Pharmaceutical Giants Resist Maine's "Take it Back" Drive

The state of Maine has had enough.

A recent AP investigation revealed that concentrations of pharmaceuticals are showing up on our nation’s drinking water – everything from antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones.

Maine wants to become the first state to require drug companies to collect and properly dispose of unused medications. The idea is being cheered by state agencies, public health and environmental advocates.

Rep. Anne Perry, D-Calais, the bill’s sponsor said “there’s a great deal of support. But drug companies don’t want to see this (happen).”

Drug manufacturers would have until January, under Perry’s bill, to establish a system to collect unwanted or expired prescriptions and over-the-counter medications. Mainers would also be allowed to mail in unwanted pills and other medications, should this bill become law.

At least 5 states have proposed similar legislation, though none have as yet become law.

Maine already has a first-in-the nation mail-in program, with mailers available in pharmacies around the state. Success has its drawbacks, however. Some stores have already run out of the envelopes, and the program has run out of funding.

“Unfortunately,” Perry said, “we’re seeing more and more of the (drug) waste getting into our waters. These are side effects of just having all these pills sitting around.”

Pharmaceutical industry representatives argue the cost of such a “take back” program would be upwards of $20 million a year.

Marjorie Powell, senior assistant general counsel for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, said the bill would do more harm than good.

“We think it’s not necessary and it potentially raises several additional risks,” Powell said. It would, for example, “make an easy target for theft and lead to increased drug abuse,” she said.

“All of our scientific and some other groups’ studies say if you dispose of unused medicines in the household trash, that is a safe way of disposing it,” Powell said.

Sounds simple, but the reality shows the problem is much larger and complex.

In November 2008, a four-hour medication collection in Brunswick, Maine netted over 16,000 doses of controlled substances such as prescription pain pills and 825 pounds of other medications.

“If we’re getting that much in this little area,” said Connie Lewis of Harpswell, who helped organize unwanted-medication collections as part of the Merrymeeting Bay TRIAD, “imagine what’s out there.”

Expect drug companies to fight Maine and the other states to prevent something so responsible from becoming law.

Pharmaceutical Giants Resist Maine’s “Take it Back” Drive

A recent AP investigation revealed that concentrations of pharmaceuticals are showing up on our nation’s drinking water – everything from antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones.

The state of Maine has had enough.

They want to become the first state to require drug companies to collect and properly dispose of unused medications.  The idea is being cheered by state agencies, public health and environmental advocates.

Rep. Anne Perry, D-Calais, the bill’s sponsor said “there’s a great deal of support. But drug companies don’t want to see this (happen).”

Drug manufacturers would have until January, under Perry’s bill, to establish a system to collect unwanted or expired prescriptions and over-the-counter medications.  Mainers would also be allowed to mail in unwanted pills and other medications, should this bill become law.

At least 5 states have proposed similar legislation, though none have as yet become law.

Maine already has a first-in-the nation mail-in program, with  mailers available in pharmacies around the state. Success has its drawbacks, however. Some stores have already run out of the envelopes, and the program has run out of funding.

“Unfortunately,” Perry said, “we’re seeing more and more of the (drug) waste getting into our waters. These are side effects of just having all these pills sitting around.”

Pharmaceutical industry representatives argue the cost of such a “take back” program would be upwards of $20 million a year.

Marjorie Powell, senior assistant general counsel for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, said the bill would do more harm than good.

“We think it’s not necessary and it potentially raises several additional risks,” Powell said.  It would, for example, “make an easy target for theft and lead to increased drug abuse,” she said.

“All of our scientific and some other groups’ studies say if you dispose of unused medicines in the household trash, that is a safe way of disposing it,” Powell said.

Sounds simple, but the reality shows the problem is much larger and complex.

In November 2008, a four-hour medication collection in Brunswick, Maine netted over 16,000 doses of controlled substances such as prescription pain pills and 825 pounds of other medications.

“If we’re getting that much in this little area,” said  Connie Lewis of Harpswell, who helped organize unwanted-medication collections as part of the Merrymeeting Bay TRIAD, “imagine what’s out there.”

