Mallika Chopra: May 2009 Archives

A few years ago, I was sitting on my computer when I received an email from my brother, Gotham Chopra.  I panicked as I read the words.  Gotham was writing from a holding cell beneath an airport in an Islamic country – he had been detained by the authorities who were questioning him for suspected activities.  This was several weeks before 9/11.  Suprisingly, they had put him in a cell with a computer and an internet connection – and so Gotham was able to email me!

Gotham was a news reporter for Channel One News at the time.  (He later helped launch Current TV, and helped recruit Laura Ling, one of his best friends, to the network.)  Gotham was overseas doing a story on the rise of Islamic fundamentalism, and had met several notorious leaders.  He was gifted a trigger from an antique rifle by one of them, and had thrown it into his backpack as he rushed back to the city to catch their flight.  When he was detained, he had the trigger, was of Indian origin with an American passport, and was carrying $1500 in cash.  Considering this nations frayed relationship with the US, their suspicions were understandable.

Within an hour, I had tracked down my father, Deepak Chopra who was able to contact friends in the government to tell them about Gotham’s predicament.  Fortunately for us, the authorities had let Gotham go before anyone needed to get involved.  However, I will never forget the gripping fear I had thinking about my younger brother held in a foreign land that had a tense relationship with the US.

When Laura Ling and Euna Lee were detained in N. Korea in mid-March, and Gotham was made aware of the situation by his good friend and Laura's sister, Lisa, we initially had hopes that Laura and Euna would be returned quickly.  Unfortunately, their situation took on the worst scenario – they became negotiating pawns in a much higher stakes game, multilateral talks concerning North Korea’ s recent missile test and nuclear program.  From what we know, and has been reported in the press, Laura and Euna have now been held separately for over two months in a boarding house outside of the North Korean capital Pyongyang.  Without direct relations with N. Korea, the US State Department has in large part relied on a Swedish diplomat who has had two brief meetings with the girls. 

Laura is a vivacious, passionate, kind person whom I have admired and enjoyed being around.  She is one of my brother’s best friends, and he would do anything for her.  And yet, he and Laura’s devoted family and other friends, feel helpless.

Euna, from all accounts is equally an impressive and admirable person with a family situation that has made this predicament all the more agonizing.  Both the Ling and Lee family have been urged to stay as discreet as possible by the US government, citing that their direct involvement in any sort of public form may complicate matters.

As a big sister, who experienced the panic of uncertainty for only a short while when Gotham was detained, my heart goes out to the families of Laura and Euna.  Their feeling of helplessness must be unbearable.

These are two young women who have suffered immeasurably.  They have had little to no contact with the outside world since their detainment and are now facing an unimaginable fear as their case is taken to trial in a legal proceeding that has no precedent in North Korea.  They are undoubtedly scared, and hoping that those of us back home can do something before their trial. 

I pray that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President Obama, both of whom I admire enormously and have supported with campaign contributions and votes, heed the call to engage with N. Korea in a responsible way to secure these young women's release, as well as address the long term instability of the region.   Talks of a mission by Al Gore, former Vice President and founder of Current TV, would demonstrate to the N. Koreans that the US is serious about a dialogue.  Now is the time to come up with creative, long term solutions, and new ways of conflict resolution, to secure the stability for our future generations.  Letting Laura and Euna go would be a noble step for the N. Koreans to begin this process.

This coming Thursday, May 21 2009, there will be a series of candlelight vigils held across the US to pray for the prompt release of Laura and Euna.  I hope you will join if you can.  Please also support my intent – linked here – to pray for the immediate release of both girls so they can come home. For those of us who feel so helpless, perhaps this is a way that we can make a statement and take some action for these two young women.  Please help spread the word so that we can peacefully bring awareness to their situation.

If you are on Facebook, you can join the group: Detained In North Korea : Journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee, please help.If you are on Twitter, follow @LiberateLaura for updates.  They will both announce more details on the vigils.  Here is the current schedule and locations.

5/21

Los Angeles vigil: 6:30-8:00pm, Stories Bookstore 1716 Sunset Blvd.

Orlando vigil: 6:30-8:00pm, Baldwin Park.

Portland vigil: 6:30-8:00pm, Patton Square Park

NYC candlelight vigil: 6:00-8:00pm, 49th St. at Rockefeller Plaza

Chicago vigil: 1:00-2:00pm, Richard J. Daley Plaza.

Also Read:

• You can help Roxanne Saberi, Euna Lee, and Laura Ling by Gotham Chopra
  
• What the Captured American Journalists in North Korea Could Mean for Diplomacy by Deepak & Gotham Chopra

Mallika Chopra is the founder of Intent.com, a site focused on personal, social and global wellness

People tell me all the time that living in a less toxic home improves their sleep, makes their babies less fussy, and boosts their sense of well-being. Step-by-step, you too can have a healthy home. How? By updating your cleaning products to eliminate toxic chemicals.

