Things like this are why I started blogging, to spread awareness of the atrocities that happen within industrialized farming. This video seriously makes me sick. It is absolutely deplorable and downright cruel. I'll leave it at that and let you watch the video.
"Only after the last tree has been cut down…the last river has been poisoned…the last fish caught, only then will you find that money cannot be eaten." - Cree Indian Prophesy
I learned it in elementary school: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. As cheesy and it may sound, it has more meaning now that ever.
Usually I discuss agribusiness or related articles, but once in a while it is good to remember the basics.
Our Earth is not a never-ending basket full of resources. At some point, we will run out of things (oil, water, food) and regret that we did not take more care of the planet we live on. It sounds like a big challenge (...it is) but you can make small contributions everyday... like really, it's easy. For example, you can reduce trash from your house by using containers that can be used again. If you live in an area suitable you can also compost- composting helps use things that you would otherwise throw away. Also, start a garden!
Here are some easy things you can do to be greener (stop being lazy and do some): - Before you toss something in the garbage, think about the possibility of using it again. -Don’t use non-stick pans; use cast iron or stainless steel ones instead. -Lessen the amount of processed, canned, or fast food you consume, and never microwave plastic. -Buy and support organic. -Leave your shoes at the door to reduce pollutants in your home (positive: your home is cleaner!). -Buy natural fibers. -Use reusable water bottles instead of buying plastic ones. -Seal outdoor wooden structures that can contain arsenic. -Filter your water for drinking, cooking, and bathing. -Save energy by adjusting the thermostat just a few degrees, buying compact fluorescent light bulbs, opening the drapes for more light, and washing clothes in cold water when possible. -Recycle as much as possible and buy things made of recycled materials
These things are not hard to do, unless your lazy and unappreciative of the planet your using and living on. Not only will you feel more responsible, but things little efforts really do matter. “Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect.”
Of the few heroes I have, Bill McKibben is definitely one of them. McKibben is the founder of 350.org. This is a grassroots organization committed to spreading awareness of climate change, which is indeed a crisis. Their goal is to reach everyone, everywhere. This is a global movement.
So what does 350 mean? In order to preserve our planet (or what is left of it), scientists say we must reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere from its current level of 392 parts per million to below 350 ppm. So for McKibben 350 not just a number—it's a symbol of what has to happen.
In 2009 350 coordinated 5200 simultaneous rallies and demonstrations in 181 countries (holy shit). CNN called it the 'most widespread day of political action in the planet's history.' Additionally, on 10/10/10, they organized the "Global Work Party"--> a day of climate solutions projects, from "solar panel installations to community garden plantings"--they had over 7000 events in 188 countries.
Most recently they played a part in stopping the construction of the keystone pipeline (success!)
McKibben is from upstate New York very close to where I live, so naturally I identify with him. But I have also heard him speak, and he is incredibly insightful and inspirational. The 350 movement is something to follow. The people are committing to solving real tangible problems that affect every person living on the plant, which everyone should be concerned about.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead
Aqwise, located in Israel, is paving the way for clean waste-water treatment. They are offering varied treatments for industrial and municipal customers, who want or need to be greener. For some companies this is now a requirement, but requirements aside, it is good for the planet and for people. Water is a dwindling resource that should be treated with care.
According to the article "Aqwise’s technology utilizes biomass carriers, which look like little colorful plastic balls, and mix in the water, and even though to the untrained eye the balls look small, actually they have a large surface area. The bacteria see this as a convenient area to grow on, and this manipulation enables greater biological activity in any given area. This is the secret which enables Aqwise to plan a compact new facility or to make an existing facility more efficient, in many cases without the need to physically enlarge the treatment area."
This is the kid of cool innovative technology that is really effective in the green market. There is no reason why corporations should be opposed to using this waste-water treatment. I say make it mandatory!
Kudos to Aqwise! "Live Green, Love Green, Think Green"
Well, this is just what we need. Be careful if you are eating brown rice!
Brown rice is known to be one of the healthiest grains. Many doctors and farmers say that if you are health conscious and are interested in rice that it is definitely the way to go. So I was surprisedwhen I was browsing the news and came across this article.
