Our Fearless Leader

Here is Ben, riding to school. He is leading the way in points for our family. Go Ben!

Day Three: No Car/Low Car Challenge

Ben ( my 11 year old son) is worried.  He knows that one family has taken a strong lead...they earned 100 points in the first day.  Ben used this morning at breakfast to lead a family strategy session.  Here are my favorite quotes....

Ben " What do you mean you're picking me up from school?  I can't ride home?" 

Later, we were discussing how we would get to the soccer games this weekend : "Mom, we could ride to Stoughton, it would just take us a long time "  (Note: Stoughton is 20 miles away.)

And finally, "Ok this Friday, the whole family has to walk or bike somewhere!"

Ben has emerged as our leader in this challenge and he is putting the pressure on our family to perform. Are we up to the challenge?  Stay tuned......

We're off!

Yesterday was the first day of No Car/Low Car Challenge!

My son Ben rode to school for the first time...with his friend Micah.

I heard from several families who walked and rode..to school, to work, to Walgreens, to the
library. Obviously a little friendly neighborhood competition has inspired us to get moving. We are off to a great start!

I also know several readers, who are not able to participate in the full challenge but are trying to find at least one "travel action" they can take. My colleague Jill didn't renew her parking space and is now taking the bus to work on a regular basis. Go Jill!!

Why we Boycott Exon

I used to boycott Exon because of their response ( or lack of it) to the Exon Valdez disaster. Now I have another reason...

Turns out Exon pays people to question climate science. I work in tobacco control and this is a classic big industry tactic.

Here's how it works. Let's say you make a lot of money making a product ( say cigarettes) and research shows cigarettes kill people. You don't have to disprove that science. You can create your own...that shows the opposite. All you have you have to do is create doubt.

For years the tobacco industry could point to research that questioned whether tobacco was really bad for your health. We found out later...it was research they had funded.

Looks like Exon is borrowing a page from tobacco industry play books.

When you are driving...where do you get gas? I wish I had a clear cut ethical winner..but I don't
"There is no socially responsible oil company" ( according to Green America's Director, Vicki Kreha, but some are a little better than others.

According to Responsibleshopper.org, the top three are Sunoco, Hess and BP. (They were rated on environment, human rights, labor, ethics, and health.) Exonmobil is at the bottom of the list.

So for now, we fill up at BP..the only one in the top three I have been able to find in our area.

No Car/Low Car Challenge Coming Soon

Here is the email I sent out inviting families to compete in the No Car/Low Car Challenge.

To those families willing to accept the challenge, here are the rules for the upcoming No Car/Low Car 10 Day Challenge

Dates of the Challenge: Sept 8-17 with the celebration potluck Friday Sept 18.

The goal: Get as many points as you can. Winning family or team is the one with the most points.

How do you get points:
*Walk or bike to your destination 5 points ( each way) So riding to school and back would be 10 points.
*Bus to destination: 3 points
*Car pool: 2 points

FAQ ( well, someone asked them at least once)
1.Do you think the kids might cheat?...meaning will they walk or bike to a destination they hadn't planned on going to for the sole purpose of gaining more points. Answer: I hope so!

2. Will people be honest about recording the trips they take (and not making up trips)
Answer: We are all on the honor system with reporting

3. Do I get any points for riding my new (gas powered) scooter? Answer: No

4. Can we invite other families to join?
A. Please do..the more the merrier!

5. What do we win?
A. Winning family doesn't have to bring anything to the potluck ( this seems to be more motivational for the adults in the crowd. Additional kid friendly prize ideas are welcome!)

Best quote so far: When I invited Dave V to join the challenge...he responded "We'll kick your butt" at which point Seth (11 years old) leaned in close and whispered "Is my family in?"

Who else will accept the challenge?

We're Back!!

We've been on vacation from blogging for almost 2 months! And loving it!

Here are the boys at the Traditional Ways Gathering on the Bad River Reservation on Lake Superior. Ben is holding a rawhide knive sheath. Nate made a rawhide pouch.

The boys made beeswax candles and hobo stoves. Nate worked on a clay oven and Ben started a fishing net. They both loved traditional archery.

We spent the week camping and learning traditional skills. All week the boys said "When we come back next year..."

My favorite quote was from Ben (11yrs). We stopped at hotel for a night on the way back to Madison and Ben said "Look, our room has a compost bucket ( i.e. ice bucket)"

September Action: reduce our car travel. Stay tuned for details of our No car/Low Car Challenge.

CDC conference goes green

I'm in Atlanta at a Health Marketing conference ( if you are following the blog closely..you know I published a few conference posts to this blog! Sorry! They were supposed to go on my other blog.)

I thought I'd share some things this conference is doing to "go green"

• Conference tote bag, name tag lanyard, and program agenda are all made from recycled materials
• No plastic water bottles or plastic cups- real glasses for water
• No handouts: you can request to have slides emailed to you

Little by little we are becoming more aware!