“Green” Products Are Sending Up A Red Flag? 「綠色」產品名符其實嗎？3

Green’s still growing

Still, there are some companies that are honestly trying to make improvements and help the environment. And with a little knowledge and careful examination of lables, you can learn which ones are legitimate and which are just telling lies. First, pick out items endorsed by environmentally friendly institutions you know and trust. Then look for details. A true eco-friendly claim will be specific, not vague. Phrases like “all-natural” or “Mother Earth-approved” mean very little and are just there to help sell the product.

Also, the kind of store you shop at matters. Large-scale or “big-box” retail stores that are well-known are more likely to sell items with accurate claims on their labels. Companies that manufacture things like paper products, building materials or other recyclables may have more experience in the green industry. These companies are more likely to print accurate labels than companies with less experience, like those that make toys or baby-care items. In their study, TerraChoice found that 4.5 percent of the products they surveyed made accurate claims for eco-friendliness on their labels. This may seem small, but it’s a big improvement over the 2 percent in 2009 and 1 percent in 2007. It’s gradually becoming easier to help support the environment as the green industry becomes healthier and more sustainable.

legitimate 合法的、正統的

endorse 背書、認可、贊同

institutionàorganization

retail 零售

【Chat room】

carefully examine labels 細心的檢視標籤

between the lines 看出字裡行間的意思、言外之意

read between the lines 細心、謹慎的閱讀

【Key word】

legitimate 合法的、正當的

Peter is the legitimate heir to the heritage.

Peter是繼承這份遺產的合法繼承人

Our business is completely legitimate.

我們的生意完全合法

It’s legitimate to inquire about the government’s process of making decisions.

詢問政府作決策的過程是合法的

endorse背書支持、認可

Many celebrities endorsed this product.

有許多名人為這個產品背書

Many school teachers endorsed this new educational policy.

許多學校的老師支持這個新的教育制度

The sporting goods company paid a fortune to get this player to endorse their products.

這家運動公司花了大筆的錢讓這位運動員背書他們的產品

sustainable 永續性的、不破壞生態平衡的

sustain維持

The sustainable sales growth proved that our marketing strategies worked.

業績持續性的成長證明我們的行銷策略成功

“Green” Products Are Sending Up A Red Flag 「綠色」產品名符其實嗎？2

The lies on the labels

In 2010 the Canadian marketing firm TerraChoice performed a study on products with environmental claims on their labels. The company visited 34 stores across the U.S. and Canada and surveyed 5,296 products, including office supplies, toys, building materials, housewares, electronics and health goods. They found that the number of products claiming to be “green” has risen more than 70 percent since 2009. According to the report from the study, 30.9 percent of the labels on the products they surveyed were fake. Another 67.3 percent made claims that were vague, and 70.1 percent made claims without proof.

More than 95 percent of the products surveyed were guilty of “greenwashing,” misleading consumers regarding environmental benefits of the product or environmental practices of a company.

Greenwashing is easy to spot, and it comes in several forms. Labels might advertise one good thing, but ignore several bad things. They make claims with no proof or even lie outright. Have you ever heared of an organic cigarette? The claim that it is organic might be true, but that distracts from the fact that cigarettes are still unhealthy. These labels target good intentions, fooling consumers into buying products that aren’t green at all.

housewares

fake ànot true

vagueànot clear

outrightàdirectly

【Grammar on the go】

More than 95 percent of the products surveyed were guilty of “greenwashing”…

guilty => have broken lawàThe criminal was guilty of murder.

to be guilty of

ð responsible for doing something wrong

Ex: Sarah knows she is guilty of gossiping.

Ex: My friend is guilty of being a perfectionist.

【More information】

In the 1980s, environmentalist Jay Westerveld coined the term “greenwashing.” It’s a combination of the words “green” and “brainwashing.” He found that certain hotels encouraged visitors to reuse towels to help make the hotel more environmentally friendly. After some investigation though, he found no solid recycling strategies in place. This led him to believe that the hotels weren’t trying to be “GREEN” but were just trying to save money.

