Your Chance to Do Your Part in Saving the Environment Just by Switching Your Laundry Soap

Did you know that petrochemicals in laundry soap are not necessary to get your clothes clean?
Not only are they unnecessary, but they are harmful to your family as well the environment. Residual petroleum remains in the clothing and ultimately will come in contact with your skin and the skin of your loved ones. This petroleum residue can cause rashes and skin irritations and even eczema. Chemical sensitivities may also trigger allergies and asthma like symptoms.
Just by switching to vegetable based laundry soap we can save the environment and the health of our family. Vegetable based soaps are not full of useless fillers, phosphates and excess water that the giant companies are charging you for. They leave no petroleum residue, therefore reducing skin irritations.
They usually come in concentrated formulas which reduce the impact on the environment creating less waste. In turn, meaning less material, less packaging, less energy and less waste. This also means that you save money as well. Everybody wins.
The use of phosphates is declining as the government is realizing the impact to our environment. They have been added to laundry and dish soaps to soften the water and tie up minerals like lime. They also provide alkalinity for effective cleaning. These are extremely harsh chemicals. They also are detrimental to our waters ways. They promote an over growth of plant life in turn robbing the oxygen from waters ways and eventually causing all living organisms to die off.
Look for soaps that are biodegradable and are made with organic surfactants, citrus oils and other natural cleaning agents. They should be non alkaline, ph balanced formulas without chlorine bleach and caustic chemicals. The chemicals are not only toxic to your family but damage, fade and weaken fabrics.
If every household switched their laundry soap to a vegetable based concentrate in recyclable plastic bottles, in one year we could save enough plastic to make 600,000 plastic laundry baskets.*
One last thought, if every household in the US replaced one bottle of 25oz. petroleum based dishwashing liquid with 28 oz of a vegetable based product-we could save 81,000 barrels of oil. Enough to heat and cool 4,600 US homes for one year **

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The Monarch Butterfly's Life Stages

The Monarch Butterfly cycle from egg, to caterpillar, to an adult winged creature is truly amazing.

People of all ages are fascinated by watching the aging of the gangly caterpillar, and observing a green chrysalis (pupa state) transforming into a butterfly that quickly grows into an adult. You may have seen experiments in school watching the Monarch progress through its stages. The caterpillar feeds on milkweed to pupate, so placing a few caterpillars in glass jars with fresh milkweed leaves provides the perfect nursery to witness the transformation into butterflies.

Under normal summer temperatures the egg turns into a caterpillar in about four to five days. The monarch caterpillar searches for an appropriate spot to advance to its next stage. It produces a small cocoon for itself and affixes it under a leaf or small branch. Normally the entire process, from egg to butterfly, is completed in about two weeks. During late spring to mid summer a pair of adult mating Monarch Butterflies may only live from two to five weeks, but several generations will be produced.

However, as the longer and warmer days of summer evolve into the shorter and cooler days of late summer and early fall the Monarch's evolution stages change. Butterflies that emerge from the pupal state now are different. The process from egg to adult stage will take longer, about a month now. And this last generation of the summer season is identified to partake in the miraculous winter migration. This generation is the longest lived, about eight to nine months, and able to survive the arduous migration to parts of Florida, the coastal regions of Texas, Mexico, and California, and retain enough strength for the return trip in the spring.

The Monarch Butterflies return to their same homes in the spring. The breeding process resumes during this trip. Following the rebirth of their food source, the milkweed plant, the youngest Monarch generation continues northward. Many insect species can only mate once in their lifetimes, but Monarchs can mate several times in their short lifespan, deposit their eggs on milkweed plants, die, and be replaced with another generation.

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Rainforest Birds- Mulga Parrot

Bird Name:

Mulga Parrot

Latin Name:

Psephotus varius

Status:

Least concern, Appendix II of CITIES

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

Order: Psittaciformes

Family: Psittacidae

>Genus: Psephotus

Species: P. varius

General Information:

The Mulga Parrot is commonly called the Many-colored Parrot or Parakeet and the Varied Parrot. Its name is derived from the mulga plant, which is a common food source. The Mulga Parrot is not commonly seen in flocks as other species are. Instead often appear individually or in pairs. They are known for their soft calls that they repeated three to four times in a row.

