Christine Escobar
GET UPDATES FROM Christine Escobar
 
Christine S. Escobar is a Chicago based writer and the founder of Green Parent Chicago, the online destination for eco-friendly, off the mainstream green living and natural family living news in Chicago.

A graduate of Columbia College Chicago with a background in journalism, she writes about the media and politics on Modern English, labor and work on Working Life and is one of the blogging moms of MOMocrats. Her political writing has also been featured on Alternet.

Blog Entries by Christine Escobar

Book Review and Interview: Vegan is Love, the Newest Children's Book From Ruby Roth

(1) Comments | Posted May 1, 2012 | 1:13 PM

VeganIsLoveBookCover_web

Author/illustrator Ruby Roth's newly released children's book, Vegan is Love, has drawn plenty of praise from notable figures such as Jane Goodall, Gene...

Read Post

On Becoming a Car Free Family

(1) Comments | Posted November 11, 2010 | 5:06 PM

A little over 4 months ago, we lost our car to an accident. We could have replaced it, by taking the total loss check from our insurer and signing ourselves right up into another car loan. But we had just finished paying off our now demolished 2002 Honda...

Read Post

Should the FDA Have Stricter Regulations Around Homeopathic Products?

(2) Comments | Posted November 8, 2010 | 2:42 PM

The recent recall of Hyland's Teething Tablets exposes a major flaw in the FDA's regulation of homeopathic remedies: Makers of these products used by countless families are allowed to package the remedies however they see fit, even if that means without child-resistant caps.

This...

Read Post

"Radical Homemakers" Review and Interview with Author Shannon Hayes

(0) Comments | Posted June 4, 2010 | 10:18 AM

Radicalhomemakers It took just over half a century for the U.S. to shift from an agricultural model to an industrial based society. All the...

Read Post

Chicago One Step Closer to Becoming Largest "Fair Trade Town" in North America

(1) Comments | Posted February 10, 2010 | 6:30 PM

The Chicago City Council voted today to approve the Chicago Fair Trade resolution, an important first step in the effort to promote fair trade products in Chicago and fair labor conditions across the globe.

The city now meets the first of five requirements to become a...

Read Post

What If You Could Only See Good Ads Online?

(0) Comments | Posted November 9, 2009 | 1:10 PM

As regular readers of Green Parent Chicago know, we support a less commercialized childhood, favor a return to the outdoors and often feature discussion on pervasive marketing tactics invading our everyday life and destroying our connection to the natural world.

At Green Parent Chicago, from the start we made...

Read Post

What Consumers Can Do About Overdraft Fees

(2) Comments | Posted October 14, 2009 | 2:24 PM

Even if you don't want to admit it, even if you're embarrassed to admit it, you're very likely among the estimated 50 million Americans who have been overdrawn on their checking account in the course of any given year.

According to The Center for Responsible Lending, over 50...

Read Post

Recycle More, Earn Stuff: Incentive-Based Recycling Comes to Chicago

(2) Comments | Posted August 5, 2009 | 7:14 PM

Mayor Richard Daley announced Saturday the start of a new initiative aimed at increasing recycling efforts through the city's Blue Cart recycling program.

Under the RecycleBank program, households will be encouraged to increase their recycling to receive rewards based on the amount of recyclables they generate. RecycleBank will measure...

Read Post

Talking With Ruby Roth, Vegan Children's Book Author

(13) Comments | Posted July 31, 2009 | 7:00 PM

2009-07-31-RothanimalsbookCover.jpg
Ruby Roth, a former elementary school art teacher, has published a children's book about the suffering animals face in factory farm operations for the sake of our food supply.

Endorsed by Jane Goodall, That's Why We Don't Eat Animals (NorthAtlantic/RandomHouse) has been described...

Read Post

He's Back! Former VP at Monsanto To Advise FDA Commissioner on Food Safety

(7) Comments | Posted July 9, 2009 | 3:58 PM

Michael R. Taylor, the former Vice President for Public Policy at Monsanto has returned through Washington's revolving doors and will now advise FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg on food safety.

