13 Disgusting Food Facts

Fast food has always been a bit dodgy in my estimation. Rules seem a bit lax; and, the food is usually cooked by sweaty-looking individuals who may have mopped their fevered brows with their hands and then forgotten to wash them. Oh, face it, I'm paranoid about anyone who prepares my food.

I have developed an incredible distrust of some of the ingredients that are used in prepared foods. Just because something tastes good does not mean it is good for me.

Now it would appear that all my so-called "over-reacting" and "conspiracy theorizing" has proven to be well warranted. I give you the disgusting, unvarnished truth behind prepared foods.

We’ve all heard the horror stories about fast food restaurants. These facts will definitely make you think twice about super-sizing; or, even entering a fast-food restaurant at all.

1. An average person’s yearly fast-food intake will contain 12 pubic hairs. - I don't know about you; but, even one pubic hair is WAY over my limit.

2. Most fast-food chains depend on their fries being crispy on the outside and soft on the inside to draw customers to their place. But how many people know how this is accomplished. The majority of fast-food restaurants dip their fries in sugar before frying them to achieve the crispy/soft interplay on the fries. It's the sugar that gives those fries that lovely golden colour we all love; but, can't achieve at home. Now you know why. So when you order fast-food fries, recognize that you are getting all the fat, all the starch; and, a side of sugar.

3. Do you know how many chemicals it takes to make those "natural" flavours they use in milkshakes, etc? The strawberry flavor contains 50 different chemicals. To make a natural strawberry flavour that would please the customer, fast-food corporations decided that it was alright to use chemicals such as ethyl acetate (used in solvents), phenythyl alcohol, rose, and solvent. Believe it or not - it's cheaper than using real strawberries; and, money (not customer health) is the bottom line.

4. Where's truth in advertising when you need it? Some grilled chicken sandwiches and salads on fast-food menus contain beef. An example of this would be McDonald's Chicken McNuggets. McNuggests contain several beef additives disguised with meaningless secret names like “extract” or “essence”. These secret names do nothing to reveal the true contents of what is being eaten; but, are used to deceive the customers into thinking the food is healthier than it is. Currently, offenders include Wendy’s Grilled Chicken Sandwich and KFC’s Grilled Chicken Sandwich.

5. Hamburgers are made in huge factories with the meat from many different animals combined into one batch. This increases the risk of contamination to many batches; and, prevents the outbreak (if one should occur) from being localized. This makes the point of origin of the contaminated meat very diffult to trace. When mixed with other hamburger into several batches, not only does the risk of contamination increase; but, the area it could contaminate expands as well. Contaminated meat has the potential to sicken hundreds, if not thousands, of people across the country.

6. Propylene Glycerol used in applications such as antifreeze, paint, and detergent is also used to keep the salad bar offerings crispy. This chemical is known for causing skin and eye irritation; and, comes with an official alert. Small embarrassing aside: If you are a user of Astroglide Sexual Lubricant you might want to check the list of ingredients (skin irritants and all that).

7. Unless you are a walking fanatic, you might want to skip the super-sized Coke, large fries and a Big Mac. It would require walking seven hours straight to burn it off.

Beverages & Sauces

You’ll be surprised when you read these facts about the ingredients used in your favorite beverages and sauces.

8. The highest-priced; and, possibly the most revolting coffee in the world comes from civet droppings. Apparently, those who have tried it have declared the taste to be sublime. I would be worrying about the cleanliness of the bean when it was ground. Kopi Luwak is the trade name of these specially-collected beans when ready for use. The civets love the berry and feast on the ripe, aromatic coffee bean fruit. They swallow the partially-eaten berry; and,excrete the pit or bean. The beans are recovered from the civet droppings, cleaned, dried, and prepared for sale. For some reason, the beans are only usable after they have passed through the digestive tract of a civet. The beans sell for $120 - $600 per pound and are primarily sold in the U.S. and Japan.

9. A study of over 900 bottles of bottled water including 100 store brands were tested by the National Resources Defense Council. Synthetic organic chemicals, bacteria, and arsenic was found in approximately one-third of the bottles sampled. So...what does one drink? A glass of good, old-fashioned tap water drawn from the public water supply may contain as many as 115,000 man-made chemicals.

