Candles Love Soy!

I cannot even begin to fathom how it is that the army corp of engineers has been allowed to drag their feet like they are. This is despicable! There are so many solutions that have come forth, to clear up the oil, that are NON TOXIC and BIODEGRADABLE or RENEWABLE. Straw will soak up oil, HAIR will soak up oil, both of which can be raked off the beaches… I ask our government - What the hell is going on? Leaders don’t drag their feet, they take action, make decisions and get things done. You are our leaders, and we the people demand action TODAY!

Here is the latest scoop -Jefferson Parish Homeland security director Deano Banano stated that he was warned that because of his actions monday that military troops could be sent to arrest him and parish president Nungesser!!! Wow - sounds like they’re really interested in doing the right thing - haha that’s a joke by the way. And not very funny either. I love this man, if the “leaders” of our country, oh excuse me, the Great Corporation of America, were like him, this would be well on its way to being resolved.

Imagine curing cancer without Chemo or radiation, naturally, with baking soda? No, I’m not making this up! Dr. Simoncini has been successfully treating cancer with a sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) solution.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have adopted a pro-corporate position that laughably claims labeling GM/GE foods creates the “false” impression that “that the labeled food is in some way different from other foods.” [1]  Even worse, the current U.S. draft position paper declares that mandatory labeling laws such as they have in Europe are “false, misleading or deceptive.“ [2]

On May 3rd, Obama administration officals from the FDA and  USDA will travel to Canada for a special United Nations meeting to tell the world to adopt the same position, preventing other countries from rightly labeling GMOs as different from fresh, natural food.

Sign this petition now before the deadline on Monday.

After much thought and deliberation, we have discontinued the use of Palm Wax. Although there is a lot of “greenwashing” regarding how palm wax is sustainable and renewable, and if you use palm wax from the roundtable of sustainable palm oil, it is supposidly not harming forests or ecological biodiversity.

I call Bull$hit, sorry if that term offends you, but if it stinks lets call it what it is.  Sure, once AN AREA IS CLEARED IN ORDER TO GROW PALM OIL, it may be “sustainable and renewable” but lets not forget, that the natural forests and jungles had to be cleared in the first place. How is it renewable and sustainable when you virtually wipe out dozens, if not hundreds, of rare, exotic plants and animals? Oh, but you only did it once, so then its ok?

I feel horribly about buying into the propoganda. There are still many Killings of Orangutans for Palm Oil Development.

The (Indonesian) Forestry Department’s conservation director, Toni Soehartono, admitted the practice was widespread but urged understanding of its motivations.

“I’m sure that happens — in order to establish palm oil land companies clear forests, which causes the death of fauna such as orang-utans and gibbons in Kalimantan, and elephants, tigers and others, including orang-utans, in Sumatra,” Dr Soehartono said.
“But all development requires sacrifice — we just have to make it equal to some extent.”

That in itself is enough to make my stomach turn, but then add:

*  Rainforest destruction is still out of control. (This year Indonesia will be included in the Guinness Book of Records as the country which pursues the highest annual rate of deforestation. Currently an area of forest equal to 300 soccer fields is being destroyed every hour in the country) EVERY HOUR!

* Fires are burning across Borneo and Sumatra, fueling global warming (Indonesia is the third highest carbon emitter due to peatland fires.) {editors note: its my opinion that global warming is a “greenwashing” item in itself, but I leave this in here, as fires burning incessantly definitely contribute to air pollution}

* Both orangutan species are within 20 years of extinction in the wild (killed daily in palm oil plantations)

* Social conflict and human-rights’ abuses are commonly associated with oil palm expansion more - who usually suffer’s most in this scenario? Women and children.

* Severe environmental pollution is associated with palm oil processing

….

In light of all this, I have removed palm oil from our catalog and product line, and will not carry it again. We are researching an alternative for pillars, and will post about it when we come up with a suitable replacement.  Thank you for your understanding!

-Jen

..information sourced from http://www.palmoilaction.org.au/

Let’s face it - all of us have someone in our life who just seems to zap the energy right out of us. There are several things I do as a preventative to giving away my energy to these “vampires”.

First of all, I try to spend a little time every day outdoors. Nature is the best way to recharge your batteries.  You don’t need to rely on other people to help “lift you up”. Of course, its nice to be around people who care, that’s not what I mean. I simply mean, don’t count on your special someone, your mom, best friend etc to refill your empty tank. Its not fair to them, and it puts undue stress on the relationship.

Try to go outdoors. Sit in the sun, still your mind. Go look at some flowers, trees, bee’s, clouds. Anything or anywhere in nature will lift your spirits.

For preventative maintenance, try carrying a Sunstone. Sunstone is known for its powerful connection to the light and power of the sun.  Sunstone brings light to all situations, and carrying a piece around with you can help your personal power to “shine.”  Once known as a stone of good luck, Sunstone has a bright, joyful energy that increases vitality and lightens dark moods. It also is also useful in removing energy-draining ties to you or “hooks” into your energy by other people.

We’re moving!! This change is long overdue - instead of having two facility’s, we will now have one.

This last year has been exceptionally difficult for me personally, I got divorced, am now a single mom of 4, but more importantly, I lost my dad and business partner to the devastating and cruel disease of MS (multiple sclerosis). It’s been a very difficult transition not having his insight and business know-how, and mainly just not having his companionship. His presence has been pivotal throughout this journey of sculpting Caterpillars into the business it now is. Consequently, I’ve decided to move closer to my family, and to our second location, which will become our first/only candleshop.  I have a new business plan and feel confident that good things are in store for Caterpillars in 2010!!

We are currently closed and not accepting any new orders.  All orders that have been placed are being processed and we hope to have them all shipped by Monday January 11th.  We will re-open on or around January 20th.

Thank you for your patience and for your business! We wouldn’t be where we are without our great and loyal customers!

Also, we currently have no way to access our voicemail so if you need to reach us, or have been trying, please send email to sales {at} caterpillars candles [dot] com.

Kindly,

Jennifer

Wishing all of my family, friends, and acquaintances happiness in this season of gratitude. Thank you for your friendship & support!