5 Reasons to Enjoy Local Food

Photo by MattSkal

At the heart of our market thinking is the idea that consumers will always act in their economic self interest, and will always procure goods from the lowest cost producer.  In our current world, that can leave our local economy in shambles.
. . .
Although we can put up protectionist trade barriers and cry foul over working conditions and lax environmental regulations in our competitors lands, the reality is that this is how we like it.  The free hand of the market is working great.  It is in our best interest to get cheaper goods, and voila, we are awash with cheap stuff.
- From "Small is Possible: Life in a Local Economy " by Lyle Estill


Surely food must be at the very heart of sustainable living.  What we eat, how we produce our food and where we get it from affects ourselves, the environment and our communities.  Our food choices affect everything from deforestation in the Amazon, to the accumulation of fast-food litter in our streets, to our individual health and wellbeing.  And it isn't just the food itself we need to think about, but how it is transported, packaged, prepared, and sold.  When you take all that into consideration, the true cost of your groceries could be well above the price you pay at the supermarket.
Here's just a few reasons why going out of your way to eat local is worth doing:

1. It tastes better
   What could possibly be more delicious than freshly picked fruit and vegetables?  When you buy locally you know that your produce hasn't been sitting in a warehouse for months or endured kilometres of travel to reach you.
   
2. Its healthier
   Food produced locally is fresher, more nutritious, less likely to contain additives and preservatives.  Not only that, but you can make sure you are buying food that isn't grown using unhealthy chemicals that also damage the environment.
   
3. It helps you stay in touch with the seasons
   Believe it or not apples don't grow all year round, strawberries only grow in summer, and leeks are best in the late autumn and early spring (at least where I come from they are!).  Eating local food helps keep you in tune with nature's cycles.
   
4. It helps you support your local economy
   By buying from local producers you keep your money in your community longer.  You create local jobs and a stronger sense of community.
   
5. It helps you get to know your neighbours
   Buying local helps you get to know your neighbours, and your neighbourhood.  You get to experience new flavours, meet new people, and see new places.

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• Locally grown lunch is served (windsorstar.com)
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• Food fight: Do locavores really need math lessons? (grist.org)
• Eating Locally, Thinking Globally (nytimes.com)

Does Anyone Know What the Point of Prison Is Anyway?

Amplify’d from www.good.is

Although private prisons have been sold on economic grounds, a study this year by Arizona's own Corrections Department questions whether such facilities can even deliver in terms of cost savings, reports the Arizona Republic. The state's cost study showed that it's often more expensive to incarcerate inmates in private prisons than in state-run facilities, despite the savings that private operators typically promise.

... what is the service that prisons are supposed to deliver? There isn't much agreement on this question. Most people probably have a vague mix of ideas swimming in their head about what prisons should deliver. Prisons should sequester criminals to protect the public; prisons should provide a deterrent to potential offenders; prisons should rehabilitate; prisons should punish riminals by giving them an unpleasant experience that they "deserve."

How the hell do we know if prisons are delivering with a mandate like that? The aims of prison, as understood by the public and articulated by politicians, are often contradictory, or at least apparently so. Do therapeutic rehabilitation programs compromise the deterrent effect of prison, or make the punitive element too weak? Do punitive policies make it hard to rehabilitate? 

Read more at www.good.is

Image via WikipediaSurely it is in the best interests of private prison operators to have more people in prison? It seems to me that their very existence creates a lobby group for both harsher penalties for crime, and for the kind of socially destructive policies that create an environment where criminal activity is more likely to take place.

(See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/984o)

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Chasing Smoke Stacks

Image by shodan

"Chatham Couny's economic development has been characterized by chasing smoke stacks around.  And its a shame that we don't tend to catch that many.
. . .
We did manage to land 3M.  It is the last plant that 3M will operate in America, and it came here.  Whew, I am  fortunate enough to live across the road from the 3M lands, and am pleased to report that all it cost us was our night sky and our silence.  Now when we weed our gardens we do so against a constant background rumble.  The sales of white noise machines must have plummeted at the Jordan Dam Mini Mart after 3M came to town."
- From "Small is Possible: Life in a Local Economy" by Lyle Estill



Where I live, we have - in the last 12 months - been blessed with a 24 hour McDonalds.  It has created 60 more jobs, more late night 'disturbances' for the police to attend to, more litter, more traffic, and one more junk food outlet.


