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Frances Beinecke's Blog

Issues: Living Sustainably

Why Endocrine Disruptors Should Be a Household Word

April 25, 2008

Posted by Frances Beinecke in Curbing Pollution , Health and the Environment , Living Sustainably

Tags:
babybottles, bisphenol-a, BPA, breastcancer, endocrinedisruptors, hardplastic, phthalates, plasticbottles, simplesteps

In the past week, there have been a lot of news reports and blog chatter about BPA, also known as bisphenol-A. Finally, government agencies, consumers, and manufacturers are starting to take this toxin seriously. But BPA is only one member...

A Garden Grows in The Bronx: How My Family Is Trying to Live Green

April 22, 2008

Posted by Frances Beinecke

Tags:
brainstormgreen, carbonoffsets, communitysupportedagriculture, CSA, earthday, factoryfarms, globalwarming, greenlifestyles, greenliving, organicfood, renewableenergy, simplesteps

Okay, so it’s Earth Day and time to reflect on personal practice. I’m at a Fortune Magazine conference called Brainstorm Green.  There is a lot of talk here about innovative solutions, but also about how some of the key environmental...

Calling a Toxin a Toxin: BPA Gets the Name It Deserves

April 17, 2008

Posted by Frances Beinecke

Tags:
babybottles, bisphenol-a, BPA, breastcancer, endocrinedisruptors, estrogen, healthcanada, nationaltoxicologyprogram, plasticbottles, simplesteps, syntheticestrogen

It’s been a bad week for bisphenol-A, and that’s a good thing. Not one but two government agencies came out for the first time publicly saying that this chemical--found in plastic water bottles, canned food, and numerous baby products--could harm...

Unlocking the Global Warming Gridlock: Congestion Pricing Speeds Ahead in NYC

April 2, 2008

Posted by Frances Beinecke in Living Sustainably , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
christinequinn, congestionpricing, globalwarming, globalwarmingsolution, mayormichaelbloomberg, newyorkcity, newyorkcitycouncil

Like millions of New Yorkers, I ride the subway all the time. I view it as one of the small steps I can take as an individual to help curb global warming, since fewer cars on Manhattan streets mean fewer...

Breast Cancer and One of the Most Pervasive Chemicals of Modern Life

March 25, 2008

Posted by Frances Beinecke in Health and the Environment , Living Sustainably

Tags:
babybottles, bisphenol-a, BPA, breastcancer, plasticbottles, simplesteps, waterbottles

I had breast cancer nine years ago. I have a strong constitution--and a strong will--and those carried me far during my diagnosis and treatment. But still it was a difficult time for me and my family. One thing that brought...

Confessions of an Environmentalist

February 20, 2008

Posted by Frances Beinecke in Living Sustainably

Tags:
cfls, eatlocal, famersmarkets, greenliving, plasticbottles, prius, simplesteps, unionsquaregreenmarket

Last week, the New Times Style Section had a great article on the steps that suburbanites are taking to adopt green power, get kids to walk or ride their bikes to school safely, and reduce the impact of those perfect...

Read the Label Before You Run the Bath

February 15, 2008

Posted by Frances Beinecke in Health and the Environment , Living Sustainably

Tags:
babybath, babyproducts, babyshampoo, endocrinedisruptors, EPA, infertility, phthalates, simplesteps, toxins

The evening baby bath routine is one of the simple pleasures of life for young parents. My three girls loved playing in the water. And seeing their unfettered delight in splashing in the water calmed me down after harried days....

Keeping Green Alive in 08

February 13, 2008

Posted by Frances Beinecke

Tags:
algore, billmckibben, environmentalmovement, greenlifestyles, rachelcarson, simplesteps

Last year was a momentous one for the environment. Green issues screamed across the headlines, as every company, every magazine cover, every state, every politician wanted to get on the green bandwagon. As someone who joined this movement in the early...

How to Get Safer Sushi

February 1, 2008

Posted by Frances Beinecke in Health and the Environment , Living Sustainably

Tags:
bluefintuna, china, coalfiredpowerplants, ericripert, mercury, norapouillon, pregnantwomen, salmon, simplesteps, sushi, tuna

Last week the New York Times caused a flap among fish lovers when it detected alarmingly high levels of mercury in several samples of tuna sushi bought from Manhattan restaurants and stores. The mercury in question comes largely from coal-fired...

Eating Well for Yourself and for the Next Generation

January 30, 2008

Posted by Frances Beinecke in Health and the Environment , Living Sustainably

Tags:
breastcancer, eatlocal, EPA, michaelpollan, organicfood, pesticides, simplesteps, toxins

I recently read about Michael Pollan’s new book, In Defense of Food--currently the second best-selling hardcover in the nation. Like many others, I was inspired by its famously lean tagline: “Eat food. Not much. Mostly plants.” I love how Pollan’s...