A great article about sustainable development and urban sprawl in New Brunswick, from the Telegraph Journal, Monday, August 23, 2010.

Protect N.B.'s rural appeal

Over the past several months I have be having a sensitivity to milk. I couldn't quite figure out whether it was an allergy or just lactose intolerance, but I knew that it was making me sick.

I heard about Anew Start Allergy Clinic here in Fredericton, and the amazing things that Lori, the Doctor of Natural Medicine, does for people there.

So, skeptically, knowing only that the process of diagnosis would include muscle testing and viles full of water, I ventured over. And what transpired amazed me.

Lori's techniques are based on NAET, or Nambudripad's Allergy Elimination Techniques, as indicated on their website, are "a non-invasive, drug free, natural solution to eliminate allergies of all types and intensities using a blend of selective energy balancing, testing and treatment procedures from acupuncture/acupressure, allopathy, chiropractic, nutritional, and kinesiological disciplines of medicine"

When I arrived, I held a series of viles in my hand, while Lori tested the muscles in my opposite arm, by pushing down, while I resisted up. Each of the viles were charged with a different electromagnetic charged, base on a binary code. I never thought it would actually work, honestly. But, lo and behold, not knowing what was in each of the viles, my suspicions were validated. I indeed have a milk allergy. Casein, a milk protein, in particular. My arm dropped like I was holding a tonne of bricks. Too see how the testing works, click here.

I do have a sensitivity to a few other things, but right now, I am going to be treated for my milk allergy. And from what Lori says, after a few treatments, I should be able to tolerate milk again. And boy, would I seriously love to stop reading each and every ingredient on labels! The treatment consists of holding on to the viles, while nerves in your back are stimulated at the pressure points, or by acupuncture. This releases energy through the body, and 12 meridians, and trains the body that what in in the viles (in this case milk and casein)  are not a threat. Sounds a little witch doctor-ish I know, but people have been cured in the past! I will reserve judgement until I can sit down in front of a bowl of Peanut Butter Fudge Crunch.

What does all of this have to do with the environment? It's all natural! I am so happy not to have to be filling my body full of medication to try and solve my milk issue. The testing was non-invasive, as is the treatment. Which makes me happy. No needles, no pills, no poking, prodding, dermal scratching, or anything!

If you have allergy problems, or a sensitivity, check for a NAET certified practitioner near you! You don't have anything to lose, except for your allergies!

BPA - or bisphenol-A - has been exposed! I have always know that it's bad, very bad, but alas, knowing that 91% of all Canadian are walking around with some BPA in their bodies at all time, it's difficult not to continue to be discouraged about it's prevalence.

Health Effects of BPA (www.ewg.org)

StatsCan came out yesterday with new data from the Canadian Health Measures Survey, with new information about the levels of toxins like BPA, lead and mercury in the bodies of Canadians. And the data is disturbing. It actually makes me want to vomit! Check out the table to the right, published by the Environmental Working Group in the US, as to the effects of BPA.

After reading Slow Death by Rubber Duck, written by Environmental Defense's Rick Smith, and his compatriot Bruce Lourie, my whole world changed! As I have mentioned in the past, I have done a complete overhaul of my bathroom vanity, and ditched anything and everything toxic I could find. Cold turkey. At least I felt better about what I was putting on my body, but was still largely unphased about the plastic that loomed in my kitchen!

I always do my best to use as little plastic as possible when cooking or storing food, and NEVER heat food in plastic. That is like the epitome evil in the BPA world! Almost 100% of my food storage containers are glass and I choose stainless steel water bottles, a good old fashioned glass tumbler, or ceramic mug for my water. I even have an insulated stainless mug for my coffee! As of yesterday, I voided my life of plastic cooking utensils, and have begun to replace them with stainless or renewable wood products. I refuse to be held captive by plastics anymore!!

And on another note, I have always paid strict attention when gifting to others, especially my friends who are with child. No more plastic toys and/or sippy cups (which I don't normally gift anyhow), but I will pay even more attention moving forward.

I think each of us can pay a little more heed to the plastics that surround us and that we use everyday. There is lots of information out there, and since yesterday, there will undoubtedly be more and more research done on BPA and its effects. Check out the stories that CBC has done on BPA over the past couple of days.

I encourage everyone reading this to take a pledge to reduce the amount of plastic in their lives, and make one or two small changes to reduce the amount of BPA you are ingesting. After all, the silver lining in all of this, is that BPA has a short half-life of 6 hours, so the more we limit our exposure, the less of the harmful chemical we will be harbouring.

What are you doing to limit your exposure? Let me know!

One of my most favorite places in the world is St. Andrews-by-the-Sea. I was fortunate enough to have spent my childhood summers there; and now, I appreciate my weekends there even more as an adult!

My grandfather was born there, and it has always been a part of my family, and hopefully it always will be! I cannot pinpoint why it is I feel so much better when I am there - more rested and relaxed - but it undoubtedly has to do with the fresh, salt air, crisp summer nights, and laid back way of life.

I have been thinking a lot lately about the sustainability of this small town. And it's the same story with so many small, coastal towns. Can tourism still create a vibrant economy that is needed for the community to thrive? Will the aquaculture industry adapt to climate change enough to still be an economic driver in the region? And on the social side, are communities of this size able to maintain services enough to support its residents, and keep them from moving to big cities?

Perhaps what frightens me the most though, is the environmental impacts that climate change will inevitably have on beautiful St. Andrews. We all know that the water is warming, there are fewer fish species surviving, and the water levels are rising. They have already had to move the original lighthouse back from the shore, and build a new support for it, because of erosion. And the signs of this are everywhere. New rock walls being built by homeowners, and more support structures being put in place. It scares me to think of what might happen to the gorgeous waterfront homes in the next 50 or so years.

Visting St. Andrews and revelling in it's beauty really makes me think about how we are treating our planet, and the significant effects it is causing. I feel so lucky to have a place like that to go, and I hate taking it for granted. I hope that other people are having the same experience that I am having - whether in St. Andrews, Peggy's Cove, Bar Harbor or any other coastal town like them.

Please, breath in the air, feel the cool salt water on your toes, and think about our earth. Sustainability. And what it means for future generations being able to enjoy these places like we are able to now.