Expect drug companies to fight Maine and the other states to prevent something so responsible from becoming law.

Swine Flu Likely Not from Pigs

According to the Paris-based World Organisation for Animal Health, the “swine flu” isn’t attributed to pigs at all, but contains components of avian and human elements instead.

In a recent statement, the Paris-based World Organisation for Animal Health, also known as the OIE, said “the virus has not been isolated in animals to date. Therefore it is not justified to name this disease swine influenza.”

To call it the “North American influenza” is more logical, they said.

Director-general of the European Commission’s health and food safety department Robert Madelin said the European Union was placing no trade restrictions on imports since swine flu had nothing to do with the food chain.

The World Health Organization has dismissed any risk of infection from consuming pork, saying swine flu has not shown to be transmissible to humans through eating properly handled and prepared pork, or other pig products.

Fears of a possible global flu pandemic that would hurt fragile world economies led to a broad-based decline in stocks, oil and other commodity markets on Monday.

With several notable health organizations still investigating the source of this serious virus, caution rather than panic is called for. More information will be forthcoming as to cause and treatment. In the meantime, responsible reporting rather than a grab for shocking headlines is called for until more facts are known.

Kleenex – their Non-Sustainable Logging Practices

Softness is nice but not at the expense of our old growth forests. Kimberly-Clark, makers of Kleenex, is purported to still be harvesting wood from old growth forests, including the Boreal Forest, logging in areas containing trees 180 years old or more.

If this weren’t enough, Kimberly-Clark also purchases fiber from companies that both clear-cut and log in ecologically critical Canadian habitat.

Despite protests by K-C corporate about their sustainability practices, seems that “greenwashing” is alive and well. Cutting down old growth trees while saying you only use “100 percent recycled tree products” sounds suspiciously like a corporate game of “let’s see what the consumer will believe” or a sophisticated “shell” game.

The next time you buy tissues, remember that hype doesn’t mean it’s true.

A Cool Way to Recycle your Favorite Ride

Remember your favorite hot rod? Have an old “clunker” you love but your friends or family feels is an eyesore? Now there’s a way to keep that love alive in an earth-friendly way.

A 62 Ford Galaxie transforms into a unique coffee table

An enterprising Texan can turn “the love of your life” into furniture, even amazing art.  Joel Hester’s The Weld House in suburban Dallas specializes in creating handmade steel furniture from 20 year old cars and trucks. The end results are astonishing, beautiful and unique.

For details and pictures, see www.joelhester.com.

PG&E Plans to Beam Solar Energy From Space

PG&E recently announced plans to create a solar station to produce what they hope will be affordable renewable energy, sending microwave beams of electricity into our homes.

Solar Space project

The solar “station” would consist of solar-powered satellites located 22,000 miles above the Earth’s equator that would produce 200 megawatts of power by 2016. To meet this lofty goal, PG&E has partnered with SolarEn Corp, a California-based company. The solar station – possibly miles across – would convert the sun’s rays into electricity, convert them to radio waves, then beam them back to Earth to a receiving station currently planned to be outside Fresno, California.

The proposed Solar Space Station in action

The estimated cost of this sci-fi sounding project is around $2 billion. 

SolarEn CEO Gary Spirnak confidently expects they’ll be able to generate 1.2 to 4.8 gigawatts of power at a price that is comparable to other forms of renewable energy.

To view an interview with SolarEn’s Spirnak, see http://tinyurl.com/ccn3pa

Even the Friendly Skies are Going Green

It’s official. Green is everywhere. From green building to tote bags, from hybrids to clothing, you can’t turn around without hearing or reading about another environmentally-friendly company or product.

Now United Airlines has announced that as part of their “environmental commitment”, they, along with their “partner” Conservation International,  have launched a carbon offset program to “counter the impact of carbon emissions.

Fascinating that United would announce this on Earth Day. Whether it’s merely a ploy to capitalize on one of the largest environmentally-focused days of the year or a make-a-difference venture, the timing raises a red flag of caution.

