I have not thought about that before because we rarely drink alcoholic beverages but of course it exists.
David Suzuki's Queen of Green wrote about the Pemberton Distillery in her article Is the organic in your vodka?
Very interesting indeed!
Friday, February 17, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Nature's Gym or how to stay fit
The David Suzuki Foundation published an article the other day about joining nature's gym to hit your fitness goal's this year. Not a bad idea. Better still is to live a lifestyle that keeps you fit. I know that from experience and I happen to have proven it recently too.
On Sunday I ran the Re-Fridgee-Eighter, the first race of the year in the Waterloo Running Series. I chose the 8 km over the 8 miles. I took running up again since coming to KW but I still at the most run twice a week for half an hour. Luckily, I have a toddler and no car (and no sitting-around in the office job either (yet)) which seems to keep me on my toes very well. I finished 39. overall, as 5. woman, and 2. out of 19 in my age catergory, in just under 38 minutes (my chip time was even less but gun time counts) Re-fridgee-Eigther results. I was surprised myself. After all we had -5 C and gusts of over 20 km/h which thankfully only blew into our faces on the last mile. I never run that fast on my own but once I am in the group I can't help, got to go. By the time I crossed the finish line I was pretty much out of breath but two minutes later I was back to normal. I did not even get sore muscles! My "secret": I walk and/ or cycle every day many kilometres and I take the stairs whenever possible and stay active in whatever way possible. On a regular day you won't see me sitting around much.
The one thing that did annoy me though was the fact that the location of the run is not served by buses on Sundays! Start and finish were at a huge sports complex with at least 6 ice rinks, several indoor hockey, baseball, volleyball and other courts; and on all the courts and rinks competitions were taking place at the same time. All these people had to come by car! The closest bus stop was 4 km away which I know so well because we had run that way and km-markers showed the distance. So I walked to the bus stop afterwards but in the morning because there weren't buses to get me there early enough I had to ask a friend to drive me. Oh yes, it did piss me off a ton. I am not mad at Grand River Transit though, I am mad at all those people driving!
On Sunday I ran the Re-Fridgee-Eighter, the first race of the year in the Waterloo Running Series. I chose the 8 km over the 8 miles. I took running up again since coming to KW but I still at the most run twice a week for half an hour. Luckily, I have a toddler and no car (and no sitting-around in the office job either (yet)) which seems to keep me on my toes very well. I finished 39. overall, as 5. woman, and 2. out of 19 in my age catergory, in just under 38 minutes (my chip time was even less but gun time counts) Re-fridgee-Eigther results. I was surprised myself. After all we had -5 C and gusts of over 20 km/h which thankfully only blew into our faces on the last mile. I never run that fast on my own but once I am in the group I can't help, got to go. By the time I crossed the finish line I was pretty much out of breath but two minutes later I was back to normal. I did not even get sore muscles! My "secret": I walk and/ or cycle every day many kilometres and I take the stairs whenever possible and stay active in whatever way possible. On a regular day you won't see me sitting around much.
The one thing that did annoy me though was the fact that the location of the run is not served by buses on Sundays! Start and finish were at a huge sports complex with at least 6 ice rinks, several indoor hockey, baseball, volleyball and other courts; and on all the courts and rinks competitions were taking place at the same time. All these people had to come by car! The closest bus stop was 4 km away which I know so well because we had run that way and km-markers showed the distance. So I walked to the bus stop afterwards but in the morning because there weren't buses to get me there early enough I had to ask a friend to drive me. Oh yes, it did piss me off a ton. I am not mad at Grand River Transit though, I am mad at all those people driving!
Friday, February 10, 2012
Nestlé Chair Brabeck-Letmathe doesn’t deserve an honorary degree
Another email I received that makes me shake my head as usual at the stupidity shown. You wonder who comes up with this BS. What does this man get a degree for? For setting bad examples!! Once a water market anywhere in Canada is privatised it will set the path for more of such privatisations and soon we compete with big, rich (because they don't pay taxes) corporations over our daily water! Once water prices explode it will surely stop people from wasting water but it will also cut us off from one of our most basic needs - no water, no life. But hey, I just had an idea: If you work for one of those corporations who want to buy water rights and profit big from what comes out of your tap, go to work with as many barrels as you can fit into your car (for once it will come in handy if you still drive a big one) and fill them up with water at work and then distribute in your neighbourhood. Want to see the look in your employer's face.
There's a link, it's in your hand too:
Dear supporters of Our Water Is Not For Sale,
Please take a few minutes for this important action alert from the Council of Canadians: “Tell the U of A that Nestlé Chair Peter Brabeck-Letmathe doesn’t deserve an honorary degree.”