10. Pink grapefruit juice drinks or any other processed food that requires a pink, red or purple hue may contain bugs. These bugs are deliberately added; and, have even received the dubious honour of being labelled as a "food colouring". It is listed by the consumer-deceiving name of chochineal extract, carmine, or carmines acid. The reddish "food colouring" is obtained by crushing an insect named Dactylopius Coccus Costa; and, using the powder in many processed food that require a red, pink or purple tint.

11. Worcestershire sauce is made from anchovies soaked in vinegar until they are totally dissolved. The anchovies are soaked whole; and, when the fish are totally liquefied they are used to give the world-renowned sauce its distinctive flavour.

12. The pH level of phosphoric acid found in cola is so acidic that is equivalent to the pH level of vinegar. Coca-Cola is most acidic beverage ever sold to the public. Amuse yourself - the next time you see a truck carrying a load of concentrated Coke,look for the "highly-corrosive materials" sign.

13. Water is reusable. So basically, an allotment of the water you’ve been drinking has already been drunk by someone else. Maybe even more than once. Delightful, isn't it?

Via ForensicScienceTechnician

Japanese Whaling Ships Rams The Bob Barker

First, the Ady Gil - now the Bob Barker. On January 6, 2010 while trying to save Japanese whaling ships from illegally capturing and killing whales, the Ady Gil, a trimaran, was deliberately rammed by the whaler Shonan Maru II. Fortunately, none of the crew was killed; but, one crew member suffered broken ribs. Not only was the ramming a deliberate act of attempted murder; after they smashed the much smaller vessel, there was no attempt to determine if anyone had gone overboard and required rescuing. This is a breach of Maritime law. The Maru II continued on its way still drenching the floundering vessel with their water cannons.

Here is the video of the Ady Gil being rammed by the Shonan Maru II.



Now, 1 month to the day, another ramming. Hummmm...coincidence - I think not. This time, it's the Bob Barker. The picture below shows some of the damage caused by the ramming.

Some of the damage sustained by the Bob Barker after the ramming. Photo courtesy: Sea Shepard Conservation Society

This most recent ramming was the result of the Sea Shepard vessel, Bob Barker, managing to get into and stay in position to block the slipway of the Nisshin Maru. The slipway is essential in the transfer of whale carcasses from the harpoon ships to the factory ship. The slipway is ramp by which the whales are hauled aboard the factory ship to be processed. With the slipway blocked, the illegal whaling operations are brought to a halt.

The Bob Barker and its entirely volunteer crew had caught up with the factory ship, the Nisshin Maru, in the Antarctic waters off Australia. The crew had planned to stay in this position off the stern until either the whalers returned home or the Bob Barker ran out of fuel. At this time, they were also awaiting backup from the Steve Irwin and crew who were racing to the area to join the protest.

The Nisshin Maru and the Bob Barker had been surrounded by four other whaling vessels – the Yushin Maru 1, 2, and 3; as well as, the infamous Shonan Maru 2 which was responsible for ramming the Ady Gil exactly one month ago to the day. This ramming was an act of blatant aggression while some believe that the captain of the Shonan Maru 2 should be charged with attempted murder.

Captain Chuck Swift was quoted as saying before the ramming of the Bob Barker, “As we sit in the shadow of this cetacean death machine, I’m proud to captain this ship and fine crew on such a noble mission. We will end these illegal operations once and for all, thanks to support from our staff and supporters the world over.”

Everything changed at 12:09 pm, Fremantle, Australia time, when the Yushin Maru 3 intentionally rammed the Sea Shepherd ship Bob Barker, penetrating its hull and endangering the lives of its crew. The collision occurred about 180 miles off Cape Darnley in the Australian Antarctic Territory.

The four harpoon ships, the Yushin Maru 1, 2, and 3 and Shonan Maru 2 had been circling the Bob Barker making near-miss passes from the stern to the bow of the vessel. This was obviously meant to be threatening; but, the Bob Barker stood its ground. When the Bob Barker refused to be intimidated, the harpoon ship, the Yushin Maru 3, intentionally rammed the Bob Barker leaving a 3’ long by 4” deep gash in the mid-starboard side of the vessel above the waterline.

