In the August/September News from Mother, we explained our approach to the ideas and projects we feature in Mother Earth News. We refer to it as 'Here-and-Now, Later-and-Wow.' The idea is that, while we strive to bring you practical advice that you can use every day in your quest to live wisely, we also like to present you with ideas for really big endeavors that may not be possible in the short-term, but are fun to dream about.

At the Midwest Renewable Energy Fair last June in Custer, Wis., Mother Earth News shared a kwanza hut with an interesting group called the Teaching Drum Outdoor School. They were promoting a program of theirs that definitely falls into the 'Later and Wow' category. The students and guides refer to it as the 'Year Long,' and as the name implies, it actually involves spending an entire year in a camp on an 80-acre preserve in northern Wisconsin, between Lake Superior and Lake Michigan. The preserve borders the Headwaters Wilderness Area, an 18,188-acre forest without roads.

That's right. All four seasons, braving temperatures that can dip as low as 30 degrees below zero in the dead of winter. It's a complete immersion study, therefore a full 12 months are required to truly learn the ins and outs of living in the wild. You will learn to forage for lodge materials; build and repair wigwams and other shelters; carve bowls and utensils; weave baskets, tan buckskins and make your own clothing; hunt and forage for wild food; gather your own water; and cook and heat with open fire (made by friction). You'll also learn what to use for soap and first aid. All from materials that occur naturally in the wild.

It's not free — plan on spending $6,480, and no refunds are granted if you change your mind and drop out. But what price can you attach to that kind of knowledge? No prior experience is required. The guides simply ask that you come ready and willing to lose your dependence on the commercial society we're so accustomed to. According to Teaching Drum, 'You'll be walking silently and seeing more than you ever knew existed.'

The FDA just proposed updating its sunscreen labeling laws, and has set a 90-day comment period for the public to submit their thoughts before the final version is approved. You can find extensive information about it on the FDA site.

As we discussed in the Safer Sunscreen tip awhile back, many sunscreens offer no protection from UVA rays, which are responsible for skin damage and aging. A sunscreen's SPF only reflects its ability to block UVB rays.

So the FDA is proposing a requirement for sunscreen labels to clearly show their level of UVA protection. Labels would also be required to carry a warning about the dangers associated with excess sun exposure.

The FDA is also looking for consumer comments on nanoparticles (PDF) in sunscreen. Per the FDA summary: 'Because of the potential risk of nanoparticle ingredients penetrating consumers' skin, FDA is soliciting public comment on the safety and effectiveness of sunscreen ingredients formulated in particle sizes as small as a few nanometers.'

Some research on nanoparticles, often listed as micronized titanium dioxide on current sunscreen labels, indicates that it may cause more DNA damage than larger titanium dioxide particles, especially if it enters the body through cuts or inhalation.

So if you've got an opinion on safer sunscreen, let you voice be heard! Go to the FDA site and submit your comments before the window of opportunity expires on November 26. Reference Docket No. 1978N-0038.

Did you know that some companies are removing toxins from their products for distribution in the European Union (E.U.), but selling the original toxic versions to U.S. consumers? Talk about double standards!

A recent Alternet article featured author Mark Schapiro, whose new book Exposed: The Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Products, addresses these concerns. For instance, in the Alternet interview, he notes that '… there are things that are banned in Europe that are ending up in America, and that includes things like phthalates in children's toys. And formaldehyde, which you can't sell in Europe at certain levels, is ending up in American furniture.' 

Why the double standards? The E.U. passed a new law regulating chemicals, called REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) that operates on the precautionary principle. So once a body of negative evidence accumulates around a chemical, the E.U. bans it to prevent future harm, rather than waiting for final 'confirmed' proof as tends to happen in the U.S. The E.U. also puts the burden of proof as to a chemical's safety on the manufacturer, rather than a government entity.

Needless to say, we're anxiously awaiting our copy of Schapiro's book here at Mother Earth News.

We talked about the concerns surrounding bisphenol A (BPA) in plastics recently in the Bottled Water entry.