The University of Alberta has announced that on March 1, 2012 it will award an honouary degree to Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, the Chair of Nestle, the world’s largest multinational food and water corporation and the largest bottled water corporation in the world.
Nestle has been a leading force in pushing the privatization and commodification of water globally. They have also been pushing water markets in Alberta. Peter Brabeck-Letmathe has bragged that Nestle is “actively dealing with the government of Alberta to think about a water exchange.” His comments come at a time when our network and many Albertans have been raising concerns about the serious problems with water markets and pushing for the government to consult with Albertans.
Please click here for the full action alert with more information. Or use the Council’s online form to email the University.
There's a link, it's in your hand too:
Dear supporters of Our Water Is Not For Sale,
Please take a few minutes for this important action alert from the Council of Canadians: “Tell the U of A that Nestlé Chair Peter Brabeck-Letmathe doesn’t deserve an honorary degree.”
The University of Alberta has announced that on March 1, 2012 it will award an honouary degree to Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, the Chair of Nestle, the world’s largest multinational food and water corporation and the largest bottled water corporation in the world.
Nestle has been a leading force in pushing the privatization and commodification of water globally. They have also been pushing water markets in Alberta. Peter Brabeck-Letmathe has bragged that Nestle is “actively dealing with the government of Alberta to think about a water exchange.” His comments come at a time when our network and many Albertans have been raising concerns about the serious problems with water markets and pushing for the government to consult with Albertans.
Please click here for the full action alert with more information. Or use the Council’s online form to email the University.
One just can't trust that government
This is an email from the David Suzuki Foundation that I received:
Tell the government to honour its commitments to our oceans
With the budget speech just weeks away, now is the time to tell Finance Minster Jim Flaherty that our oceans desperately need proper investment. Rising ocean temperatures and increased salinity in certain areas are just two of the serious threats they face. In last year’s budget speech, the government promised to create six new marine parks by 2012. That hasn’t happened yet, and they only have 10 months left to meet their commitment.
Join the thousands of Canadians telling the government to listen to its doctors and honour its commitments to the oceans.
You see the link, it does not take long to send that letter. Considering the government's stance to the environment I can't believe that they made such a promise. Probably with their fingers crossed behind their backs. To say "Six marine parks" is a bit of a vague statement anyway. How big is each of them going to be? The ocean around Canada is incredibly vast and protecting an inch here and there will not make a difference. Will the fishing industry stop being short-sighted and support marine parks? I doubt it. But keep the number in mind and we'll see what happens by the end of 2012.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Pink Ribbons
I watched the documentary Pink Ribbons recently. It's a great documentary on how breast cancer research has been handed over to corporations who happily took on the task of "helping people" but with their eyes fixed on their bottom line only. A lot of great things were said by smart people while the reps of the corporations and foundations that raise money for cancer research looked a bit stupid.
One big stance was that there are a vast number of organisations in the US alone that research a cure to breast cancer but they do not cooperate. They all do the same thing and ignore the same gaps in their research. The vast majority researches a cure to cancer instead of the causes of breast cancer and how it can be eliminated. But how do you want to fix something if you don't know where it comes from? Avon, Revlon & Co. who put on races to "celebrate survivors" and offer support are quick to point out how much money they have raised but you never hear about the results of the research. Are there any? It's pointed out that the only approach to breast cancer for the last decades has been slash, burn & poison - as in: surgery to remove the breast, radiation and chemotherapy. But why do more and more women get breast cancer? It's now 1 in 8, while in the 1940's it was 1 in 22. A couple of independent researchers tried to find out. Turns out for example that women that work in the plastics industry are prone to get any cancer way more often. Plastics when being moulded emit fumes that mimic estrogen and estrogen is linked to breast cancer. That's why its way more common in women than in men. (The fumes aren't good for your lungs either)
Logically, our environment has something to do with it and as we have not been treating our environment well it pays us back. I lost my grandmother to breast cancer over 30 years ago, when I was an infant. I have not donated to cancer research or participated in any of those pink events. I don't regret it. I give my money to environmental organisations because they care about our environment and in doing so probably also eliminate the causes to many currently spreading diseases in our society. Have you read the headlines such as diabetes might be linked to pollution? It surely is linked to bad food.
In the documentary it was further shown that for example the cosmetics companies that are most popular with their pink events still use lots of ingredients in their products that are connected to cancer. It was revealed that companies that run pink campaigns also profit from more patients. It was shown that making women have mammographs makes the producers of these instruments earn money, and although early discovery is not always of benefit women still get treated. They even get medication when they are in stage 4 which is incurable. Never mind that the medications might worsen their conditions or have terrible side effects. Pharmaceutical companies are certainly thrilled.