First: Stop believing the myths. In order to make the switch you may need to let go of some deeply embedded myths about green cleaning. Here are the main myths people believe, along with the facts:

Myth #1: "Green living costs more."
Fact: If you buy some good green cleaning products and mix your own formulas for the rest using kitchen cupboard ingredients that cost pennies, you'll actually save money. (My best book for formulas is Better Basics for the Home.)

Myth #2: "Green living doesn't work as well."
Fact: This myth is a holdover from the early nineties when green products were in their infancy and often not as effective. These days the products are just as effective and actually better for your health!

Myth #3: "Green living takes more time."
Fact:This is a myth, plain and simple.

Myth #4: "The government protects us."
Fact: Outside of "signal words" on products (like, "DANGER POISON," "WARNING: May be fatal if swallowed" and "CAUTION: Harmful if swallowed"), there is very little regulation of the chemicals found in commercially available cleaning products. You're ultimately responsible for eliminating toxic chemicals from your home.

Next: Choose natural alternatives. Once you've recognized the need to green your cleaning practices, and you've set a timetable for making the switch, here are the 5 basic nontoxic cleaning formulas that will save the planet, eliminate toxins and save you money:

1.) Baking Soda
A commonly available mineral full of many cleaning attributes, baking soda is made from soda ash, and is slightly alkaline (its pH is around 8.1; 7 is neutral). It neutralizes acid-based odors in water and adsorbs odors from the air. Sprinkled on a damp sponge or cloth, baking soda can be used as a gentle non-abrasive cleanser for kitchen counter tops, sinks, bathtubs, ovens, and fiberglass. It will eliminate perspiration odors and even neutralize the smell of many chemicals if you add up to a cup per load to the laundry. It is a useful air freshener, and a fine carpet deodorizer.

2.) Washing Soda
A chemical neighbor of baking soda, washing soda (sodium carbonate) is much more strongly alkaline, with a pH around 11. It releases no harmful fumes and is far safer than a commercial solvent formula, but you should wear gloves when using it because it is caustic. Washing soda cuts grease, cleans petroleum oil, removes wax or lipstick, and neutralizes odors in the same way that baking soda does. Don't use it on fiberglass, aluminum or waxed floors--unless you intend to remove the wax.

3.) White Vinegar and Lemon Juice
White vinegar and lemon juice are acidic--they neutralize alkaline substances such as scale from hard water. They also kill mold, germs, and bacteria. Acids dissolve gummy buildup, eat away tarnish, and remove dirt from wood surfaces.

4.) Liquid Soaps and Detergent
Liquid soaps and detergents are necessary for cutting grease, and they are not the same thing. Soap is made from fats and lye. Detergents are synthetic materials discovered and synthesized early in this century. Unlike soap, detergents are designed specifically so that they don't react with hard water minerals and cause soap scum. If you have hard water, buy a biodegradable detergent without perfumes; if you have soft water you can use liquid soap (both are available in health food stores).

5.) Mold Killers and Disinfectants
For a substance to be registered by the EPA as a disinfectant it must go through extensive and expensive tests. EPA recommends simple soap to use as a disinfectant. There are many essential oils -- such as lavender, clove, and tea tree oil (an excellent natural fungicide) -- that are very antiseptic, as is grapefruit seed extract, even though they aren't registered as such. Use one teaspoon of essential oil to 2 cups of water in a spray bottle (make sure to avoid eyes). A grapefruit seed extract spray can be made by adding 20 drops of extract to a quart of water.

Caution: Make sure to keep all homemade formulas well-labeled, and out of the reach of children.

Ready to save the planet? Post your green intent and blog about your green successes and struggles, tagging your posts "greener life." We may feature your post in this series!

Intent Voice Annie Bond is the author of four books and thousands of articles. She has been called "the foremost expert on green living" by Body & Soul magazine. She has written the bestselling book, Clean and Green, as well as The Green Kitchen Handbook, Better Basics for the Home and Home Enlightenment.

One of the most common complaints about "going solar" is that the upfront cost is just too high. The primary reason a solar power system can be a high ticket purchase for many solar power shoppers is because of the customers' bad energy usage habits. The majority of solar power shoppers don't realize they are energy hogs until they start shopping for solar power, when they are forced to understand and analyze their electric consumption.

So how can solar power shoppers instantly get a deep discount on their solar power system? The answer is simple, "reduce then produce." Focusing on energy efficiency, and implementing lifestyle and product changes can greatly reduce the upfront cost of a solar power system. It is always more cost-effective to reduce your consumption through efficiency than it is to produce your own power.

