Artists do many things to draw attention to our changing climate, but this is perhaps the very first example of using an iceberg as an artistic pedestal...and it's quite a sight to behold.
The vernal equinox for 2010 occurred at 1:32 Eastern time. It is a time of planting, agriculture, renewal of the soul and the land, and of love. And while this world has its share of crises, I truly do believe the equinox and the coming of spring holds a chance for a new beginning. However, that beginning comes from within us.
So from the Sustainable Agriculture Group, love, rebirth, and a true regrowth of our soil and our seeds is wished to all.The vernal equinox for 2010 occurred at 1:32 Eastern time. It is a time of planting,... more
"What's Fresh: Trying to save money? 15 foods you don’t need to buy organic
Although I enjoy the grocery store (maybe it’s because I’m a dietitian that I love checking out new products and comparing food labels), lately my husband is doing our grocery shopping.
His budget-friendly buys are great for our bank account. But they don’t always align with my interest in eating organically. We don’t buy everything organic, but pesticides can be absorbed into fruits and vegetables, leaving trace residues, and I’d prefer to not eat pesticides. Long-term exposure to them has been associated with cancer, infertility and neurologic conditions, such as Parkinson’s. (Here are 4 ways to reduce your exposure to pesticides.)
Anyway, one day he called me from the produce aisle. Andy wanted to know what on the list he truly needed to buy organic and what he could skimp on and buy conventional. (Does organic produce have more nutrients? Find out here.)
Fortunately, the Environmental Working Group (EWG, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization) has identified 15 fruits and vegetables that are least likely to be contaminated with pesticide residues. I told him to save money and buy those conventional:
Asparagus
Avocado
Broccoli
Cabbage
Eggplant
Kiwi
Mango
Onions
Papaya
Pineapple
Sweet corn (frozen)
Sweet peas (frozen)
Sweet potatoes
Tomatoes
Watermelon
(Save even more money with these dinner recipes for $3 or less per serving.)
EWG also identified 12 fruits and vegetables that are most likely to have higher trace amounts of pesticides. (If your budget allows, buy these 18 foods organic too.) We buy organic:
Apples
Carrots
Celery
Cherries
Grapes (imported)
Kale
Lettuce
Nectarines
Peaches
Pears
Sweet bell peppers
Strawberries
Do you buy organic? What foods do you think it’s worth to save on and which do you spend more on for organic?
By Brierley Wright, M.S., R.D."
I have an Avocado tree anyway, so I'm getting organic still. I say, the fresher you can get your fruit, the better. Especially since distributors pick and ripen the product on the way to the market.
Can you guys taste the difference between Organic vs. Conventional vs. Backyard garden?
I remember eating these strawberries from my back yard that were sort of strange tasting. Good, but kinda weird.
The thin skinned stuff makes sense to buy organic if you can."What's Fresh: Trying to save money? 15 foods you don’t need to buy... more
Every now and again there comes along a scientific study that proves beyond reasonable doubt what you instinctively know to be true: wine is good for you, exercise is dangerous, and self-righteous environmentalists are lying, cheating, thieving degenerates.
I'm exaggerating only a little. Do Green Products Make Us Better People?, a paper in the latest edition of the journal Psychological Science, argues that those who wear what the authors call the "halo of green consumerism" are less likely to be kind to others, and more likely to cheat and steal. Faced with various moral choices – whether to stick to the rules in games, for example, or to pay themselves an appropriate wage – the green participants behaved much worse in the experiments than their conventional counterparts. The short answer to the paper's question, then, is: No. Greens are mean.
The authors, two Canadian psychologists, came up with an intriguing explanation for this. "Virtuous acts," they write, "can license subsequent asocial and unethical behaviour." It's the yin-yang theory of psychology, or "compensatory ethics", to give it its proper name. Buy an organic potato, then go home and beat your wife with The Guardian. Hop smugly into a green hybrid car, then use it to run over little old ladies doing their shopping.
This "moral balancing" argument, however, clearly has its limits. Most people are sufficiently balanced without having to swing to opposite ends of the moral spectrum. We can give money to charity without dipping into the company till at the same time. Every good act doesn't necessitate a bad one. To every action, there is not an equal and opposite reaction. Buying an expensive courgette with a bit of mud on it need not turn you into a tyrant.
