It certainly has been awhile since I posted something of my view on sustainability.  I noticed a news item in the New York Times business section (link) yesterday regarding the approval by our federal government for a large chemical concern to move forward with its genetically modified corn that will resist a powerful herbicide - more powerful than Roundup (which is now resisted by the wild weeds its supposed to be killing).  Pretty frightening.  Reportedly some of the ingredients in the new compound that said GMO is designed to resist were applied in Agent Orange - the human-body-destroying defoliant used during the Viet Nam war to remove jungles. (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agent_Orange )
According to the story someone claimed that they will use non-harmful components of the horrid chemical.  Yeah right.  I suppose if you believed horrors of Iraqi WMD you believe this positively Pollyannish spin.

Gee I dont know but for my money I would rather not be consuming ANY part of Agent Orange nor have cattle eat the substance that will fill their cellular structures either.

And by the way, there goes more "clean" water.  The article mentions they have inventive chemical ways of avoiding "drift" from spraying the toxic garbage but what happens to the water supply???

What about you - Got Agent Orange in your diet or tap water???

Its a total disconnect in a nation where millions march for breast cancer every year or post to social media buckets of ice water being dumped on their heads for some other health cause and accepting this as food production practice.

My best advice: insist on eating LOCAL, CERTIFIED ORGANIC and in season whenever and wherever possible.  Or learn how to grow your own.

And when somebody says "Well theres just no other way to feed the masses" ask them "What are they eating?".  In fact what they will be eating tomorrow is going to apparently look very different from what they will be eating today or certainly what they were eating yesterday.

How Long Has It Been?

Lots of things have changed in the world since last I posted anything about sustainable living. Sometimes I cringe at what goes on in the world. With China building several new coal plants per week to meet demand and stock the shelves in America to few efforts by nations to agree on anything at the last global climate conference.

Yet there is much to be hopeful for. We have an auto industry driving hard to produce electric vehicles. It seems as though the Japanese are once again ahead of that curve as Nissan prepares to release an electric vehicle in the US. Well lets ask how much is driving vehicles sustainable anyway. Should I take public transportation more?

Changing gears - so to speak - lets ask in general what can we do to improve things on a personal participation level. Where should I get my produce? Farmers market or the convenient corner store? Whats even available? Great news! At least in my city more neighborhood farmers markets are popping up and they are always packed. Organics are usually though not always available but more importantly is it grown in my area? You can reduce a carbon footprint and promote your neighbors' businesses by buying local.

Well I must move on to the next box to check on my list for today. I will get back to this soon. My suggestion meanwhile is to continue to ask yourself: what can I do today to improve my natural life? Recycle and compost more? Get involved in a movement - contact your local waste collector to ask for composting in your area. Many of my relatives home towns lack any form of composting facility. It astounds me how much rich organic material we throw into landfills every day in America. Take action today! Why wait?

Struggle to Succeed

There some golden opportunities out there right now for anyone with enough motivation to improve themselves and the planet simultaneously. Its green energy.

Currently our none-so-well-motivated Congress (we thought the Democrats would be different) is talking about allowing the coal industry to produce and sell liquified coal fuel which, it seems, puts more greenhouse gas into the atmosphere than gasoline. Nobody seems to have the political courage to impose a fuel tax increase along with a gas-guzzling vehicle tax and spending the revenue immediately on public transportation improvements nationwide and more tax BREAKS for hybrid vehicles on a sliding mileage scale. Greater tax incentives for solar panels in the sun belt, wind farms in the wind belt, and other renewable methods.

So the moment is up to us to participate in a larger way. Each of us can help the planet. Go out and plant a tree, contribute money to saving forests and oceans, recycle paper, glass, aluminum, and plastic. Start a business installing solar panels. Invent a new way to produce clean fuel. Do something today that you didn't do yesterday. Then BLOG about it.

Vanity Fair Green Issue

Inside Vanity Fair's current "green" issue is a list of 50 ways to help save the planet. Here is a synopsis of some of them:
. switch to compact flourescent lightbulbs
. ditch plastic bags - use biodegrable or reusable cloth
. do not wash/rinse dishes before putting them in the dishwasher
. recylce glass - glass produced from recycled glass reduces air and water pollution
. buy appliances with Energy Star certification
. use your dryer less - and keep the dryers lint filter clean
. eat vegetarian one day per week
. drink shade-grown coffee

See Vanity Fair's green issue this month for more of the list and other good information.

If we all start changing our habits now maybe we can reverse global warming and environmental decline.

The Beautiful

I just say "thank you" when I see things like this. To me it means there is plenty of hope and healing possible.

But that doesn't mean its all up to nature. We must help. Keep up the good work.

Happy 2006!

Here's a New Year toast to corporate ingenuity making the world a cleaner, healthier place! A VERY groovy thing going on in the Big Apple. Thank you Bank of America! May your peers soon follow your great lead!

Something in the 2004 Archives

Are we going to preserve or are we going to lay waste to the planet? Too many private property rights will bring our lifestyle down. We need a balance and Pombo is NOT balanced.

From SF Chronicle artcle

"PROFILE: REP. RICHARD POMBO
Lawmaker's agenda just part of his nature
Congressman finds fault with federal environmental rules"
Zachary Coile, Chronicle Washington Bureau
Monday, May 3, 2004
...
"At 43, he is the youngest chairman in the House, having jumped over nine more senior Republicans on the committee to win the job last year, with the strong backing of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas. Pombo, known on Capitol Hill for his ostrich-skin boots and fund-raising ability, convinced Republican leaders he could spearhead a more aggressive effort by the party to reshape federal environmental policy."
...

Pombo supported by Tom Delay? AND he is an "accomplished" fund-raiser? Very interesting.

Lets hope we find out more soon! Before the planet can no longer sustain rich biodiversity!