YOU CAN’T EAT THAT BOTTLE!!!

Nature Works LLC, a solely-independent division of Cargill, is the first company in the world to produce packaging that is 100 per cent compostable.

  Made entirely from field corn, NatureWorks PLA is a food packaging resin that uses an annually renewable resource that doesn’t compromise the earth’s’ ability to meet the needs of tomorrow.”

It’s like using food to carry your food – or your water – as is the case with BIOTA Spring Water. YouTube video: HowStuffWorks Show: Episode 1: Corn Plastic, This clip from the HowStuffWorks show on the Discovery Channel discusses the use of corn to make plastic. Plastic made from corn is biodegradable, carbon-neutral and edible. Could corn plastic revolutionize the plastics industry?

The items shown in the collage below are just a very few of the many products that are made from this corn resin – amazing! YouTube video: Corn to Plastics, – Corn is showing up in places you would have never expected. A company in Columbus is making plastic film from corn. Our Ohio visits Plastic Suppliers to learn more about this new technology.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7J7eIebTYbM?rel=0&w=420&h=315]

The technological process of producing the plastic is essentially the same as producing petroleum-based plastic.  “Instead of oil-based carbon, we start with a sugar-based carbon from corn,” said Tucker.  The technology is especially important to the bottled water industry in the shadow of a recent study by William Shotyk of Heidelberg University in Germany, whose research on bottled mineral water shows that the plastic containers release a deadly toxin called antimony into the water the longer it is stored.

   “The NatureWorks bottle is what is referred to as a ‘barefoot resin,'” said Tucker.  “There’s nothing to leach and the bottle doesn’t change the makeup of the water.”  But just because the bottle is made from food doesn’t mean you can eat it.  BIOTA cautions on its website, under frequently asked questions, that because the bottle is a plastic product, it’s not recommended that the containers be consumed.

BIOTA spring water bottle, uploaded on Jul 6, 2007 – the environmentally friendly packaging.

Here’s an interesting footnote to wrap up this blog: However the usage of PLA corn bottle involves some drawbacks also. It is obvious that the production of PLA corn bottle or any other bio plastic would necessarily involve devoting vast acres of land for producing crops used in the manufacture of plastic products rather than food. It cannot be overlooked that plants also use energy in the form of fuel, water and other resources. Besides, transportation also adds up to a lot of fuel consumption. Being disposable they add to the waste generated and cannot take the place of reusable products which are more environmentally friendly. http://www.innovateus.net/content/what-pla-corn-bottle

IMPORTANT TO NOTE: “The technology is especially important to the bottled water industry in the shadow of a recent study by William Shotyk of Heidelberg University in Germany, (please see link below) whose research on bottled mineral water shows that the plastic containers release a deadly toxin called antimony into the water the longer it is stored.”

http://www.uni-heidelberg.de/press/news/news06/2601antime.html

This is another very important reason for everyone to realize the dangers of bottled water – not only to our health, but to our precious environment. It would be a very wise investment for you to consider a Reverse Osmosis water treatment system, such as the Rainsoft Reverse Osmosis system offered by us.

Eternally Pure Water Systems, Inc.
5450 Canotek Road, Unit 66-67
Ottawa, ON K1J 9G5
Telephone: 613-742-0058
Mon. – Fri. 9:00 – 5:30

GUESS WHAT I’M HAVING

FOR DINNER TONIGHT?  

 

YUMMY!

SHARK WEEK 2012 ~ SWIM WITH GREAT WHITE SHARKS!

To observe Shark Week 2012, I’ve found two incredible videos to share with you that I know you will find to be entertaining and educational.

Why ‘Shark Week‘ Sells

The terror of the deep swims onto television screens this week as the Discovery Channel’s beloved ‘Shark Week’ kicked off Sunday evening. Executive producer Brooke Runnette explains the 25-year success of the Discovery Channel event ~ “The Discovery Channel works with scientists across the world to produce the programming that has made Shark Week the staple of every shark enthusiast’s summer. Runnette says marine biologists often pitch ideas to her and the network provides funding for their projects. Discovery Channel also works with the Ocean and Pew Charitable Trusts to sponsor legislation and public service announcements to promote shark conservation.”  ~ excerpt from: http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2012/08/14/why-shark-week-sells

You will probably be amazed by the wealth of information about the great white sharks shared in the following video ~ CNN’S Anderson Cooper on Assignment for 60 minutes ~ YouTube video, “The Sharkman”  Uploaded by CBSNewsOnline on Jul 24, 2011.

Anderson Cooper dives unprotected with great white sharks and Michael Rutzen, known as “The Sharkman”, a South African who’s spent more time up close with the ocean’s most feared predator than anyone else.

According to Rutzen ,”the great white sharks are far from mindless killing machines – great whites are smart, curious and not out to kill humans.”  He says that when looking for a great white shark he can swim with, he needs one who is calm, curious and one he refers to as a ‘player’ – so relaxed, has a nice personality and woke up on the ‘right side of the reef’.

