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EARTH TALK
EARTH TALK
From the Editors of E/The Environmental Magazine
Dear EarthTalk: What kind of environmentally friendly pet care
products are there for controlling ticks and fleas and washing dogs and
cats?
According to Australian veterinarian Lilian Lee, pets metabolize most of
the insecticide contained in mass-marketed flea collars such that the
concentration is so weak it hardly has any effect on fleas. Furthermore,
many pets can develop allergies to such collars, often resulting in
uncomfortable dermatitis. Lee also recommends avoiding flea washes and dust
powders, as they usually contain toxins that have been known to cause
tremors in cats and can contaminate your indoor environment.
For those looking to rid their pets of fleas and other pests in a safe and
environmentally responsible manner, “area sprays” may be the best bet.
Orange Guard, for instance, is a non-toxic, food-grade pesticide that can be
safely sprayed into pet bedding and other crevices instead of directly onto
your dog or cat. Available from online sources like the Green Home
Environmental Store and Planet Natural, among many others, the active
ingredient in Orange Guard is biodegradable, citrus-based d-Limonene, which
has been shown to reduce cockroach populations better than Dursban, the
toxic ingredient in Raid. Direct contact with d-Limonene will kill insects
and deter future visits, without posing any risks to pets or humans.
Another alternative is Bug’n’Out, a natural, non-toxic biting insect
repellent spray which uses a four percent concentration of citronella oil to
safely and effectively repel fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, gnats, black flies,
chiggers and horse flies. According to the manufacturer, it is safe and
effective not just for pets but also for people, and is effective for up to
eight hours per application. Consumers can buy it from the website
DoctorDog.com, which also sells the One Earth Herbal Collar for Cats, which
uses aromatic oil extracts of natural herbs, flowers and wood to repel bugs
without pesticides.
Still another natural insect repellent spray for dogs and cats is Only
Natural Pet Flea and Insect Repellent Spray, available from the online Only
Natural Pet Store. It contains Neem Oil, Lemongrass, Catnip, Citronella, and
other essential oils to keep pests away and contains no DEET or other
pesticides. Only Natural also makes a Pet Insect Repellent Shampoo.
One of the leaders in the “greening” of the pet care industry is Planet Dog.
Beyond its large selection of safe and healthy pet toys and accessories, the
company offers biodegradable pet shampoos and conditioners that are
pH-balanced with aloe, eucalyptus and chamomile. The Green Home
Environmental Store also offers an all-natural and biodegradable pet
shampoo, and guarantees that it contains no harmful ingredients such as
petroleum distillate, ammonia, benzene or formaldehyde.
CONTACTS: Orange Guard,
www.orangeguard.com; DoctorDog.com,
www.doctordog.com; Planet Dog,
www.planetdog.com; Planet Natural,
www.planetnatural.com; Only Natural Pet Store,
www.onlynaturalpet.com; Green Home Environmental Store,
www.greenhome.com.
GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION? Send it to: EarthTalk, c/o E/The
Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; submit it at:
www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/thisweek/, or e-mail:
earthtalk@emagazine.com. Read past columns at:
www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/archives.php.
**********************************************************************************
EARTH TALK
From the Editors of E/The Environmental Magazine
Dear EarthTalk: Who are the greenest celebrities?
While there are no precise standards by which to judge how “green” any given
celebrity may be, a number of entertainment luminaries come to mind for
their outspoken support of environmental causes and their commitment to
greener lifestyles. For instance, television actor Ted Danson started the
American Oceans Campaign in 1987 to advocate for stronger coastal and marine
ecosystem protections (the organization merged with Oceana in 2002). His
views on marine conservation have spurred thousands of volunteers nationwide
to take part in letter-writing campaigns as well as coastal clean-ups and
other related events.
Not to be outdone, fellow Cheers barkeep Woody Harrelson drives a biodiesel-powered
bus around the nation campaigning for clean energy and organic agriculture.
The Ron Mann documentary “Go Further,” which ran in select theatres last
fall and features rockers Dave Matthews, Natalie Merchant and Rob Weir,
documents one of Harrelson’s wild rides down the Pacific coast to raise
environmental awareness.
Meanwhile, Cameron Diaz--who drives a hybrid Toyota Prius--is hosting “Trippin’,”
a new MTV show about eco-tourism. During the first season, Diaz travels with
singer Justin Timberlake, comedian Jimmy Fallon and rapper Talib to locales
as diverse as Costa Rica, Tanzania and Yellowstone National Park to enjoy,
showcase and encourage the safeguarding of these breathtaking natural
environments.
Actor Ed Begley, Jr. was an early adopter of energy-efficient car
technologies. These days, he makes a point of showing up at Hollywood events
on his bicycle, and lives in a self-sufficient house powered by solar
energy. He serves on the board of the Environmental Media Association (EMA),
a non-profit that consults with producers and actors about placing
pro-environmental messages in TV shows and movies.
Daryl Hannah walks her talk by solar-powering both her Colorado and Malibu
homes, maintaining and eating from her organic gardens, and running her
vehicles on biodiesel pumped from her own home processing facility. She
recently won EMA’s Greenlight Award for her environmental commitments.
Leading man Harrison Ford has served on Conservation International’s Board
of Directors for 10 years and has actively participated in the work of the
organization. Harvard Medical School recently honored Ford with its 2002
Global Environmental Citizen Award.
And Leo DiCaprio has been working since the mid-1990s on environmental
issues. His foundation has funded projects by the Natural Resources Defense
Council, the International Fund For Animal Welfare, the Dian Fossey
Foundation, Reef Check, Oceana, Santa Monica’s Heal The Bay, and others.
DiCaprio’s foundation places particular emphasis on the issues of global
warming, alternative and renewable energy sources, and the preservation of
biodiversity.
CONTACTS: “Go Further,” www.sphinxproductions.com/pages/film_gofurther.html;
MTV’s Trippin’,
www.mtv.com/onair/dyn/trippin/series.jhtml; Ed Begley, Jr.,
www.edbegley.com; Environmental Media Association,
www.ema-online.org; Leonardo DiCaprio,
www.leonardodicaprio.org.
GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION? Send it to: EarthTalk, c/o E/The
Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; submit it at:
www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/thisweek/, or e-mail:
earthtalk@emagazine.com. Read past columns at:
www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/archives.php.
EarthTalk
Questions and Answers About Our Environment
A Weekly Column
******************************************************
c/o E/The Environmental Magazine
***A nonprofit publication***
28 Knight Street, Norwalk, CT 06851
PHONE: (203) 854-5559/(X106) - FAX: (203) 866-0602
E-mail: earthtalkcolumn@emagazine.com
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Mail: P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881 U.S.A