No, what this study really does is to confirm our deep-rooted suspicion that there is something fishy about people who profess to be greener than thou. Those climate-change scientists in East Anglia didn't do their cause any favours with their emails. The most inconvenient truth for Al Gore was when reporters discovered just how large his home energy bills were.
As with the worst type of religious zealot, there is nothing more annoying than the zeal of the converted, especially when it is tainted with the hypocrisy of self-righteousness. As we report today, people are more likely to buy environmentally friendly produce in shops than on the internet. Being seen to be green is more important than anything else. I wonder whether that will change if it now becomes a case of being seen to be mean.
We should, of course, distinguish between the quiet, worthy faith of the majority, who recycle when they remember and try not to fly long-haul to New Zealand more than twice a month, and the infuriating, evangelical minority, who pour white paint all over nice, black 4x4s.
We've always suspected they were bullies. In the Seventies British film Nuts in May, Mike Leigh hilariously skewered the sort of couple whose supposed love of the environment – and why do so many of these people live in towns? – is really just a device to stop everyone else having fun.
And now, at last, we have confirmation that they're tight as well. They might be willing to pay over the odds for a lovingly tended carrot, but in every other area of normal human activity, their greenness is merely a mask for miserliness. The wind turbine, the tandem bike with a dangerous little buggy on the back for the twins, the self-denying holidays in Wales… Get a boiler! Get a car! Get out of here!
We have been kind to these unkind people for far too long. Now that their halo has fallen and they can no longer boast their green credentials as a shorthand for moral superiority, it is time to fight fire with fire. How about a little compensatory ethics of our own? Double the tax on organic food as a deterrent; it is clearly a starter drug to a lifetime of amorality. Stop and search anyone in a Prius. Conduct dawn raids on north London allotments. Otherwise, one can only imagine the sort of dystopia that would ensue if these mean little green men were allowed to run amok.Every now and again there comes along a scientific study that proves beyond reasonable... more
On March 16, 2010, a California District Judge, Jeffrey White, denied plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction that would have halted the planting of GE sugar beets, thereby allowing this season’s planting to go forward.
But it is not all bad news for the coalition of plaintiffs.
Read more of our article with a full analysis of the legal decision.
As with hairstyles and fashions, the food that we eat can be "in" one day and "out" the next. This year however, there's a distinct eco & health direction that might very well stick around for a while.
Now that spring is here and the hiking and camping season on us we will need an all natural insect repellent, this is the recipe you need.Now that spring is here and the hiking and camping season on us we will need an all... more
The more one learns about fruits and vegetables that more amazed one becomes. You see, the truth is that God created a vast array of natural foods that are incredibly versatile and incredibly good for us. In fact, the other day we learned how absolutely extraordinary a simple cucumber is. A cucumber? Yes, a cucumber. It turns out that cucumbers have some absolutely incredibly properties.The more one learns about fruits and vegetables that more amazed one becomes. You see,... more
Sick of contributing to the landfill by purchasing budget friendly pieces that only end of crumpling under pressure? This designer has an idea that is so sustainable that it's actually scrumptious!
After nearly a two-hour hearing yesterday, the U.S. District Judge Jeffery White reserved judgment as to whether a preliminary injunction that would prevent the production or planting of genetically modified sugar beet seeds, should issue. Both parties, however, expect a quick decision as farmers will soon be ready to plant their crop.
In its filings, USDA argues that such an “overbroad” injunction would unnecessarily penalize producers and processors, “decimating the entire sugar beet industry and almost half of the nation’s domestic sugar supply for multiple years.”
Even if that were the case, and that is highly questionable as parties in litigation, especially when facing the ominous prospect of an injunction, paint an Armageddon vision of the world, the stakes for organic farmers and those wanting to plant non-GMO sugar beets are much higher. With the prevalence of GM sugar beets in the United States, in fact, a near 95% dominance of the sugar beet crop, organic or non-gmo sugar beets growers stand to be obliterated by genetic contamination from the GM crop (which can occur during many stages of seed planting and growth).
Hopefully the Court will consider this dire prospect for organic growers and those wishing to grow non-gmo beets, as well as consumers who care about the integrity of their food and stand to lose the ability to shop organic, as sufficient enough irreparable harm (one of the more important preliminary injunction elements) and grant the relief plaintiffs are seeking.
Urban NYC farmers have set their eyes on a new prize: transforming privately owned backyards into lush, fruitful farmlands.
