March 16th March 16, 2011

Don’t Keep Exotic Animals as Pets

Over the last decade it has become fashionable to keep exotic animals as pets. These animals, snatched by the thousands drom their natural habitats and carried to the other end of the world, end up on captivity, where they usually survive for a short time, being suited neither to their new climate nor to life out of the wild. The black market for exotics has devastated the populations od some unfortunate species. The highly sought-after horned parrot of New Caledonia, for example, has been the victim of ferocious poaching: only 1,700 remain in the wild. Similarly, there are more tigers in captivity than living in the wild, and only a small percentage are those in zoos the rest live in circuses, roadside menageries, big-cat rescues, and in backyards, as pets.

Think carefully before imprisoning a languid iguana or a brilliantly colored parrot in your home

Also, please be very aware of the harm that circuses cause. Last year many of our students wrote to PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) to thank them for the work they do. They learned about how animals are mistreated, many times taken from their natural habitat to be put in cages for entertainment. One way of helping exotic animals is not endorsing circuses. Please watch:

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March 10th March 10, 2011

Ventilate Your Home Regularly

Indoor air pollution affects all enclosed spaces. This can be caused by a ventilation system tat does not remove stale air properly, by a faulty gas stove or heater, or by the improper use of products that require a a high degree of air circulation to dissipate pollutants, such as paints, varnishes, and household cleaners. Some pollutants, such as mites an molds, are of natural origin.

On average, we spend 80% of our lives in buildings. The quality of the air indoors can therefore have a major effect on our health. To circulate the air and remove pollutants, ventilate your indoor space regularly and generously, even in winter

Ventilate!

March 7th March 7, 2011

Reuse Waste Paper

Europe, North America, and Japan combined are home to just 20% of the world’s population but swallow up 63% of its paper and cardboard. Increasing consumption of these products is relentless: the wealthiest countries use 3 times as much paper today than they used in the 1960s. By 2010, the volume of paper used worldwide could increase by as much as 50%.

To avoid contributing to overconsumption, cut back on your paper use, and keep reusable paper products, such as manila envelopes and file folders. Cut scrap paper into quarters and use it to write phone messages rather than buying a new pad. And recycle all eligible paper and cardboard products.

At BAI, we’ve stopped printing out report cards and receipts, and we’re trying to go as paperless as we can. We recycle all our used paper and we’ve also worked alongside a recycling company so that they can recycle all our used books and office paper.

Recyle Your Paper

Fall into Water! March 4, 2011

Hey everyone! I wanted to share this short video of me. I recently was lucky enough to visit Yelapa, a small beach/jungle city near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Some friends and I went on an excursion deep into the jungle to see this amazing lagoon and waterfall. The reason I wanted to share this with you is this: I want you to think a bit more about our water supplies. Even though we had to trek into the jungle for about 45 minutes to get to this place, I discovered a black plastic tube stemming from it. Much to my surprise, this lagoon was the water source for a small shack close to the beach. People run their own water lines from whatever natural source they can find, so they can have running water. We’re lucky, we don’t have to do that; we have the city do it for us. However, this doesn’t mean that our water doesn’t come from a natural source like this one. Think that every minute you’re wasting water, you’re decreasing someone’s chances to get to do something as fun as this:

(Psst…if you listen closely, you can hear our guide telling me that I can probably go around and not have to jump…it took about 25 minutes for me to muster up the courage to jump in!)

My friends and I before I jumped...one friend is still climbing the rope!

March 4th

Discover Slow Food

The Slow Food Movement began as a response to the industrialization of the food system, and the subsequent loss of food varieties and flavors. The movement began in 1986 in Italy and has moved around the globe. In 1990 there were about 200 varieties od artichokes in Italy: today only a dozen survive. The mission of the Slow Food movement is to educate consumers on land stewarship and ecologically sound food production; encourage cooking as a method of stengthening relationships between people; further the consumption of local, organic, and seasonal food; and create a collaborative, ecologically oriented community.

Opt for diversity and discover Slow Food. This international movement opposes the standarization of tastes imposed by fast-food. It has more han 80,000 members in 50 countries

Visit Link Below to Learn More

Slow Food

March 3rd March 3, 2011

Do Not Defrost in the Microwave

Renewable energy-from the sun, wind, the heat under the Earth’s crust, waterfalls, tides, the growing of vegetables, or the recycling of trash- is infinite. Harnessing it produces little or no waste or polluting emissions. In countries like Germany, government officials have recognized the benefits of investing quickly and heavily in these technologies and already 12% of their national energy supply comes from renewable energy production, with future targets to triple this as well as cut down electricity use by 11%

Rather than adding to your electricity bill by using the microwave to defrost your food, remember to take food out of the freezer earlier and let it defrost at room temperature…it’s also alot healthier for you!

Try to limit your microwave use.

March 2nd March 2, 2011

Research the Impacts of Aquaculture Before Eating Farmed Fish

As of right now, fish farming accounts for 43% of the world’s fish production. This is unlikely to change ans the world’s demand for fish grows along with its population, and many wild species continue to be in peril because of over-fishing. Aquaculture is often criticized for its negative environmental impacts: To produce 1 pound of farmed salmon, 3 pounds of wild-caught fish are needed to provide meal and oil. And like, all intensive farming, fish farming uses chemicals and antibiotics, which affect humans.


There is such a thing as sutainable aquaculture: Tilapia, catfish, and many varieties od shellfish can often be farmed safely. Organizations like Seafood Watch and The Marine Stewardship Council have developed strict criteria for sustainable fish farming and offer advice to the public about how to choose the best fish.

Get some sustainable seafood recipes HERE

Download a Pocket GuideHERE

Also, one of the best solutions to this problem is to give up eating fish altogether!

Learn more about PETA’s “Sea Kitten” Campaign