Green Encounter for a Blue Planet – Leading an Examined Life

(1) My father (Winn Chayefsky) has a brother Bill, (2) Bill marries (3) Saranne Cohen of Nashville, Saranne has a sister (4) Estelle (who marries Sidney Silverstone to become Estelle Silverstone), Estelle attends Vanderbilt University (One of the early female lawyers) and is sorority sister and friend of (5) Pauline LaFon, Pauline LaFon marries Al Gore, Sr, they are parents to (6) Al Gore, jr.

Here ’s one more(1) I marry (2) Guy – now the ex, Guy has a sister (3) Nadine, Nadine has a son (4) Chris Cole, Chris has met Al Gore (5) – Hmmm!  That didn’t work

I am adding a wonderful Autism resource (Arizona Autism Support) to the blogroll of important website. There is much discussion about the increase in autism spectrum disorders being linked to shots, environment, better recognition of the problem. While I have no idea and have not studied the matter (or followed the scientific research carefully) I have a vested interest and am throwing it into the mix.

Although i have suspected so since he was about the age of one year old, my 17 year old son was JUST formally diagnosed as autistic. Interesting the delay was not for lack of signs and symptoms and need of specific services to support him, his sibling, his parents (his family), it was rather that his disorder was easily missed due to a literal smorgasbord of other serious and functionally debilitating diagnoses:

• ADD, Tourette’s, Bi-Polar (rapid cycling), Emotional Disability, Learning Disability, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (often presents with Tourette’s).

So, I am loosely making this issue relevant to this blog due to the conversations of environmental impact on the health and welfare of children (beyond lungs), but to their minds, their development. But really, I just want to talk about it and celebrate that fact that afetr 17 years of Head Start and School District services, he may actually get additional services that address his inability to function in a progressively more competitive and fast paced world.

I watched a remarkable piece last night, on the Sundance Channel. By now any ‘AWAKE’ person is aware of indoor pollutants (carpet, pet dander, dust..) and the effects they may have on body adn mind health – but this piece was about clothing. It was very timely for me, lately I have been wondering where one finds the strong fiber of hemp in clothing – without looking like I am returning to 1969 Hippie roots! Would it be acceptable in the school district environment – would drug sniffing dogs sniff ME!

On Sundance last night, there was piece of renewable clothing (green clothes).

Patagonia ises recycled plastic bottles to create the fabric of their jackets. When the item has completed its useful life, the owner can turn it into Patagonia’s recycling bings, it is shipped to Japan (where the technology exists – Hmmm! we need that more local) and it is converted back to its molecular base and rewoven into fabric – AGAIN!

Linda Loudermilk (designer) had an epiphany several years back, following an important and successful Paris runway showing. She felt empty and unfulfilled. She began to design using natural and recycled fabrics.

So if you see me on the streets wearing ‘earthy’ clothes and shoes made form cloth, please do not laugh – I am trying to live a conscious and examined life!

I fell asleep listening to the rantings of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap Box. While he was bit unorthodox (why not?), his factories are conscious not only of their input and output and affect on the environment, they are equally conscious of their employees and respecting them. I was sleepy and missed a lot of it – but the jist was to treat the earth and all its things and creatures (including people) consciously and carefully and considerately.

UhOh! Getting preachy – time to go!