How Did That Sneak in There?

I read with great interest the article by Melissa Breyer on plastics (“Attack of the Killer Plastics [1],” March). However, I am questioning how well this information was researched. At the end of the article was a list of non-plastic alternatives, one of which was the Wrap-N-Mat machine-washable sandwich wrappers.

This seemed like a great idea, but after going to their website, I discovered the Wrap-N-Mat is lined with PVC, which is then wrapped around the food. PVC is one of the plastic items that is believed to leach the most chemicals, and according to the article, is called “the toxic plastic.” Is this really a “safe” alternative, even though it would reduce plastic waste?
—L. Vance, via e-mail

Desperately Seeking Atypical Male

I wanted to comment on the February essay by Rebecca Ephraim, “Couples’ Retreats and Root Canals [2]”. Ms. Ephraim is to be applauded. Getting her significant other to attend a couples’ workshop is a feat in itself. It shows commitment by both individuals to a third entity: The Relationship.

As a young, fairly urban, single female, I have found the largesse of supposed male “sensitivity” in this century to be a bunch of horse crap. The stereotypical male is still alive and well even in our time of evolved consciousness. I say this without bitterness. It is primarily experiential that I am able to state that typically “male” men are making me sick! I wonder what form of nurture-ment goes into creating a guy who is looking for another mother, who is scared of commitment, who is not afraid of using the “love” word freely without any foundation in the true meaning, whose ability to make love and be sensitive to the needs of his partner seem secondary, etc.

I would like to know where Ms. Ephraim found the beacon for her partner’s “emotional spelunking.” I cannot even find a guy with fresh batteries in his flashlight!

Keep up the good work!
—Courtney Schlesinger, Chicago

Shuck Oysters, Not Cows

I have enjoyed reading SharedVISION for 20 years. I would like to offer some feedback regarding an article on vegetarianism in the February issue (“Confessions of a Meat-Eating Vegetarian [3],”). The article cites grass-fed beef as the best source of B12 and iron. While grass-fed beef is a good source of these nutrients, the food highest in B12 and iron is shellfish, namely clams and oysters.

Clams and oysters have up to 10 times as much iron and B12 as beef, and much less cholesterol and saturated fats. In addition, clams and oysters have a wide range of other essential nutrients and vitamins that grass-fed beef does not offer, including omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, zinc, magnesium, and iodine.

You can support the local economy, and a greener environment, by choosing shellfish rather than beef. Even if it is grass-fed, eating a cow still leaves a larger footprint than shellfish.

—Mei Leung, Burnaby