By signing up to share your yard with a urban farmer, you can eat fresh from your own personal farm during the harvest months, and even sell produce to your neighbors - growing a community built around fresh local food. The best part is, you don't even have to lift a finger, BK Farmyards does all the farming for you...
Find out more at bkfarmyards.com http://vimeo.com/6137263Urban NYC farmers have set their eyes on a new prize: transforming privately owned... more
Brooklyn's very first Rooftop Farm, started April 2009, is harvesting its crops for the summer season! Meet Ben Flanner and Annie Novak, the farmers who founded the project, and see for yourselves the optimistic future for urban farming. NYC's skyline has never looked this cool...
Around this time of year is a perfect time to start your outdoor herb garden indoors. Here is some good information on what and how to grow your herbs.Around this time of year is a perfect time to start your outdoor herb garden indoors.... more
CHANGE (Californians for a Healthy and Green Economy) has created a red carpet event called "The Toxies" -- in Hollywood, naturally -- which gives awards to "bad chemical actors." Read on for the details...
The Green Lifestyle Film Festival (GLFF) was founded with the idea that film could be used to create change for the greater good. Film is a conduit to our psyche and can hold the key for liberation and destruction. Many green events focus on the destruction of our outer world and fail to address core issues. The GLFF is a new type of green event, meant to be uplifting and positive, full of inspired films, healthy food and diverse dialogue to produce a window for changing ourselves. An inner transformation can alter the course of our planet.
ABOUT 2010 GLFF: This passionate and thought provoking film festival was founded by Dorit, owner of Serenity Spaces, in 2006. Now in its fourth year, the GLFF has blossomed into an international event and will be creating headlines with this year’s event. The GLFF will be held March 19-21, 2010, at the James Bridges Theater at the University of California, Los Angeles in Los Angeles, Calif., USA. A full weekend pass to the GLFF is regularly $195, with day and half-day passes also available at economical prices. In addition to the film festival indoors, there will be a free-to-the-public outdoor arena with entertainment, live food demos and booths to inspire creativity and wellness in all spheres of our lives.
GLFF HIGHLIGHTS: This scene stealing and innovative film festival will have a Green Carpet for celebrity interviews, organic and vegan food, solutions filled films and filmmakers committed to making a difference. Celebrity hosts include Australian model/actress Joanne Rose and Mad TV comedienne/actress Debra Wilson Skelton. In addition, Norwegian Playboy Playmate Lillian Muller and Pre-teen hip hop sensation Maxso will also be on hand for the weekend. Eco-fashionistas will be able to see the launch of the first eco bag made of grass and eco fashion by local designer Galina. And, where there’s fashion and celebrities, photographers are sure to follow: celebrity photographer Maurice Rinaldi is the official GLFF photographer.
FIRSTS: The 2010 GLFF will be home to the launch of the first Vegetarian Food Drive in the United State supported by the Westside Food Bank. Also launching this year is the GLFF’s Pre-Teen and Teen Project that gives a voice to detached youth. This innovative program matches young people with filmmakers and recycled electronics to help them create their projects.
FILMS: At the heart of the GLFF are the filmmakers who strive to make a difference in the world. We enjoy celebrating our participating filmmakers at the GLFF and thank them for dedicating their talents, income and energy to examining what sustainability really means by presenting them a Green Apple Award at our black-tie, five-star eco-culinary Award Dinner to culminate the GLFF weekend. Their films explore topics such as how we birth our young, how we raise children, the construction and design of our homes, illness, our movement around the Earth and how this is in reflected in how we feed ourselves, how we treat each other and the impact of our consumerist behavior on the planet. The directors of the films shown at the GLFF will be on hand all weekend to engage in dialogue with audience members and are available for media interviews.
The Green Lifestyle Film Festival (GLFF) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, financed by donations and grants from individuals and foundations who recognize the intrinsic power of films to inspire, motivate, educate and stimulate change on a large scale level. To find out more, please visit www.greenlifestylefilmfestival.com, tickets are available at www.InTicketing.com, who insures a tree is planted for every ticket sold.The Green Lifestyle Film Festival (GLFF) was founded with the idea that film could be... more
Excerpt:
"In terms of wellness promotion, there is no doubt that an organic whole foods-based diet and a healthy lifestyle are the "best medicine" for those of us trying to survive and keep our families healthy in the toxic soup of 100,000 synthetic chemicals that surround us everyday, polluting our food, water, medicines, homes, and environment.