We learn of this discouraging connection on the same day the White House announced its new commitment to...

Read Post

The Tale of rBGH, Milk, Monsanto and the Organic Backlash

(12) Comments | Posted March 3, 2009 | 3:01 AM

Organic milk is now as readily available as conventional milk as more consumers and companies are recognizing its benefits and demand. A recent estimate by the USDA, says organic products are now available in nearly 20,000 natural food stores and nearly 3 of 4 conventional grocery stores.

If you and/or your children drink...

Read Post

Doctors, Vaccine Dissent and The God Complex

(22) Comments | Posted January 14, 2009 | 4:53 PM

As three of the top medical organizations in the U.S. this month pronounced their support for a new vaccine schedule, leading doctors continue to disagree about how to counsel parents on the benefits and risks of vaccines.

On Jan. 4 the Centers for Disease Control, the American Academy...

Read Post

Green Parent Chicago's Alternative Gift Giving Guide

(0) Comments | Posted December 12, 2008 | 9:31 AM

There are many ways to give a meaningful gift to someone you love and many ways to spread the Christmas spirit to someone who needs extra help or support this season.

Here are just a few ideas to begin your list:

"Buy Green, Buy Fair, Buy Local, Buy Used, and...

Read Post

Melamine In Baby Formula, What U.S. Parents Should Know

(4) Comments | Posted December 2, 2008 | 4:02 PM

Confusion has set in over the FDA's recent announcement it has set standards for safe melamine amounts in baby formula sold in the U.S. 

Just last week the FDA announced that levels of melamine alone or cyanuric acid alone, at or below 1 part per million (ppm) in infant...

Read Post

Parents and Citizens Should Take Advantage of EPA's Comment Period On Perchlorate in Drinking Water

(1) Comments | Posted November 23, 2008 | 4:48 PM

Concerned parents and citizens can add their public comments on the Environmental Protection Agency's recent decision against perchlorate regulation in drinking water.

The EPA extended the public comment period for 15 days to Nov. 28 before they make a final determination on the contaminant.

Advisers and critics strongly urged...

Read Post

Joy Behar, I Have a Question For You: When Will the Left Finally Get it On Home Education?

(81) Comments | Posted November 21, 2008 | 12:54 PM

Hey Joy, I'm wondering about something... which homeschoolers do you know personally? Because I have to tell you, I think you're way out of line, saying that homeschooled kids are "demented" and that homeschooled kids are "afraid of other children" as you did recently on your show.

I'd...

Read Post

This Time Must Be Different

(0) Comments | Posted November 5, 2008 | 8:05 AM

The weather foretold it in Chicago. Rare is it to feel the warmth of southerly winds on an early November night in this city. Rarer still was the occasion of welcoming a president who means so much to the people he has set out to serve.

The gates were...

Read Post

Parents at the Heart of Chicago Environmental Justice Group

(1) Comments | Posted September 8, 2008 | 6:45 PM

What kind of world will we leave behind for our children? What can we as parents do to ensure our children do not suffer the health effects of dangerous air quality and industry and government negligence?

Two Chicago moms working for environmental health and justice in the Little Village...

Read Post

Illinois Extends Young Adult Health Coverage Under Parents Plans

(0) Comments | Posted August 21, 2008 | 1:42 PM

A new state law says young adults can be covered on their parents' insurance plans until age 26, regardless of their whether or not they still live at home or out of state.

The bill signed into law by the Illinois Senate this week and supported by Gov. Blagojevich, would...

Read Post

Why Not Try Meat-free Meals With Kids?

(5) Comments | Posted August 20, 2008 | 10:49 AM

Vegetarian diets are greener. Just reducing your weekly consumption of meat and animal products can make a big difference in your family's environmental impact.

Vegetarian meals for kids needn't be time consuming or require special planning. In fact, many kids favorites like pizza, mac and cheese and quesadillas are already...

Read Post