Ben & Shae Cecka's family in Gilbert, AZ

Although permission was not required, Starbucks and its pulp manufacturer, the Mississippi River Corporation, decided to seek Food and Drug Administration approval for the new cup material, which is made from paper that had previous consumer uses. In September, Mississippi River and Starbucks received approval under the agency’s two-year-old food contact notification program.

This is a nice thing to see in the paper. They estimate that it will save about five million pounds per year in virgin tree fiber. I do hope that Starbucks doesn’t stop here and continues to research other ways in which they can better the environment.

Some other food companies have made their own efforts. McDonald’s uses recycled material in its napkins, tray liners, meal boxes and its carryout trays and bags. The company says it is the largest user of recycled paper in the food service industry, buying $100 million worth of material. Two years ago, Coca-Cola started using 10 percent recycled plastic for its bottles.

As an ex-Starbucks employee I’m very happy to know they at least care enough about their image to do something… or maybe it really is just for the environment.

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This past week I’ve felt extremely drained. It’s as if all the energy from my mind, body, and spirit has been sapped away by some inexplicable force. I’ve got post-election blues.

Clark County decided to vote against a proposition that would have restored public transit service from the cuts that were previously made a few years ago. They saw it as another tax increase (.03 on $10), where others saw it as a necessity for survival. Now the service will be reduced to a mere fraction of what it was a few years ago. Every week I ride the bus the school and visit with the elderly and handicapped who preffer not to drive. At least once during the week somone in a wheelchair or electronic scooter uses a bus I’m on (all of which are equiped with kneeling hydrolics). Everyday in The Columbian  I read articles from readers that urged voters to consider the elderly and disabled when they voted on this. I thought it was a sure foot-in, and I excitedly looked forward to January when all routes would run one hour later. I never dreamed that people would be so insensitive, so selfish, so ignorant. But they are.

This week, as I ride the bus, I feel shame when I look at the other passengers; not because I voted against it, but because I couldn’t do more. Democracy fails when the people under it stop looking out for each other, and focus on themselves.