Another amazing video from YouTube ~ “THE SHARKMAN – Micheal Rutzen Hitches Ride On A Great White Shark“.

Michael Rutzen plunges freely with a great white shark. Rutzen eats, sleeps, breathes and dreams of sharks and is on a one-man crusade to prove that rather than being the crazed man-eater from Jaws they are in fact sociable and approachable creatures to anyone who understands their body language. Uploaded by halitkiraz on Aug 22, 2009

I trust that you enjoyed these videos and will share. Let’s hear from you ~ we appreciate your feedback.

25TH ANNUAL SHARK WEEK AUG.12 – 18

Shark enthusiasts world wide know that this week is the 25th celebration of SHARK WEEK,  and for those who didn’t ~ now you do.  Why not let us know how you’re celebrating the event. 

Philip De Franco is Discovery Channel’s host for Shark Week, 2012 and was asked, Why are we so fascinated with sharks? “Sharks are the last ‘wild’ thing. The power and the general awesomeness make them near the top of the food chain, and there is something interesting in all of that.”  “They’re smooth. They’re iconic. They’re a lot of species,” De Franco says of sharks. “They’re just awesome.”

“Great Whites of the Serengeti | Great White Highway” – Shark Week 2012, on the Discovery Channel ~Catch the premiere of SHARK WEEK 2012 Sunday, August 12, 2012 at 9PM e/p on Discovery. | http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/shark-week/#mkcpgn=ytdsc1 | The Pacific Ocean is like a Blue Serengeti, teaming with wildlife, great migrations and sharks. Very big sharks. “Great White Highway” is part of theShark Week

Check out the Discovery channel Shark Week’ viewing for this week:

http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/shark-week/#mkcpgn=ytdsc1

On Tuesday, Aug. 14th” you can watch, “Adrift: 47 Days with Sharks” (10 p.m., Discovery). The true story of soldiers who survived being in shark-infested waters for weeks is revealed in this documentary.

On Thursday, Aug.16th at 9 p.m. you can see, “Great White Highway” (9 p.m., Discovery). California‘s sharks don’t always swim around Hollywood deals. They can be found nearby in the ocean, too.

You’ll find many additional videos to watch with the same link above.

OMG!!! GREAT WHITE SHARK VERSUS SEA KAYAKER

Before we get to the “OMG” video of this blog I thought I’d share  some amazing background information, featured on the Discovery Chanel video uploaded to YouTube, on the great white shark –  length, weight, speed of travel, nature, favorite foods -“triple hot fudge ice-cream sundae with 3 cherries on top” (SAY WHAT??  I’m sure glad to hear that I taste like a lima bean!) 

The following is a YouTube video ‘Great White Shark’, uploaded by National Geographic on Aug 30, 2007 – great white sharks leap out of the water in pursuit of their favorite food.

Breaching (fish and mammals jumping out of the water)

Cape Town, South Africa, “Great White Shark Jumping”.  A shark attacks a seal at Seal Island  – airborne shark jumps out off water 12′ – another YouTube video uploaded by charlesluyt on Sep 22, 2007.

In the past I’ve posted a few blogs concerning: The Great Barrier Reef; and Our Coral Reefs are in Crisis.  I have just learned about the very important role that great white sharks play in the life of the coral reefs.

Having received permission of the Coral Reef Alliance, I would like to share excerpts of their article, “CORAL Campaigns to Protect Sharks” (link provided at end of blog) with you:

Sharks are commonly misunderstood and widely feared. These remarkable animals, however, are incredibly important for overall ocean health and, in particular, for coral reefs.

Sharks are often “apex” or top predators, helping to regulate species abundance and diversity while maintaining balance throughout an ecosystem. Studies have shown that coral reef ecosystems with high numbers of apex predators tend to have greater biodiversity and higher densities of individual species.

The loss of apex predators in a reef ecosystem upsets the natural food web and changes the composition of the reef community, eventually leading to the decline of critical reef species like herbivorous fish. With fewer herbivores, algae can become overgrown, suffocating the reef and reducing the number of available niches for fish species. In addition to being important for overall ecosystem health, sharks are also valuable to the tourism industry and to the economic health of coral reef destinations.

Despite their ecologic and economic value, shark populations are declining at an alarming rate. Roughly thirty percent of shark species are threatened or nearly threatened with extinction, and the status of another roughly fifty percent is unclear due to insufficient data.

NOW WHAT YOU’VE WAITED FOR – THE “OMG’ PORTION of this blog – click on link below photo

“A fishing trip off the coast of Australia takes a frightening turn when a great white shark starts harassing a sea kayaker” Discovery Channel “Outdoor Thrills” – Untamed and uncut.

http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/outdoor-thrill-videos/

Link to the Coral Reef Alliance (a most worthy cause!) web site –

http://www.coral.org/sharks