As we complement our organic whole foods-based diet with herbs and supplements, we need to make sure that these vitamins and botanicals are derived from naturally occurring plant and mineral sources, and that they contain no synthetic chemicals whatsoever." http://www.organicconsumers.org/nutricon.cfm
One more:
"Most synthetically produced vitamins and supplements are chemical compounds that cannot be found in nature, hence the human body does not recognize these ingredients which can result in unanticipated reactions. The body knows the difference between real and fake and it always prefers real."
For more info: http://www.organicconsumers.org/nutricon/qa.cfm
Synergy is fundamental. Isolated compounds might not be effective and at times are toxic.
Some vitamins use GMO and do not have to be declared just like the majority of our food.
Don't let this billion dollar industry deceive you by robbing your health and money.
"Is it possible that we’ve reached Peak Monsanto?:
Low commodity soybean prices, attractive premiums, and rising prices for genetically modified soybean seed are leading American farmers to plant more acres of non-GMO soybeans this year."
The Ecologist reported recently that three French farmers have successfully sued chemical companies for cancer and Parkinson’s disease that resulted from their occupational use of pesticides–an issue as widespread as it is under-reported. A cereal farmer with 100,000 hectares of land in in the Vosges region, Dominque Marchal was the first farmer to have his leukemia associated with his daily pesticide use. His wife was determined to get to the bottom of the issue. From the Ecologist:
She employed a lawyer to help her gather the scientific evidence and herself set about gathering invoices and receipts to list which pesticides her husband had been using in previous years. Then, from their own pesticide stocks and with the help of neighbouring farms, she was able to gather samples of each of the potential cancer-causing substances. Her lawyer helped her find a laboratory willing to analyse the contents, and when the results came back they showed that 40 per cent contained benzene, a substance not marked on any of the contents labels but that is known to increase the risk of leukaemia.
No farmer has succeeded in taking on Big Chem for their illnesses in the U.S. because it is especially difficult to get medical recognition for the disease-occupation correlation, despite the fact that there is plenty of evidence that exposure to certain pesticides increases the risk of illness. (See Washington University in St. Louis’ epidemiological study that shows high rates of Parkinson’s disease in the Midwest and Northeast, where agriculture and metal processing–two occupations that use chemicals associated with Parkinson’s–are most prevalent. And the long term Agricultural Health Study focused on Iowa and North Carolina, which began in 1994, has found elevated risk for farmers of multiple myeloma and cancers of the lip, gallbladder, ovary, prostate, and thyroid.)
However, many farmers and rural Americans are taking note of the increasing rate at which their family members and neighbors are diagnosed with cancer and other diseases. Sandra Zellmer, who lost her mother, father and uncle, all farmers, to cancer between 2004-2008, wrote recently about the link between the herbicide atrazine and the pesticide DDT to the types of cancers that killed her family. Her findings echo the blockbuster piece on atrazine in the New York Times last summer, which brought attention to the issues posed by heightened exposure to and weak regulation of the weed killer, noting that “Laboratory experiments suggest that when animals are exposed to brief doses of atrazine before birth, they may become more vulnerable to cancer later.”
The EPA is currently re-assessing atrazine, which has been found in the drinking water of 33 million Americans. A recent report by the Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA) and the Land Stewardship Project entitled The Syngenta Corporation and Atrazine The Cost to the Land, People and Democracy [pdf] includes the stories of five farmers who’ve decided to stop using atrazine for health and safety reasons, and also draws attention to the possibility of a link between atrazine and breast cancer. From the report:
Atrazine increases the activity of an enzyme called aromatase that can, in turn, increase levels of estrogen. According to Dr. [Janet] Gray [Board Member and Acting Science Adviser to the Breast Cancer Fund], “This is of great concern when it comes to breast cancer because we know that increased exposures to estrogens are one of the major risk factors for increased incidences of breast cancer.”
Here is Zellmer’s response to these disturbing facts:
No wonder farming is considered one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States. Who knew that farmers’ families, their neighbors, and their neighbors’ neighbors were at risk, too. If we miss this opportunity to delve deeply into the potential link between a widely used chemical and the health of our food producers and their communities, anger—not acceptance—is the appropriate response.The Ecologist reported recently that three French farmers have successfully sued... more
Two great tastes that taste great together: Kirstey Alley's new "Organic Liaison" dietary support system and the plain old goodness of pure unadulterated food completely free of GMOs, antibiotics, herbicides, pesticides, growth hormones, fertilizers and synthetic chemicals.