【Chat room】

1.  proof  n.證明、證據

make claims with no proof 未經認證就大肆吹噓

2.  proof  v.校對

3.  Noun. + proof  adj. 防止…的

waterproof

fireproof

childproof

the proof of the pudding is in the eating

事情的好壞必須要實際的去嘗試、經歷

【Key word】

vague 模糊不清、含糊的

The company was fined for vague descriptions of the ingredients printed on the package.

這家公司因為產品包裝上的成分標示不清而受罰

I only have vague memories of my childhood.

我對童年只有模糊的記憶

outright公開地、直率地、大刺刺地

These protesters were arrested outright when the cops arrived.

當警察到達的時候，抗議者直接被逮捕。

Rose outright told Timothy that she liked him.

Rose直接了當地告訴了Timothy她喜歡他

Elle laughed outright after hearing the joke.

Elle聽到這個笑話以後大大刺刺地笑了出來

distract 使分心、轉移注意力 (dis-分開 tract拉)

The noise coming from the construction site constantly distracted students from their studies.

從建築工地傳來的噪音讓學生們的讀書不斷被打斷

I tried to distract Vivian’s attention away from her breakup.

我試著讓Vivian的注意力從分手之痛轉移到別處

“Green” Products Are Sending Up A Red Flag 「綠色」產品名符其實嗎？1

Not all products are as environmentally friendly as their labels want you to believe

並非所有產品都如同外包裝所說的一樣環保        by Joanna Wuertz

These days everyone is trying to do their part to help the environment. One of the easiest ways is simply to buy products that are labeled “eco-friendly.” Choose fruits and vegetables that are organic. Select appliances that are energy-efficient. Avoid items made with synthetic materials. But going green may be harder than it looks – those product labels can be misleading.

What is organic?

  Pick up a box of cereal at a grocery store. Its label boasts “All-natural!” in big green letters on the front. That means the cereal must be organic, right? Wrong. “All-natural,” “free-range” and “hormone-free” are all words companies like to use to help sell their products, but none mean the product is actually organic. 

It's important to know what "organic" is - and isn't - when you're shopping. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines organic as containing no ingredients that have been treated with certain unnatural chemicals or medicines, radiation or DNA-engineering. In the U.S., if a food is labeled as "organic," at least 95 percent of the ingredients must be organic. To be labeled 100 percent organic, every ingredient must have been raised and harvested in a USDA-certified organic environment.

【Chat room】

Green product 綠色產品(有環保概念的)

He is still green at his job. 他仍然對工作不熟悉(未成熟、沒有經驗、生手)

green thumb 有園藝才能的

to be green with envy 充滿嫉妒

【Key word】

synthetic 合成的、人造的 (syn”有一起”的意思)

This synthetic fabric is water resistant yet very light and soft.

這種合成布料是防水的，但同時又輕又軟。

This synthetic rubber can sustain extreme temperatures.

這種合成橡膠可以耐受各種的極端溫度。

radiation 輻射、放射線

Radiation from the sun can hurt your eyes, if you’re not wearing sun-glasses.

如果沒有戴太陽眼鏡，太陽輻射可能會傷害到眼睛。

The radiation contaminated building was blocked and guarded.

這個被輻射汙染的建築物被封鎖和看守

certified 被證明的、有保證的、公認的

(certify 的過去分詞)

These certified documents were listed as evidence.

這些已經公證過的文件被列為證物

Sean is a government certified accountant who is also a lawyer.

Sean是一位國家認證的會計師，他同時也是位律師。

The A21 Campaign A21終結不公運動

Abolishing injustice in the 21^st century終結21世紀的不公

It happens more often than you think. A young woman needs a job and hears of a lucrative job offer overseas. She accepts – only to find that there is no job, and she is a prisoner in a nightmare. Trapped by violence, millions of young women are forced into prostitution and sexual slavery with no escape in sight. Children suffer too. UNESCO estimates that 2 million children are being exploited in the sex trade. Make no mistake – human trafficking is prospering and profitable. Defined as recruiting, transporting, transferring, harboring or receiving people through deception, coercion or other means, for the purpose of exploiting them, human trafficking is a crime against humanity.