No crew members were injured during the collision and the Bob Barker remains steadfast in holding its position in the slipway of the Nisshin Maru despite the damage to the vessel. This makes it pointless for the harpoon ships to continue whaling as they are unable to transfer the carcasses to the factory ship for processing.

This most recent incident proves the violence demonstrated by the crews of the whaling fleet vessels is escalating; and, they have absolutely no regard for the lives of the crew members of the vessels they ram. They have already demonstrated this by ramming the Ady Gil; and, then leaving the area without checking for survivors.

Captain Paul Watson says, “Because the whalers got away basically scot-free with the outrageous sinking of the Ady Gil, they now apparently think they can do whatever they want and they appear to have no qualms about endangering Sea Shepherd crew. What we really need is for the governments of Australia and New Zealand to step up and start enforcing maritime laws in these waters, or who know what the whalers will do next. Australian and New Zealand lives are at risk every day in these waters."

This video shows the ramming of the Bob Barker.



Via Sea Shepard Conservation Society

Natural Toothache Remedy

Cloves - a natural pain killer. Photo courtesy: Care2

Got a toothache and the dentist is closed? A natural, temporary remedy for pain is oil of cloves, which has antimicrobial, germicidal and antiseptic properties. It also contains the pain-killing compound eugenol which makes it very effective in relieving dental pain.

Clove oil has long been used in dentistry for a variety of pain-killing and germ-destroying purposes; and, when mixed with zinc oxide is used to create temporary fillings. Cloves found a niche in denistry as an anaesthetic before more modern drugs were available. It is so effective at relieving pain and leaving mouths clean-feeling and germ free that it is used as an ingredient in quite a number of dental products, including toothpastes and mouthwashes.

Clove oil is potent, and this is definitely a case of less is more. Undiluted clove oil can cause serious problems: burning, nerve and tissue damage, and pain. Excessive use can cause vomiting. This oil should not be ingested in large quantities nor applied to broken skin. Children, pregnant or nursing women, and people with bleeding disorders, diabetes, kidney or liver disease should not use clove oil.

To make a dental compress, mix two drops of pure clove oil with 1/4 teaspoon olive oil. Saturate a gauze pad or cotton ball with the mixture and place it beside the tooth. You can also take a wet cotton swab and a dot of oil and apply it directly to the site of infection. Be precise to avoid unpleasant sensations to the tongue. Prior to using the compress, clean area as gently and thoroughly as possible, removing any food particles. Pain relief should kick in pretty fast.

If you have a Water Pik-type device at home, put a drop or two of clove oil in the water chamber and throughly clean the affected area. Pain relief is swift.

If the toothache involves a molar, you can gently bite down on the cotton ball, leaving it there as long as possible. However, do not go to sleep with any compress in your mouth.

This remedy is for short-term pain relief. Any persistent dental pain should promptly receive the attention of a dentist.

Oil of cloves can be purchased over-the-counter at many pharmacies or at your local health food store.

Via Care2

Travelling Tip

Going on a long trip? Taking containers of shampoo, condition, lotions and other gooey beauty accessories? Try putting your containers of liquids in a zip-lock type bag and seal. This way, if the lids to your bottles come off or loosen up, the liquid is contained in the bag and stays off the other items in your suitcase.

Monster Shark Strikes Off Coast of Australia

The great white after being savaged at sea (Pic: Courier Mail)

In the early days of water exploration, sailors were fearful of falling off the edge of the world or being attacked by a giant sea monster and dragged into the waves to drown. Since that time, we have learned that the world is round not flat; and, that sea monsters do not exist…or do they?

The picture above shows a 10’ great white shark that was found thrashing around attached to a baited hook on a drum line with two massive bite wounds that removed sizeable chunks of his body. This fatally-injured shark was found off the Queensland coast.

