The Ten Commmandments of Being a Good Neighbor

(Excerpt from The Ostrich Syndrome)
Thou Shalt Not Kill Thy Neighbor

Toni Temple, President Ohio Network for the Chemically Injured

While this statement may seem a little far-fetched for typical suburbia, read on, re-think and react!.

1. Thou shalt not run thy vehicle when not in use to prevent carbon monoxide from entering thy neighbor's domicile and thus thy neighbor’s lungs. (Spares thy pocketbook too!)

2. Thou shalt not use thy barbecue grill near thy neighbor's windows. (More carbon monoxide and a lot of dirty smoke!)

3. Thou shalt not place thy garbage cans near thy neighbor’s windows.

4. Thou shalt not operate thy gas-powered lawnmower on hot humid days to keep from “ozoning” thy neighbor. (Hint: electric mowers do not emit exhaust; and better yet, hand mowers are not a threat to air pollution and provideth much needed exercise.)

5. Thou shalt not poison thy neighbors, family, friends, pets and wildlife by using toxic chemicals on your lawn. It’s not for the birds either. (Some lawn chemicals currently in use were used as nerve toxins in the Viet Nam War.)

6. Thou shalt carefully read directions and instructions when using swimming pool chemicals for maintenance (chlorine is a deadly gas that produces further harm when mixed or stored with other chemicals, and it can even cause explosions. (Chlorine and ammonia are incompatible so check thy makeup ingredients containing ammonia.)

7. Thou shalt not pollute thy clothes dryer, neighborhood, and clothing with toxic exhaust from fabric softeners or dryer sheets and perfumed detergent residues. (They contain benzene, toluene and other petroleum chemicals which become even more harmful when heated.)

8. Thou shalt not pollute thy neighborhood air with toxic smoke coming from burning newspapers, chemical starter logs (use untreated wood and twigs), garbage and petroleum products, plastics and the like, in thy fireplace. (They all cause pollution, especially plastics, which release dioxin.)

9. Thou shalt not cause thy neighbor undue stress with unnecessary noise and pollution from leaf blowers, motorcycles, power tools or loud music and parties.

10. Thou shalt be considerate and notify thy neighbor -- so windows can be closed -- when creating dust, stirring up pollen, painting or using toxic chemicals and pesticides. (Thou wilt be helping thyself too by using VOC-free paints, less toxic cleaning methods and safer products, and alternatives to pesticides and herbicides.)