The world grows more than enough food to sustain the global population, but half of that food is wasted -- and thus half of the water used in food production is wasted as well, says a new report from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, International Water Management Institute, and Stockholm Water Management Institute. In developing countries, food spoils or is damaged by insects; in developed countries, it's more often just tossed out. The United States and other industrialized countries throw out some 30 percent of their food each year, says the report: "That corresponds to [10.6 trillion gallons] of irrigation water, enough water to meet the household needs of 500 million people." The organizations call for a 50 percent reduction in global food waste by 2025, pointing out that 1 billion people already live with insufficient water. "Unless we change our practices," says the FAO's Pasquale Steduto, "water will be a key constraint to food production in the future."
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Delay And Deny Posted 12:00 pm
22 Aug 2008
I was arguing with someone about the detriments of pot. I won't reiterate all the arguments here, but one that smacks of Green Hypocrasy is that while they will go on and on about locally grown produce, and free range beef and organic products, when it comes to their drug of choice, they are willing to buy it from the far ends of the Earth, brought in by nefarious channels more evil than what they accuse Haliburton of doing in their most arcane imaginings.
Why is it that Greens don't follow their "grow local" rules for weed? For example, if pot doesn't grow in your city, then don't create a CO2 spewing lighting system to make an artificial environment...just stick red wine (if local). Or they will crave pot that takes hours of transportation time (extra miles to evade patrols). Also don't go around "despoiling" natural forests and undergrowth to hide marijuana plants.
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spaceshaper Posted 1:10 pm
22 Aug 2008
Red wine, not so much.
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Angelsnecropolis Posted 3:58 am
23 Aug 2008
How many people would pick up thier dogs poop if it wasn't illegal? But, of course, I see them not picking it up anyways.
Unless big brother is watching what people put in their trash bags most Americans won't change their habits.
Our company has a green recycling bin for plastic next to the trash bins and I watch with a sad and furious disdain as they put their plastics in the trash. I want to say something but I've already been reprimanded for "being too confrontational" with my greenness.
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Jonas Posted 9:31 pm
23 Aug 2008
The planet has a huge carrying capacity to feed and fuel the world. But only if we do the effort of organising things a bit.
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Tasermons Partner Posted 12:35 pm
24 Aug 2008
Most people don't think 'bout it, but they're required to throw out those half-eaten bowls of complimentary bread and chips...it adds up to alotta waste.
However there are some places in certain cities that will take their leftover food and donate it to a local food organization.
A CiCi's pizza place my roomate worked for did that. They serve pizza buffets, so at the end of the day, they'd offer boxes so that people who were there at closin' could take home what was left. Any left over would be picked up via a food donation program. The driver would make rounds to all the resturaunts at the end of the day and take their leftovers back to the shelters. It had to be eaten within a few days, and only food that hadn't been touched by any customers could be provided (health regulations), but it still provided alotta food.
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wiscidea Posted 3:26 am
26 Aug 2008
"According to Kader (2005) losses in the field (between planting and harvest) could be as high as 20-40 percent of the potential
harvest in developing countries due to pests and pathogens."
Hmmm... I wonder whether there is a way to prevent this loss... some sort of way to overcome the problem of pests and pathogens without resorting to expensive and toxic chemicals...
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