Organizations and governments are cooperating on many levels to fight this terrible injustice. One such organization, The A21 Campaign has a three-fold goal: rehabilitating survivors, raising awareness and supporting legislation designed to catch and prosecute traffickers. The A21 Campaign has also established a crisis care center in Greece that provides shelter, training and hope to rescued victims. You can be part of the solution to the problem. On the 21^st of every month, you can raise awareness by wearing the Key2Free – a symbol of freedom. Help stop human trafficking!

abolish

lucrativeàprovide a lot of money

prostitution賣淫

exploitàtake the advantage off 剝削

trafficking (n.)非法交易

prosper (v.)繁榮、昌盛、成功

deception 欺騙、詐欺

coercionàforce someone to do something that they don’t want to do

rehabilitate 使復興recover their life

prosecute 起訴、告發

crisis 危機、轉折點

【Grammar on the go】

Make no mistake – human trafficking is prospering and profitable.

make no mistake

=> Don’t make any mistakes.

=>without a doubt, for sure

Human trafficking is certainly prospering and profitable.

This city will not tolerate terrorism. Make no mistake – the terrorists will be punished.

Make no mistake – this proposal is their trick to get our company to do more and earn less.

【Grammar on the go】

prisoner 被監禁的人，囚犯、被剝奪自由的人

prisoner of time時間的俘虜

prisoner of his past

Take no prisoners. 趕盡殺絕(不要抓俘虜)、隔殺勿論

【Key word】

exploit 剝削、壓榨

Workers in sweat shops were brutally exploited and even did not get paid sometimes.

血汗工廠的工人們被殘酷的剝削，有的時候甚至沒領到工資。

New laws were made to stop industries from exploiting their employees.

新的法律被制定，以防企業剝削員工。

coercion 脅迫、強迫

Through coercion, he was forced to sign the contract.

在脅迫下，他被逼簽下了合約

The suspect claimed that the police used coercion to get his statement.

這名嫌犯宣稱警方採取脅迫取得他的證詞

prosecute 起訴、告發

The district attorney prosecuted the mobster for multiple accounts.

檢察官以多重罪名起訴這名黑道老大

The owner of the company prosecuted the former accountant for stealing.

摘錄「好走」一書中所提到的『四聖諦』

四聖諦

        第一個聖諦「苦諦」很容易明白。簡單地說，就是-生而為人大不易。第一個聖諦說的是，人生多苦。「生是苦，老是苦，病是苦；悲傷、慟哭、傷痛、哀悼，絕望皆是苦；貪瞋癡是苦，斷離愛欲也是苦，欲望受挫也苦……」走向真理的第一步，就是在當下體驗本然。就是現在，從這裡開始。我們受苦，因為作繭自縛。我們受苦，因為我們孤單地躲在自己所構作的界限背後。心智自我使盡了所有伎倆，就是不讓我們意識到這個真相。

        第二聖諦是集諦，關於苦之根源的真諦。我們已經認識到，發展出心智自我，是人類心識開展的正常而必然的階段。然而，我們每個人終究要跨越或拋開這個階段，讓心識往更高深的層次開展。心智自我的層次，如我們所知道的，很容易成為我們受困迷失的所在。

苦的根源，在於相信個我的真實不妄。自我的欲望，不論愛或憎，是人類受苦的原因。欲望不僅強化了心智自我對自身真實不妄的信念，也造成了它的痛苦。苦的根源，就在這個念頭裡：「我是獨立自主的。」

        很多人都知道苦諦說的是什麼，但卻從來沒有進入到第二層的認識，也就是集諦。要是苦難昂起頭惡狠狠地睨視我們，我們通常可以擺脫自己所以為的苦因。我們可以快活地遊走在生活的表象，也就真的數十年過去，而不覺得人生有什麼苦。直到罹患末期病症，或者堅定地潛心修行，才會體悟到苦海無邊，這時我們才真的開始覺醒。

