It's been great to see a concerted effort by many individuals and some towns to ban plastic bags but even if you've started to kick the plastic habit, chances are you may still have a few (dozen/hundred) floating around the place. Many of us are getting into reusable bag habit, but I for one (and I doubt I am alone) often forget to take them with me every time I we go shopping. Shame on me...on us.
If you're into crafts, you can put these bags to good use so they don't wind up in landfill. Even if your house is totally a bag free zone and you have the time to spare, get your friends to give you theirs - you'll even be able to create heavy duty reusable shopping bags they can take to the store so they won't have an excuse for gathering more in the future :).
First, you'll need to know how to create plastic yarn (Plarn) - there's some instructions here. Or Plarn Deconstructed. Also sometimes referred to as "up cycled yarn."
Video: how to make Plarn. If you'd like to learn how to fuse/weld plastic bags, there's a great guide here.
Now that the base materials are sorted out, grab your knitting needles, sewing machine and crochet hooks and check out some of these amazing creations.
Plastic bag litter isn't just unsightly, in a marine environment plastic bags are particularly destructive, killing at least 100000 birds, whales, seals and turtles every year according to PlanetArk. Many sea animals mistake the bags for jellyfish, part of their diet. Professional fishermen pull many bags from the stomachs of sharks and tuna.
Even if the production of plastic bags was banned tomorrow, the legacy of the trillions already created would haunt us for generations; so it's great to see enterprising people putting them to good use!
Spotted or created something useful/groovy created with plastic bags and would like to share the instructions or a link with other Green Living Tips readers? Please add it below in comments.
GRACE by Rafael Jesus Gonzalez
Thanks & blessing be
links from archives to online collections and exhibits covering a vast array of interests and obsessions: Start with a review of classic art and architecture (most world class collecting institutions from the Library of Congress, Smithsonian, MoMA, Alte Pinakothek, the Prado and so on have splendid online versions) and graduate to the study of mundane (and sometimes bizarre) objects elevated to art by their numbers, juxtaposition, or passion of the collector.Verse by Voice http://www.coudal.com/verse.php - self explanatory I'd think
short examples (case studies from the field) how our perception of a book is affected by the place where we read it. Or maybe the other way around. According to FTB, the most compelling Field Tests in this collection are the ones in which a book, a physical place, and a significant emotional moment collide. Anthology published annually. Accepting 300-500 word submissions. Email here with 300-500 words about a book you read somewhere. FTB will select some for publication in their growing collection and send those authors a copy of The Field-Tested Books Book and some other stuff too.And more... visual and verbal treats all
The report comes from Duke University's Center on Globalization, Governance & Competitiveness and assesses five carbon-reducing technologies: LED lighting, high-performance windows, auxiliary power units for long-haul trucks, concentrating solar power, and Super Soil Systems (a new method for treating hog wastes).
The conclusion: Many hidden economic opportunities exist within the supply chains providing parts and labor for all five industries. States that stand to benefit most include Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, North Carolina, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and California. The report also includes detailed breakdown of supply chains, with maps highlighting the location of companies best positioned to support green jobs.
No matter where you live in the Estancia Valley, it is important that your town council come up with a “wish list” (Capital Outlay Request) of projects that voters would like to see undertaken in your area. In the event that your local governing body has not yet put together a list, or if you, as an individual, have any ideas on how to best spend the money (some of it, anyway) that you send to Santa Fe, now is the time to makes your wishes known!The article also shares advice from visiting legislators:
In view of projected lower tax revenue due to current economic conditions, as well as the fact that the Governor has directed budget cutbacks in all state agencies, The representatives cautioned the town to expedite any projects which are currently being worked on. They believe that any activity where some funds have already been expended and is already in progress, would be less likely to be curtailed. This assumption makes sense, so if you have visions of any of your tax money being returned to your community, you may want to put a bug in the ear of your local council members to insure they are cognizant of what is going on.On the related topic of infrastructure financing, I'm waiting for a report on the annual NM Infrastructure Finance Conference held at the end of October . In the meantime, you can download copies of presentations from the conference site.
Our total in the shelter account is: $12,005.06!!
YEA!!!!!!!!!!!
Dee (& Jerry) Melargno
(ed note - sometimes aka JerDee since addressing one can bring answer from the the & name does not always match email address. Short version- Dee's project but Jerry is the "technical advisor." Stay tuned for updates on the next fund raiser. In the meantime, click the purple paw at the top of the blog's right or feature column to support the animal rescue site and vote for the Mountainair in the Rescue Challenge)
--- On Mon, 11/17/08, Ray Terhorst wrote: Hello all members of the Manzano Mountain Art Council, |
"I got a call from the Independent about a special issue that comes out Nov. 26. Sounds like it could be a good advertising opportunity...If it is appropriate could you share the following information with everyone that might be interested? Thanks in advance - cut and paste would do. - George"
Leota Harriman
The Independent
286-1212 phone
Hola, Hallo, Hello, Ciao, Salut!! Start babbling with the whole world...
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![[holiday-crafts-lg.jpg]](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hKqri_-IJL0/SRSoRUwTibI/AAAAAAAABVE/ecZJuWnjmUg/s1600/holiday-crafts-lg.jpg)
Here are the rules. Drink or dig into the Halloween candy every time the following happen, unless another frequency is otherwise noted.
Reflections later but the short version, in case I don't get to it, is not that different from Hughes. The deferrals came due and whatever your politics, about time too. Growing up mostly in the Deep Deep South but still a "Yankee," I remember too clearly the reality of segregation - my mind has been replaying them all day. Images now no more than historical icons were real and poisoned the souls of anyone touched by them, whether oppressed or oppressor. The back of the bus; separate restrooms, water fountains, schools - and more. Separate swimming pools, Scout Camps. No end to the separations in the name of "separate but equal." Over but not fully exorcised until now.
In closing, quoting from last night's acceptance speech, "As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours: We are not enemies but friends ... Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection."
