O-mama - Opinionated Moms

Wouldn't it be a great idea to have a teen/twenty-something THINK TANK...to talk and solve some of the problems our generation has created. I bet they have a lot of great ideas!

Gas is going up again. IT'S TIME to get better cars into our lives. This year I'm buying that hybrid. I work from home, too, so that helps. We have no public transportation out here, and it looks like our new Wisconsin legislators are going to make sure we don't put any money into that idea any time soon. No wonder my 24 year old son is so down on my generation. We're not helping things at all!

Did you know that the some states can sell appliances to customers via the electric company and bill for it thu the electric bill every month?

I'm heartsick over the BP spill and furious that it happened. If the proper regulations had been enforced - which they weren't - and honest monitoring had been in place, the scale of this catastrophe wouldn't have been so great. Perhaps the loss of lives could have been prevented also. We absolutely should NOT continue to develop off-shore drilling until and unless we can guarantee this won't happen again...and I seriously doubt that can ever happen. The risks are too great. The Gulf of Mexico and it's precious resources will probably never recover. It's indefensible, in my opinion.

What in the world are they spraying on the oil? I've heard it's hazardous...and there are other options. Anyone know anything about this???

The problem with bio-fuel is that arable land is going to producing crops to create the ethanol used rather than to put food on our tables. That's why food prices have jumped so drastically in recent years. And it takes far more of these crops, like soybeans, to produce the ethanol than the amount of petroleum it is supposed to replace. Just like farm raised fish require more fish to raise than wild-caught fish. So just because it sounds "green" and looks "green" doesn't mean it really IS "green."

Is it really worth it? Drilling will meet only a small fraction of our energy needs, and it will take decades to see even that gain. But at what risk to our coastlines? Am I missing something here? It is not only our dependence on foreign oil that is unsustainable, but our dependence on oil. Let's use our resources to develop clean energy.

Who's coming out with extra heads at the end of their shift? The nuclear power plant workers? I think it would be interesting to research the REAL dangers of nuclear energy because I dont think its that bif of a deal. Even the accidents have not wreaked much havok...i think it was something like 12 dead at Chernobyl. That said...wind sun and water sources are better. in california they are working on energy from algae off of san diego coast. wind is not so lucrative..all subsidized by the govt which is not helpful in terms of economy. all good fodder for talk... come on moms...we can find the answer

I am wondering what the best way to encourage alternative energy is instead of the best way to fight against nuclear energy. Any ideas? It seems like common sense to me to look into clean energy that is natural, part of nature, i.e the wind, the sun and water. Anyone know about the "training center outside of Washington focusing on clean energy and low carbon energy techniques" that was mentioned in the Presidents State of the Union. Who cares if it creates 3,000 jobs if they are all going to walk out with two heads at the end of their shift! I am going to do some homework on this one.

Liked the President's speech...looking forward to some nuclear power! Anyone else?

With so much focus on the economy, its time for a good alternative energy strategy. What's the follow up to Copenhagen and what is US energy policy going to look like going forward? I hope something gets said about his at the State of the Union

Great video from National Geographic about the Cheetah...school age children will learn about nature and hierarchy of the animals....go watch O-MAMA's.

Leah's book recommendation was great as well!

Love the link to National Geographic True Green Kids....going to purchase the book today. I think this is a great resource to use with our kids.

I'm glad that the talks in Copenhagen ended up the way they did, without the United States footing the bill for the entire world AGAIN! The developing world is never going to adhere to environmental standards set by the first world until they get their peice of the economic pie. No way. Let's all be realistic...money talks! If we want them to do their part, just as peace mama said, we need to not buy goods made in countries that pollute. BUT, since they make the things that are cheap, we, too are part of the problem. Therein lies the rub, folks.

Another terrific book for teaching our kids about the environment is "Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder" by Richard Louv. This is a beautifully written call to action about the benefits of children experiencing nature. At www.naturerocks.org you can use a nature finder for almost any imaginable activity with your children from planting a potato to taking a nature-based vacation 10 minutes from your home or across the country.

O-MAMAs, I have been following the Copenhagen talks fairly closely and I really hope that progress is made in terms of cutting emissions, but I am hoping that the United States is not expected to foot the lion's share of the bill AND that the President does not overcommit to something that he cannot make good on when he returns home and then makes us look bad later because we cannot honor the promise. We shall see. Weigh in O-MAMAs on Copenhagen and the environment. Love to hear it!