Think of it this way, the more you can save through energy efficiency, the fewer solar panels you need to cover your electric usage. It's that simple. But most solar power consumers get frustrated seeing high upfront costs of going solar and think there are no alternatives to bring the cost down.

How do you reduce your energy consumption?

1.) Change all your light bulbs to LEDs. Lighting can contribute up to 10 to 20 percent of your electrical load. Want to minimize that load? LEDs (light emitting diodes) consume a fraction of the electricity that incandescent bulbs and even CFL light bulbs consume. While LED bulbs cost more than their counterparts, they last over 11 years, and LEDs differ from CFLs in that they contain no mercury, a very toxic element. LED bulbs can fit in standard lighting sockets and only cost a dollar or two per year to run a standard household light bulb. Since LED bulbs operate cooler, the decrease in temperature can also keep your home cooler during summer months.

2.) Invest in insulation. Drafty windows and gaps under doors can significantly raise your heating and cooling costs. These costs usually comprise over half of all energy outlays made by homeowners. By investing in insulation, you can lower your energy costs by as much as 30%.

3.) Get rid of old appliances. These tend to be less energy efficient. For example, an old coffee maker can consume power equivalent to the output of four solar panels! Purchase Energy Star appliances.

4.) If you're not using it, turn it off! Unplug unused items (they draw energy even if they are plugged in, but not in use). These sneaky loads are called "vampire loads", and they cost U.S. consumers 3 billion dollars per year! How much are these loads costing you? Smart power strips can help you fight vampire loads by shutting off power draw when the appliance is not in use. Remember to set your computers to automatically hibernate (power saving mode) when they are idle for more than 5 minutes. And most importantly, turn off the lights when you leave a room!

Changing the way you consume energy can have a significant impact on the overall price of a solar energy system. Reducing energy consumption can shave off thousands, if not tens of thousands of dollars from the final cost of a system.

It seems like today, everyone wants to produce their own watts through solar panels and wind turbines. But we need to first produce "negawatts." Negawatt power is a term promoted and introduced by Amory Lovins of The Rocky Mountain Institute; essentially, the term means that by saving energy, we create a "virtual power plant," thus not having to create a new power plant to increase electrical supply. The direct reduction in electrical demand through energy efficiency is called a Negawatt.

Energy efficiency and solar power fit very well with each other. When considering solar power, think about easy ways you can reduce your consumption first - that way you'll save tons of cash, making the solar investment that much more attainable.

Are you doing anything to save energy that I haven't covered? Please share!

Ready to save the planet? Post your green intent and blog about your green successes and struggles, tagging your posts "greener life." We may feature your post in this series!

Intent Voice Deep Patel is the Founder & CEO of GoGreenSolar.com, a leading solar and wind power internet retailer and online community.

As it takes a village to raise a child, it will take many villages to begin healing the planet. We will need greener homes, greener schools and greener hospitals. Not only that, we will also need more recycling centers, organic supermarkets, community gardens, public transportation, green initiatives on our state ballots and countless other things that can only be built from a community level.  

 When we start thinking as a community, our combined forces have a dramatically larger impact on the world than that of a single individual. I spoke with green author Nancy H. Taylor, who is the author of “Go Green: Building an Earth-Friendly Community” and teaches a course on “The Art of Green Living and Building.” She is also currently working with a committee to draw up green building-outlines for her hometown of Jackson, Wyoming, where she will be applying many of the principles outlined in “Go Green.”   

Listen to Nancy speak about her personal inspiration to live a greener life, and how you, too, can participate in greening your home and the community that you live in. No matter what city or town you are a part of, ultimately we are all in this together.  

Listen to the podcast interview here

Visit Nancy’s website at www.nancyhtaylor.com

Buy Nancy’s book here

Other online resources:

Natural Capitalism

1.) Traveling Locally

The Standard Option:Jump in the car.

• Public transportation:With last year's record-breaking gas prices, public transportation use has soared in the US. Using the bus or light rail doesn't just cut the amount of pollution you contribute; it can also save you money!
• Walking or biking:Why not get a little exercise while you're running your errands or heading to work? Making the shift from you car to your feet or your bike can help you cut your environmental impact, and your transportation costs.
• Carpooling: If the bus or the bike isn't a viable option, check into sharing rides, or regular errands, with neighbors.

• The Ship: While the cruise industry has taken a beating in recent years for a variety of unsustainable practices, it also seems to be cleaning up its act. Or, if you're looking for something really different, you might try booking a berth on a cargo ship. While the information about passenger ship travel is a bit spotty, ships in general are winners on the greenhouse gas emissions front when compared to flying(though it's definitely going to take longer to get where you're going).

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