My town sits on top of New Zealand's largest lignite deposit.  There was great rejoicing when Solid Energy moved in.  They have bought a lot of land - and bumped land prices up, increased employment somewhat, and have development plans in the works that could result in a significant employment boom as they dig huge, ugly scars in the landscape to extract one of the dirtiest fuels around.


Surely there have to be better development models for our communities than this?

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• ND coal-drying plant passes first large-scale test (seattletimes.nwsource.com)

Miscellany Monday

1. I read a heart wrenching, eye opening article by Jemima Khan about the recent disastrous flooding in Pakistan.  Did you know that so far the international community has committed itself to funding that equates to only $3 per flood affected person (and there are some 20 million of them!) - as a comparison, the amount per person in Haiti was $495.  If you want to know how to help, check out this article for a list of reputable aid agencies.
   
   
2. Do the Green Thing has invented World Tap Water Week - and its THIS WEEK! Lets celebrate the convenience of clean, safe, drinkable water delivered straight to our homes!  It really is a privilege - and one that billions of people around the world don't get to enjoy!
   
   
   
   
   
   

   
   
3. And speaking of water .... why not donate a blog post to help fund clean, safe, drinkable water to people in developing countries with the Clean Water Blogivation.  Not only could you get the opportunity to take part in a clean water expedition to Africa AND earn a $15,000 donation for your favourite water charity ... but every vote for your post (and every time you vote for a participating post) P and G will donate a day of clean water for someone who needs it!
   
   
   
   
   




4. Have you done something nice this week?  Why not share it at the Vivo Bello Meaningful Monday Blog Hop.  Check out the very awesome random acts of kindness Angie and her family have been performing - and share your own :)
   
   
   
   
   




5. My oldest daughter read me a story yesterday for the very first time. Its so exciting!!  She has been making use of the free trial offered at ABC Reading Eggs during their Great Literacy Challenge and has come forward in great leaps and bounds.  Its a really fun learning programme - and it comes in Australian, American and British accents!

100 Ways to Make a Difference

This is a post by Caroline Ganun and was originally posted on her blog at DevelopmentCrossing.com.

Are you looking to make a difference in your community? Approximately 1.6 million more volunteers served in 2009 than in 2008, making this the largest single-year increase in the number of volunteers since 2003 (annual data collection for volunteering statistics started in 2002). A total of 63.4 million volunteers contributed 8.1 billion hours of service in 2009, equaling an estimated dollar value of approximately $169 billion for their services.