What is going on in Copenhagen this week?

I think we (the US) started the problem. We all want cheap things! Stuff, stuff and more stuff!! We want to get deals at Target. But all of those deals are not free. We shipped all of our manufacturing to China/India because it is cheaper but turned a blind eye to the facts of the overwhelming pollution it is creating. We need to be more responsible with how we spend our money, vote with your pocketbook.

Copenhagen seems like another UN deal to get the US to pay for the third world to sign another treaty that they won't adhere to. Does anyone feel the same way?

Check out all the news from this weekend!

I never thought much about the chemtrails. I did see the hackers story and its shocking what the media can do to create panic on an issue, but sending emails like that? low!

Lots to be thankful for in 2009! Love to all of you O-MAMAs!

Just an FYI for everyone, take the time to google chemtrails and review some of the youtube video and then take the time daily and observe the sky where ever you may live and you will see non-commercial planes spraying "white-lines" sometimes in x formations, vertical and horizontal lines. I've witnessed on absolute blue sky days after the occurrence of spraying, it spreads and fogs up the sky after a period of time. Some say this is meant to spray nano toxins in the the air like barium to weaken the immune systems of people making them vulnerable to illness. Others have written that "calmants" are being sprayed to affect the mood of the popluation. This is a scary thing at least to me now that I'm quite aware of it. There was a movie made called "Toxic Skies" starring Anne Heche. This movie was banned and not shown in theaters, yet you can get it on the internet. Think about H1H1 and look up what has happened in the Ukraine recently regarding these planes..... take care

Anyone concerned about chemtrail spraying in the skies??

What do we think about the hacked emails about global warming?

Glad to see the President is going to Copenhagen with an agenda!

@peacemom: I hope you are right...it seems every generation has their challenges and their opportunities. I believe this is both our challenge and our greatest opportunity!

@peacemom: I found some new reusable resources. Check out www.plumcreekmercantile.com, www.3greenmoms.com, www.snacktaxi.com

I hope it is the beginning of a new green energy economy! There are so many people out of work. Though I have noticed so many not willing to change or adapt to the jobs that are needed. I am hoping that this project educates on alternative energy and how necessary it is to change our old mindsets.

Is this the beginning of our new green energy economy? The $3.4 billion dollars is the biggest lump of the stimulus being giving out to one project...I hope it is the beginning of some job momentum!

Tomorrow is International Day of Climate Action. In many areas people are shutting off all electronics from 8-9 pm. Even if you don't believe in climate change it is still a fun activity to teach about wasting energy and how much we over use. Last year we shut everything off and had an hour of candlelight. Tomorrow night we are going to light the candles and read ghost stories!

@SingleMama: I would check with www.reusablebags.com. This is a great source for all reusables. If you get on their email list they often have big sales.

@latinmama: Kleen Kanteen is the best out there. I have tried them all!

@peacemom: I agree My older daughter has SIGG not only did we have to replace the old bottle because of the leeching, but the lid has broken twice! I love my Kleen Kanteen, it even has a wide mouth opening, which is good for putting in ice cubes. If you have SIGG water bottles manufactured before August 2008 the liner has trace amounts of BPA. The company insists the BPA does not leach. It is a copper-bronze colored liner. Evidently, they will replace them if you pay the postage. Here is the link to the letter from the CEO http://www.sigg.com/news-media/press-releases and if you send an email to liners@mysigg.com before Oct. 31, they will tell you how to exchange your old bottles. What a drag...just another reason to have a Kleen Kanteen!

agreed...any good alternatives to the swiss containers?

@peacemom: I totally agree. It is all about "leaving it better than we found it." There will always be 2 sides to every argument, but sometimes the answer is just BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. That is the simple message that we need to teach our kids.

@peacemom: any ideas where you can buy affordable (and small) stainless steel containers for lunch boxes? if i could find them i would definitely use them!

The BBC article is interesting. There is the "argument", we are or aren't contributing to the polar bear problem. But is this what the green movement is about? Not in my case. I want to set an example to my kids that everything is not disposable. We don't work hard in school or at work only to throw everything we buy away. All of the excess "stuff" in landfills may or may not be leading to a warming of the atmosphere but it is still polluting.

@panchita_jones: Yes I agree glass in the lunch box is a bad idea! But stainless steel is a great option for lunches.