A study that was just released by Dartmouth College revealed that there are potentially dangeously high levels of arsenic being found in brown rice, specifically in organic powered baby formula! They do not disclose the names of any brands in which the elevated levels of arsenic were found, but I would definitively be cautious in the grocery store! Make sure you check labels to see which brands include brown rice syrup. Many products that have brown rice included are cereal and energy bars... yiiiiiiiiiikes. “Any scientist who tells you they know that GMOs are safe and not to worry about it, is either ignorant of the history of science or is deliberately lying. Nobody knows what the long-term effect will be.” – Geneticist, David Suzuki, giving the 2008 Commonwealth Lecture in London
Novella is the author of the best-selling book Farm City. I was required to read this book for one of my classes (History of ecology and environmentalism) and as soon as I saw the cover, and read the description, I was intrigued. It is now safe to say that it's completely ahhhhmazing. The book tells the tale of a urban farmer (Carpenter) in Oakland, California. Oakland is not exactly what I would picture when I think "urban farm". When I think Oakland, I think riots, weed, and gangs. Well, I also now think pepper spray thanks to the extremely admirable police officers who handled the Occupy Oakland protesters with suuuch class and respect. Anyways, Novella chose to start an urban farm on an empty plot of land next to her apartment, in the ghetto of Oakland. She meets a variety of characters and ultimately raises bees, vegetables, and livestock (she forms a special bond with her turkeys, Maude and Harold).
Now, Novella is not some random spoiled brat that decides to grow a garden and become environmentally aware because its the "cool" thing to do. She actually cares where her food comes from and how it is produced. Shes rough around the edges, and has a completely addictive personality. She scrapes together money to pay for her farm, goes dumpster diving, and orders livestock that gets delivered in a box by UPS. Additionally, she drinks, is cranky at times, and is no stranger to curse words. But most of all, she is HILARIOUS. I literally could not put this book down. Its such an exceptional and inspiring piece of work.
Novella doesn't sugar coat anything. Growing your own food is not easy, especially when it comes to livestock. But it IS worth it. One thing she emphasizes is that most Americans have no idea where their food is grown or how it is produced, and that is the problem. Not only is it cheaper and healthier to produce your own food, you have the comforting feeling of KNOWING where your food comes from. Urban farming enables you to enjoy raising and producing your own food. The book is divided into three main sections: Turkey, Rabbit, Pig. She discusses everything from being hesitant about naming her animals, to developing relationships with them, killing them, and through drunken tequila filled nights discovering that she is indeed and urban farmer.
I cannot imagine anyone would pass up reading this book. First of all, it is only 185 pages, and its an easy read. Secondly, if you care at all about your food, or if you just want to have a good laugh, I highly recommend it.
One of my heroes. Vandana Shiva is a activist, eco-feminist, environmentalist, philosopher, author, and overall immensely intelligent and inspiring individual. Words literally cannot do her justice. One of her main goals is to fight for changes in an unjust agricultural and food production industry.
Below are parts 1, 2 and 3 of her interview "The Future of Food." It's an enlightening interview that gives you a real look into agribusiness and the affect it has on modern day farmers and consumers.
“Don't eat anything your great-grandmother wouldn't recognize as food.”
-Michael Pollan
Farmers filed a a class-action suit against the multinational seed and
chemical corporation Monsanto, stating they are no longer able to keep
transgenic contamination out of their fields. This is humongous issue, seeing as90%of the corn, soybeans, wheat, and canola in The United States are grown from genetically modified seeds that are owned by multinational corporations (MNCs) such as Monsanto.
MNCs have come to completely dominate agribusiness due to the patents they have on their GMOs and seeds. The government decided years ago that these modified seeds could be patented since they are seen as unnatural. These patents have made it nearly impossible for organic or family farmers to continue their businesses without being sued for copyright infringement.
This is what happens:
A family farm is situated on "X" amount of acres. They have their own seeds that are not genetically modified. There is another industrialized farm down the road that only grows crops whom seeds have been provided to them by a MNC, such as Monsanto.Through pollination and natural processes, seeds from the MNC farm are carried by wind, animal, etc. to the family farm up the road. Now, since these genetically modified seeds have landed and contaminated the family farms crops, Monsanto can sue them for infringement.
So not only are these farmers suffering from smaller yields, with crops that aren't engineered to look beautiful, but they are being sued because THE WIND has flown patented seeds into their fields. What are they supposed to do?! This a completely natural process and it is ludicrous that Monsanto is able to claim that small farmers are violating their patented seeds because of pollination.
This is not the only way that Monsanto has sued farmers though. They have also been known to sue family farmers just for EXISTING. They claim that they have a negative affect on Monsanto's production because they encourage and "influence" the MNC farmers not to use GMOs. Seriously?
By suing Monsanto these farmers are saying that they also have a right to grow food without contamination from Monsanto!It'll be interesting to see how this turns out.
"Stress
increases our nutritional needs, but, sadly, today's standard diet of
refined, enriched, preserved, irradiated, genetically modified,
pasteurized, homogenized, hydrogenated, and otherwise processed foods
doesn't begin to meet our increased nutritional needs. Today's foods are
less nutritious than their counterparts of yesteryear, owing largely to
methods employed by modern agribusiness to increase agricultural yield
and shelf life — at the expense of nutrient content and consumer health." - Brenda Watson and Leonard Smith, The Detox Strategy: Vibrant Health in 5 Easy Steps
