Skip to main content

Why should one be an environmentalist?

Initially published on 25/04/2011

When you settle in a foreign country you realize you have to learn some things again; even environmentalists have to learn how to be green in a place they are not familiar with.
This blog is about my apprenticeship in my new hometown, Tromsø, Norway, and how I found difficult to find sodium bicarbonate, to figure out how to make my own cleaning products without my usual French ingredients or how to survive without French baguette (yes, this has something to see with ecology, i'll get to it) !
 I also decided, by creating this blog, to finally share the eco-tips - not that I was selfish before - I discovered and tried to apply along the years. Like all the French blogs that inspired me, I'll try to teach you some tips here.
 And why should you listen to me?, I am assuming you think.
 Reasons are many, as many as all the problems endangering life, health, but also the World's security, with the tensions created by the lack of resources, etc, etc.
 But enough with the boring/depressing/moralistic speeches (and I'll try to follow through this in my next articles ;)), now this is about me (and this too I might follow through!), daily life examples and you are free to pick what you need, and help me make my way in Norway!
 The actual question is why am I an environmentalist?
 -       What is good for the planet is also good for my health.
-        Finding clever and environmental-friendly solutions is a challenge and I like it.
-        It stimulates my creativity. Well, "my" is a way of speaking; but you can find fabulous creations made of packaging, waste and other "salvage materials" (thanks online dictionary).
-        It makes me save money, and good news! This is what most articles in this blog will be about!

And I feel good about it ;)

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

How to recycle a fleece jacket?

Fleece is a very useful material and there are many things you can turn an old jacket into, like make up pads ( see previous article ), baby wipes, dusters and so on. Every piece of fleece is reusable, so the first step is to remove all the threads. It's even more interesting because where the fleece was folded (hemline) or inside the pocket, the fabric has remained very soft, perfect to use on the skin. I think, other parts, more "exposed" are still soft enough. You might see the different textures by clicking on the picture. Once the fleece is ready, there is nothing easier: you just have to cut the shape you want, and it's done. Small squares for facial pad s, bigger pieces for baby wipes ...or duster . I didn't expect it the first time I tried but fleece is a very efficient dust catcher. As efficient, maybe more than microfiber cloth . That's why I use it to clean the floor too. I cut a long rectangle so I can tie it on my specia...

Eco-take care of your skin, that's easy & cheap

Oil is your best friend! (see below) Are you sick of using creams you don't understand half of the ingredients (usually not a good sign), and which your skin does not seem to appreciate? Here are easy solutions to replace them. You can first decide to buy organic cosmetics, but since it's rather expensive I understand why many people give up. But at least you know that stuff you put on your skin are healthy.  You can also decide to make your own cosmetics yourself ; it is not that hard to find raw material but it doesn't mean it's easy to to make a high quality cream. That requires knowledge on your type of skin, on the ingredients you use, on chemistry (a cream is an emulsion) and on hygiene precautions. The great advantage is that you know exactly what's in it and choose the ingredients according to what you really need. On this blog I will only speak of easy stuff to make, like lip balm for example. But as regards skin care, I like simplicity, wh...

3 - Using caustic soda: the online calculators

0 - Why and how to make your own soap? 1 - How: the saponification process 2 - Using caustic soda: safety precautions 3 - Using caustic soda: the online calculators The process of saponification requires a precise quantity of lye; this quantity varies depending on the oil(s) you use. So always use a lye calculator, even if you reuse a recipe seen on the internet (check twice!).  The Sage I mostly use The Sage calculator  Make sure to choose the right weight measurement.   Sodium hydroxide (already checked) is the lye we use for solid soap. Potassium hydroxide is used for liquid soap. If you're using lye flakes/beads, just fill in the oil information. In some countries, at least in France, you can buy water and lye already mixed, that's what "liquid lye solution" is for. The concentration that you have to write in the box must be around 30%.   *** Enter the amount for each oil you w...