tagged w/ self sufficiency
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Rising consumption of natural resources means that humans began "eating the planet" on 9 October, a recent study suggests.
This is the day of the year when people's demands exceeded the Earth's ability to supply resources and absorb the demands placed upon it.
"By living so far beyond our environmental means and running up ecological debts means we make two mistakes," said Andrew Simms, Nef's policy director.
"First, we deny millions globally who already lack access to sufficient land, food and clean water the chance to meet their needs. Secondly, we put the planet's life support mechanisms in peril," he added.
Is greed driving us to destruction? How can we begin to solve these issues without resorting to sensationalist comments? The general public need to start focusing on doing their bit. As Tesco says 'Every Little Helps'Rising consumption of natural resources means that humans began "eating the... more
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One of the biggest problems facing the world today is growing food shortages and soaring prices. At the recent G8 summit in Tokyo world leaders sought to find ways to combat spiralling prices of basic foodstuffs in the developed world and starvation in the developing world. As government advisors warn there isn't enough food to feed everyone, one Northern mill town is doing its bit to find a solution. Incredible, Edible Todmorden is a community project, involving schools, businesses and the wider community, set up to encourage people to grow and cook their own food.
Ah the Good Life, but where's Jerry and Margo? (Sorry to all you US citizens, and those younger Brits for this blatant piece of UK 70's nostalgia in the guise of wit.)One of the biggest problems facing the world today is growing food shortages and... more
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Rural African farmers are already adapting to climate change, according to case studies in Benin, Kenya and Malawi.
The studies, carried out by local environmental groups for the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), found that farmers are using locally-relevant methods to adjust to their unpredictable environments.
Almost all African agriculture relies on rainwater rather than irrigation, but all farmers interviewed said erratic rainfall patterns and less predictable growing seasons are triggering major changes in farming practices, such as a switch to faster-growing crops or varieties.
Increasing capacity to cope with change is also important. Some farmers are clubbing together to build rain-harvesting tanks and setting up joint savings clubs.
"All these communities have adjusted to an increasingly volatile environment with a two-pronged approach: using available natural resources more efficiently, and raising capacity to cope with unpredictable future changes," the research team writes.
Rural African farmers are already adapting to climate change, according to case... more
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The United States could shave as much as 28 percent off the amount of greenhouse gases it emits at fairly modest cost and with only small technology innovations, according to a new report.
What the report calls out is the fact that the potential is so substantial for energy efficiency, said Ken Ostrowski, a leader of the report team. Not that we will do it, but the potential is just staggering here in the U.S. There is a lot of inertia, and a lot of barriers.
A broad public education program around wasteful energy consumption could be mounted, the report said. Modeled on the Keep America Beautiful campaign of the 1960s, it could promote reduction in carbon littering by increasing peoples awareness of the problem.
!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!??!!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!!?!?!?!?
I think we can do a lot better at conservation than this.
We need to think outside the box and consider alternatives such as off grid homes, hemp and organic community gardens. We need to shorten the work week and place more emphasis on family and volunteerism.
I wonder how much we could conserve by eliminating war?
This report seems so cookie cutter and light on any real help, what do you think?The United States could shave as much as 28 percent off the amount of greenhouse gases... more
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About 70% of the food we eat contains genetically modified ingredients and is not labeled. The biotechnology industry is spending $50 million a year to convince us that this technology is our only hope for feeding the world and saving the environment. Family farmers are disappearing at an astonishing rate as people continue to go hungry both here and abroad.
Using hilarious and disturbing archival footage and featuring interviews with farmers, scientists, government officials and activists, FED UP! presents an entertaining, informative and compelling overview of our food production system from the Green Revolution to the Biotech Revolution and what we can do about it.
The movie is broken into four parts, averaging 20 minutes each.About 70% of the food we eat contains genetically modified ingredients and is not... more
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