The ill-fated shark was savaged after it got snared on the drum line – an alternative to shark nets. A drum line consists of a marker buoy (or drum) that floats on the surface of the water. The line is located a great distance from the beach. Attached to the buoy are two ropes – one rope is connected to an anchor and the other rope is connected to a baited hook. The baited hook draws the shark to the buoy rather than the beach; and, usually the shark is hooked. If not hooked, at least the shark is removed from the vicinity of the beach. The drum line in question was near North Stradbroke Island, east of Brisbane.

The wounded creature was still alive when a crew hauled it onto a boat, close to Deadman's Beach.

Experts estimate that the winner of this encounter could be up to 20’ in length. Beachgoers are reeling from the news. Any shark that can bite almost clean through a great white can easily dispense with a human.

"It certainly opened up my eyes. I mean the shark that was caught is a substantial shark in itself," Queensland Fisheries' Jeff Krause told Australia's Daily Telegraph.

An alert has been issued warning swimmers and surfers not to enter the waters near the island. Tourists at a nearby tourist resort – Surfer’s Paradise, south of Brisbane, are concerned as well.

Surfer Ashton Smith, 19, of the Gold Coast, told the Courier Mail: "I've heard about the big one lurking. Every surfer is always cautious over here."

Fisheries Minister, Tim Muherin, says there are no specific plans for finding the huge attacking shark; but, contractors have reset the drum lines

Via skynews

Giant Squid Invade California Again

Giant Humboldt squid weighing up to 60 pounds have invaded the California waters off Newport Beach. The squid appeared last week and immediately attracted sports fisherman hoping to catch the supersize squid. In this photo released by Newport Landing Sport Fishing, Seth Zea, left, from Irvine, Calif., and Frankie Duenas, right, from Anaheim, hold the giant squid they caught Jan. 31, 2010, off the coast of Newport Beach, Calif. (Liz Garcia/Newport Landing Sport Fishing/AP Photo)

On July 22, 2009, I wrote a blog on giant Humboldt squid invading California waters. Now, approximately 6 months later, the waters off Newport Beach are being invaded by giant Humboldt squid up to 60 lb (27 kg) in weight. Sport fishermen are taking advantage of this and the squid are being caught by the hundreds.

Squid are best jigged for at night; so, local fishermen started booking twilight fishing trips to better catch the goliaths. Robert Woodbury, from Newport Landing Sportfishing, told the LA Times that the anglers come in two main types: those hungry for the relatively pricey delicacy; and, the sports angler eager to tangle with a feistier sea creature.

"Most of the fish we catch are better to eat; but, they don't give you much of a fight." He went on to say that the squid "trying to crawl around and blow ink all over everybody."

Robert Woodbury verified that approximately 400 squid had been caught since January 29, 2009. Most of the squid caught weigh in between 20 – 40 lb.; but, a few fishermen have reeled in huge 60 lb. creatures. Humboldts are also called jumbo squid or jumbo flying squid. Their main weapon of defense is the dense ink they squirt everywhere when threatened. They can grow to an immense 100 lb. in weight and 6 ft. in length. They hunt by following food sources.

The squid have also recently been spotted off San Diego, Oregon and Washington, on the West Coast of the United States. Orange County sports fishing businesses were celebrating what should have been an uneventful arrival of the squid. This normally a quiet time of year; but, then the giant Humboldts arrived.

They are not unknown off the coast of America.

In September, 2009, a record-breaking 19 ft long squid, weighing 103 pounds, was caught off the Gulf of Mexico.

Via abcnews and telegraph

Animal Intuition: Oscar, The Cat

In this July 23, 2007 file photo, Oscar, a hospice cat with an uncanny knack for predicting when nursing home patients are going to die, walks past an activity room at the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Providence, R.I. Dr. David Dosa profiles Oscar in a book, 'Making Rounds With Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat.' Photo courtesy: The Associated Press/Stew Milne, File)

Oscar the cat has become quite a celebrity despite his rough-looking appearance and disdainful attitude. He has had a book written about him along with various articles in magazines and on the web; and, even one in a medical journal. Oscar is no one’s cat - he has been known to turn up his nose and walk away when offered a little affection.

Oscar’s story begins in 2005 when the staff of a nursing home adopted him. The medium-haired cat with a gray and brown back and white belly was chosen to be the final touch in making Steere House a home. It was supposed to be Oscar’s job to play with visiting children; and, provide a calming, distraction for visitors and personnel alike.

