Healthy Indoors 57
anuary was an intense month for me. My
Rogue Green group co-hosted a screen-
ing of the documentary Unacceptable
Levels which is featured in this issue of
Healthy Indoors Magazine. I saw Gary
Hirshberg, Chairman of Stonyfield Organic and
Just Label It speak at an ASU Global Institute
of Sustainability event about organic farming,
GMO's and the innovative things their company
is doing to make a difference. My best friend
Mara discovered that the water in her city has
some high levels of various carcinogens. I also
had a strange run in with a random neighbor who
I caught in my front yard, spraying weed killer
on our clover. I don't think that neighbor will ever
step foot in my yard again…
Technology brings knowledge. Sometimes that
knowledge can completely freak us out and
make us feel helpless. The problems are so big,
yet we're just one person. What can I possibly do
to create positive change? Well I'm here to tell
you- you can do a LOT.
I remember the feeling of helplessness the
deeper and deeper I delved into environmental
issues, both inside and outside my home. I was
a young, new mom at the time, and though I'd
always felt like I was a conscious consumer, my
head was reeling with information.
And then my mama bear came out. I got angry.
Angry in a positive, protective way. Angry in a
lemons to lemonade kind of way. Little did I know
at the time that this feeling, attitude and tenacity
would change my path and being forever.
I was hell bent on creating positive change, not
only for me and my family, but for all families and
future generations too.
Being a conscious consumer isn't always easy.
Nor is being an activist. When you're stirring a
big pot of corruption and greed, the chances are
pretty good that you're bound to get scratched off
some holiday card lists and piss some people off.
That's okay though. In the great words of Mahat-
ma Gandhi, "You may never know what results
come of your actions, but if you do nothing, there
J