ALERT!! HELPFUL TOOL!

I have a confession...this awesome link isn't exclusivly about the impact food has on our enviroment, BUT it is a useful tool for all the blog groups, whether you are studying local food, health risks, finacial impacts, etc.  This online 'atlas' is sponsored by the USDA and gives recent, accurate data (within the last five years for the most part). This tool can give entire country stats or focus on regional parts.  And let me tell you, on the grand scheme of things the Southeast is the LOSER of the country in just about every category.  Check it out (I'd suggest putting it with the other websites you have on your blog) and refer to it for data if you need to support an arguement!!

GO GREEN!

GMO's: Have It [Altered] Your Way

  So in class we have done quite a bit of discussion about GMO's. Well, I found this great article that gives an unbiased look into GMO's. It gives opinions from both sides of the arguments and has statements from our dear friends at Monsanto. This article covers topics that other people are blogging about as well, so you guys should really give it a read! But the article even states that, "most scientists agree the main safety issues of genetically modified engineered crops involve not people but the environment." In general though, after reading this article I'd have to side with the author when she says that they may potentially have great benefits but they also potentially have horrific risks. More research needs to be performed, more data needs to be collected, and more people need to be informed!

“Water has no substitute. Share it wisely”

     So yesterday I went on a jeremiad about why we need to save our environment. (LOOK! vocab!). Well in that rant I touched upon the topic of water conservation (I also posted a short video about it). Well I came across some nifty things on the National Geographic website in regards to water. This awesome link will take you to a webpage that shows you the “Hidden Water We Use.” It gives us a more in depth look on how much hidden water our food industry uses by showing the amount of water that cows, chicken, goats and other food products really use.
     By going to this link you can actually calculate how much water you use (it’s actually pretty fun). It is truly surprising how much water you can save by just not eating meat. If you click on view tip, you can learn more on why that particular action uses water etc. Something interesting to be noted is the fact that, "only five percent [of water]—runs through toilets, taps, and garden hoses at home. Nearly 95 percent of your water footprint is hidden in the food you eat, energy you use, products you buy, and services you rely on."    
     And for 10 quick and easy tips to conserve water, read this short article.

     And finally, some information on how long it takes for items to decompose…pretty much a testament on why we need to recycle and compost! And oh yeah, have I mentioned getting rid of Styrofoam?

• Banana Peel: 3-4 weeks
• Paper Bag: 1 month
• Cardboard: 2 months
• Wool Sock : 1 year
• Tinned Steel Can: 50 years
• Aluminum Can: 200-500 years (But if recycled, it can be reused within 6 weeks!)
• Disposable Diapers: 550 years
• Plastic Bags : 20-1000 years
• Plastic Jug: 1 million years
• Glass : 1-2 million years
• Styrofoam: 1+ million years


     Now multiply this by the number of people in the world who throw away these products on a daily basis, and sometimes more than once a day (think of all the diapers that just one baby uses!) and you get….drum roll please….an environmental disaster.

Water Bottles

http://www.thegreenguide.com/food/buying/bottled-water

One of the subcategories under environment was water, and I'd figured I would take this opportunity to capitalize on my hatred for water bottles. As you can see in the article, the water in bottled water is enormously more expensive, much less healthy, and fills trashcans with un-recycled plastic. Just thought I'd share what an enormous waste these are!
-Tom

Why You Should Care (Beware, it's kind of lengthy. Watch the videos posted for a summary!)

