Proof Positivity: Heart Healthy World Healthy

Not only is General Mills heart healthy they are stepping into the green era to become world healthy as well.  In

Methuen, Massachusetts the company has added solar panels to the facility that makes yogurt.  Solar energy is expected to supply nearly 80 percent of the warehouse’s summertime power needs, and 40 percent of its needs the rest of the year.

“The enthusiasm of the work force and the partnership with state and local government led the way for us to install the solar panels,” said Jon Russett, energy manager in General Mills’ Supply Chain operations. “General Mills is committed to continuously improving its environmental performance.”

What solar power will do at General Mills’ Methuen:

• The panels provide a year-round average of 55 percent of the annual electricity consumed by the warehouse building.
• The panels generate enough electricity (110.7 kilowatts) to power approximately 12 average Massachusetts homes every year
• Solar power will offset more than 112,000 lbs of carbon dioxide annually – this is the equivalent of taking 10 cars off the road.

I can see world healthy as part of the new mantra for General Mills.  General Mills’ San Adrian, Spain, facility now receives all of its electricity and one third of its overall energy from renewable energy sources such as wind power. The company is also constructing a biomass burner at its oat-milling facility in Fridley, Minnesota  that will burn leftover oat hulls from the milling process to produce about 90 percent of the steam needed to heat the plant and make oat flour.

“As we continue to work on sustainability across our supply chain, we remain confident that the groundwork we’ve laid will continue to show even more progress in the future,” said Russet.

Proof Positivity: Loud and Proud

Disability and Power Pride shout to the masses with one voice to change the perception of those with disabilities.  Founded in  2009 as a natural outgrowth of two first-of-their kind events that heralded a rising political force. The January 2009 Power & Pride Inaugural Ball attracted nearly a thousand guests from across the country.

To mark the 20th anniversary of the historic Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Disability Power & Pride will host a Gala celebration on July 26, 2010 at the National Press Club (529 14th St., NW), 7 to 11 p.m. – following a White House ceremony commemorating the ADA’s enactment. Disability community leaders, champions, advocates and supporters in government, business, the arts, service organizations, academia and the grassroots will join together to celebrate the past and reinvigorate a movement to change the future. This Gala is the capstone event for the anniversary day.

Disability and Power Pride mobilizes all Americans with disabilities, their families, friends and allies, to speak with your hands or mouth with one powerful voice.

Former Congressman and current chair of Disability and Power Pride, Tony Coelho states,  “The words in our name — Disability Power & Pride — distill decades of dreams and struggles, progress and challenges, and reflect the life work of countless leaders, legislators, advocates, and individuals of all ages, abilities and political affiliations. Difficult work lies ahead to deliver on the ADA’s promise, but to succeed we must come together, celebrate who we are, and build our political power.”

Proof Positivity: Calling Out To Me

Proof Positivity has been calling out to me like a ghost in the wind.  The little voice in my head keeps whispering don’t abandon Proof Positivity.  I, sadly, admit a whole lot of guilt over leaving this blog go stale.  Two years ago it was unique and now positive blogs similar to this one are popping up everywhere.   I would almost bet my page rank is gone too.  I am not going to make guarantees that this blog is back for today, it’s back.

You may be  wondering what has consumed my time so much that I would neglect this blog.  I have taken up homeschooling my children.  It’s not a particularly easy road my husband and I have chosen but it’s easier than the road to public school.  What has come out of my first year experience is a greater knowledge of science.  Hopefully it will help me stay on top of  science and technology news.

In past month (and I know it’s old news) we dealt with oil conglomerate  BP  and the mess created due to an explosion.   Meanwhile, senators from Ohio, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania called upon President Obama “requesting that he fully utilize the Corporation for National and Community Service.  as part of a “National Call to Service,” aimed at engaging volunteers to assist in recovery efforts of the Gulf Coast oil spill.”

I am all for community involvement but lets be frank here, the stuff is toxic and it needs those experienced with oil.  Most of those involved with NCS are kids.   NCS puts out this statement,   “The complex nature of oil cleanup, coupled with health and safety concerns, restricts the role of volunteers. The Deepwater Unified Area Command under the direction of Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen has specified that volunteers or unpaid individuals are not allowed to perform hands-on hazardous waste remediation.

Find an appropriate volunteer opportunity by typing in your zip code or register to volunteer with one of the Gulf Coast state service commissions listed below. Volunteers are also encouraged to support disaster relief organizations responding to the spill and to volunteer with human service agencies and nonprofits in the region that are experiencing increased demand due to the effects of the oil spill.”

Thank goodness the thing is finally corked!    The positive in the whole situation are the organizations that are helping like the International Bird Rescue Research Center.  Truly, these people deserve huge kudos for the work they’ve done to try to persevere the wildlife.

The past few weeks has been all about actor/ director Mel Gibson and Oksana Grigorieva.  On that thing I will say it’s all alleged.  No one knows what really happened except those two.   The reason I mention it here is because it does involve a subject that I advocate about, domestic violence.

Firstly, anyone who beats their wife, husband, children, parents, etc needs to seek help now.  If you are on the other end of it please call the domestic violence hot line in your phone book.   If you are a concerned citizen here are a few things you can do to help:

You can donate your old cell phone

You can volunteer for Stand! Against Domestic Violence

You can be an ear that listens.  Sometimes when you lend an ear it gives another the power to stand.

Proof Positivity: Proof Positivity

Fire Safety and Prevention

‘Tis the season for a little fire safety and some prevention tips.

“Fire safety education is the first line of defense in reducing the number of fire related incidents. Targeting our school age children will hopefully instill key fire prevention behaviors that will carry over to future generations,” stated  Missouri state Fire Marshal Cole.”

The Home Safety Council offers these tips:

-Always stay in the kitchen while cooking.

-Keep things that can burn, such as dishtowels, paper or plastic bags, and curtains at least three feet away from the range top.

-Before cooking, roll up sleeves and use oven mitts. Loose-fitting clothes can touch a hot burner and catch on fire.

-Many young children are badly burned or die playing with matches and lighters.  Put them out of your child’s reach.

-If you must keep matches or lighters in your jacket or purse, put them in a place where children cannot see or touch them.

-Only light candles when an adult is in the room. Do not allow children to keep candles or incense in their rooms.

-Blow out candles when adults leave the room.

There are a few sites out there to promote fire safety to your children:

FireSafety.gov for kids

Kids room for New York

Fire Safety For Kids

SmokeyBear.com

Kid Tips

Arthur’s Safety Tips

Proof Positivity: On The Science Beat

My Little Runaway

“Reporting in the current edition of the Journal of Research on Adolescence, Norweeta G. Milburn, a research psychologist in the department of psychiatry at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA, and colleagues found that most homeless young people actually return home soon after they leave and, in terms of development as adolescents, are possibly less chronically troubled than their reputation may indicate.”

Apparently, the key to returning a runaway home is support.  Friends in school that are close just someone to talk to in general.  More than two- thirds of the runaways return home.  One- third of those who run away does have to do with some form of abuse in the home.

“Parents of adolescents who become long-term homeless often have a history of substance use and physical abuse that lessens their ability to parent effectively and increases the propensity for conflict,”

The mother of these children play an important role.   Support from the mother seems to urge homeless children back home.  This is a very good reason to build a strong relationship with your child when he/ she is young.

If you or someone you know is a runaway here is a site for you National Runaway Switchboard and their phone number  1-800-786-2929.