Comments on: green vaginas http://www.clickclackgorilla.com/2009/05/11/green-vaginas/ tales of marauding, plundering, and international gorilla conspiracy Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:54:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: ts http://www.clickclackgorilla.com/2009/05/11/green-vaginas/comment-page-1/#comment-51981 ts Tue, 12 May 2009 12:23:35 +0000 http://www.clickclackgorilla.com/?p=772#comment-51981 Honestly a lot of the reason I mention the relation to the environment is that for work I am supposed to only be discussing environmental topics, and I couldn't figure out how else to sneak birth control in. clickclack is right about the process of making those pills though, and all the packaging, and there is more and more evidence that hormones are getting into our drinking water, which could cause who knows what health issues down the line. But really when you get down to it I am a big proponent of the idea that you can't be interested in saving the environment while you are still not taking care of yourself. If you don't care about yourself, and your own body, you are far more willing to let people trash it... and so many of the environmental issues we have relate directly to the everyday products we use, from cleaning supplies (hello, cancer), to indoor air toxins from our furniture and phtlates in plastics and god only knows what else. And all of this gets dumped and leeches into our water and our air and then right back into our bodies... and why is it that we allow this to continue? tara Honestly a lot of the reason I mention the relation to the environment is that for work I am supposed to only be discussing environmental topics, and I couldn’t figure out how else to sneak birth control in. clickclack is right about the process of making those pills though, and all the packaging, and there is more and more evidence that hormones are getting into our drinking water, which could cause who knows what health issues down the line.
But really when you get down to it I am a big proponent of the idea that you can’t be interested in saving the environment while you are still not taking care of yourself. If you don’t care about yourself, and your own body, you are far more willing to let people trash it… and so many of the environmental issues we have relate directly to the everyday products we use, from cleaning supplies (hello, cancer), to indoor air toxins from our furniture and phtlates in plastics and god only knows what else. And all of this gets dumped and leeches into our water and our air and then right back into our bodies… and why is it that we allow this to continue?
tara

]]> By: click clack gorilla http://www.clickclackgorilla.com/2009/05/11/green-vaginas/comment-page-1/#comment-51979 click clack gorilla Tue, 12 May 2009 10:14:46 +0000 http://www.clickclackgorilla.com/?p=772#comment-51979 1. On resuable pads: YEAH! (I use them too. Fuck paying for "female hygiene products" just the name says it all *shudder*) Coincidentally Tara sews really beautiful ones (lemons flowers strawberries plaid flannel!!), is coming to visit shortly, and is bringing some along for me to add to the Apocalypse Books catalogue. So if you'd (Gesa! and everyone else in Germany!) like some, I'll let you'll know when they get in. 2. On environmentally friendly birth control: I don't know anything about hormones getting dumped into the water myself (though I can imagine that happening a plenty out back at the old birth control factory, like it does with other scary chemicals at other factories), but my first thought is that the little plastic containers for the pills each month pile up when you think of the millions of people taking 'em every month. Still better than condoms thought, plastic-use-wise, I'd imagine. I reckon that you are right, Jill, that the most environmentally friendly birth control is going to involve only having one partner, unless you're into russian roulette. I personally use the fertilitiy awareness method, which involves neither the pill/patch/hormonal whatever (which my body stopped being capable of handling about five or six years ago), or condoms (which I couldn't afford anyway). To anyone interested, this method is something you don't want to fuck around with, and that you need to really intimately inform yourself about (and practice parts of for at least a year) before using as an anti-baby method. (But which I will gladly talk your ear off given even the slightest chance.) It also requires being incredibly comfortable with you body (and communicating with your partner) as it involves checking out your mucus, taking your tempurature every day, and not having sex on the days when you can get pregnant. You also have to be comfortable with the fact that you could get pregnant despite every effort (actually, you should probably be comfortable with this fact if you are going to have any sex at all, eh?), as bodies are unpredictable and can change (unchartably) suddenly (unlike the 99.9% reliability of the good ole hormone bomb--some of the pros and cons) landing you an unplanned bun in the oven. But oh my is it empowering to be so intemately acquainted with how you tick physically. Being able to say "Today I can get pregnant" or "Today I can't" is like having some sort of magic secret answer key. Even if you didn't want to use fertility awareness as a birth control method, it's super awesome and empowering stuff to know, just because. 3. I have also read some things about using wild carrot seed (drunken daily in tea) as birth control, but it sounds too unreliable to me from what I've read, and most websites discussing the subject recommend you don't have sex when ovulating carrot seeds schmarrot seeds, so I just stick with not having sex when fertile and leave the carrot seeds to grow up into more pretty Queen Anne's Lace out in the field. Glad so many of you responded to this lecture. Long live noncensored communication. 1. On resuable pads: YEAH! (I use them too. Fuck paying for “female hygiene products” just the name says it all *shudder*) Coincidentally Tara sews really beautiful ones (lemons flowers strawberries plaid flannel!!), is coming to visit shortly, and is bringing some along for me to add to the Apocalypse Books catalogue. So if you’d (Gesa! and everyone else in Germany!) like some, I’ll let you’ll know when they get in.