Read BBC article about global warming..intersting!

i think being safe with our health is extremely important, but there's a point at which it all just gets too out of hand. sort of the same when we over-bundle-stick-on-the-helmets-and-strap-down-our-kids! i'm hanging on to my plastic! at least it's reusable (can't imagine putting glass into my child's lunch box!)

Plastic is not a good idea for food, especially if you are reheating or using more than once. The plastics have been found to have hormone disruptors. We already have enough problems with our hormones I don't think we need more things getting in the way! Last year I got rid of all plastic (tupperware, etc). You should have seen my family at Thanksgiving. I thought my Dad was going to break down because I had no plastic in house to put leftovers in. Now I have several different styles of glass containers for leftovers.

Yucky

@momof2: I think plastic is a no-no when it comes to food...I think they are figuring out that it leaches out all sorts of bad stuff.

I saw something about the chemicals in plastic water bottles being dangerous especially for little girls cuz it makes them hyper...anybody?

oh, and by the way, a great place to buy CHEAP AND CUTE (essential these days) re-usable lunch box accessories is at "Tokyo Japanese Lifestyle". their only OC store is located in Irvine at University Town Center. the shop is directly across from "Whale of a Tale".

@MichelleO-MAMA: i feel proud that this year i have been able to pack a 99% trash fee lunch and snack for my child (i still use juice boxes in the snack bag). it has taken a while as my child used to throw away re-usable containers when he was little and so i had to go to plastic snack bags for a while. but now he is older and knows better. plus, we've been recycling at home for a couple of years now. his incentive is knowing the money we get from our bottles and cans goes straight into his piggy bank!

O-MAMAs, see new link on packing a "trash free" lunch! If you try it, let us know how you do!

what's this? According to the article above, the WH will not be able to get a bill on climate change passed this year? What is Obama going to be able to get done that he promised? Are the wheels coming off?

o.k., so not only is this great advice, but as I was reading everyone's opinions...the LUNCHBOTS link popped up. Great call peacemom...thanks O-MAMA for being a resource for moms!!!

@yuncle: Check your old Sigg bottles! They finally came clean and said that their bottles were lined with BPA after all. I would go for Kleen Kanteen instead.

In regards to "waste Free lunches" there are tons of really easy options. I started this at my sons school and it took awhile but once people realize that you can save money in addition to doing the right thing, it is a win win. There are great reusable snack bags on Etsy.com and reusable clean stainless steel containers at lunchbots.com. Once you get going it will become an obsession.

I'm making a list! We'll be building our store in the next month or two and I think doing a re-usable lunch sack, napkin and cup are great ideas. And, I like the re-usable grocery bags, too! So, keep the suggestions coming mamas!!!

Yes, make it easy, O-Mama! re-usable shopping bags would be cool, too!

O-MAMA should sell stuff in their "store" for trash free lunches (i.e., the napkins SaMoMama is talking about)! Make it easy O-MAMA!!!

It should work that way!! Our school does "no trash" lunches, which is different, I guess, than "paperless".... "No trash" means you can still use the plastic yogurt containers because they can be recycled, and are not TRASH. Paper napkins, however, can't be recycled, so we send cloth napkins in our kids lunches. Maybe your school could re-name the idea so it's not so confusing for people who are really trying to use the concept to teach their kids about the environment!

YIKES. I think you do! Can't we just re-cycle the paper & plastic yogurt cups? Or, doesn't it work that way??? I don't get it, I guess...

Help! Our school just went to paperless lunches. Got any ideas for how to pack an easy paperless lunch? Do I really have to remove yogurt from store bought plastic container into a dishwasher safe plastic container?

Our school just went to paperless lunches! I love the idea but can someone help me out with suggestions for packing one? Do I have to take the yogurt out of the store bought plastic and into another washable plastic container?! I don't have the time!

How do we feel about China's commitments made at the UN re: the environment? Can O-MAMA post them? The US was too broad and it is kind of embarrassing that our Congress bickers about the little things and doesn't get anything done...the fact is, we need to do more and do better to protect our environment. So, figure out how to help business grow and save the planet at the same time! It shouldn't be political, so how did it get that way?

@kattya180: The Sigg bottles are a great idea...O-MAMA should put that on the "to do" list one month!!!

I offer Sigg bottles @ my salon and we also have kid friendly ones.......a great way to reuse and they are also water friendly material so you dont have to worry about polluting your water with plastic!!

Did anyone hear the President's speech at the UN today? Can you please post it for us to watch?