However, Oscar had other plans. He knew he had bigger work to do. He had a job to perform, a role to play at this facility; and, nothing was going to stop him. In time, Oscar’s stellar performance and record of excellence caused him to become a trusted and valued member of the staff at Steere House.

So, what role does this rescue cat play that has allowed him to become a valued member of the medical team at Steere Home?

It took about a year for his gift to be recognized; but, eventually the staff noticed Oscar’s strange behaviour. He would spend his days and nights pacing from room to room at regular intervals. The doctors at the nursing home had their rounds and Oscar had his.

At each room he would stop, look at the patient(s), sniff the air and move on to the next room. He very rarely entered the rooms – except when the patient inside was about to die. Once a patient had only a few hours to live, Oscar would jump onto their bed and lay beside them in a silent vigil.

Oscar is so accurate that the staff know it’s time to alert family members to the imminent passing of their loved one once Oscar stretches out on the bed beside the patient. Usually, the patient is so ill they have no idea that Oscar is there; however, if kept outside the room of a dying patient, Oscar will cry while scratching at the door and walls until he is let in to do his job.

Once the staff thought Oscar’s amazing streak of prophecy had come to an end when they placed him on the bed of a critically ill patient and he wouldn’t stay. Oscar jumped to the floor and left the room. Staff were confused. What had happened to Oscar's uncanny ability?

The patient actually rallied and survived another two days. When the end came, Oscar needed no reminders to take up his place beside the patient for the final few hours. In this case, the medical profession was wrong; Oscar, the cat, was right.

Dr. David Dosa, a geriatrician and professor at Brown University, is the doctor who wrote the book “Making Rounds With Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat”. He works on the third floor of Steere House which treats patients with severe dementia. Once patients get to Steere House they may already be too ill to speak or recognize friends, spouses and loved ones. Many will spend their last days fluctuating between the past and the present.

At first, Dr. Dosa thought Oscar might spook out the families with his strange talent. Oscar had become a semi-celebrity thanks to an article in the New England Journal of Medicine submitted by Dr. Dosa himself. To his surprise, the families embraced Oscar and even praised his work in newspaper obituaries and eulogies.

"People actually were taking great comfort in this idea, that this animal was there and might be there when their loved ones eventually pass," Dosa said. "He was there when they couldn't be."

"Maybe they're seeing what they want to see," he said, "but what they're seeing is a comfort to them in a real difficult time in their lives."

Dr. Dosa theorizes that Oscar may be able to detect odours given off by dying cells that humans can’t detect. No one knows whether there is a distinct odour to dying that animals can detect; but, logic would say there is. Dogs have been trained to detect drugs, cadavers, and even cancer just using their incredible sense of smell. Cats have a similarly acute sense of smell. Perhaps Oscar really can smell death.

Even if the mystery of how Oscar always knows when death is just hours away is dispelled, nothing explains why this one-time stray chooses to keep vigil with the dying until they eventually pass over. One thing is certain, as long as Oscar lives, no one at Steere House will ever die alone.

Via RealClear Politics

The Stray Dogs of Moscow, Russia

Waiting for the 8:10 To Tverskaya Maxim Marmur, Photo courtesy: The Financial Times

There are approximately 35,000 stray dogs in Moscow, Russia averaging one stray per every 300 Muscovites; or, to put it another way – approximately 84 dogs per square mile.

These stray dogs can be seen everywhere in Moscow – lying in apartment courtyards, roaming the streets, riding the Metro.

Andrei Poyarkov, 56, is a biologist working at the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution in south-west Moscow. Poyarkov specializes in wolves and has dedicated himself to studying the stray dogs of Moscow. His work began about 30 years ago; and, he has discovered some very interesting things.

He maintains that their appearance and behaviour has changed even over the relatively short time he’s been studying them. The stray dogs of Moscow have been around for as long as the city of Moscow Poyarkov claims; and, Vladimir Gilyarovsky, the writer and journalist, reports on them in the last half of the 19th century. Since that time to the present day, the dogs have evolved or de-evolved into a group of animals that all look similar to one another and appear to be somewhere between dogs and wolves. They are all medium-sized with thick fur, wedge-shaped heads, almond eyes, long tails and erect ears.

