Greening your Holidays- Greeting Cards

Want to "green" your holiday celebration? Try sending e-cards rather than paper holiday cards. This will not only save paper, but also the fuel that would be burned to deliver your mail. There are several places online that offer free holiday e-cards.

One thing to consider when sending an e-card is who will benefit from the card. Many environmental groups offer cards, which can help the recipient focus on the environment and possibly become active with the group that provided the card. I support the efforts of The Nature Conservancy and they provide many free gorgeous e-cards.

Another great opportunity is to send a card through the Robeez site. Robeez are wonderful soft soled shoes for children with cute designs. They are only offered in leather, which is the biggest drawback. Robeez is currently celebrating the Season of Giving in which each card sent equals a $5 product donation to Kids in Distressed Situations. This is a win-win situation, you send your cards and kids get their needs met.

Environmental Health

Residents of La Grande now can receive daily e-mail updates with the local air quality index during the winter months. The use of wood stoves during the winter months contributes to poor air quality that can have negative impacts on respiratory and cardiovascular health. Attention to the AQI is especially important for people with asthma. Remaining indoors during poor air quality days can help protect you from the negative effects.

The negative effects of poor air quality can include

• coughing
• wheezing
• phlegm
• chest tightness
• shortness of breath
• chest pain
• palpitations
• unusual fatigue

I urge everyone to receive these updates and act accordingly to protect their health. I also urge people to invest in weather proofing their homes and using forms of heat that do not pollute the environment. To sign up for these updates visit http://www.enviroflash.info/signup.cfm.