ecolutionist | Survival of the Greenest

14 Year Old McDonald’s Burger: Still Looks the Same

ecolutionist — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 18:28:51 +0000

A couple from Utah has kept this burger for 14+ years and it still looks the way it did when it was purchased. Would you eat it?

Click here to view the embedded video.

Digging Into The Global Food Crisis

Tuesday Phillips — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:35:39 +0000

Villagers — Virunga Mountains, Rwanda by Tuesday Phillips

This post was originally published on the United Nations Environmental Programme website as the cover story for their World Environment Day (WED) 2013 Think.Eat.Save campaign.

With the looming threat of factory farming practices, GMOs and mercury emissions contaminating our food, most of us are concerned with what we are eating, and rightfully so. But in the wake of 2013, I am joining the UNEP’s Think.Eat.Save campaign and declaring this the year that we also start thinking about what we are not eating.

See your mother was on to something when she told you to finish your Brussels sprouts or you wouldn’t get dessert. Not just because vegetables are nutritious, but by choosing not to eat them — or more importantly allowing them to go to waste — you are contributing to a bigger food issue.

One that is, now, a global crisis.

Take the United States, where I live, for example. As a country, we manage to waste around $165 billion in food each year. Simplified, or rather quantified in mouthfuls: that is every other bite.

Think about this for a second. Every. Other. Bite. Just wasted.

Why does this matter? Well aside from the obvious — didn’t your mother also tell you there are starving children in Africa? — food waste is a slippery slope that leads to the use of more fuel for transportation, added chemicals to crops, increased likelihood for food decay, accelerated green house gas emissions, more methane leakage, and ultimately a massive loss in our planet’s biodiversity.

While none of this is good, and we must find a collective solution fast, the good news is that there are some brilliant people working towards changing the way we communicate with each other as individuals and as nations so that the conversation can be ignited and real solutions have the potential to catch fire.

WED 2010 dancers — Virunga, Rwanda by Tuesday Phillips

I met some of these changemakers in 2010, when I won the first-ever UNEP blogging competition and was sent to Rwanda for World Environment Day (WED) to write about biodiversity — another global issue that is closely interwoven into the fabric of our current, growing food crisis.

For instance, I interviewed climate hero Photographer Lou Hong, who donated $20,000 to Rwanda’s Legacy Project so that the country could work towards building a low-carbon, green economy.

Tropical Field Biologist, Ian Redmond — Kigali, Rwanda by Tuesday Phillips

I also participated in several conferences where renowned Tropical Field Biologist and Conservationist, Ian Redmond was in attendance. Known for his amazing work with great apes and elephants, he joined the WED events in Rwanda to shed light on the endangered mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park.

During a casual press conference in which Redmond, UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner, and the Ambassador of Rwanda attended, Steiner said that “the 2010 WED theme of Many Species. One Planet. One Future. must be taken into every corner of our community” to be effective.

When thinking about the current theme, Think.Eat.Save, I believe that the same applies.

In order to find a solution for our current food problems we need to think about the global community, but we also need to do our part as individuals.

For example, when it comes to waste, we can avoid buying in bulk, freeze what we wont be using right away, and pay attention to expiration dates, as most food is still good long after the marked date. Also, since food scraps make up nearly 20% of landfill waste, composting in an ideal alternative to the garbage can.

By making changes in our lives and inspiring those around us to think about food differently, eat responsibly and save accordingly, small day-to-day efforts like the above could have big impacts.

All it takes is the corners of each community coming together — like those attending WED 2013 — and meeting in the middle to share their ideas, and digging into this food crisis, one bite at a time.

Read original post on the UNEP site

GMO’s are Everywhere, Sucker!

Joe Mohr — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 13:50:06 +0000

Click on image to see full cartoon

This is a new version of a Hank D and the Bee cartoon I did after Halloween. It was a popular cartoon so I wanted to share it with a larger audience. Enjoy…and share.

More on GMO’s and Monsanto
From PlanetSave: 5 Appalling Facts About The Monsanto Protection Act Obama Signed Into Law (GMO Heaven)
From Salon: How the Monsanto Protection Act snuck into law

From Grist: Even the Tea Party is pissed about the ‘Monsanto Protection Act’

Joe’s cartoon archive, twitter ramblings and StumbleUpon page…

Hank D and the Bee: Bee, a Good Friend

Joe Mohr — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 13:51:03 +0000

Catch up on the rest of the Hank D and the Bee series at JoeMohrToons.com. For cartoon updates and other green goings-on, follow Joe on Twitter @GreenCartoons.

Health Benefits of Clover

ecolutionist — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 18:37:49 +0000

Photo by mansa bawri ganeriwala via flickr

What if we told you that the rare four-petaled mascot most often associated with Saint Patrick’s Day was more than just a symbol for Irish fortune and good luck? That locked within those petals was an abundance of health benefits, equivalent to finding a pot of gold, filled to the brim with nutritional wealth.

Well, put aside that celebratory green beer for a moment and get your juicer ready for another kind of green beverage, because that is exactly what we’re about to tell you.

Healthful Facts About Clover

Clovers — especially the red ones — are extremely rich is bioactive components, such as calcium, lecithin, chromium, magnesium, potassium, silicium, vitamins A, E, C, B2, and B3.

Red clover is also considered one of the richest sources of isoflavon. Efficient in treating some forms of cancer, isoflavons have been known to even completely eliminate some cancerous cells. More specifically, studies have proved that clovers can protect against the development of breast cancer cells. It can reduce the risk of lymphatic, ovary and breast cancer, too.

The herb reduces breast inflammations (mastitis) and breast pains. It detoxifies the lymph, lungs, liver, kidneys, and blood. In cases of gout, it is useful for decreasing the concentration of uric acid.