Physical Description:

The Mulga Parrot is about 28 cm in length and weighs 50 to 70 gm. Males and females can be distinguished by differences in their coloring. Males are a brilliant green overall with paler green coloring on their lower breast. Females are more olive green color overall with a brownish-green breast. The males have a distinct red patch on their crown and yellow foreheads. The females have a dull red patch on their crown and their foreheads are also a duller color, which is somewhat of an orange-yellow. The males' thighs and abdomens are yellow; with patchy orangey-red markings. Females have entirely green under-parts. Males have a dark grey bill, compared with the brownish-grey bill of the female. Both males and females have brown eyes at maturity. Immature Mulgas can be distinguished from adults by their muted colors.

Diet:

The Mulga Parrot feeds on seeds from grasses and herbaceous plants. They eat seasonally available fruits and blossoms. They will also feed on insects. Mulgas feed on ground beneath trees and amidst foliage.

Habitat:

The Mulga Parrot is native to the interior of southern Australia. It occurs in dry open woodlands and plains with varying vegetation including mallee, mulga, and saltbush. Mulgas can also be found in nearby croplands and in dry parts of riverine woodland. They will rest during hottest part of the day.

Reproduction:

Breeding season is from July to December, but they have been known to nest after any good rain. Nests are built in the hollows of trees, stumps, or fallen logs. Clutch is 4 to 7 eggs. Incubation takes approximately 19 days. The young will fledge after four weeks, but will stay with the parents considerably longer.

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Rainforest Birds- Red-vented Bulbul

Bird Name:

Red-vented Bulbul

Latin Name:

Pycnonotus cafer

Status:

Least Concern

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

Order: Passeriformes

Family: Pycnonotidae

Genus: Pycnonotus

Species: P. cafer

General information:

The Red-vented Bulbul is a song bird with a widespread range. While they are small in size, they do have an invasive, quarrelsome and sometimes aggressive posture. They can be damaging to crops and orchards. The genus is the largest of the Pycnonotidae family with 47 species.

Physical Description:

This species averages 20cm in length and has a long tail. Adults have black or brown upperparts with a white rump. The breast is also black or brown and the other underparts are white with red around the vent. The head and crest are black as well as their beaks. Sexes are similar in plumage and young birds are duller in color than the adults. The plumage does vary slightly by region. The outstanding characteristic of bulbuls is the hair-like, vaneless feathers at the nape. The flight of the Red-vented Bulbul is bouncy, similar to a woodpecker.

Diet:

The Red-vented Bulbul feeds primarily on fruit, nectar and insects. It is incapable of synthesizing Vitamin C .

Habitat:

Red-vented Bulbuls inhabit tropical areas in southern Asia from India and Sri Lanka east to Myanmar and Southwest China. They can be found in scrub, open forest, plains and cultivated lands. The species often prefers human settlements to the heavy jungle, and is common in urban parts of Dubai. They have also been introduced to Fiji and Hawaii. Nests are formed in bushes with deep cup shaped nests.

Reproduction:

Red-vented Bulbuls breed year round. The average clutch size is two to three eggs.

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Rainforest Birds- Red-vented Cockatoo

Bird Name:

Red-vented Cockatoo

Latin Name:

Cacatua haematuropygia

Status:

Critically Endangered

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

Order: Psittaciformes

Family: Cacatuinae

Genus: Cacuta

Species: C. haematuropygia

General information:

The common name is the Philippine Cockatoo. This species is critically endangered. Populations have decreased dramatically due to illegal trapping for the cage-bird trade since the 1950s. The high price fetched per bird means that chicks are taken from virtually every accessible nest. Loss of habitat may also have contributed to its decline. The current population is estimated at less than 4,000 birds.

The Red-vented Cockatoo makes a characteristic bleating call, as well as screeching or whistling.

Physical Description:

Red-vented Cockatoos are small and white with a short white recumbent crest. They are easily distinguished by the red feathers around the vent. The undersides of the flight feathers are yellow. The beak is nearly white.

Diet:

The Red-vented Cockatoo feeds on seed and fruits. Food sources fluctuate seasonally.

Habitat:

The Red-vented Cockatoo is endemic to the Philippines where small populations exist on the islands of Palawan, Tawitawi, Mindanao and Masbate. It is restricted to lowland primary forest and secondary forest in or adjacent to waterways with mangroves. Typically they live in groups during non-mating seasons. They are partially nomadic due to seasonally fluctuating food sources. Will even frequent nearby corn and rice fields.

Reproduction:

Red-vented Cockatoos will pair during mating season. Often multiple pairs will use the same tree for breeding. Breeding season is typically March to June. Pairs will fly to offshore islands to roost and perhaps breed.

