Antibiotics in Our Food

This is straight from Marion Nestle's (author of Food Politics) blog...she reports that the FDA is now concerned and is starting to count the amount of antibiotics used in food animals. And the report says 29 million pounds of antibiotics used last year alone!!!

A vision for sustainable restaurants

Solar Roadways

Cool idea...Not only are they using the heat and sunlight captured on the surface of a road but they are adding safety and communications features to it. (http://www.solarroadways.com/main.html)

3Ts

"Hello, I'm a Mac, and I'm a PC -- Here's How I Help Fuel the World's Deadliest Conflict"

Two Angry Mom's

Here's a short preview on this new documentary about two parents' struggles and success in trying to bring real, wholesome, tasty, nutrient dense food into their children's schools.

Bard College's Prison Initiative

Just came across this inspiring story....

About a college that has awarded liberal arts associates’ and bachelors’ degrees to nearly 200 men and women that were in prison. Since their release "none of these graduates—not one—has returned to prison after being paroled".

And the best part about this program is that these participants started an organic garden in their prisons, where they grew food for the prison and a surplus for local food banks.

Cooking Co-Ops

I just came across this great idea....

Cooking Co-Ops are basically a group of people that swap prepared meals. Each person prepares a large meal, packages it up in a container, brings it to a designated meeting place and swaps with everyone else in their group. This way they can have a variety of prepared meals for the entire week.

Humanely Raised Animal Products

If you're looking to try and add meat, from animals humanly raised, to your diet these are some great resources on where to find them

http://www.eatwellguide.org/
Search by zip code for sustainable animal products in your area, including: meat, poultry, dairy and eggs.

http://www.apppa.org/producers.htm
The American Pastured Poultry Producer’s Association lists farms by state that sell purchase pasture-raised poultry.

http://www.eatwild.com/products/index.html
Click on your state for a list of farms selling pasture-raised meat, eggs and dairy products. You can also click on “multi-state” for farms that will ship products.

http://www.sustainabletable.org/shop/dairymap/
Click on your state to download a PDF document of artificial bovine growth hormone-free dairy products sold in your area.

http://www.localharvest.org/
Excellent resource for finding sustainable products, farmer’s markets, CSAs, coops, health food stores, online stores, and restaurants.

http://www.heritagefoodsusa.com/
This site is committed to genetic diversity, small family farms, a fully traceable food supply, sustainable land use, and small-scale food production.

Meet Your Meat

The horror and cruelty of factory farming

Kindling Spirit

"Healing is essentially a spiritual expedition, not a physical one." Beautiful story about the path of healing.

High Fructose Corn Syrup

Here's some good news. Responding to growing concerns for more conscious consumption, PepsiCo has announced its removal of high fructose corn syrup from Gatorade. Con Agra and Kraft are making similar gestures with Hunt’s Ketchup, Wheat Thins, and Snapple.

Dennis Leary

Humorous editorial by Leary where he goes off on prescription drugs

Civil Arrest

Why do the Republicans continue to insist on trying to destroy the foundations of our government?

Here's an article re: the new bill “The Enemy Belligerent Interrogation, Detention and Prosecution Act of 2010” being proposed by McCain and Lieberman, which if passed could allow the US military to detain suspected domestic terrorists - without habeas corpus - for interrogation....Which means if they want, they will have you sitting in jail for life and with no trial.

And who is to make the decision if you or I are an 'enemy belligerent'?....Who knows. And doesn't it state in the Declaration of Independence that it our 'duty to throw such a Government off as Despotism'.

So if I'm just a supporter of the Tea Partiers (which I'm not) I would be considered an enemy belligerent?

If anyone doesn't recall, here's a nice section from The United States Declaration of Independence:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,[71] that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."

Quote of the Week

"To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness. What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places (and there are so many) where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction. And if we do act, in however small a way, we don't have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory."
-Howard Zinn, patriot, historian, and author

Google is the New Corpo-Nation

Wow..didn't think anyone had pushing power against China. I'm glad someone has the chutzpah to stand up to them.

"The United States has become a holding company -- owning big chunks of banks and car companies, naming board members -- while Google is speaking out about human rights and censorship."

The Green They Steal, the Greed They Wear ...a St. Patrick's Day Lamentation

Just read this editorial by Michael Moore and started crying...Why do we all feel so helpless?

The Green They Steal, the Greed They Wear ...a St. Patrick's Day Lamentation

Jamie Oliver's TED Prize wish: Teach every child about food

It's all about food. When people start eating healthy again we will be able to change the world.

Crop Mobbed

More fantastic ideas on how to create a sustainable farm...This one is spreading around North Carolina called Crop Mob, were a community of people volunteer their manpower to help small farms get tons of work done in one day

More on Mercury-Laden Vaccine Studies

Seems the head guy, that's been churning up the reports for the CDC telling everyone it was okay to use mercury-laden vaccines, is a fraud and has now disappeared with millions of dollars that were supposed to have been spent on testing

The Relationship of Evolution

Really great article, stretching our preconceived ideas on evolution.
"The Reenchanted World"

Making TP

If only the firm I used to work for had something like this for all that unwanted paper

Willie Smits Restores a Rainforest

This is such an inspiring story...permaculture at its finest. I can only imagine the possibilities when we accomplish restoration like this in other countries.

The Dangers of Microwaves

I know most of you have heard all this before. But I thought I'd post this really in depth article on microwaves. Lots of history, science, and facts. Did you know the Soviet Union in the 70's banned microwaves because they felt they were too dangerous?

"Food Rules": A Completely Different Way To Fix The Health Care Crisis

Always great, an article by Michael Pollen promoting his new book re: a change in diet and lifestyle as the cure for illness.

The Connection between the Economy and Terrorism

This is such an interesting theory about world economics...and I tend to believe it especially with the consistent increase in the Euro over the last few years. The Euro is even now being excepted on the streets of NY.