a peek inside the fishbowl

1 | porter

December 18th, 2007 at 11:34 am

I didn’t join you last year but this year I think I’m going to…I was thinking about it anyway but for different reasons, to save money and to get back on track after spending far too much this past couple of months. I haven’t watched the clip but I plan on it this afternoon when I get an hour to myself (one in school one napping). I will let you know what I think….

2 | Sam

December 18th, 2007 at 2:10 pm

I am game! and a little scared.

What if I can’t do it? But that is the point of a challenge right. And it will give me something to blog about- my poor neglected blog!

Sam

3 | porter

December 18th, 2007 at 11:01 pm

I watched the video clip, very interesting. Some of it I sort of rolled my eyes a bit (like when she said how contaminated breast milk is but women should still breastfeed) but I some things and it gives me alot to think about. I’m not even close to being as conscious about our environment as you are…I know I need to be. Our city is going to start limiting the number of garbage bags each household can put to the curb, as well we will be getting green bins. My husband doesn’t think I recycle enough. I get lazy about composting (he does too), and I definitely buy way too much.

I want to participate in the unshopping challenge, I think I can do it. I look forward to future posts…I have some questions like what do you do for groceries, I can spend alot in a grocery store! What about gifts? What about things like hair cuts, just a few things I’m not sure about.

4 | Kim

December 19th, 2007 at 6:49 am

Great Flick! I’m in again this year…

Are you planning on making a little graphic so we can put it on our pages? Just asking because your little graphics are always so cute!

Kim

5 | andrea

December 19th, 2007 at 10:15 am

I’m glad to hear you’re game.
I think I might re-make the graphic. I can’t seem to undertake anything without one. ;)

6 | andrea

December 19th, 2007 at 10:28 am

The video is a bit extreme in parts, I agree. Like the two strategically-placed crossbones on the nursing mother’s shirt, or the part where the pillows are dunked in vats of poison, only to have someone lay down on them …

BUT:

– if you want to get people’s attention, unfortunately, this is the kind of thing you have to do. People nowadays are so ill-informed. They tend not to pick up Discover magazine, or read 4-page features in the Globe and Mail. This is totally aimed at the lowest common denominator.

Shock works.

Going back to the segment about the pillows being dunked in fire-retardant chemicals … it is pictured in a sensationalist way, but the fact is that although it is presented in such a simplified way this is ultimately true. Manufacturers do put this stuff on our pillows (and matresses, and probably pyjamas too) and we spend 8-hours snuggled right up to it.

These chemicals have been proven to make rats/cats sick (albeit in higher does)… Our bodies have not evolved to deal with this kind of crap in our enviroment. I’m sure it must have some effect on humans too. So why take the chance? (Some info from Health Canada about this can be found here.)

Why are we so complacent? Why do we accept these things as safe? Because someone who wants to make money by selling products says it is?