      So as you know, throughout this semester we are going to be posting information on the massive impact that food industry has on our environment. As you read our blog you may think wow, that’s insane, but why should I care? How does this affect me? For me, the reason that we must protect the environment is obvious because I can’t imagine my life without it. But if you are the type of person who isn’t big on the outdoors, I understand why you might be less willing to get up in arms about let’s say, someone throwing their plastic bag on the ground. But really what it comes down to is this; do you like to breathe? And what about clean water? I’m assuming you like that. You owe that to our environment. The ocean and trees save our lives everyday, literally, and yet humans are destroying them at an alarming rate. Humans are idiots.
     Now going back to that plastic bag, because we don’t live by the ocean, there isn’t as large of an emphasis placed on littering because we can’t exactly see the destruction it causes. But do you know how much damage that plastic bag can do? If that plastic bag catches a good breeze and it manages to reach the ocean (or really any body of water) it will sit right underneath the surface of the water where it can’t decompose, because plastic needs direct sunlight to decompose. So who knows how long it will actually stay in that body of water if someone doesn’t pick it up. Now let’s say that bag is in the ocean. Animals are opportunistic eaters, if they see something that resembles food, they are going to take a chance and eat it. Scientists are discovering that a reason so many sea turtles (among hundreds of other marine animals) are dying is because the sea turtles think that the plastic bag is one of their favorite food items, jellyfish. Once the turtle eats the plastic bag, the bag fills up the turtle’s stomach where it obviously can not be digested. And because the turtle feels full, it does not eat anything else. So the sea turtle slowly starves to death. We are screwing up the incredibly delicate balance within the ocean, especially in regards to the food chain and the horrific results of this are too numerous for me to put into one blog post. Watch this video to learn more of why you should care about the ocean.
     Scientists have varying opinions on how large it actually is, but have you heard of the trash vortex in the North Pacific? This particular article estimates that the ball of trash in the ocean (that is kept there because of water currents etc) is the size of Texas, but I have heard of people estimating it to be the size of the entire country. Read this article to find out more of the dangerous effects trash, in particular plastic, has on our oceans.
     So what can you do to protect the environment and reduce your footprint? Do the basics that you have been taught throughout your life. Turn off your lights, unplug your unused electronics, reduce the amount of meat you eat (future blog posts will reveal the reasoning behind this), eat environmentally friendly sea food (see the side of our blog for more information) don’t waste water (watch this video to learn why you should care about water conservation), RECYCLE (really guys we have recycling bins at school, don’t be lazy), dispose of your garbage properly, pick up after your dog (yes, especially if you live by a body of water, it is extremely important to do this), don’t use Styrofoam (did you know that it takes Styrofoam so long to decompose, scientists aren’t even sure how long it takes? California and some other states are actually trying to ban it) STAY EDCUATED ON THE ISSUES, and never, ever underestimate the power of the individual. Keep a lookout on our blog for more useful tips and information in your quest to GO GREEN.

Rocket Fuel Contamination

Read This Article First (2008): http://www.ewg.org/reports/FDA-Finds-Rocket-Fuel-%28Perchlorate%29-in-Food-and-Beverages

In Response to these Findings(2011): http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/03/science/earth/03epa.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=e.p.a.%20plans%20new%20limits%20on%20toxic%20chemicals%20in%20drinking%20water&st=cse

According to the first article "three quarters of nearly 300 commonly consumed foods and beverages are contaminated with perchlorate, a toxic rocket fuel ingredient." Finally, 3 years later, "The Obama administration said Wednesday that it would impose limits on permissible levels of a new set of toxic chemicals in drinking water." Further in the article you find that, "it would take three or four years to complete the regulations." The reason that there are objections to these regulations is of course, money because, "substitutes are more expensive." I agree with Rena Steinzor when she says, "regulating perchlorate should not be seen as a long-term, we'll-get-around-to-it goal, but an urgent public health priority." -J

PERFECT Way to Start Eating Better and Save the Planet

Have you ever thought of how much energy it takes to get your dinner on the table? This USA Today article from 2009 tells us just how much feul was used to bring that piece of meat to our plates and gives us great and simple ways to cut down our carbon footprint by analyzing our food choices.  Its a quick, two minute read so take a look here!!

Read This!!!

Activists battle with EPA over Ethenol....read here!

Tree

Trees and water in Brandwijk
By: Frapestaartj
http://www.flickr.com/photos/frederikvanroest/3624676727/