Have you heard of the Right Livelihood Awards?

This morning I was listening to DemocracyNow.org‘s War and Peace Report and heard that the founder and host, Amy Goodman, was broadcasting from Sweden as she is being given a Right Livelihood Award.

What a fabulous idea.

Learn more here: http://www.rightlivelihood.org/

Eaten by the Chronophage

It’s been months since I’ve written anything of any interest, and much has happened: Slow Food Nation, an unexpected move, the presidential election and the Green Fest. All of which I will touch on at some point in this post. It’s been a tumultuous 3 months and I now feel that I am finally settling down a bit and after some periods of stress and worry, disappointment and disillusionment, I am now feeling hopeful and more inspired. Thank goodness.

Update: California Green

Here are some interesting stories I’ve collected over the past few months about California and the San Francisco Bay Area. Thanks to Green Daily!

Fresno-Yosemite International Leads Green Airport Movement

San Fran tests new parking technology to decrease traffic, emissions Visit SFpark website!

San Jose, CA’s Green Vision

San Francisco’s New Solar Program

Mayor Newsom trying to make S.F. recycle

San Francisco’s First Grease-To-Biodiesel Facility

Conservationists win battle on key California land

Health, Food and Human History: Grains and Beans

One thing that fascinates me to no end is the history of food and human civilization. Throughout history, humans have been developing ways to cultivate and prepare food, sometimes for flavor but more often than not, it seems, for nutrition, digestion and preservation. What I find difficult to get my head around, is the idea that thousands of years ago, humans figured out food combinations that had the most nutritional value. Beans and grains, for example, often form a complete protein when paired together. In the Americas, beans and corn has been a popular combination for thousands of years. Beans, containing all of the amino acids but the one contained in corn: methionine.

Below are some interesting links containing information about the history of these foods as well as recipes:

Mother Earth News: Pinto Beans and Corn
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/1972-01-01/Pinto-Beans-and-Corn.aspx

Food Reference: Beans
http://www.foodreference.com/html/artbeans.html

Veg Paradise: Corn, The A-Maize-Ing Grain
http://www.vegparadise.com/highestperch9.html

I’ve also put together a recipe of my own. Sausage and Mushroom Succotash.

The Case for Reducing Soy Consumption

As mentioned in my first post on this blog “You are what you eat.. a Vegan Food Activist” I discuss the fact that I stay away from processed food as much as possible. Frankly, this has become even more important to me since then with the top reasons being health: knowing what’s in the food and that is it fresh and full of nutrients, social and economic justice: knowing that everyone involved is getting paid a decent wage and being treated fairly as well as putting money into the local economy, and environmental justice: knowing where the food came from and knowing its impact on the environment.

With this in mind, it can make life difficult when not eating meat. Most people automatically assume that eating soy-based meat substitute products is par for the course and when I tell them that I generally don’t eat those products, they have trouble imagining what I could possibly be eating for a protein. First, I tell them that there are many wonderful proteins available in beans, nuts and grains. Second, though I do occasionally eat organic tofu and soy sauce, I tend to avoid soy products as a rule.

As someone who, first and foremost, avoids processed food, this automatically cuts out soy that is somehow made to look and taste like sausage. I used to be quite impressed with how the companies were doing this. How could you possibly make soy look and taste like sausage? Well.. exactly! The more ingredients on the list, the more manufacturers involved, the more people involved in the process, the more likely it is that the ingredients came from a large variety of sources and locations, and the less information we have available to us for an informed decision.

When walking through a grocery store, take a look at the ingredients of the products you pick up. Especially with foods like crackers and breads; how many of them have some sort of soy product listed? Sure, soy has proven to be one of the most versatile and nutritious plants on the planet and because of this the demand has skyrocketed. We are vegetarians and vegans (or trying to have a more healthful diet), but we still want our meat and dairy. And our soap, cosmetics, plastics, inks, solvents, clothing, alcohol, oil, biodiesel, flour, livestock feed and many other products.

Our desire for soy and beef and exotic woods are the primary causes for the depletion of one of the world’s greatest sources of biodiversity and oxygen: The Amazon Rainforest. Yes, people are cutting down the amazon for soy production.

Keep that in mind the next time you reach for that soyburger.

More information:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soy

http://www.ajc.com/news…amazon_rainforest_shrinking.html

Cool eco-friendly stuff I want!

Cortland Solar Panel Purse http://www.noonsolar.com/fall-collection/cortland/

Recycled Bottle Glasses http://www.ecoutlet.co.uk/shop/products/?sub_category_id=212

Recycled Wine Bottle Platters http://www.uncommongoods.com/item/item.jsp?itemId=15493 Actually this store has many interested recycled products http://www.uncommongoods.com/fam/fam.jsp?source=menu&pageId=148

Entwined Root Coat Stand http://www.vivaterra.com/pls/enetrixp/!stmenu_template.main?complex_id_in=482007.1301997.1301997.2724401.page

Towel With Further Options  http://www.dezeen.com/2008/02/27/towel-with-further-options-by-niimi/

Recycled Glass Sculpture http://basglas.com/splash.html

The Freeloader http://www.solartechnology.co.uk/products/solar_chargers/freeloader.asp

NatureMill Indoor Composter http://naturemill.com/plus.html 

SPOTLIGHT: TerraCycle

 The TerraCycle story…

…is a tale of ultimate Eco-Capitalism. The company’s flagship product, TerraCycle Plant Food™, is an all-natural, all-organic, ‘goof-proof’ liquid plant food made from waste (worm poop) and packaged in waste (reused soda bottles)!

Check out this AWESOME company here: http://www.terracycle.net/index.htm

Plants can talk! Well, sort of..

I came across this article about plants that can transmit certain kinds of information underground with others of the same type. Just thought it was interesting…

Clever Plants ‘Chat’ Over Their Own Network

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070925095313.htm