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Zebra

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Beauty of Nature

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Lion

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Beautifull Flawers

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Waterfall

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Elephant

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Beautiful Flower

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Beauty of Nature

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Tips for Photographing Animals

You can't pose undomesticated animals per say, but you can capture the moment―even if it looks like you posed them. Much of the same principles apply towards photographing animals as it does towards humans. Keep these basic principles in mind as you photograph animals:

1) Eye contact is important, but not always necessary. In some instances, a pose with eye contact from an animal works. In my opinion, this type of pose is equivalent to a traditional, formal portraiture. When the pose works, the body position is natural and shows the full-body.

2) The surrounding setting is important too. If there are a couple of background textures and tones which complement the animal and setting, this would be perfect! In this way, the animal and setting (the background) contain visual unity.

3) The camera's flash fills in shadows and enhances the appearance of humans, as well as animals. Take a fill flash photograph and look for the shadows on and around the animal's body. Now, take another photograph without the flash. Without the flash, part of the animal’s face is darkened and the shadows are not as pleasing to the eye. The shadows tell us about the form and shape of an object. Normally though, shadows can add beauty to forms.

4) Viewpoint perspectives can make or break a photograph. Sometimes, shooting down on an animal works and other times not. Photographers have to make needed adjustments for each situation. While maintaining eye contact with an animal, just as with people, the animal should not be straining his or her neck to look at you (or the camera). Make sure the pose of the animal is not disturbing to look at. The animal should look true to form and natural.

Basically, make sure the animal looks content and relaxed. Watch your background too. Sometimes, all you have to do is move to the side a few steps to get that memorable shot!

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Nature Wallpapers - Best Stress Busters

All city dwellers miss the enchanting nature. The waterfalls, the rivers, the lovely flower fields, the mountain ranges, these all are a treat for the tired eyes. After we go to nature, we feel very peaceful and calm. Our disturbances of mind slow down. Today, most of the stressed workers are looking for anti stress treatments. What can be a better stress buster than nature?

How Nature wallpapers are great stress busters - Our eyes, ears, touch and other senses directly affect our mood. When we view a lovely sight, our mind becomes positive and the state of the mind changes. Try this experiment. Watch some very dirty sight and note the state of your mind. Now watch a beautiful sight and note the change in your state. You will find a sudden change for the better. Nature wallpapers can help us bring these changes fast.

Nature Wallpapers are full of variety- you will get a huge variety in nature wallpapers. You will get scenes of beaches, clouds, countryside, deserts, flowers, lakes & seas, landscapes, mountains, panoramas, plants & trees, rivers & streams, sunsets, and waterfalls. In each of these topics, you will get to choose from dozens of wallpapers. Imagine of the variety available?

Sizes - You will get free nature wallpapers in sizes suitable for most of the monitor sizes. Download one that fits your monitor.

Cost - Some websites offer free nature wallpapers while most of the websites charge money. Select from free websites. You will get a great collection free.

Precautions while downloading - Avoid adware and spyware. Don’t download exe. files. Download lightweight wallpapers and enjoy. Nature wallpapers area lovely sight to watch. You can also send your selection to your friends and family. Enjoy with these free downloads.

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parrots photos

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Natures Answers - Aloe Vera

The Aloe Vera plant is a member of the Liliaceae family. It has cactus like features and was originally sourced from Africa. Like cactus plants, its long green thick leaves contain the water the plant needs to survive during long periods of drought. Aloe Vera resists dry, warm climates very harsh environments. Aloe Vera has long been used for its medicinal and healing properties.

Aloe vera can be found in many health and pharmaceutical products. It can be found in many health drinks and is widely used in Skin care and Beauty products.

Alexander the Great was known to use Aloe Vera for healing the wounds of his soldiers. Cleopatra also used it as a part of her skin care.

Sometimes referred to as the “First Aid Plant”, Aloe Vera has long been a common plant around many homes. I can still remember my grandmother breaking a leaf off and rubbing it into burns and scalds on me as a kid. The Aloe Vera plant is used as an ingredient in health has been known to help stomach problems and also proved to be an effective skin moisturiser in various skin care products.

During the 70’s and 80’s, Aloe Vera gel became popular in USA and widely used in cosmetic products and skin care products. Aloe Vera is also available in creams and body lotions.

