Comments HealthyHiker has made
- There is overuse of eco and ag terminology by both Kenner and Salatin in their interviews with Stewart, particularly on Salatin's part. It is important to speak in everyday language about these issues- most people do not know what GMO's are (try to avoid speaking in acronyms), or understand what synergistic farming means etc. The easier it is for people to understand what we are talking about, the more minds we can change.On Martha Stewart blisters meat industry in Thanksgiving show posted 1 day, 17 hours ago 7 Responses
- I think that Hashley's concerns are valid. Farmer- owned processing facilities are the preferred option. Small farmers provide variety in their product. Whole Foods will be dictacting what they produce in order to create total uniformity in their product. This contradicts the nature of variety in small scale farming. Also, the language about access to pasture is problematic. Sustainable poultry production is about pasture raised, not just "let them see the pasture once in a while." Health of the animal and nutritive value of the chicken is affected by such guidelines. There is indeed reason to be concerned about undue market influence Whole Foods would have on small producers. Regionally-operated processing co-ops might be a better model.On Grist Exclusive: Will Whole Foods' new mobile slaughterhouses squeeze small farmers? posted 1 week, 1 day ago 9 Responses
- The costs in human health problems relating to uranium mining, low-level radioactive releases from nuclear reactors, and the handling of radioactive waste are high.On Two senators push to ramp up nuclear energy posted 1 week, 3 days ago 3 Responses
- The mainstream media is performing very poorly. Independent media sources, including Grist, are really the only sources worth reading/listening to/watching these days. People should contact mainstream media sources that they may be subscribed to and demand better. The editors and publishers need to hear from their customers.On Reflecting on the lameness of my profession posted 1 week, 3 days ago 11 Responses
- Please do contact Obama regarding this appointment. It is worth noting that he said that there would be "no lobbyists in the White House," and then he appointed Siddiqui, a former lobbyist. The contradiction between personal practice- eating organic at the White House- and public policy is repeating itself. I heard that one of the Bush's had organic meat brought into the White House kitchen. I've also learned of conventional animal product producers who don't eat their own products, and tell their friends to avoid it and opt for organic. I also encourage people to contact EPA re pesticide overuse in this country, not just on our croplands, but for cosmetic weed and insect control (ex. 2,4-d herbicide found in weed-n-feed products and used by lawn "care" companies.)On No to Obama's agrichemical industry man, yes to Bed-Stuy Farm posted 1 week, 3 days ago 3 Responses
- More effort needs to be placed in our communities on organizing around our Congress members' social, economic and environmental policies. We also must replace existing Congress members with leaders who place environmental preservation on the top of their priority list.On Is Bill McKibben right to be angry with Obama? posted 1 week, 4 days ago 37 Responses
- There is an important component to China's production relating to climate change and that is the quality and nature of the products they make. China is producing to much "cheap, plastic crap" to be sold at stores like Wal-Mart. We need to have a real discussion about what countries are producing. The focus needs to be on producing durable, meaningful products that people really need. Producing primarily essential goods that are built to last will reduce carbon emissions and waste entering our environment significantly.On Subtle but important shifts in global warming positions announced by U.S. & China posted 1 week, 4 days ago 6 Responses
- Poor may be burdened "twice" according to Vandana Shiva in regards to carbon offsets. Here is her article entitled The Injustice of Carbon Offsets in which she also speaks about cap and trade- http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/09/18-9 Cap and trade is argued by many, including two EPA attorneys (whose statements were featured on Grist) to be a failed policy, not achieving overall reduction in carbon emissions.On Palin’s book spreads falsehoods about clean energy legislation posted 1 week, 5 days ago 11 Responses
- Tom, I share your thoughts almost to a T. I avoid car driving as much as possible for enviro. and safety concerns. Now, if we could get all of those frequent fliers- including environmental professionals who regularly fly cross country for meetings and conferences- to tone down their plane travels...On Random Monday thoughts inspired by a throwaway line from Mark Bittman posted 2 weeks, 5 days ago 5 Responses
- I think the appropriate question is "can we live with coal and nuclear power?" In the case of nuclear power, the raw materials alone pose cancer risk to workers and neighboring communities. Breast cancer among Navajo uranium mine workers is just one tragic example of the hazard nuclear raw materials pose. Following the raw materials extraction is the risk that nuclear plants pose in their low level radioactive emissions and waste that cannot be disposed of safely. Coal's problems have been well documented on Grist. Heavy metal contamination and acidification seem to be nearly unavoidable in coal production and in coal ash disposal. Let's focus on reducing our energy consumption overall. Conservation needs to be the hallmark of our federal energy policy. I also like the idea of harnessing human energy to power buildings (one example is bicycle powered electricity in gyms.)On Do we need nuclear and coal plants for baseload power? posted 2 weeks, 6 days ago 164 Responses
- Consider reading Our Stolen Future by Theo Colbourn et. al. and the Endocrine Disruptors fact pack and related literature by Center for Health, Environment and Justice- now Be Safe, formerly Citizen's Clearing House for Hazardous Waste. These writings contain info. about tons of toxic chemicals that scientists suspected over 15 years ago were of concern but are only now getting pulled off the market- such as BPA. This revelation re BPA in canned foods really bugged me. I did some net searching on it and Treehugger wrote a piece on it a year ago. I had assumed previously that cans lined with BPA containing material were those with white plastic lining. Not so. The BPA can be contained in the clear enamel in most cans- I didn't even know there was a lining. Years ago, I stopped buying canned food for the most part to reduce my consumption of mined materials. There is an environmental impact from mining metals just to turn them into food packaging. Now, I will eliminate tomato soup in a BPA can and just make something warm out of unpackaged fresh tomatoes instead.On Consumer Reports finds BPA traces in common canned foods posted 3 weeks, 2 days ago 14 Responses