        在我們看清楚自己向來所認同的個我，根本上是個虛妄不實的那一刻，我們就開始體悟到第二聖諦。從這裡，我們開始回歸存有的核心，進入了重新融入存有本源的過程；從這裡，我們開始發覺，人為了維繫虛妄的自我感的造作努力，正是受苦的根源。體認第二聖諦之後，我們開始願意藉由專注力進入真相。我們還是在掙扎、在抗拒，但這一次的抗拒和下一次的掙扎之間總會有間隙，洞見就出現在這些間隙的時刻。此時，如果把注意力放在受苦的實相，我們會看見的不是別的，就僅僅是意念的本質。我們會開始看穿凡夫心，凡夫心一旦被看穿，存有之光就會從被洞中透射進來。這就是正念的開端，也是臣服於靈性的開端。

        第三聖諦是滅諦，苦的滅斷。滅諦意指：「徹底滅斷渴欲(心的攀緣執著)，拋卻之，棄絕之，從中解脫，與之斷離。」從佛家來說，這就是所謂的無我。從基督教來看，即「活在基督奧體之中」。滅諦描述了臣服於靈性的威力。

         於是我們開始活在真相之中，開始臣服於存有本源的大能，靈性開始傾注於自我感，協助我們穩固一切「隨緣」的能耐。這樣的臣服，讓我們不再攀緣執著。顯然，問題不在棄絕自我，而在如何探索它，維繫它的能力，消除它的獨大性。探索自我這個作為本身，會把我們從自我拉開，讓覺識從自我移開，超越其上，邁入超個體的向度中。「於是我們發現第三聖諦，滅諦，也就是無為。我們只要放下那為保全自己、鞏固自己所作的努力，當下即是覺境。」就基督教來說，這就是體驗神的旨意，在神的旨意裡歇息：「願主旨意成全。」

        創巴仁波切對這一點有很清楚的闡述：「可是我們不久就領悟到，逕自『放下』，不能長久，我們必須由修行才能達到『隨緣』。…..自我必須像一隻舊鞋一樣，在從苦難到解脫之路上自行磨損。」這就是體悟第四聖諦，道諦，眾苦永盡的道路。第四道諦即是八正道：正見、正思維、正語、正業、正命、正精進、正念、正定。佛家所謂的八正道，用猶太教的概念來說，就是kiddush hashem，意思是在日常生活裡「聖化上帝的名字」，也意味著「神的工作」。以基督教的概念來看，佛家所謂的八正道說的就是「活在神的同在中」。

        八正道的次第修行，就是時時刻刻修練「神的工作」，一而再地「活在神的同在中」，將反覆地磨損個我感，就像岩石接受永不停歇的海浪拍打沖刷，最後變得光滑圓潤一樣。以這種方式生活，就是從人世之光到存有之光的這個素樸而自然的開展。如此活著，顯現出本性的自然作為與特性。返歸之道即是存有之道。而存有之道是世上每個修道傳統靈修的根基：挑柴運水無非道，行住坐臥皆是禪。這是人出離凡夫心，進入主日(Sabbath)的神聖中背後的動力；因為有這股動力，內在漫不經心、無關緊要的喧囂止息了，留下永不停歇的真言：因為有這股動力，我們把每個當下變得神聖，在有生之年時時刻刻活在神聖的向度，在每一刻、每一口氣裡感恩。

        其實回家的路不難追溯，就像是母親跟著孩子走回床的那條路徑，她會一路看見孩子掉落的東西。假使我們跟著的是一位悟道的覺者，或是已然進入臨死經驗的人的心識，我們也會看見他掉落的玩具，還有鞋子、襪子、褲子、上衣、內衣褲，以及肉身、情緒和意念，最後來到床邊時，抖落一地的是，所有的個我感。