Exotic is Neurotic

Did you hear about the exotic animal disaster in Ohio (near Zanesville)?  Here's the short spiel:  some guy decided  to operate an animal "preserve".  Had it for years.  I'll be mean - the guy looked like he couldn't spell "preserve".  He had been in prison on a weapons charge and had charges of animal abuse
(!?) made against him.   This guy had big cats, bears, wolves and primates, well over 50 animals (around 70).    A few days ago, he snapped, opened all the cages, the animals escaped and he shot himself.
Now clearly, all of the above animals are not native to Ohio and the local law enforcement is not and was not equipped to handle such animals.  So, they were all - save for about 8 - shot and killed.
Why bring this up?  Because it's worth considering what the "take-away" from this tragedy should be:
Normal, every day people should not own exotic animals.  More often than not, they are ill-equipped, intellectually, emotionally and financially, to handle such animals.  Some do it for showmanship, some for control, some because they love the animals.   On this note, let me say...Love is not enough.  It takes LOTS of education, money, time and more education, to care for wild exotic animals. These animals do not do well living in something the size of your kids' bedroom - and that's being optimistic.  Many of these animals live in cages that are about the size of a dog kennel.  The price of a well-planned, adequate space for big cats cost about $2-3 million dollars.  No kidding.   Keeping these animals in such small spaces with no mental stimulation or adequate exercise is cruel.  Most of us have absolutely NO IDEA how to care for an exotic pet.
So what can you and I do?  Read on....

• Do not own an exotic pet:  no cute little monkeys, no tiger cubs, bear cubs, etc.  Unless you are a zoologist, biologist, animal care expert, you will be sorry.  Once any of these animals hit sexual maturity you will be more than very sorry.
• Do not support (i.e.: visit) any "preserve" or "reserve" or "sanctuary" that did not come highly recommended and has been sanctioned by a reputable organization.
• Support charities that fight to end the exotic pet trade (www.bornfreeusa.org  & www.humanesociety.org
• Spread the word and tell your friends and educate your kids.

We can all help to make this world a better place, for humans and animals alike.

Is that a Feather in your Hair?

Ahhh, those feathers!  They look so cool, so rock-and-roll!  But did you know there is another side to those feathers; one that not many folks around the water cooler are talking about:
Where did those ultra-hip feathers come from?  Not many of us stop for a second to ponder where our fashion originated so let me do the work for you on this one: Roosters.  "Duh!", you may be saying.  No kidding they come from roosters.  Let's go a step further:
Here's how they do not come from roosters:
They do not "pet" the feathers off.
They do not "just fall out".
They are not living happy little rooster lives waiting to give us feathers for our hair.
From all accounts that I've investigated, these cocks-of-the-rock star world (bird joke) are living in crowded, dirty, inhumane conditions for about one year until they are killed just for their feathers.  By one estimate, one of the largest factory farms in the U.S. is killing 1,500 roosters per week.  My understanding is that this is only for feather production, so let's not fantasize that we're utilizing these birds for any other grand purpose, like feeding the hungry.
Why be a kill-joy?  Because being a B.A.B.E means going that extra step & considering what effects our purchases have.  In this case, there are alternatives to the standard feather, many companies & salons offer faux feathers that are every bit as cool, every bit as fun.  You can curl & straighten them, all the things that you can do with your hair.  This bit of info has nothing to do with being a vegetarian (which I'm not), but rather an issue of what is right, compassionate and earth-friendly.  Aside from the animal cruelty issue, this kind of agriculture is dirty, dirty, dirty, spewing all kinds of crap in the surrounding waterways.
My daughter asked me once why I have to be so particular all the time.  My response?  "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything".  To truly Be A Better Earthling, my hope is that we stand up for the actions we know to be wrong and open the door for educating our friends so we can all be B.A.B.Es & keep our world headed in the right direction.

Eco Chic Beauty Tips

How fun to be asked to talk about stuff that you like to talk about!  Example:  I was asked to be interviewed by Columbus Alive  and Jackie Mantey.  She wanted my thoughts on eco-friendly style & beauty tips.  Fun!  Because newspapers have limited space & I do not, here is the complete list of tips I threw out:

1. Do not use any bath or beauty product with Palm Oil in the ingredient list.  This is the single most damaging environmental product out there.  Seriously.  Burning down forests, loss of life, greenhouse gases; the list is extensive.  Check it out:  www.theproblemwithpalmoil.org
2. Go with the organic seal.  Then you know that no pesticides were used to grow the ingredients used in your product.  Pesticides = Poisons.
3. Use one nice razor, like the Mach 3 (love it!) instead of a gazillion disposable ones.  The better razors need only the head replaced. Come on, you have the cash to pony up the money for one nice razor.  Skip Starbucks for 2 days & you'll be fine.  Over 2 billion disposable razors are dumped into our landfills each year?  
4. Get a low-flow shower head.  Do you know that even a low-flow uses 2.5 gallons a minute?  In many city slums in other countries, they only have about 8 gallons of water a day for everything they need.  Makes ya think about that 20 minute shower.
5. Look for "Not Tested on Animals" & the "Cruelty Free" seal.  That's the best you can do to ensure you're not contributing to cruel & inhumane practices.  Not necessary in today's world.  Boo.
6. Use the same washcloth for a few days instead of facial wipes and use the same towel for a few days...you are clean, right?
7. Use organic cotton cotton balls.  25% of pesticides used are used for growing cotton.  Someone lives downstream from all that poisonous waste.  
8. Take stock.  Organize your stuff, donate what you don't need (shampoos/conditioners to local shelters) and you'll save time & money!  When you are disorganized, you end up buying more stuff and making more stuff is not eco-friendly.  
9. Do the best you can!  Don't get overwhelmed and think you can't possibly do it all!  Maybe just change one thing a month and you'll be on your way to becoming a B.A.B.E!

Thanks to Jackie & Jodi Miller (photographer) for taking time to spread some eco-love and helping us all to be Better Earthlings!