If you’ve been reading my blog or Tweets for a while, you know I’m not a fan of plastic. Well David de Rothschild, founder of Adventure Ecology, has found a way to make plastic work. After being inspired almost four years ago by a United Nations Environment Program Report, de Rothschild had an idea to build the world’s first boat made completely of recycled plastic bottles. David and his crew, heading from San Francisco to Sydney, set sail on the Plastiki last week.

The Plastiki, a 60-foot catamaran, is named after the Kon-Tiki -- the raft used by Norwegian explorer and writer, Thor Heyerdahl, in his 1947 expedition across the Pacific Ocean from South America to the Polynesian islands.

The Plastiki is made of 12,500 reclaimed plastic bottles. She will travel 11,000 nautical miles across the Pacific to both raise awareness about the condition of our oceans as well as to see first hand the impact we people having on the environment. The Great Eastern Garbage Patch is one of the destinations prior to completing the journey three months later in Sydney.

I was lucky enough to be invited to the Plastiki’s press unveiling a few weeks ago. I met the crew and was even able to go on board and check her out myself. David de Rothschild’s passion for this project and the environment is

obvious. For the past several years his life has been dedicated to saving our planet – even at great risk of his own.

Jo Royle, the Plastiki’s award-winning Skipper (hear my interview with her), was super-sweet and very enthusiastic about spreading the message about plastic and other pollutants in our oceans. Jo shared something that really made such an impact on me- and makes no sense to her: The boating industry is responsible for producing incredibly toxic waste, even though their own captains and crews see the effects first hand. Isn’t it time to change?

Another interesting person (and crew member) I met was Olav Heyerdahl -- Thor Heyerdahl’s (Norwegian explorer, writer and Captain of the Kon-Tiki mentioned above) grandson. Olav shared some of his own experiences sailing the world, comparing his journeys to those of his grandfather’s, via diaries and logs meticulously kept by the elder Heyerdahl. Since his grandfather’s travels, the condition of our oceans has changed drastically. Where sharks made it nearly impossible for his grandfather to swim, Olav said he has seen only a few. Where his grandfather was able to eat tuna daily, Olav only had one such, because there just wasn’t any tuna to be caught. Olav, unfortunately, has seen an abundance of trash, especially plastic; his grandfather, however, saw none. In fact, his grandfather never recorded seeing any man-made debris.

The Plastiki

Not that I’m an expert on boat building, but my first impression was how sleek she is. Nothing I saw made me think she was built from recycled materials. Actual bottles make up the body of the boat and provide nearly 70% of her buoyancy. The glue, made especially for the Plastiki, is a special mix of cashews and sugar (ok, yum!). The sails are one of the first to be made from recycled plastic and the masts are constructed from aluminum irrigation piping.

Matthew Grey, the Expedition Coordinator, demonstrated one of the most unique and interesting features of the boat – the on-board bicycle. The bike has a dual purpose: 1) to help prevent loss of muscle mass, and 2) to generate power.

One of my most favorite features was the vegetable garden. As a nutritionist and vegetarian, I thought this was such a great idea. Having on-board access to fresh, organic greens will no doubt help keep everyone healthy.

It took immense effort to make the Plastiki as sustainable as possible and if it’s possible for a boat, it’s no doubt possible for any building or structure. The homes we live in, the cars we drive, the offices we work in can all be made less toxic! The technology is out there. It takes commitment, but as David de Rothschild, his crew and the developing team have proven, it’s possible.

I commend them all for their dedication. David said that one of his goals was to show that it could be done. the Plastiki will definitely inspire other industries to head in the same direction.

Now I ask, how can you raise awareness and have a positive impact?

Live natural. Live well.

Heather

Check out Heather's site, www.getnaturalgetwell.com

Empowering Africa Through Gaming

Urgent Evoke: It's a brand new online game that is revolutionizing how and why we play. Created by a designer who sees gamers as "superheroes with untapped potential," Jane McGonigal is harnessing their legendary dedication and commitment to the game for a greater good.

Read more about Urgent Evoke:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/03/01/evoke.game.africa.poverty/index.html


Penn State Students Help Haiti

It's called Project Haiti. Each year since 1997, a group of Penn State students have traveled to Haiti on their Spring Break and donated clothing and toys to children at the Maison Fortune orphanage near Hinche. This year, as always, Penn students are bringing bags bursting with supplies- but they're also arriving with a sense of urgency. Project Haiti's leader, Senior Alain Bonny, is from the nation. He lost three family members to the quake. Despite his loss, Bonny is determined to lead his fellow students on their mission to Maison Fortune and to help as many people as they can. Bonny will return later in the summer to help his own family recover.

Although Project Haiti is a huge Spring Break trip, there are many ways to donate your time to the community. What do you plan on doing for Spring Break- and how will you lead your summer?

Read more about Project Haiti:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/02/16/haiti.spring.break/index.html?hpt=Sbin

I get asked this question a lot.  Our bodies aren’t made to handle the amount of toxins we’re constantly exposed to.  Toxin overload can lead to a whole host of illnesses and side effects.  Take the quiz below to see if you need to do a cleanse.

• Do you eat processed foods, fast food and/or eat out regularly?
• Do you eat non-organic animal products and produce?
• Do you consume genetically altered foods?
• Do you eat foods containing hydrogenated oil?
• Do you or have you used artificial sweeteners (Nutrasweet/Aspartame, Splenda, Sweet n Low)?
• Do you eat foods containing preservatives, additives, dyes, or sweeteners?
• Do you charbroil or grill foods?
• Do you drink coffee, soda or alcohol regularly?
• Do you drink unfiltered tap water?
• Do you use a microwave?
• Do you microwave/cook/store food in plastic containers?

If the majority of your answers are yes, then your diet contributes significantly to your toxic load. Most likely, you’re also exposed to other irritants such as pollution, cigarette smoke, dry cleaning fluids, cosmetics and beauty products, exhaust fumes, cleaners, and medications.

You might want to consider detoxing, if you’re experiencing any of the following:

• Weight gain
• Fatigue
• Food cravings
• Insomnia
• Reduced mental clarity
• Poor digestion
• Low libido
• Autoimmune disorders
• Cancer
• Hormonal Imbalances
• Thyroid Disorders
• Adrenal Exhaustion
• Infertility

Not all cleanses are created equal.  It’s important to have a qualified physician help you find one that is right for you.  If you go back to your old habits once you’ve completed a cleanse, the benefits won’t last.  I see a lot of people go through the effort, but don’t change their lifestyle.  I highly recommend avoiding unhealthy foods and products to guarantee long lasting results.

Live natural.  Live well.
Heather Lounsbury, L.Ac.

Check out Heather's Web site at www.getnaturalgetwell.com

Green isn't hip. It isn't fashionable. It is a choice and a way of life.

Let's keep it that way by combating myths about green lifestyles.