Summary. Below is a TED video of an 11-year-old speaking about problems with our current food system. The problem, as Birke Baehr points out, is in our factory-like production system that focuses too much on high production profits and not enough on food quality or animal compassion.

At age 9, while traveling with his family and being “roadschooled,” Birke Baehr began studying sustainable and organic farming practices such as composting, vermiculture, canning and food preservation. Soon he discovered his other passion: educating others — especially his peers — about the destructiveness of the industrialized food system, and the alternatives. [source]

Birke Baehr presents his take on a major source of our food — far-away and less-than-picturesque industrial farms. Keeping farms out of sight promotes a rosy, unreal picture of big-box agriculture, he argues, as he outlines the case to green and localize food production. [source]

Video. The video of Birke Baehr’s presentation is below.

Summary. Hydrogen Fuel Cells are now available as traditional battery replacements, and it won’t be long before notebook computers, cell phones, and other mobile electronic devices may include internal hydrogen fuel cells for extended battery life and increased recharging lifespan.

E-Village and E-Cell are offering economically priced Hydrogen Fuel Cell battery replacements (as pictured here).

In 2002, Clean and efficient Hydrogen Fuel Cell technology was commercially offered as the Coleman Powemate AirGen system made possible by through an alliance that included:

• Ballard Power Systems
• Coleman Powermate
• Praxair
• SoftSwitching Technologies Corp

]]> http://www.resourcesforlife.com/docs/item3243/feed 0 http://www.resourcesforlife.com/docs/item2504 http://www.resourcesforlife.com/docs/item2504#comments Thu, 04 Mar 2010 21:45:57 +0000 gregorypauljohnson http://www.resourcesforlife.com/?p=2504 Continue reading →]]> Activism > Environmental

Summary. Terracycle is an organization that helps create infinite product materials usage cycles.

Manufacturers parter with Terracycle by using materials in packaging that can be reused later when they are converted with low energy to another practical product.

TerraCycle makes affordable, eco-friendly products from a wide range of different non-recyclable waste materials.

With over 50 products available at major retailers like Walmart, Target, The Home Depot, OfficeMax, Petco and Whole Foods Market, TerraCycle is one of the fastest growing eco-friendly manufacturers in the world.

Our hope is to eliminate the idea of waste by finding innovative, unique uses for materials others deem garbage.

Videos. Here are some videos that explain how Terracycle works.

What is Garbage?

What is Terracycle?

Get Started

Review. The Terracycle program is a good idea, and we endorse it fully. The only drawback  is that there is a relatively small return on investment of time for individuals and organizations going to the trouble of collecting, cleaning, and sorting recyclable items and placing them in separate shipping containers. Most companies are already involved in upcycling by being their own recycling center. So, rather than sending used products to a recycling center like Terracycle, companies like Dell and Apple are offering to pay for return shipping costs of old recycled computers (for example).

Product Lifecycle. This diagram from Apple shows the complete product lifecycle impact on the environment (click to see full image).

Summary. In tough economic times, it’s even more essential to achieve the greatest value from money spent on defense and national security. A nation’s armed forces and military personnel must be fully trained and equipped to meet modern threats to national security. The threats we face today are like none we’ve ever faced before. For this reason, leaders in defense are redirecting resources and funding to humanitarian aid and sustainability efforts because such initiatives produce the greatest return on the investment.

Three-Pronged Approach. Natural disasters have now eclipsed terrorism as the greatest cause of death, damage, and injury. Scarcity of resources is resulting in conflicts, terrorism, and war around the world. A three-pronged approach is needed. The military establishment recognizes this and is taking immediate action in the following areas.

1. Humanitarian aid and relief to those impacted by natural disasters.
2. Sustainable energy solutions to reduce our negative impact on the planet.
3. Economic development for creating communities of financial and agricultural abundance.

