Why boycotting BP doesn’t do them much damage

I know how you feel.  You’re mad as heck at BP for the way they’ve handled the Deepwater Horizon oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico and you want them to really feel your dissatisfaction.  So, what have you done about it?

Maybe you’ve thought of picketing the BP gas station on Lexington Rd. on the way to downtown Louisville.  That’ll show them, right?  At the least, you’re going to boycott their filling stations and convenience stores in hopes that a dwindling bottom line will ruin the hefty profits that they usually rake in every year, right?  Wrong.

Consumer protests actually have no real effect on BP’s bottom line.  In fact, when people do boycott BP stations, the only people that end up getting hurt are the innocent gas station operators that have nothing to do with the oil spill.  As the New York Times pointed out…

“BP doesn’t actually own any gas stations. It licenses the BP brand out to independent station owners in a franchise model, and collects a relative pittance from the deals. So if you withhold your business from your local BP station, you’re really only hurting the local businessman or chain who owns that particular store. And what they’re being punished for is the mistake of signing up with BP instead of ExxonMobil or Sunoco.”

Oil is a globally traded comodity and there is just no way to be sure which company is responsible for the gas that goes into your car.  It only becomes BP-branded gas when additives are put in, usually at the filling station.  And if BP runs into a surplus of those ingredients, it’s very easy for them to just sell them off to other stations.

Sorry folks…the only real way to hurt BP’s pockets are to quit using petroleum based products all together.  And I’m not sure if the majority of the public is ready for that.  What do you think?

In-Season Produce: Markets near Waterford Place

Do you shop for your fresh food and produce locally? If not, you may want to give it some serious consideration. Although today’s global market allows us to buy foods grown almost anywhere in the world at any given time, this option is not the most sustainable.

Buying in-season fruits and vegetables that are locally grown helps to eliminate the environmental damage caused by shipping foods across the country – and in some cases – the world. Not only does your food dollar go directly to the farmers, but you’re able to enjoy the health benefits of eating fresh, better tasting, unprocessed produce. According to the National Resources Defense Council, in-season foods for the state of Kentucky (and surrouning areas) include:

Asparagus* (Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia) Collards (Tennessee) Gourds (Tennessee) Green Peas (Missouri) Greens (Tennessee, Virginia) Herbs (Tennessee) Honey (Tennessee)

Indian Corn (Tennessee) Lettuce (Illinois, Missouri) Mushrooms (Tennessee) Onions (Illinois) Peas (Illinois) Scallions (Missouri) Spinach* (Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, Virginia)

Here is a short list of markets that sell fresh locally grown foods near the Waterford Place area. If you can suggest any other markets, leave a comment and let the community know!

Markets near Waterford Place

Going Green: Freshen up your feet

Check out this easy Do it Yourself recipe courtesy of The Daily Green…

End of Day Foot Spa

• 1/2 cup Epsom salts
• Essential oils of your choice

Fill either a foot bath or your bath tub to ankle height with warm water.  Dissolve 1/2 cup Epsom salts in the warm water and add the essential oil of your choice, either the relaxing oils of lavender, rosewood, patchouli and sandalwood, etc, or the uplifting oils of lemongrass, eucalyptus, etc.  Soak for 10-15 minutes.  Pat dry and moisturize.

Fogelman Management Group is focused on spreading the word about Going Green, a term that signifies the social movement towards environmental conservation, protection and improvement. It’s all about making simple lifestyle choices that will lessen our negative impact on the Earth. Making and using home products with organic materials is just one way to we can make a difference.

Stay tuned to the Waterford Place blog throughout the month of April for more tips on how you can play your part.

Going Green is Super

We’ll talk about who’s going to win the Super Bowl in a minute. Right now let’s talk about the party preparations. You’ve probably got the invite list handled, but what about the go green aspect? You can go green at any party, so why not for the Super Bowl?

Keeping your menu simple is one green suggestion. Throw on some hot dogs and chili and keep the paper plates to the minimum. Also, if you are drinking anything out of bottles and cans remember you can recycle. For more green tips click here.

Green Ideas for Eyewear

It’s awesome to think that you can make almost every part of your life greener. That’s why I wanted to pass along an article I found about eco-friendly eyewear. One company they highlight is ICU eyewear which focuses on environmentally friendly practices and sleek designs. Check it out here and let me know what you think.