ecotip
Eco-Toy Story Safe, Fun Gifts for Kids
Extinction Scenario Humans an Endangered Species
The UK-based nonprofit Global Chal- lenges Foundation’s annual report on global catastrophic risk (
Tinyurl.com/ GlobalExtinctionReport) has found that the risk of human extinction is higher than we might expect. The Stern Re- view (
Tinyurl.com/The-Stern-Review), the British premier government report on the economics of climate change, estimates a 0.1 percent risk of human extinction every year. “We don’t expect any of the
events that we describe to happen in any specific 10-year period. They might—but on balance, they prob- ably won’t,” says Sebastian Farquhar, director of the Global Priorities Project. United Nations-approved climate mod- els estimate that temperatures might rise six to 10 degrees Celsius, which pushes the probability of extinction beyond 3 percent, even with a considerable decrease in carbon emissions. Nuclear war, natural disasters such
as volcanic eruptions, genetic engineer- ing gone awry and pandemic plagues figure in too, but the biggest threat might be the ever-increasing human population. According to a paper pub- lished in the journal Nature by Elizabeth Hadly, a professor of environmental biology at Stanford University, such growth has followed the trajectory of a typical invasive species and suggests there may be a looming global popu- lation downturn. Still, humans are capable of exponentially growing their population several times over through the invention of new technologies and cultural shifts, regardless of Earth’s natural carrying capacity.
natural awakenings December 2016 11
During the holiday gift buying season, it’s good to recall the days of old-fashioned toys. Simple, wooden toys made with non-toxic paints are far safer than those sprayed with varnishes and paints contain- ing lead and volatile organic compounds. Plastics can emit unhealthy chemicals used during manufacturing, which also pro- duces environmental pollution. Pieces can break off, possibly injuring soft skin, or be consumed by toddlers with dangerous results. A recent report by Environment California, a research and policy center, found that products designed for babies and young children, such as soft plastic teethers, bath acces- sories and others, contain phthalates. Many toys require batteries containing heavy metals like mercury and cadmium.
ChasingGreen.org recommends eco-conscious makers of toys available at
GreatGreenBaby.com, including organic cotton stuffed animals;
BabyBunz.com, featuring sustainably harvested cherry wood rattles and organic Egyptian cotton ani- mals; and
GreenToys.com, with play meal cookware and serving pieces made from bioplastic, consisting of a corn and starch resin. Here are other factors to consider. Educational toys can “enhance language, conceptual understanding and numerical and spatial cognition,” according to a study in the journal Mind, Brain and Education. Six-to-8-year-olds can gain an appreciation for archaeology play- ing with Smithsonian toys available at Barnes & Noble and
BarnesAndNoble.com.
PristinePlanet.com sells wood puzzles, solar-powered robots and board games from the Golden Gate National Park Conservancy. The Discovery Channel Store has safe toys and books for kids. Follow age guidelines in choosing gifts, advises Steve Pasierb, president and
CEO of the Toy Industry Association. “Age-grading has nothing to do with how smart a child is—it’s based on the developmental skills and abilities at a given age and the specific features of a toy.” Practice conservation while saving money by canvassing thrift and consign- ment shops for classic card and board games.
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