Here are 100 ways to make a difference:
1. Help teach a younger child to read.
2. Help cook and/or serve a meal at a homeless shelter.
3. Gather clothing from your neighbors and donate it to a local shelter.
4. Make “I Care” kits with combs, toothbrushes, shampoo, etc. for the homeless.
5. Pack and hand out food at a local food bank.
6. Adopt a “grand friend” and write them letters and visit them.
7. Visit senior citizens at a nursing home.
8. Rake leaves, shovel snow, clean gutters, or wash windows for a senior citizen.
9. Pick up groceries or medicine for an elderly person.
10. Go for a walk with a senior citizen in your community.
11. Deliver meals to homebound individuals.
12. Hold an afternoon dance for your local nursing home.
13. Teach a senior friend how to use a computer and the Internet.
14. Paint a mural over graffiti.
15. Invite local police officers to present a drug awareness or safety program.
16. Tutor a student that needs help learning English or another subject.
17. Organize a canned goods drive.
18. Clean up a vacant lot or park.
19. Organize a campaign to raise money to purchase and install playground equipment.
20. Plant flowers in public areas that could use some color.
21. Volunteer to help at a Special Olympics event.
22. Set up a buddy system for kids with special needs in your community.
23. Raise money for Braille books for visually impaired people.
24. Read books or the newspaper on tape for visually impaired people.
25. Bring toys to children in the cancer ward of a hospital.
26. Contact your local political representative about key issues.
27. Register people to vote.
28. Organize a public issues forum for your neighborhood.
29. Volunteer at a polling booth the day of an election.
30. Take a friend to the polling booths.
31. Vote.
32. Offer to pass out election materials.
33. Plant a garden or tree where the whole neighborhood can enjoy it.
34. Set up a recycling system for your home.
35. Organize a carpooling campaign in your neighborhood.
36. Adopt an acre of a rainforest.
37. Clean up trash along a river, beach, or in a park.
38. Create a habitat for wildlife.
39. Create a campaign to encourage biking and walking.
40. Test the health of the water in your local lakes, rivers, and streams.
41. Contact your local volunteer center for opportunities to serve.
42. Volunteer at your local animal shelter.
43. Help build a home with Habitat for Humanity.
44. Walk a neighbor's dog or pet sit while they are on vacation.
45. Teach Sunday school.
46. Learn to be a peer counselor.
47. Send a letter to one of America's veterans or overseas soldiers.
48. Volunteer at your local youth center.
49. Participate in a marathon for your favorite charity.
50. Become a candy striper at your local hospital.
51. Mentor a young person.
52. Serve your country by joining AmeriCorps.
53. Become a volunteer firefighter or EMT.
54. Donate books to your local library.
55. Donate clothes to the Salvation Army.
56. Start a book club in your area.
57. Adopt a pet from the Humane Society.
58. Hold a door open for someone.
59. Give up your seat on the bus or train to someone.
60. Donate your old computer to a school.
61. Give blood.
62. Coach a children's sports team.
63. Become an organ donor.
64. Teach a dance class.
65. Participate in Job Shadow Day (February 2).
66. Organize a project for National Youth Service Day (visit www.ysa.org/nysd).
67. Volunteer on a hotline.
68. Meet with local representatives from your area.
69. Don't drink and drive.
70. Listen to others.
71. Write a letter to the editor about an issue you care about.
72. Bring others with you when you volunteer.
73. Shop at local, family owned businesses.
74. Become a Big Brother or Big Sister.
75. Take a historical tour of your community.
76. Write a note to a teacher that had a positive effect on you.
77. Get together with some friends to buy holiday presents for a family at a shelter.
78. Recycle.
79. Drive responsibly.
80. Get CPR and First Aid certification.
81. Don't litter.
82. Shop responsibly.
83. Don't spread or start gossip.
84. Tell someone that you appreciate him/her.
85. Hold a teddy bear drive for foster children, fire victims, etc.
86. Make a care package for an elderly or shut-in person.
87. Teach at an adult literacy center.
88. Sing for residents at a nursing home.
89. Befriend a new student or neighbor.
90. Baby sit.
91. Look for the good in all people.
92. Coordinate a book drive.
93. Donate money to your favorite charity.
94. Make quilts or baby clothes for low-income families.
95. Bake cookies and bring them to your local fire or police station.
96. Donate toys or suitcases to foster children.
97. When visiting someone in a hospital, talk to someone that doesn't have many visitors.
98. Around the holidays, visit the Post Office and answer some letters to Santa.
99. Start a neighborhood welcome committee.
100.Visit www.SERVEnet.org to find volunteer opportunities in your area.
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10 Ways to get your Hands Dirty (While Volunteering!) (vivanista.com)

Are You Crazy?

“Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.“

Gratitude

PLEASE READ THIS. by *whatshername13 on deviantART

Is There Such a This as an Ethical Global Company?

"I was running a profitable, ethical corporation.  I was creating jobs.  I was generating wealth.  I stabbed no one in the back, saw no need to crush anyone below me, and if business is to be described as a “dog eat dog” activity, I had no occasion to “eat dog”.