Aloe Vera has healing, soothing, antibacterial and moisturising properties. It is used to relieve burning, itching, minor cuts and first and second degree burns. Recent studies indicate that aloe vera has the ability to accelerate cell growth in the skin.

Aloe Vera has a property that fights against viruses such as the flu, chickenpox, and herpes and can also kill bacteria. Aloe Vera also stops bowels from absorbing water. This speeds the passage of faecal matter through bowel causing a laxative effect.

Aloe Vera possesses external healing properties and speeds the healing of skin injuries such as poison ivy, ulcerations, hives, and burns. Internal healing properties result from its use as a laxative; however, use as a laxative can cause severe cramping. There are other laxative herbs available that have a lesser effect

Growing Aloe Vera Because Aloe plants have 95% water, they are extremely frost tender. If grown outdoors in warm climates, they should be planted in full sun, or light shade. The soil should be moderately fertile, and fast draining. Established plants will survive a drought quite well, however, Aloe Vera will benefit from a regular watering. When Aloe Vera is grown in pots, it is recommended the soil be allowed to dry out before adding any additional water.

Aloe Vera plants are popular and are available at almost every garden shop or nursery. Look for the Botanical name of Aloe barbadensis.

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Nature Posters

The communication power of posters has been exploited for a variety of purposes. Posters have evolved from a mere advertising tool into tastefully designed, intellectually appealing, graphically intriguing and exquisite pieces of art. They command a platform as a different genre of art. Nature posters portray every conceivable aspect of nature. They are gathered by enthusiastic collectors, avid nature lovers or art lovers who admire their aesthetic appeal. Collecting nature posters is both a recreational and educational hobby for students and adults alike. It is yet another unique way to feel closer to nature.

There are many online and offline stores and distributors of nature posters.

www.naturediscovery.com features many nature posters, from marine life posters, to amphibians and reptiles, elements of nature and many more. These are not just visual treat but also an exceptional form of nature tour. These beautiful illustrations can have a profound impact on young minds, which relate and learn easily through visual stimulation. They draw attention to the finer and previously unobserved and obvious aspects of nature, and the beauty that lies in them. A student can collect them as part of a project, or to know about any aspect of nature.

Posters of different breeds of horses, different varieties of butterfly, or different types of dinosaurs, with detailed identification of the types, are very useful educational tools. www.transcedentalalist.com ties up with www.art.com to provide a scintillating range of natural delights. A thunderbolt on a rich blue electric sky becomes a memorable work of art, timelessly frozen in a piece of paper.

Lithographically printed posters on ordinary paper are extremely inexpensive. Both poster production and the materials used have evolved with time. From linen-backed posters (for durability), to glossy and matte-print posters, etched and embossed to laminated, nature posters come imprinted in a variety of forms. There are infinite sizes, editions and types of nature posters.

Nature posters are used by many governmental and non-governmental organizations, to stimulate awareness and educate the public about a cause or drive (for endangered species conservation, for example). Nature posters are also sold to raise funds for a cause.

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Nature Screensavers - Download Free To Enjoy Nature

Are you a nature lover? Who is not? All of us love nature, because it makes us feel so peaceful. When we go to natural surrounding, we feel that we have gone to our roots. That is very true, because our ancestors lived with nature and we are the inheritors of that love.

Don't you miss nature during your daily city life? These concrete jungles have no love in them. Don’t you miss the innocent love of nature? Now you can find that with nature screensavers. What if I show you nature screensavers with lovely video shots of Beaches, Clouds, Countryside, Deserts, Flowers, Lakes & Seas, Landscapes, Mountains, Panoramas, Plants & Trees, Rivers & Streams, Sunsets and waterfalls? How about getting them on your computer screens, looking alive? Would you not love that?

You can now download Nature Screensavers free on your desktop. There are more than three hundred designs in the above subjects for you to choose from. All the nature screensavers come with lovely music. Some of these Nature Screensavers have inspiring text. Some others have romantic text. You will love all of them. As they are free and lightweight files, you can download many and keep the best for your enjoyment and relaxation.

Whenever you feel tired, tense and stressed, click on a screensaver and watch it play on your screen. Watch the swinging palm trees, the lovely trees and the pure water of rivers and streams. Take your pick and enjoy. You deserve this luxury.

C.D. Mohatta writes for screensavers and wallpapers. Download nature screensavers to view the beauty of Gods creations. The author also writes fun quizzes and tests and love, dating, & marriage articles.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=CD_Mohatta

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