An interesting observation is that nearly all of the city’s strays are born into the packs. A household pet that is dumped onto the street to fend for itself will almost certainly die. Poyarkov estimates that few than 3% of these pets are accepted by the groups.

Poyarkov has found four specific designations within the stray dog packs. He identifies guard dogs, scavenger, wild dogs and beggars.

The guard dogs attach themselves to personnel, such as guards at secured worksites; and, act as their unofficial assistants. The dogs look upon the personnel as their masters and will perform jobs for them such as accompanying them on their rounds. In exchange, they are rewarded with food and, with any luck, a warm bed for the night.

The scavengers specialize in roaming the streets and eating garbage where ever they may find it. Most Muscovites realize the role these dogs play in keeping the rodent population down by eating the edible scraps on the streets and in the garbages.

The wild dogs most resemble their distant relatives the wolf. These are the ones that hunt mice, rats, and cats when the sun goes down. Again Muscovites realize the role these dogs play in keeping the rodent populations under control.

The beggar dogs; however, are the ones with the most specialized behaviours. Not only have they learned to recognize people who are carrying food; but, they can determine which ones are most likely to share that food with them. A very specialized group of beggars have even learned to ride the subway allowing them to expand their begging territories. (It is important to mention that the residents view these dogs fondly; and, there is even a website dedicated to the subway dogs: http://www.metrodog.ru/). This is the group that appreciates intelligence the most. It is only through cunning and an understanding of people that they manage to remain alive.

It will be interesting to see what other revelations come to light as Vladimir Gilyarovsky continues his studies.

Via popular science and Financial Times

Household Foodstuffs That Double as Cleaners

Photo courtesy: Real Simple

There are quite a few foods that can double as dirt-busting crime fighters. Here are 10 of them, what they clean and how to use them.

Use white bread to: Dust an oil painting. Gently dab a slice of white bread over the surface to pick up dirt and grime. (When finished throw used slice and rest of loaf in garbage. IMHO, the only thing white bread is good for is constipation.)

Use ketchup to: Remove tarnish from copper and brass cookware. Squeeze ketchup onto a cloth and rub it on pots and pans. They should go back to their coppery color in minutes. Rinse with warm water and dry with a towel. This works equally well on brass bedsteads; or, anything else made of brass or copper.

Use oatmeal to: Scrub very dirty hands. Make a thick paste of oatmeal and water; rinse well. If you have a skin condition or an itchy rash, take a cup of oatmeal and wrap it in cheesecloth. Hold under the tap while bath is running - oatmeal starch is extremely soothing.

Use rice to: Clean the inside of a vase or a thin-necked bottle. Fill three quarters of the vessel with warm water and add a tablespoon of uncooked rice. Cup your hand over the opening, shake vigorously, and rinse. Add a few grains of rice to your salt cellar to keep salt dry and free-flowing.

Use tea to: Scour rusty garden tools. Brew a few pots of strong black tea. When cool, pour into a bucket. Soak the tools for a few hours. Wipe each one with a cloth. Wear rubber gloves or your hands will be stained. Your houseplants will benefit from a semi-yearly drink of tea - it helps the soil.

Use glycerin to: Remove dried wax drippings from candlesticks. Peel off as much wax as possible, then moisten a cotton ball with glycerin and rub until clean. Add a few drops of glycerin to your bath for smooth skin.

Use club soda to: Shine up a scuffed stainless-steel sink. Buff with a cloth dampened with club soda, then wipe dry with another clean cloth.

Use hydrogen peroxide to: Disinfect a keyboard. Dip a cotton swab in hydrogen peroxide to get into those nooks and crannies. Rinse your teeth after brushing with it for whiter teeth and a more sanitary mouth. Do NOT swallow the peroxide. It works well as a wound treatment also. Clean with hydrogen peroxide for a sterile wound before bandaging. Be prepared, hydrogen peroxide foams when it touches open skin. P.S. Check the label of your mouthwash bottle. It's the hydrogen peroxide in the mouthwash that whitens your breath. Buy a bottle, it's cheaper.