Earlier this week, a panel organized by the National Toxicology Program, a division of the U.S. Department of Heath and Human Services, concluded that the chemical poses minimal overall health risks to adults and some concern for children and developing fetuses.

Though a group of several dozen scientists released a statement in the journal Reproductive Toxicology last week warning that BPA is likely causing serious reproductive disorders for people. According to the L.A. Times, the group of scientists reviewed some 700 studies of the controversial chemical, and concluded that it has a link to female reproductive disorders. (For more, see Grist.org or Forbes.com.)

Critics of the NIH report, including the Environmental Working Group, allege that it's biased toward the chemical industry, full of factual errors and purposefully downplays the health risks associated with BPA.

According to Environment California, BPA is most commonly found in polycarbonate plastic, used to make baby bottles and water bottles, epoxy resins (coatings that line food containers, such as soup cans), and white dental sealants. The Green Guide recommends using #2 plastics in place of polycarbonate, which is often labeled #7.

The night sky of Sunday, August 12 through the early morning hours of August 13 is planning a spectacular show. The constellation Perseus presents the 2007 Perseid meteor shower. It's coming to a venue near you (your backyard), and it's bringing with it this month's new moon.

NASA reports that when Perseus rises in the northeast (click here for help identifying it) around 9 p.m. on the 12th, its position on the horizon will produce a series of meteors called 'earthgrazers,' which are long, slow and colorful. This early in the night, though, you'll only see a few — the real show starts at 2 a.m. when, depending on sky conditions, we may see dozens of brilliant shooting stars each hour. They'll increase in frequency until just before dawn, when there could be more than one per minute. The extra-dark skies provided by the new moon this year make this an event you can't afford to miss.

Tickets are free, but you'll need to supply your own coffee and lawn chair. Cross your fingers for a cloud-free sky!

For many, it's the time of year to start making that back-to-school shopping list. New shoes, check. New Trapper Keeper, check. New eco-friendly art supplies … what? That's right. Aside from the obvious green school supply choice of recycled paper, you can make a difference by doing a little extra legwork in search of non-toxic art supplies.

I read in Treehugger last week that a study by the Union of Concerned Scientists found heavy metals such as lead, cobalt and cadmium in some brands of art supplies. Volatile organic compounds (harmful chemicals that are inhaled through vapors from such supplies as paint, paint thinner and markers or other inks) are also a concern.

So be sure to check the labels — the federal government is required to include a warning on supplies that contain hazardous materials, and the Art and Creative Materials Institute has prepared the Approved Product (AP) label along with the Cautionary Label (CL) label for added guidance. Click here for a list of their approved products.

You can always request a materials safety data sheet on a product that doesn't disclose its ingredients. Simply contact the manufacturer, or consult the art supply MSDS database.

Blame it on marketing, but it seems like if you're drinking bottled water, it should be more 'pure' than regular tap water, right? In reality though, it may just be plain old tap water in disguise. A campaign by Corporate Accountability International is prompting soft drink giant Pepsi to relabel its Aquafina brand of bottled water, and admit that it's just tap water from a public water source.

According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, tap water goes through more rigorous testing procedures than bottled water. In addition to safety concerns, bottled water also contributes to pollution and our nation's oil dependency. It's estimated that 1.5 million barrels of oil — enough to run 100,000 cars for a whole year — are used to make plastic water bottles, not to mention the fuel it takes to ship the bottles worldwide. Plus, less than a quarter of the plastic bottles are recycled, while the rest end up in landfills. (For more on bottled water waste, visit the Earth Policy Institute's article on bottled water.)

What to do? Turn on the tap if your local water supply is palatable. To decrease off tastes, you can also buy filtering pitchers or filters that attach to your tap. And rather than reusing plastic water bottles that can put chemicals into your water, consider investing in a stainless steel model like Klean Kanteens. Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical that mimics estrogen and could increase your risk of cancer, can leach out of plastic bottles under certain conditions.