It is also a good expectorant, and soothes the spasms of the bronchi, convulsive cough and children’s cough. It is anti-asthmatic and reduces the symptoms affections, such as syphilis; it stimulates biliary secretion and relaxes the muscles.

The herb has other uses too: it decongests the salivary glands, decreases arthritis pains, and reduces ocular inflammations. It has a relaxing effect on the nervous system, adjusting the psycho-emotional balance and contributing to the development of communication abilities.

Source Live and Feel

Video: What Happens Inside Your Body When You Eat Processed Food

ecolutionist — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 14:34:46 +0000

YouTube snapshot

TEDx Fellow, Stefani Bardin narrates in this descriptive video the comparison of what happens inside your body when you eat processed food vs. what happens when you eat whole food.

Click here to view the embedded video.

What it Takes to Run Your Own Protest

ecolutionist — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 15:25:25 +0000

Photo by The Sierra Club via flickr

Ever wonder what goes into planing and implementing an environmental protest? Well, ponder no longer because Jessica Aldrige would like to take you through the motions of a successful activist-driven, grassroots campaign.

Video Via: TakePart

Starbucks to Source Only Sustainable Palm Oil By 2015

Kyle Empringham — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 15:10:58 +0000

Photo by whatadqr via flickr

In a statement by Green Century Capital Management on February 212013, it was revealed that Starbucks is committing to sourcing only sustainable palm oil sources by 2013. This comes after Green Century filed a shareholder resolution based on concerns that the company’s current forest practices were increasing atmospheric greenhouse gases and destroying habitats.

From the statement: “Shareholders needed Starbucks to address the business risks associated with sourcing conventional palm oil and it has delivered. As an environmentally-responsible investment advisory firm, we believe that improving the environmental practices of the companies in which we invest may make them better long-term investments,” stated Leslie Samuelrich, Senior Vice President, Green Century.”

The Rainforest Action Network has noted that Indonesia, Malaysia, and Papua New Guinea collectively account for 85% of palm oil worldwide. Forestation practices in these areas contribute to habitat loss for endangered species (Sumatran tigers, Sumatran elephants, and orangutans), resource loss for nearby communities (destruction of forests and watersheds), and accelerate climate change impacts (normally, these rainforests act as carbon ‘sinks’ or storage areas).

Starbucks is not alone in this shift towards sustainable palm oil. It joins the roster of Unilever, Nestle, P&G, SC Johnson, General Mills, Mars, McDonalds, and Walmart – all which have made similar commitments.

Although this is undoubtedly a step in the right direction, some groups are concerned about how this action will (or will not) carry out politically. Concerns about how certification will be determined have been raised. Additionally, no information about this action has been released from Starbucks Coffee Company as of today. Will Starbucks thoughtfully implement these actions, or will this prove to be a PR initiative that does not change company practice?

Sustainable Jewelry: Handcrafted with Love and Good Vibes

Nicole Schlosser — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 17:47:01 +0000

What draws you to a particular piece of jewelry? The color of the gemstone, the material, the design? What about pieces you have received as gifts? The ones you prize the most are probably those you have a sentimental or spiritual attachment to. They have a story, an emotional significance.

Lovepray jewelry offers customers more than just beautiful pieces with an intricate design, or brilliant stone. The eye-catching bracelets and bangles, beaded necklaces and lightweight, stylish earrings are carefully handcrafted by Calexico, Calif.-based long-time jewelry maker, Carolina Elias, whose fashionable, sustainable pieces are inspired by yoga and nature.

Elias combined the words love and pray for her business’ name, according to the website, because, love is what drove her to create her jewelry line, and pray “refers in part to the malas that we make” (a set of beads, traditionally used to focus awareness during meditation) “..many of our pieces are 108 bead malas, and their main purpose is for prayer and meditation. However, it mainly refers to the positive thoughts and prayers that we have while constructing the jewelry itself, it is a type of mantra.”

The jeweler infuses her work with positive energy, prayer, and meditations and creates them with fair-trade, cruelty-free, natural materials, sourced only in the U.S. Every piece is inspired by elements of nature — such as the metaphysical properties of gemstones — symbols, yoga, meditation, and urban fashion, and made with good intention and positive energy, according to the website.

Lovepray’s leather bracelets, necklaces, earrings and other pieces are also environmentally-friendly, made from a byproduct — which reduces waste — and are thoughtfully, intricately and beautifully crafted.

Lovepray uses heart-healing gemstones, such as rose quartz and amethyst in pieces, including its guru bead bracelet, beautiful jade-colored vintage glass and crystal in its earrings, for a comnination of earthiness and glamor and strength-bringing ebony and genuine turquoise, said to be a communication aid, in its 108 bead yoga mala mid-length necklace which can wrap to double as a bracelet. Both pieces can compliment and contrast any outfit.

Additionally, Lovepray offers unique, beautiful boho chic, vintage bracelets that fits like bangles, made with elastic cords, so you can easily slip them on and off, are designed to look like a bangle when worn but built to fit comfortably. These bracelets feature a vintage brass or silver flying sparrows, topaz-colored crystal, and genuine brass African trade beads in between each crystal bead.

Meanwhile, Lovepray’s genuine malachite earrings, are simple and perfect for every outfit. According to Lovepray, malachite is a stone that is capable of stimulating intuition and insight into any emotional factors that may be manifesting as physical.

The jewelry is available at loveprayjewelry.com and the artists’ Etsy shop, as well as several stores, boutiques, and yoga studios and at shows, primarily in Southern California.

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Baby Sloth Shows His Romantic Side

ecolutionist — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 15:31:50 +0000

Photo via YouYube

This is Matty.

He’s a baby Tree Sloth.

And he loves to share.

Here he is sharing a flower with this handler, Claire.

You’re welcome.

Via: Huffington Post Green