- Thanks for posting this article. The issue of toxics exposure is a very important one and needs to return as a top environmental priority in the US. It would be good if Seventh Generation said when their event was taking place in Washington/gave details about it.On Seventh Generation launches anti-toxics campaign with wee gimmick posted 3 weeks, 2 days ago 7 Responses
- Randy, I completely agree. We need to restore direct, face to face organizing. There needs to be more organizing training so that people know how to lead and respond in this way.On Why the climate movement needs more Ethiopian-style activists posted 3 weeks, 4 days ago 10 Responses
- Hello Keith, If you are interested in my perspective, I don't take part in climate action events because I believe it will take change in many areas of environmental policy to achieve climate change carbon reduction goals. So, I push for policy that will shift our manufacturing to producing products that are durable and non-toxic. I support sustainable land use so that natural resources are used efficiently. This also includes advocating the preservation of forests- which provide enormous carbon capture. I also commit to efforts that will ensure our electoral system is reformed so that we can elect candidates who truly represent our concerns and will work for the policies we want implemented. Regarding marketing for your event, I only recently learned what 350 even meant. For your average American, they probably had no idea. Best of luck with turnout for your future events.On Why the climate movement needs more Ethiopian-style activists posted 3 weeks, 4 days ago 10 Responses
- Hello Alamar, The use of addiction can be understood if you have experienced it. Everyone has different body chemistry and we were all raised with different dietary habits. For some people, refraining from eating sweets is as hard as it is for smokers to refrain from smoking a cigarette. If you watch the Democracy Now link I sent, you will learn that part of the problem is that when we eat, we are laying down neurocircuitry in our brain that our bodies remember. For many people who are trying to overcome bad eating habits, they have to spend a long time laying down new neurocircuitry. This means sticking to a healthful diet for a very long time so your body can learn a new way of being. The reason so many people trying to lose weight by going on diets fail because their bodies learned over a long period of time that the feeling that they had after eating a lot of refined sugar etc was normal, when it was not. Like I said in my last point, we should stick to real, whole foods and balanced meals.On Scientists claim junk food is as addictive as heroin posted 3 weeks, 5 days ago 18 Responses
- There is an important distinction that Kessler does not make in his appearance on Democray Now that I am reminded of. In speaking of "sugar, salt and fat" he does not distinguish between refined sugar and salt and poor quality fats versus unrefined sugar (ed. turbinado or brown rice syrup) and salt (ex. sea salt ) and quality fats (ex. organic beans, free range meat.) Previous research into sugar consumption reveals that refined sugar causes high spikes in blood sugar followed by an immediate crash. Refined salt consumption strips our body of minerals. Also, research has demonsrated that the decreased nutrients in many crop foods and processed foods today causes our body to over-compensate by eating more of it to get the minerals and vitamins etc that we need. When we consume whole, unrefined, minimally- processed foods in balanced meals, we are nourishing ourselves with all the minerals and vitamins and other nutrients our bodies need. This results in a healthy body chemistry and satisfied feeling. Ending our addiction to overeating the wrong foods.On Scientists claim junk food is as addictive as heroin posted 4 weeks, 1 day ago 18 Responses
- Here is the link to the interview with Kessler in which he talks about the physiological research behind why Americans are addicted to the wrong foods: http://www.democracynow.org/2009/8/3/former_fda_commissioner_david_kessler_theOn Scientists claim junk food is as addictive as heroin posted 1 month ago 18 Responses
- David Kessler was interviewed a month or so ago by Amy Goodman of Democracy Now. You can view the interview at www.democracynow.org Just search the past shows listings. She has also interviewed others food advocates like Michael Pollan. The findings are accurate. Ingredients like highly refined sugar create an enormous physical addiction. The consumer is left in an altered, high like state after eating things like cookies and candy bars with refined sugar. Overtime, our bodies process this response as the "normal" way we should feel. The research findings underscore the incredible importance of feeding our children a diet largely free of refined high sugar/salt/artificial ingredient laden food choices. The adage about learning good eating habits early is very true.On Scientists claim junk food is as addictive as heroin posted 1 month ago 18 Responses
Delaware's Environment and Biden's Record
People should consider environmental conditions in Delaware to gain a sense of how its leaders have performed:
Delaware has one of the highest cancer rates in North America- pollution being the main culprit for this. How are state leaders resolving this public health problem?
Delaware is being developed to death. Large corporate developers and builders are having a field day in Delaware buying up every farm and forest possible to build Mc Mansions, shopping centers, and office parks. Have you driven around the state lately? It is a mess and it's drinking water is deteriorating because of this unsustainable land use.
Delaware parks require payment for every visit- even a 30 minute hike. How does that encourage people reconnect with nature?On Barack Obama selects Delaware Sen. Joe Biden as his running mate posted 1 year, 3 months ago 17 Responses