The Green Bin Program is designed to collect organic household waste and turn it into compost to be resold. Basically, the program requires that anything biodegrade-able be placed in the specified bin which is then put out a the road weekly for collection. Acceptable items for the bin include things like: table scraps (meats, bones, cheeses as well – which are items typically discouraged from being added to your backyard composter), popcorn bags, paper towel, coffee cups, filters and grounds, tea bags, and more.

Sounds fabulous doesn’t it? Well, it is!! The amount of landfill garbage for collection day is decreased considerably to the point where they only pick up every other week in our area, while green bin collection is once a week.

But those food stuffs? They sit out for an entire week before pick up. Not unlike before when they rotted in the regular garbage bags, I know; but In the summer months the bin can become a breeding ground for some SERIOUS illness. Every site that I’ve been to has down played this fact saying that these bins are perfectly safe and not unlike your regular garbage.

I agree with that. Regular garbage is disgusting as well.

It’s really important people remember to wash their hands after touching the bins and always before preparing food.

WASH YOUR HANDS. That’s it? That’s all the protection advice that’s offered? Every site says that the bins are completely sanitary and not unlike regular garbage. I just can’t see how it’s the same. It’s a bin FULL of decomposing, rotting food which can lead to illnesses like E. coli, salmonella and listeria.

I suspect that the communities are down playing the dangers of the bins in order to encourage their use, but I worry that their nonchalant attitude towards them causes people to be careless about their use. Some cleaning services have cropped up around the GTA offering to sanitize the green bins for a fee for which they have been accused of fear mongering to drum up business. My personal opinion is the companies are simply offering a service to those realists, like myself, which feel that the bins are not as sanitary as city councils claim them to be.

I am a green bin user and will continue to be, but I am VERY careful about letting the children touch the bin and HAND WASHING constantly after coming in contact with the bin. I wash our kitchen bin weekly and will more than likely pressure wash the other bin now that it’s warmer out. Maybe even have a company come and sanitize it a couple times over the summer.

Also? Only now are they rolling out the program in condominiums, apartment and townhouse complexes. It’s still in the testing phase for these high occupancy housing areas, which, I’m sorry but is completely ludicrous. Of all the areas which need a program like this, it’s these homes.

So ya, overall I think it’s a fabulous idea but as with all new inicitives, there bumps to be worked out.

Are you using a green bin program in your area? What have you done to protect you and your family from their digustingness?

On February 8th, prior to the Grammy’s, recording artists and couple, Chris Brown and Rihanna got into a heated altercation allegedly over a text message which resulted in 19 year old Chris allegedly hitting, punching, biting 21 year old Rihanna as well as uttering death threats. Riahnna was allegedly able to escape further abuse by ripping the car keys from the ignition and sitting on them amidst a battery of punches and slaps which left contusions over the better part of her body.

A graphic photo of Rihanna’s injuries was later leaked to the media showing large contusions on her temples as well as bruises, bleeding and swelling.

The face, that so many of our young innocent females look up to, looked like this – at the hand of a man she cared for, supported and loved. Chris Brown did this:

After briefly leaving the United States, returning home to Bermuda, Rihanna has now returned and is staying with Chris in a Miami home owned by P. Diddy,  amidst rumours that her and Chris have since wed.

Those that work in domestic violence will tell you that a victim will return to their abuser typically two or three times. The cycle of violence doesn’t end, but typically only escalates.

The Abuse: The victim is abused, be it physical or emotional

The Guilt: After an abusive incident, the abuser typically feels guilt for what’s been done to the victim

Rationalizing or Creating Excuses: The abuser gives the victim a reason why they hit, kicked, punch, verbally assaulted them. Typically blaming the victim for the abuser behaviour.

The Fantasy or Honeymoon Stage: Everything is glowing perfection. The abuser is pleasant, content and a joy to be around. The victim is swept off their feet all over again.

