Living bridge made of tree roots

In Cherripunji, India the natives make bridges across streams with the roots of a variety of the ficus tree.

They simply string the roots across the ravine, allow them to grow and become stronger, then in about 15 years, they are strong enough to support people as traffic.

More bad news about plastics - Get away from my butt!

And the weekly Plastic News:

It looks like the BPA in waste water streams has been traced back to recycled toilet paper. I knew I hated recycled toilet paper for a good reason. It isn't added intentionally, but comes from recycled credit card receipts. BPA is not just found in recycled toilet paper, but all recycled paper, though exposure is quite high with the toilet paper. BPA is a hormone disruptor and having it in waste water is likely causing problems for marine life. And unfortunately, sources like this, probably means very small amounts of BPA in our tap water. Plastic in our water is beyond disturbing.

Don't put your plastics in the microwave. New tests show it causes BPA to leach out of even the "safe" plastics, numbers 1, 2 and 5.

And in creepy consumer news, despite a ban on phthalates in toys, the Consumer Product Safety Commission is allowing toys containing unsafe plastics to be sold throughout the holiday season, until February 10, 2009. Especially try to avoid buying soft plastic bath toys and teething rings for anyone this Christmas.

Links:
Holy S#@T:There's BPA in my Recycled Toilet Paper
Is it Safe to Microwave Plastic?
Get your Phthalates Cheap for Christmas at a Store near you
Piri's Anti-Plastic Spiel

Blog Action Day - Water - Its clean because we're rich

I know participating in Blog Action Day was my idea, but I have been having a hard time coming up with what to post about. I have already posted about my current favorite causes, being anti-plastic and a locavore. With most of my other favorite issues, our blog readership are already on the same page. Since the official Blog Action Day theme for 2008 is poverty (I didn't mention it on my other post, because I wanted to see what you would come up with), I decided to post about water.

Water is necessary for all forms of life, it is one of the most basic human needs. Clean water is now more precious then ever before. The facts are staggering. Over one billion people do not have access to clean drinking water. Millions of people spend hours a day collecting water, and it is often unsafe and polluted. A kid dies every 15 seconds from a water-related disease. 88% of all diseases are caused by unsafe drinking water and poor sanitation. Yikes.

$25 will provide one person, clean water for life. It may not feel like it lately (or ever), but if you have money in the bank, cash in your wallet and spare change hanging around somewhere you among the 8% of the most wealthy people on earth. WaterPartners is a non-profit organization that funds community-based, sustainable water supply and sanitation projects in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Kenya, Bangladesh, India, and the Philippines. That definitely is not local, but it is a good cause.

I'd still like to hear from the rest of you for Blog Action Day, especially those of you who haven't posted yet (Hallie, Andelle - this means you!).

Links:
Poverty Facts
Water Facts
State of the Village Report
Donate to WaterPartners International