Ford ran a campaign to support women with breast cancer - never mind that their gas guzzlers are polluters. Even KFC ran a campaign where from every bucket of grilled (instead of deep fried) chicken 50 cents were donated - apparently they promoted healthy eating at the same time. Give me a break! American Express ran a campaign were one single cent from every purchase was donated, no matter how big the purchase was. Nuts! People don't read the fine print. People should be way more careful how they spent their money. But it's an emotional issue and people are not rational, much to the benefit of corporations.
It sure is a great documentary and everyone who watches it will certainly come out with a lot more knowledge and a more sane approach to everything pink ribbons. As one survivor said, to her pink ribbons just mean evil.
One big stance was that there are a vast number of organisations in the US alone that research a cure to breast cancer but they do not cooperate. They all do the same thing and ignore the same gaps in their research. The vast majority researches a cure to cancer instead of the causes of breast cancer and how it can be eliminated. But how do you want to fix something if you don't know where it comes from? Avon, Revlon & Co. who put on races to "celebrate survivors" and offer support are quick to point out how much money they have raised but you never hear about the results of the research. Are there any? It's pointed out that the only approach to breast cancer for the last decades has been slash, burn & poison - as in: surgery to remove the breast, radiation and chemotherapy. But why do more and more women get breast cancer? It's now 1 in 8, while in the 1940's it was 1 in 22. A couple of independent researchers tried to find out. Turns out for example that women that work in the plastics industry are prone to get any cancer way more often. Plastics when being moulded emit fumes that mimic estrogen and estrogen is linked to breast cancer. That's why its way more common in women than in men. (The fumes aren't good for your lungs either)
Logically, our environment has something to do with it and as we have not been treating our environment well it pays us back. I lost my grandmother to breast cancer over 30 years ago, when I was an infant. I have not donated to cancer research or participated in any of those pink events. I don't regret it. I give my money to environmental organisations because they care about our environment and in doing so probably also eliminate the causes to many currently spreading diseases in our society. Have you read the headlines such as diabetes might be linked to pollution? It surely is linked to bad food.
In the documentary it was further shown that for example the cosmetics companies that are most popular with their pink events still use lots of ingredients in their products that are connected to cancer. It was revealed that companies that run pink campaigns also profit from more patients. It was shown that making women have mammographs makes the producers of these instruments earn money, and although early discovery is not always of benefit women still get treated. They even get medication when they are in stage 4 which is incurable. Never mind that the medications might worsen their conditions or have terrible side effects. Pharmaceutical companies are certainly thrilled.
Ford ran a campaign to support women with breast cancer - never mind that their gas guzzlers are polluters. Even KFC ran a campaign where from every bucket of grilled (instead of deep fried) chicken 50 cents were donated - apparently they promoted healthy eating at the same time. Give me a break! American Express ran a campaign were one single cent from every purchase was donated, no matter how big the purchase was. Nuts! People don't read the fine print. People should be way more careful how they spent their money. But it's an emotional issue and people are not rational, much to the benefit of corporations.
It sure is a great documentary and everyone who watches it will certainly come out with a lot more knowledge and a more sane approach to everything pink ribbons. As one survivor said, to her pink ribbons just mean evil.
I wished I had that optimism
I read this article in The Record a while ago and quite liked it, apart from the comments some dumbhead posted below: Ottawa should heed local green initiatives
The article is about Canadian government's stance on the Kyoto Protocol, their behaviour at the United Nations Climate Change Conference and Harper's environmental ignorance. Although a lot of Canadians probably (hopefully) shook their heads at all of those, I'm sure there are, tragically but true, Canadians who share the government's and prime minister's stand. Alone this sentence from the article makes me wonder how much idiocy is still left (lots, too much): "Environment Canada’s 2011 report on Canadian emissions showed that we will increase our output of greenhouse gases by 18 per cent by the end of this decade, with continued upwards momentum." Who's proud of that?
Canada is looking to export oil to China, meantime the USA is having their own internal fights over the Keystone XL pipeline. Others again suggest to build refineries in Canada and use the oil here instead of selling it. For the greedy oil companies in the tar sands just nothing moves fast enough.They want to expand until they've ruined half of Alberta (and Saskatchewan). Subsidies for citizens who'd like to support alternative energies have been cut, as in the case of solar power. The "Environment Minister" Peter Kent gave his go-ahead for Brewster's Glacier Discovery Walk in Jasper National Park and more Disney-esque attractions are already in the planning for another national park. What's next? My hope is that people boykott all of it!