Consumers should investigate this before jumping on this bandwagon.

Use the Internet and Help the Environment

A US Senator’s brainchild has become a grassroots movement since the first Earth Day on April 22,1970. People and countries across the globe have begun addressing a growing list of environmental issues.

Also since then, a growing number of innovations and creative programs have sprung up to further the original Earth Day idea that one person can make a difference.

A great example involves something most of us do everyday – use the computer.

A brother and sister in southern California teamed up to put the power of the internet to work to help the environment.

Every time you do an online search, advertisers pay a fee when you click on any link. In 2005-2006, search engines generated almost $6 billion from those searches.

Ken and JJ Ramberg, co-founders of GoodSearch, LLC, wondered if they could redirect some of that money to good causes. To test that idea, in late 2005, they launched GoodSearch.com, a Yahoo-powered search engine. The site was so successful, says JJ, they launched GoodShop.com, an online shopping mall, in 2007.

Between the two sites, she says, “You get good search results and, on the shopping side, you get great shopping. And it helps your favorite cause”

These ideas are so commonsense, how come no one thought about this before?

Since their introduction, hundreds of environmental groups have signed on to partner with these sites.

GoodSearch works like any search engine, with an added step. Before entering your search criteria, first enter which non-profit you want your search to contribute to. Click on “Verify” and, a moment later you’re ready to go. Each time you do this, GoodSearch donates half their revenues (about one penny) to your selected charity, at no cost to you!

Easy to navigate, GoodSearch can be set as your homepage or added to your list of browsers.

“We started GoodSearch for people to do something to give back in their everyday life without (taking) extra time or extra money,” said Ramberg.

Ramberg says they currently work with around 77,000 non-profits and schools and receive around 100 new applications every day from non-profits. If you don’t see a group you want to donate to on their list, submit a name to be included. GoodSearch verifies every organization, a process that takes about a week.

Anyone can use GoodSearch from anywhere in the world, says Ramberg. The organizations they list are exclusively in the U.S., but many support causes overseas.

“Green” organizations of every size and type are involved, including the Nature Conservancy, the National Resource Defense Council, and northern California’s Cottonwood Creek Watershed Group.

It’s a great fundraiser for non-profits, who’ve taken a large hit with the current economy.

For shopping minded consumers, GoodShop lets you give two ways – you help others and gift yourself

Though they don’t have local retailers, GoodShop has over 1,000 large, mostly national retail stores listed on their website. And another cool incentive to use them – GoodShop lists coupons & deals for these stores! You have to shop online to use them, though.

“Not only are you helping a fair cause,” says Ramberg. “You save money at the same time!”

Alex Lake, an NYU student who’s been using GoodShop for about a year, agrees.

An admitted fan of the environment, Lake says she “was never an online shopper before using GoodShop. Now she shops there all the time – “too much,” she laughed.

“I want to support (my favorite) organizations,” she said.

“There’s no reason to be skeptical,” Lake says. “It’s literally getting money out of thin air, not out of your own pocket.”

This Earth Day, make a difference to the environment. You’re going to use the computer anyway.

As Lake says, “Why not support an organization you care about?”

How Green Are You?

Curious how green  your lifestyle really is? GoGreenScore is a simple way to find out.

This short survey, complete with interactive graphics, demonstrates what level green your daily life is. It only takes a few minutes to see how your choices measure up. And don’t worry, it’s not about guilt. It just demonstrates where you are and let’s you see where you could make small changes.

After taking the survey, take a look at the green tips for ideas on how to up your level of green. And remember, it’s those small simple changes that make the difference!

Check out GoGreenScore.org for a fun and easy way to celebrate Earth Day every day.

Use Earth Day to Make A Global Difference

Now 40 years old, Earth Day has always been a celebration of possibilities, a recognition that we humans must make some changes in how we treat the planet and, by extension, each other.

Of the many choices we’re faced with, perhaps the greatest is an opportunity to make a difference in the life of someone else.