My employees tended to stay with me for many years;  I won awards for workplace culture, for family friendly environments, and for waste reduction.  I had a disciplined program of charitable giving, and donated a percentage of my profits to local charities in the markets where the products were produced."- From "Small is Possible: Life in a Local Economy" by Lyle Estill

Free Trade is widely accepted worldwide as the prevailing economic theory.  In a nutshell, the theory says that free trade will increase efficiencies as each country produces what its best at.  This will drive down prices for consumers, who will spend more, which will boost business and will lead us ever onwards and upwards to bigger and better things.  The wealth of those at the top will 'trickle down' to those at the bottom and poverty will be eliminated.

In reality, while we have increasingly freer trade, its not fairer trade.  The wealth is getting concentrated at the top in the hands of the few.   Global poverty seems to be becoming more entrenched rather than being a thing of the past.

The economic theory doesn't seem to fit with reality.  While economies of scale may be being achieved, local economies, and the communities that relied on them, are being crushed.  The ecosystem that we rely on for our very existence as a species is being poisoned by businesses more focused on short term profit than long term sustainablity.  Culture is becoming increasingly homogenous around the globe and, as big business gets bigger, Governments are increasingly swayed from doing what's best for their citizens to doing what's best for business.

No matter how much global companies contibrute to local communities, or how well they treat their staff, at the very root of global trade is a theory that totally disregards the needs of human beings, our communities and our planet.

Is it really possible to be a truly ethical global company?




*Image via Wikipedia

The Parable of the Starfish

Image by TheMarque via Flickr

One morning an elderly man was walking on a nearly deserted beach. He came upon a boy surrounded by thousands and thousands of starfish. As eagerly as he could, the youngster was picking them up and throwing them back into the ocean.

Puzzled, the older man looked at the young boy and asked, "Little boy, what are you doing?"

The youth responded without looking up, "I'm trying to save these starfish, sir."

The old man chuckled aloud, and queried, "Son, there are thousands of starfish and only one of you. What difference can you make?"

Holding a starfish in his hand, the boy turned to the man and, gently tossing the starfish into the water, said, "It will make a difference to that one!"

(source unknown)

Make a Difference One Coffee at a Time

Coffee is the world's most popular beverage - some 400 billion cups are sipped each year according to Socially Conscious Coffee.  It stands to reason that by buying sustainably grown, fairtrade coffee you can make a difference - to the environment and to the people at the bottom or the coffee distribution chain - the growers and harvesters.
Here's a few more things you can do to stage your own coffee revolution:

• Find out who gets the money you spend on your coffee , check out this coffee calculator.
• Check out what Bald Guy Brew is doing to help Rwandan coffee farmers. 
• Watch the movie 'Black Gold' and tell people about it!

• Support an organisation campaigning on Trade Justice issues

Miscellany Monday

1. This week is World Breastfeeding Week.  We all know that breastfeeding is a great choice for Mum and baby - but have you also thought about how it is a great choice for the environment!
   
   We Add Up is helping you to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week by offering a 15% discount off their super cool, organic cotton "Breastfeed" tee (and the rest of your order) this week, when you use the coupon code breastfeedweek10.  And $3 from the sale of each breastfeed tee will be donated to a non-profit that supports mothers to breastfeed their babies!
   
   
2. If you're a Green Mum with a blog then check out the Green Blog Hop every Wednesday at Going Green with Noah.  A great way to share your own insights on living green and find other Mum's who care about the planet.
   
   
3. Do you know what's in your beauty products?  Did you know that less than 20% of the chemicals used in beauty products have been tested for their effects on our health?  Watch as Annie Leonard delves into the shady world of the cosmetics industry in her latest video for The Story of Stuff Project:  'The Story of Cosmetics'
   
   
4. I discovered the Putumayo channel on Live365 and have been chilling out all week.  Thanks @MrsNoz.  I have long coveted Putumayo's range of world music CDs and this channel has been the perfect antidote to Wiggles burnout!!
   
   
5. The days are getting longer here at the bottom of the world, and ever so slightly warmer.  Hopefully the ground will start to dry out soon and I will be able to get out into the garden.
   

I have great plans to transform this into a vegetable garden paradise ... watch this space :)