The author of the article points out that local, municipal and provincial initiatives can take actions towards a more sustainable life but all of them will have a hard time considering the lack of support from the feds. The important sentence here is possibly, "Demonize the government all you want, but do not use that as an excuse for inaction." Unfortunately, there's only so far you can get with these initiatives and I am sure more people would think about change towards an environmentally-friendly behaviour if the government set a good example, or let's say if the government pressured its citizens into it. It's good to see there's optimism but the power of polluting corporations in this country goes way to far.
The article is about Canadian government's stance on the Kyoto Protocol, their behaviour at the United Nations Climate Change Conference and Harper's environmental ignorance. Although a lot of Canadians probably (hopefully) shook their heads at all of those, I'm sure there are, tragically but true, Canadians who share the government's and prime minister's stand. Alone this sentence from the article makes me wonder how much idiocy is still left (lots, too much): "Environment Canada’s 2011 report on Canadian emissions showed that we will increase our output of greenhouse gases by 18 per cent by the end of this decade, with continued upwards momentum." Who's proud of that?
Canada is looking to export oil to China, meantime the USA is having their own internal fights over the Keystone XL pipeline. Others again suggest to build refineries in Canada and use the oil here instead of selling it. For the greedy oil companies in the tar sands just nothing moves fast enough.They want to expand until they've ruined half of Alberta (and Saskatchewan). Subsidies for citizens who'd like to support alternative energies have been cut, as in the case of solar power. The "Environment Minister" Peter Kent gave his go-ahead for Brewster's Glacier Discovery Walk in Jasper National Park and more Disney-esque attractions are already in the planning for another national park. What's next? My hope is that people boykott all of it!
The author of the article points out that local, municipal and provincial initiatives can take actions towards a more sustainable life but all of them will have a hard time considering the lack of support from the feds. The important sentence here is possibly, "Demonize the government all you want, but do not use that as an excuse for inaction." Unfortunately, there's only so far you can get with these initiatives and I am sure more people would think about change towards an environmentally-friendly behaviour if the government set a good example, or let's say if the government pressured its citizens into it. It's good to see there's optimism but the power of polluting corporations in this country goes way to far.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Re-occupy your body or accept the 3 reasons to die for
Veggies on Wheels is the newsletter that comes with Pfenning's organic box and this time it reports on Pfenning's participation at the Guelph Organic Conference (which I did not go to because it's in Guelp and I don't have a car to get there). One of the biggest issues were GMO, courtesy of Monsanto. Apparently the majority of Canadians still don't know anything about GMO (which box do they live in?). The reader is then referred to the article Re-occupy your body and a pamphlet has been enclosed from Cban.ca (Canadian Biotechnology Action Network) with info on GMO but I talk about that in another post.
I have not read the whole article yet because it's long but I'm sure it's good. The three reasons that are most threatening to our health, and according to the newsletter make up the primary causes of disease and death nowadays, are:
- bad food
- most prescription drugs
- a poisoned environment
Which one disturbs you most and which one can you influence the best? Go figure.
I am not concerned with the second point (yet) as I don't take any drugs. The first one is half-concerning to me. I know we still do not eat completely organic. I am not feeling great about our daughter drinking non-organic milk but she drinks lots and the non-organic costs enough. Also, I am sure we'd eat a bit more meat if the organic stuff did not cost a fortune. But it's not actually that difficult to eat healthy and decent food. You do the shopping, you decide what's in your cart, it's in your hands. And by the way, buying non-organic produce and peeling it in the hope to get rid of the bad stuff does not seem the best idea. You are still supporting the farmers who contaminate our environment and the bad stuff will go through the skin of some fruits and vegetables.
The poisoned environment is a huge concern, especially with this government that's big on setting up environmental disasters. You can't really "un-poison" the environment and get rid of all the harm that has been done but we can slow down the add-on of chemicals and toxic substances to our air, water and soil. Looking around me it still doesn't happen enough. For example, when I cycle or walk I probably breathe in more greenhouse gases than the car drivers. That's nuts! I'm the victim of other people's polluting habits. I noticed that most people are happy to give me a ride (if I ask) but carpooling is still not very common. That's nuts too! Driving is just one issue, but you scan make up the list yourself of activities that harm our environment. And then start ticking off the bad habits you give up. This should become a mandatory, annual exercise for everyone. I wonder how slowly or quickly things would change and how big the procrastination rate is.