Use cornstarch to: Clean grease spills on carpets. Pour cornstarch onto spots and let sit for 15 to 30 minutes before vacuuming. Cornstarch is also cheaper and healthier than talcum powder. Got a bottom or other body part that needs some powder - use cornstarch.

Use rubbing alcohol to: Erase permanent-marker stains from finished wood floors or solid-surface countertops. Pour rubbing alcohol onto a cotton ball and apply.

Via Real Simple

6,000 Plastic Bottles and One Village

All photos courtesy: Laura Kutner

Talk about inspiration. Peace Corps volunteer Laura Kutner (a 2002 graduate of Portland's Lincoln High School) was in Granados, Guatemala and saw two problems. Laura decided to turn these problems into challenges and do something about it.

The first challenge Laura noted was an abundance of plastic trash – bottles, bags, chip bags, candy wrappers to name a few. The other challenge was that she noticed that students had to attend classes in schools with no walls. The school’s principal told Laura that the local government had run out of money before finishing the school. The local people really needed the space for the school children and other community gatherings; so, the principal asked Laura if she could help.

Laura looked to Pura Vida for an answer. Pura Vida is an ecological movement in Guatemala that tries to find new ways to use trash. They look upon themselves as an “Ecological Movement of an Alternate Trash Management”; and, have developed a way of incorporating used pop bottles and trash as construction materials.

"A bottle project had never been done with metal before, always out of wood, but I figured why not look into it," she said.

With help provided from Hug it Forward; and material and labour from local businesses and villagers, the school project began.

The team started by collecting trash – plastic grocery bags, chip bags, plastic bottles and any other plastic waste they could find. Laura says, "First of all, there is so much plastic. Everything is packaged in plastic. I got so sick of plastic."

She and the agricultural community of 900 people with the help of surrounding mountain villagers collected more than 4,000 used plastic drink bottles from ditches, gutters and trash piles. This does not include all the other trash they collected to use for stuffing the bottles and the walls.

After the garbage was collected, they began the real work - stuffing the plastic bottles full of other trash. As many as 250 pieces of trash were crammed into each bottle using hands and sticks. Stuffing the bottles served two purposes: it contained the plastic trash while adding heft to the bottle structure taking shape.

"We all got blisters from stuffing," Kutner said.

Then they placed the bottles into the chicken wire mesh fencing stuffing more trash into the spaces between the bottles; and, the spaces between the bottles and the fence.

Laura said: “We needed A LOT of plastic trash. If the empty spaces weren't stuffed with trash then it (the cement) flew right through to the other side when we threw the cement on. We used so much trash that we could not find anymore in the town and had to go to neighboring villages to get some of theirs. It was awesome!"

After the fencing was stuffed with the waste, three layers of cement were placed on each side. At first the bottle-filled chicken wire served as a support for the cement to cling to. Once the cement was dry it created the look and stability of any other wall with the bottles now serving as insulation.

The orange building is the completed school—the bottles are inside the wall. Unless someone told you – would you be able to tell the difference between these walls and other “traditional” walls? I wouldn’t. What about the cost? This school was erected for the sum total of $3,000.00. Amazing what $3,000.00; a ton of trash; willing, joyous volunteers; and, some good old ingenuity can do.

Laura called the project "truly the perfect example of a team effort. If the entire town had not participated, it would not have happened!"

Beside the noticeable lack of refuse on the ground after the project, Laura noticed that the community also got a new awareness of litter and its possibilities.

Kutner recounts an experience she had while on a bus. It was the first time she heard a mother tell her child not to throw an empty bottle out the window. Until the school project this had been a common practice. Another resident has begun collecting cans and hauling them into the capital, four hours away, to collect the deposit.

Laura describes her work: "I miss my family; but, I feel like I come alive when I do this kind of work."

Short video showing the building of the schoolhouse by a series of photos.



or this one - quite similar; but, worth a look.



What a spirit those villagers have. The look on those children's faces showed the joy they felt at being able to help build their schoolhouse. Students in developed countries should be so happy to learn.

Via Planet Green and Oregon Live.com