2. On environmentally friendly birth control: I don’t know anything about hormones getting dumped into the water myself (though I can imagine that happening a plenty out back at the old birth control factory, like it does with other scary chemicals at other factories), but my first thought is that the little plastic containers for the pills each month pile up when you think of the millions of people taking ‘em every month. Still better than condoms thought, plastic-use-wise, I’d imagine.

I reckon that you are right, Jill, that the most environmentally friendly birth control is going to involve only having one partner, unless you’re into russian roulette. I personally use the fertilitiy awareness method, which involves neither the pill/patch/hormonal whatever (which my body stopped being capable of handling about five or six years ago), or condoms (which I couldn’t afford anyway).

To anyone interested, this method is something you don’t want to fuck around with, and that you need to really intimately inform yourself about (and practice parts of for at least a year) before using as an anti-baby method. (But which I will gladly talk your ear off given even the slightest chance.) It also requires being incredibly comfortable with you body (and communicating with your partner) as it involves checking out your mucus, taking your tempurature every day, and not having sex on the days when you can get pregnant. You also have to be comfortable with the fact that you could get pregnant despite every effort (actually, you should probably be comfortable with this fact if you are going to have any sex at all, eh?), as bodies are unpredictable and can change (unchartably) suddenly (unlike the 99.9% reliability of the good ole hormone bomb–some of the pros and cons) landing you an unplanned bun in the oven. But oh my is it empowering to be so intemately acquainted with how you tick physically. Being able to say “Today I can get pregnant” or “Today I can’t” is like having some sort of magic secret answer key. Even if you didn’t want to use fertility awareness as a birth control method, it’s super awesome and empowering stuff to know, just because.

3. I have also read some things about using wild carrot seed (drunken daily in tea) as birth control, but it sounds too unreliable to me from what I’ve read, and most websites discussing the subject recommend you don’t have sex when ovulating carrot seeds schmarrot seeds, so I just stick with not having sex when fertile and leave the carrot seeds to grow up into more pretty Queen Anne’s Lace out in the field.

Glad so many of you responded to this lecture. Long live noncensored communication.

]]> By: Gesa http://www.clickclackgorilla.com/2009/05/11/green-vaginas/comment-page-1/#comment-51972 Gesa Tue, 12 May 2009 08:59:04 +0000 http://www.clickclackgorilla.com/?p=772#comment-51972 And also, etsy has sooo many cute reusable pads. I've got some friends who get really excited every month because they can finally bleed on the cat/tiger/flowers/whatnot on their pads again! There just doesn't seem to be any (online-)shop in germany that has them in a variety that goes beyond boring white/grey cotton. And also, etsy has sooo many cute reusable pads. I’ve got some friends who get really excited every month because they can finally bleed on the cat/tiger/flowers/whatnot on their pads again!
There just doesn’t seem to be any (online-)shop in germany that has them in a variety that goes beyond boring white/grey cotton.

]]> By: Issa http://www.clickclackgorilla.com/2009/05/11/green-vaginas/comment-page-1/#comment-51960 Issa Tue, 12 May 2009 02:05:22 +0000 http://www.clickclackgorilla.com/?p=772#comment-51960 I'm glad to see that these lectures are getting some exposure in their unsanitized versions. I'm a devoted Diva Cup user myself. I've had mine for several years now, and it's such a relief to have another option that's easier on my money, my body, and the environment. I’m glad to see that these lectures are getting some exposure in their unsanitized versions. I’m a devoted Diva Cup user myself. I’ve had mine for several years now, and it’s such a relief to have another option that’s easier on my money, my body, and the environment.

]]> By: Jill http://www.clickclackgorilla.com/2009/05/11/green-vaginas/comment-page-1/#comment-51921 Jill Mon, 11 May 2009 17:46:44 +0000 http://www.clickclackgorilla.com/?p=772#comment-51921 1. I am a fierce proponent of the keeper (http://www.keeper.com/) and have been for nigh on five or six years now. I recommend it to anyone who, as Tara points out, are comfortable with touching themselves and their blood. I do not recommend it for people with long nails--but if you trim those bad larrys you will be okay. 2. I am not convinced that the birth control argument has anything to do with the environment. I appreciate that she mentioned it, but I am failing to see its connection to the environment. 3. On the topic of birth control, are there environmentally responsible alternatives to condoms? The most environmentally sound idea I can come up with is to take birth control and have only one partner--get yourselves tested and don't use condoms. I wonder if there has been an environmental study done on the diaphragm. 4. Brilliant topic! 1. I am a fierce proponent of the keeper (http://www.keeper.com/) and have been for nigh on five or six years now. I recommend it to anyone who, as Tara points out, are comfortable with touching themselves and their blood. I do not recommend it for people with long nails–but if you trim those bad larrys you will be okay.
2. I am not convinced that the birth control argument has anything to do with the environment. I appreciate that she mentioned it, but I am failing to see its connection to the environment.
3. On the topic of birth control, are there environmentally responsible alternatives to condoms? The most environmentally sound idea I can come up with is to take birth control and have only one partner–get yourselves tested and don’t use condoms. I wonder if there has been an environmental study done on the diaphragm.
4. Brilliant topic!

]]> By: Jul http://www.clickclackgorilla.com/2009/05/11/green-vaginas/comment-page-1/#comment-51918 Jul Mon, 11 May 2009 09:50:35 +0000 http://www.clickclackgorilla.com/?p=772#comment-51918 Excellent lecture. Excellent lecture.

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