I have not read the whole article yet because it's long but I'm sure it's good. The three reasons that are most threatening to our health, and according to the newsletter make up the primary causes of disease and death nowadays, are:
- bad food
- most prescription drugs
- a poisoned environment
Which one disturbs you most and which one can you influence the best? Go figure.
I am not concerned with the second point (yet) as I don't take any drugs. The first one is half-concerning to me. I know we still do not eat completely organic. I am not feeling great about our daughter drinking non-organic milk but she drinks lots and the non-organic costs enough. Also, I am sure we'd eat a bit more meat if the organic stuff did not cost a fortune. But it's not actually that difficult to eat healthy and decent food. You do the shopping, you decide what's in your cart, it's in your hands. And by the way, buying non-organic produce and peeling it in the hope to get rid of the bad stuff does not seem the best idea. You are still supporting the farmers who contaminate our environment and the bad stuff will go through the skin of some fruits and vegetables.
The poisoned environment is a huge concern, especially with this government that's big on setting up environmental disasters. You can't really "un-poison" the environment and get rid of all the harm that has been done but we can slow down the add-on of chemicals and toxic substances to our air, water and soil. Looking around me it still doesn't happen enough. For example, when I cycle or walk I probably breathe in more greenhouse gases than the car drivers. That's nuts! I'm the victim of other people's polluting habits. I noticed that most people are happy to give me a ride (if I ask) but carpooling is still not very common. That's nuts too! Driving is just one issue, but you scan make up the list yourself of activities that harm our environment. And then start ticking off the bad habits you give up. This should become a mandatory, annual exercise for everyone. I wonder how slowly or quickly things would change and how big the procrastination rate is.
Organic is better
In our organic box today we had blueberries from Earthbound Farms. On the inside of the packaging it reads:
Earthbound Farm's organic produce is grown by 150 farmers on 33,000 acres, which keeps about 1 million pounds of conventional agricultural chemicals out of the environment every year.
YEAH to organics!
Earthbound Farm's organic produce is grown by 150 farmers on 33,000 acres, which keeps about 1 million pounds of conventional agricultural chemicals out of the environment every year.
YEAH to organics!
Friday, February 3, 2012
I'm still Alive without pills
I finally went into the organic store just around the corner because our produce box was not delivered this week since the family that runs the business is on vacation (lucky them). They had the Alive magazine lying around and I took a copy home just out of interest. My first guess was proven right though and I am not impressed with the magazine. My hubby kindly reminded me that it was for free which explains the huge amount of advertisement. Actually, the advertisement abounds so much that I had trouble finding the articles when skipping through the pages. What a waste of paper! Even worse most of the advertisement are for some sort of pill! Natural and organic pills of course but I am so put off. I know there's no money to make in advertising fresh fruits and vegetables but to tell people that obviously make an effort to eat and live healthily (why else would you be in an organic/ health food store?) to take pills to stay healthy simply annoys me. How stupid you think people are ... okay, we are not going to discuss this here but I do not think that I ought to be taken tons and tons of pills if I have a healthy diet and exercise regularly and do not suffer from any physically or mentally impairing conditions. Granted, we do currently take Vitamin D and C supplement pills, D because there's not much sunshine around and C because of this crappy weather (change from below to above zero and vice versa every other day). If one fine day I'll be diagnosed with something devastating it's probably too late to start taking pills but I am not going to take a handful of them now in the hope it will prevent all kinds of stuff and I don't need to worry about eating junk food. And even though the content (the pill) might be natural and from organic ingredients it comes with a lot of packaging, mostly plastic, which is not good for our planet. Produce at the store comes without the packaging - that's much better.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Palm Oil is a costly fossil fuel replacement
Did you know that Indonesia is the third largest emitter of carbon emissions due to logging of the rainforests and draining peatlands? That's crazy, not to say very said actually. And apparently they did it to make money of palm oil that's supposed to power cars. Very interesting article: EPA Rejects Palm Oil: Good News for Indonesian Rainforests
The lesson learnt: We have to stop driving so much, reduce our dependency on the car instead of just trying to replace fossil fuels/ petroleum with something that causes even more damage to the planet or compromises food production. Go ride your bike!
pinkwashing: cosmetic companies cash in on causing breast cancer while pretending to fight it
Talking about cosmetics, David Suzuki is still fighting to get the government to change regulations for ingredients in cosmetics and to get companies to do their own steps to eliminate toxic substances in their products. Here's an article about a new film that should be very interesting: Beware of pinkwashing: A new film reminds us it's what's inside that counts.
Once you read the article there'll be a link to sign a petition to make cosmetics saver.
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