This will spook you! 3 News headlines that scream “Beware!” & what YOU can do about it
Saturday, October 20th, 2012by Corey
Clearly, it’s dangerous to be alive. The news proves it daily. Even without a t.v., terrifying stories grab hold of my consciousness and fuel my neurotic tendencies via my smart phone, at the grocery store check-out, and in the parking lot of my kids’ school (“Did you hear what happened…? Soooo scary!”
But somehow the fear factor is amplified at Halloween, and tales of horror-in-real-life seem to multiply like bunnies in springtime. Only not as cute.
Now, we all know that much of the spook-fest prompted by the media is simply motivated by ratings; apparently, Wes Craven and the likes are on to something (who knew?). Fear sells. But it’s also true that some of it is really, truly real and really, truly scary. And some of it is important to be aware (aka: beware!) of.
But how not to turn concern into freeze or freak out? How to feel better about better-for-people-and-planet steps?
Since it’s launch in 2007, Green Halloween has been all about creating meaningful change through fun; about healthier holidays without the yuck; greener steps that are easy. No finger wagging, preaching, or in-your-face tactics. We don’t believe that fear is as motivating as joy, as yum and as simple. And you’ve told us you agree.
But at the same time, Green Halloween has always focused on addressing serious health and environmental concerns like heavy metals in face paints, candy made with junk instead of real food, and waste generated by decor, candy and costumes as well as the packaging from all the aforementioned. The reasons Green Halloween matters (in addition to the yum and the fun, which matter a lot) are far too numerous.
Take these recent headlines:
- Lead-Contaminated Halloween Costumes Shipped to Seattle (King 5 News, Seattle)
- French Bees Produce Blue honey After Eating M&M Waste (BBC, UK)
- The Toxic Truth About Sugar (International Weekly Journal of Science)
- Do Food Dyes Warrant a Warning Label? (Healthy Child, Healthy World)
- Lead, Cadmium, and Other Toxic Chemicals Found in Costume Jewelry (Yahoo.com)
- Nestle Chocolate is Produced From Child Labor, New Report Says (Global Post)
- Genetically Modified Candy! (InsidersHealthTV)
I don’t know about you, but all of this is concerning in my book.
But as we already established, fear is about as inspiring as a rotten pumpkin, so it’s important to counter dread-filled headlines with do-able, affordable, feel-good solutions. Otherwise, we’ll all end up looking like the sorry soul in Edvard Munch’s painting, The Scream.
Green Halloween is the antidote to gloom and doom. And we make it easy-breezy.
And because you, and people all around you, refuse to “freeze” from fear, and instead embrace the possibility that Halloween can be healthy and tasty, non-toxic and cool, sustainable and affordable, eco-fabulous and fun, good news is now front page:
- Hershey to Source 100% Certified Cocoa by 2020 (PR Newswire)
- Whole Foods Drops Hershey’s Scharffen Berger Chocolates Over Child Labor Issues (Green America)
- Surf Sweets Organic Candy and EcoMom Alliance Team Up to Bring Waste-Free Party Kits to Schools (EcoMom Alliance)
- New Candy Company Launches With Aim of Unjunking the World (PR Newswire)
- Terra Firma Cosmetics Launches First Line of Truly Non-Toxic Face Paints
- ChicoBag Celebrates 5th Annual Reusable Halloween Bag Design Contest
- Hunterdon County Costume Swap a Great Success (Hunterton County Democrat)
- Green Halloween Costumes 2012: Easy, Free DIY Ideas For Kids And Adults (The Huffington Post)
- National Costume Swap Day: Event Aims To Help Parents Save On Kids’ Halloween Costumes (The Huffington Post)
Have some good news to share about greening Halloween? Do share!
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Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson are mother and daughter and authors of Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family, and founders of Green Halloween®.