This week the Environmental Working Group announced its findings, after an 18 month study and assessment of sunblocks. It rated sunscreens on a scale for both effectiveness and safety. It’s a really interesting study – you can check it out at http://www.ewg.org/node/21719.

According to their press release: “The analysis found that 84 percent of 785 sunscreen products with an SPF rating of 15 or higher offer inadequate protection from the sun’s harmful rays, or contain ingredients with safety concerns. Ironically, some popular sunscreen chemicals break down when exposed to sunlight and must be formulated with stabilizing chemicals. Others penetrate the skin and present significant health concerns.”

It also shows that SPF ratings are for UVB rays only – and there really isn’t a rating system for UVA, which can be as harmful or even more so than UVB rays. They recommend sunblocks with “physical blocks” such as titanium

So definitely check it out – it’s amazing the trust we put in many of the most popular names and how it turns out we might not be getting what we thought we were. Throw out those bottles of Coppertone and head back to the pharmacy for something that will really do the job!

You know, my life is pretty hectic these days – so many of the “hot topics” in the news have been lukewarm for me, since I haven’t had time to focus on them (unfortunately). But one thing that I just read about stopped me smack in the middle of a crazy day. I just read that Congress will be voting to approve the use of liquid coal as the newest form of fuel for use in our cars, trucks etc.

At first glance, it didn’t seem bad at all. Actually, it seemed pretty impressive. Coal is abundant, and there is now the technology to process coal to a liquid fuel. It would be a “cleaner” burning fuel, because many of the harmful pollutants can be removed in the process and therefore would pass even the new restrictions for diesel fuel.

This was sounding great! So I figured I’d do some more investigating. That’s when I saw the things that are most disturbing. First, the process of liquifying produces an inordinate amout of by-products that then must be disposed of. The most significant of which is Carbon Dioxide. In HUGE amounts. Not only will the production of it produce more, but so will burning it in our cars. Not good at all.

Second, coal mining is just terrible for our land, plain and simple. It destroys our gorgeous mountains – basically the only way to get the coal is to cut the mountain up, take the coal, and then do something with the slag that is left (which is usually just filling up valleys). The process is called Mountain Top Removal Mining. And that is what the industry calls it! Sounds terrible, doesn’t it?

So how can this be a GOOD thing? Well, it certainly would be good for the coal industry that has apparently been lobbying for it. But for us? Not so great. Especially since there are so many alternatives that aren’t getting enough attention.

Lee Iaccoca, in an interview on NPR, says his biggest regret was not paying more attention to hybrid technology. Can’t we stop destroying our surroundings to fuel this world? Can’t our government focus on renewable energies, rather than things that will ultimately ruin our surroundings? Regardless of your view on global warming, this is serious stuff. This is something that will literally tear up the natural beauty of this country. Sad, isn’t it?