I am priviledged to be doing a presentation with Alf Orpen on Saturday 26th of November in Brisbane. If you can get there, it will be awesome event!

Alf is a entrepreneur activist, ethical investor, and developer of regenerative businesses. He is a founding director of several enterprises which have achieved annual revenues ranging from three hundred thousand to twenty million dollars. Alf is the co-founder and co-director of Miessence the worlds first certified organic range of skin care, cosmetics, and nutritionals and co-founder of the Organic Farm Share. I have certainly learnt much from him about growing ethical businesses and the organic industry.

Come and learn about health and the body, toxicity,  how you can start and grow a successful organic business, build a passive income and have a positive impact on our planet. CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW FOR DETAILS, OR TO RESERVE YOUR SEAT AT THE EVENT, OR FOR MORE INFORMATION, CLICK HERE.

I’m back into the swing of life after rougue-travelling (and will be able to post more regular bloggs now). I am doing a workshop presented by the Southern Cross Catholic College P & F next week. It’s titled ‘What’s Toxic & What’s Not’ . Come along if you would like more information about what chemicals are in the body – and what should be there, how they get there, health impacts, chemical policy, the precautionary principle…and generally some critical tips for living more healthy in a toxic world. It will be a jam-packed night of exploring these issues.  These are the details:

Thursday 15^th September, SCCC Community Hall, 281 Scarborough Road, Scarborough 7pm – 9pm  (tea and coffee from 6.30pm)

Contact the lovely Deborah Fay for more information – deb@debfay.com.au

See you there, Sa xox

Consciouness…

We reached Auckland today on our two-week ‘Chemical Overload’ speaking tour across Australia and New Zealand.  At the hotel I met a Maori woman with a deeply etched face and clubfoot. She was clearing the seminar space where we were to talk that evening. She was waving a silver fern and repeating a verse to someone I couldn’t see. ‘It gets so cluttered in here’ she said. ‘The speakers come in here and then leave us their troubles and then I have to spend days cleaning up their grime’.

The seminar space was a natural amphitheatre nestled perfectly out the back of the hotel amongst young redwoods and ferns that looked pristine to me.  But I don’t think it was the physical space she was talking about.

‘Are you going to leave us your troubles as well?’ she turned and asked me suddenly.

‘I don’t know. I hope not’, I replied.

‘But you come here to think eh…before the people come in?’ she said.

‘Yes’ I replied. ‘ I’m trying to calm myself before speaking…but I’m also sitting with the overwhelm of juggling speaking at so many seminars, and travelling, and work, and raising my babies and being a good partner….I’m so tired’.

She nodded.

‘I learnt a little something a while ago’ she said, ‘And I’m gonna give it to you free, just so you won’t mess up this meeting space tonight. OK?’.

‘Sure’, I said.

‘You know what…your job is not so much the telling of people the facts about the world and what’s not working’, she said. ‘Nor is it all the stuff we pack into our daily lives as parents…the washing of clothes, or the changing of nappies, or getting to meetings on time, or making your partner happy – although these are sometimes important. Your job here on this planet is raising your consciousness. That is your job. Raising YOUR consciousness.’

‘But….’I began.

‘Consciousness is the most stubborn substance in the universe’ she continued. ‘And the most fluid. It can be rigid like concrete, and it can change in an instance. A song can change it. A book. A movie, a touch, a fragrance on the wind. Think of this when you are trying to make your way through life and speaking to others. It’s all about consciousness. Raising our own consciousness – ourselves. You don’t have to do all the work’.

She left me thinking…

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This ‘Chemical Overload’ speaking tour has been put together by Biomedica. The amazing Tabitha McIntosh, a Bondi naturopath, nutritionist, mother, and all-round nutrition guru have been doing this tour together. She has taught me much and I am grateful for her knowledge and companionship during this intense, whirlwind of a tour.

What’s toxic and what’s not? Raising healthy Children in a Toxic world…

This seminar explores:

1. Chemicals? How chemicals get into the human body? What makes a chemical toxic? Why kids are particularly susceptible to chemicals? The health and behavioral impacts? How we currently measure chemicals and determine their safety? The consumer assumptions we make? How I identify harmful chemicals?

Details of the event

Saturday April 2nd, 2-4pm, Brisbane Independent School Library, 2447 Moggill Rd, Pullenvale, RSVP 07 33785466

Children Welcome! Refreshments provided, www.bis.org.au

I recently presented a few seminars in both Nowra and Newcastle. In both places people asked me about sorbolene, which was recommended to them both dermatologists and doctors as pure and beneficial to the skin. I would argue otherwise.

Sorbolene usually contains liquid paraffin and white soft paraffin, both petroleum by-products that coat the skin like plastic, clogging the pores. They interfere with skin’s ability to eliminate toxins, promoting acne and other disorders. They also slow down skin function and cell development, resulting in premature aging. Any mineral oil derivative can be contaminated with cancer causing PAH’s (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons). Manufacturers use paraffin because it is very inexpensive.

From the National Toxicology Program Chemical Health and Safety Data on mineral oil:

‘A human carcinogen by inhalation that produces gastrointestinal tumors.’

‘A human teratogen by inhalation that causes testicular tumors in the fetus. Inhalation of vapor or particulates can cause aspiration pneumonia.’

Sorbolene creams also do not contain any vitamins or essential fatty acids and disturb or even prohibit the skin from absorbing fat-soluble vitamins. They appear to hydrate and moisturise but in reality they can suppress the skins ability to function normally, and do very little to nourish and hydrate the dermis.

The skin then develops a dependency on constant applications of mineral oils which, in turn, results in a deterioration of the skin’s character and overall health. Long-term usage of these products may block the pores resulting in acne and blackheads; they strip the skin of its natural oils and can create fluid retention, resulting in irritation, sensitivities and allergies.

‘Our Children will ask…What were our parents thinking? Why did they produce toxic chemicals and then allow them to get in to our bodies? Were they so arrogant to think that our bodies would not be affected?’ (Lantz, 2010)

Chemical Free Kids are coming to Melbourne! Eco-toys are hosting a ’Living Chemical Free’ seminar.

If you want to know how to raise healthy children in a toxic world you simply can’t afford to miss this workshop.

The presentation will address:

> Why babies are being born pre-polluted, the chemicals they are born with, and what makes kids particularly susceptible;
> How the chemicals found in your children’s food are hindering their development, lowering IQ scores and triggering attention and behavior disorders;
> Why Australia continues to use chemicals that are banned or restricted in other countries across the world;
> What’s really on your dinner table and in your children’s medication – vital information EVERY PARENT should know!
> How you can begin to implement health changes and practices for you and your children that help cleanse the body of chemicals.
> Solutions and strategies for raising healthy children (and adults) in a toxic world.For detailed information and to purchase tickets go to: http://ecotoyslivingchemicalfree.eventbrite.com/

Seats are limited so book now!

ABOUT ECO TOYS

At Eco Toys we believe that toys should be safe for kids to play with and also kind to our planet.

Our toys are made with respect for the the environment and its people and we believe that each and every one of us can make a difference. We only choose Australian made or ethically made toys that are crafted from natural, sustainable, recyclable, biodegradable and/or recycled materials. Our toys are safe, non-toxic, educational and encourage imaginative play. Eco Toys provides beautifully crafted organic and sustainable toys that are safe, non-toxic and kind to our planet:

http://www.ecobabystore.com.au/

Eco Toys & Baby – For everything organic and environmentally friendly for your baby – 651 Burwood rd, Hawthorn East 3123. ph: 03 9078 7500