My consumption of meat and eggs are potentially indirectly impacting deforestation because of soy beans causing deforestation and being grown to feed livestock. My consumption of unsustainably sourced chocolate also has impacts on deforestation too. And anytime Im eating processed food, I might be eating palm oil, without even  realizing it since the product is often disguised under other names. I can decrease my impact by choosing to eat less meat and eggs. And when I do choose to eat animal products, opt for local, grass fed feed and ask my local co-op if the eggs are from farms where they don't feed chickens soy. I'll also consciously look for seals from FSC and Rainforest Alliance on packaging to know Im supporting companies doing the right thing when it comes to eliminating deforestation in their supply chain.

I've signed up to a Facebook group in my new neighborhood and signed onto the Ramsey county environmental newsletters. There seems to be plenty of ways to get involved in your own home space and on a larger community level!

This was super easy for me to find and install in our new home! The cool thing is that it is a dual head with Low-Flow, so it feels like more than what is actually flowing out. Also, cost wasn't much!

I think a lot of people don't realize the effect that animals farmed for food really have on the environment. of course people always talk about methane from manure but there are other issues there. 

How do I address my own despair about climate change? By focusing on the things that we have the power to do. None of us is powerless in this issue. Our actions as consumers, voters and as companies are the only way that we'll have a chance at solving climate change. 

I recently shared some info and a fantastic TED talk about how supporting women and girls can be a top climate solution. No one replied, but I'm hoping that several people saw and clicked and thought about this often-forgotten climate strategy. :)

the information i found actually promoted solar power over wind power. and it was presented by a company that sells micro turbines! it was very interesting

Here's a link I found helpful listing alternate names for palm oil, as well as the good and bad list of companies that use crude palm oil:
https://drpongo.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/productpalmoillist2012flexweek.pdf


I was surprised to see that palm oil is used in toothpaste, shampoo and many other non-food products. I plan to read labels more, and look for alternates when palm oil is on the label without a note that it was sustainably harvested.

we seem to be very averse to change. we are a country unable to go with the flow. "ranchers settled our country so we should honor that tradition by continuing to do things the same way, eat what they raised, etc."  "my grandfather did it this way so i should too" "the government says it's safe so it must be" we need to break out of this funk, think freely and be open to change and then DO IT