage DEET products.

Wear thick pants and long sleeves to protect against mosquitoes, plus lighter colors. Mosquitoes prefer dark colors.

Ants
Mint leaves, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, citrus peels and baby powder are natural deterrents.

Wasps and Yellow Jackets
-Leave them alone if their nest is in a non-troublesome spot. Wasps eat aphids and other garden pests making them a natural insecticide.
-If wasps keep crashing your barbecues or pose a danger to children, buy yellow jacket traps or make
a wasp trap.
Hire a professional to remove wasp nests.

Clean Waters

Thanks to the Federal Beach Act of 2000, the latest water quality reports of ocean and Great Lake beaches in the U.S. are just a click away.

Surf on over to Earth 911's Beach Report to make sure your favorite beach has a clean grade. Even the most pristine beaches can be contaminated by sewage breaks or polluted run-off so check before you go. If your local beach is not monitored, avoid swimming after a storm or near drain outlets where the likelihood of contaminated water is highest.

GREEN TIP

If boating is on your summer to-do list, keep the motor in top-top shape to prevent oil or fuel from leaking into the water. When refueling, use a pad or rag to pads stray drips and never top of the tank. Remember that kayaks, canoes and sailboats are earth-friendly alternatives to motor boats and jet skis. Plus, the paddling or sail-rigging will keep you fit and give you beach-worthy biceps. Click here for more Clean Boating Tips.

Summer Reading - Special Report

Did you know the latest Harry Potter novel is printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper by Raincoast Books in Canada? To buy, go to Amazon's Canadian site to purchase Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Beware: the cover art is different from Scholastic's U.S. edition, J.K. Rowling's writing remains un-Americanized, and in our experience the cost is about 30% higher after conversion. [Note: You must select "International (outside of Canada)" throughout the ordering process.]

For past issues of green*light bite, click here.

Coming soon

Everyday Q & A
Q.: "What's the truth about plastic bottles? There's all this controversy about storing liquids or microwaving in plastic, etc. Is it unhealthy?" -- Lauren
A.: The short answer is yes, plastics leach chemicals into food and beverages. In April, the Environmental Health Perspectives Journal published an article that raised serious questions about low dosage exposure to bisphenol A - a chemical found in plastics and in the lining of canned food and drinks - and urged more in-depth studies. The article examined 115 studies; the 11 studies funded by the chemical industry found no harm from low dosages of bisphenol A, while 98 non-industry studies had starkly different results, linking exposure to reproductive problems, obesity, early maturation and hyper activity. Since it appears research science is trying to catch up to the many advances in plastic, we'd recommend erring on the side of caution. Use glass of ceramic instead of plastic whenever possible. Consider metal water bottles from Klean Kanteen.

Q & A
Do you have everyday, earth-impacting questions of your own? Send your questions to the editor and we will answer them in upcoming newsletters and in the pages of green*light magazine.

Links we love!

Water Filter Comparison Chart

Amazing-Looking Handbags - Made From Candy Wrappers

Which Seafood to Buy and Why: Monterey Bay Aquarium Regional Guide

Fresh Organic Produce Delivered Nationwide

Act Now on Global Warming: Union of Concerned Scientists Campaign