“Normal” Behaviour: Everything seems back to normal and on the right track, like the abuse was an isolated incident, or the abuser has really change their ways.

Then the abuse begins again. And round and around you go, typically increasing in frequency and severity.

Now, back to Rihanna.

Being in the position that she’s in – the fame, fortune and grandeur – there would have (hopefully) been more than enough support to help her through the tough time of leaving Chris and this horrible situation.

Do not misconstrue what I am saying, please. I am in no way trying to suggest that because she has money and fame it would be EASIER to leave. Money and fame do not replace fear – no way, no how.

Rihanna could have been the voice, the role model, that so may young women need when it comes to abusive relationships. She could have stood up and used this horrible situation for good, but instead she’s reaffirmed to her fans, abused women and young girls – our youth – that this is all right.

What about the next time? What about if Chris beats Rihanna again? What message does it send? What if it goes too far and she’s hospitalized or worse?

Not to mention, Chris. Chris is STILL on the ballot for a Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice Award. This guy, who is all over the media as an abuser – charges with TWO felony accounts – is still viable to accept an award for Kid’s Favourite Male Singer? Are we approving his actions by pretending that none of this happened and going on as business as usual? Seriously?

I’m not going to preach how you should approach this topic with a child because God knows, I have no idea what I would say if mine understood the ramifications of this, and it’s really not my place to tell you what to do within your family structure, but I do implore you to think about it. What would you say? Would you say anything or just hope they knew and understood?

And, on the topic of domestic violence, have you had a chance to check out Maggie’s new endeavor, Violence UnSilenced?

The site was created with the sole intention of shedding light on the
epidemics of domestic violence and sexual assault by giving their
survivors a voice. Their survivors being some of those whom we read and interact with on a daily basis. This site is where many have been sharing their voice to let others know they are not alone.

I implore you to take a moment and show your support for those who have bared their souls at Violence UnSilenced.

A few weeks ago, away for a childfree trip with a group of similarly liberated moms, we debated the issue of organic milk — a huge expense for families with young children. I know that our family of four goes through 6-8 litres a week depending on how much milk David and I are drinking as well. The long and the short of the debate was this: if Canadian cows are not given antibiotics or growth hormones, why buy organic milk?

Since I was ultimately confused over what course of action to take
(or to continue), I turned to the internet to find that, indeed, unlike
their American counterparts, Canadian dairy cows are actually free of
hormones and drugs. These injections are used in other parts of the
world to stimulate greater milk yields, as well as to keep cows healthy
in what would otherwise be unhealthy living environments. Maybe that is
part of the reason why our heavily regulated milk industry produces
milk that costs much more per litre in Canada than in the US.

I visited the BC Dairy Foundation web site
to see what they had to say. According to their literature, not only is
all milk tested daily for antibiotics at the farm, but every truckload
is tested when it arrives at the processing plant. If this is accurate,
then the milk board is providing an incredible amount of security for
the consumer.

While doing my reading, I ran across an interesting study out of England in 2004 where the organic marketing board claimed the milk from their cows had upwards of 65% more Omega 3 fatty acids. Some critics decry these findings,
pointing skeptically to the sponsor of the study. Others say it depends
on the cattle’s diet when the milk is tested, as well as the time of
year, leaving skeptics of the organic movement claiming that, really,
there is no advantage to organic milk at all.

But what about the cows? Are they happy and healthy on the farms?
I’ve always imagined that organic animals are tripping around pastures
with contented smiles on their faces, but perhaps that’s because I’m a
victim of marketing myself. Out here in BC, organic milk is available
in virtually every corner store, and we can also buy organic goat’s
milk and associated products. It’s a high-demand industry. But while
I’ve always been inclined to think that organic farmers take more
passionate care of their animals, perhaps that’s not true, at least
when it comes to a dairy herd.

Now, I’m tempted to switch back from organic to regular milk. If the
dairy environment is free of those troublesome treatments, perhaps
“regular” milk is the way to go, especially for my pocketbook.

What say you?