New Military. At this very moment, thousands of people serving in the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, National Guard, and other special forces are being rapidly redeployed to build schools, build clinics, assist in disaster relief, offer support with agricultural development, deliver humanitarian aid, and develop sustainable energy solutions. Combined military forces are now working on campaigns to deliver humanitarian aid such as the disaster relief to El Salvador. Hundreds of thousands of tons in food, water, and clothing, are being delivered and various forms of shelter are being constructed.

New Marching Orders. In the winter of 2009, one of the top leaders of the elite United States Special Operations Command  (USSOCOM) located at MacDill Aif Force Base in Florida gave the following words as marching orders [source] for those in military service as well as civilians:

Maximize family time if at all possible
Renew old friendships
Do fewer things, but do them thoughtfully
Avoid the tyranny of the ‘hustle & bustle’

Look back to the history of our great national celebrations
teach the children

Rethink and Rediscover the truly valuable things of life

Try to recognize and accept family members as friends, just as they are

Be intentional in ‘random acts of kindness’

Choose to love, accept and forgive
Read the scripture
Pray for your military, your community, and your country

Sustainability. It seem that the armed forces and military leaders have accurately identified and responded to the greatest threats to humanity. Below is an image from the Army Sustainability website. The Army has placed Sustainability as a top priority because if humanity doesn’t survive due to scarcity of resources, then there’s nothing left to defend.

Summary. Food Inc., available on DVD or Blu-ray, is a documentary about the production of food in the United States.

Overview. The movie shares startling facts about the corporate ownership of genetically modified soybeans that represent 80% of the soybeans in the nation. Those who grow these soybeans without authorization, will be prosecuted. Those who speak out against the potential dangers of meat consumption, are also prosecuted. The film also details the political leaders who are regulating the companies they previously worked for.

Commentary. Gregory Johnson describes it as, “Muckraking that’s breathtaking. The visuals, graphics. and authenticity are amazing. Not for the faint of heart. An excellent example of documentary that offers discouraging truths, yet hopeful and practical action points people can take to make a difference. What’s most startling is that a company like Monsanto can own the patent to a genetically modified soybean plant, and then prevent anyone from growing it. Presumably this could happen with animals and other life forms. What’s even more disconcerting is that our government is helping defend Monsanto. The agricultural industry also receives substantial government funding. This tax payer funded support of the agriculture industry ends up being a hidden cost we don’t see in the grocery store. This results in nutritious foods being costly while fast food and processed foods are inexpensive. We’re essentially creating a socialist state where we all help fund the meat industry and Mc Donald’s is the one to benefit.”

Official Website. More information is available at FoodIncMovie.com. Below are some excerpts from the website.

Food, Inc. exposes America’s industrialized food system and its effect on our environment, health, economy and workers’ rights. … High calorie, sugar laden processed foods coupled with our sedentary lifestyles is growing our waistlines and contributing to serious health issues like diabetes, heart ailments and cancers. One-third of children and adolescents are overweight or obese. Tell Congress that kids should be served healthy meals, not soda and junk food. … Approximately 10 billion animals (chickens, cattle, hogs, ducks, turkeys, lambs and sheep) are raised and killed in the US annually. Nearly all of them are raised on factory farms under inhumane conditions. These industrial farms are also dangerous for their workers, pollute surrounding communities, are unsafe to our food system and contribute significantly to global warming.

Summary. This weekend, June 19-21, is the 20th Anniversary Energy Fair at the ReNew the Earth Institute in Custer, WI. The cost is $15/day or $35/weekend. The event is hosted and sponsored by the MREA (Midwest Renewable Energy Association). Learn more about the MREA online:

• Facebook
• Google Maps
• The-MREA.org – The official MREA website including the event information page.
• Twitter

Impact. Last year more than 22,500 attendees came to the fair. This year there are more than 290 exhibit booths and 200 workshops that focus on renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainable living.

Special Music and Presenters. Key note speakers include Antonia Juhasz, Alan Weisman and Wendy Williams. Music includes Patchouli, Mark Little and Michelle Schocked on Saturday night. See The-MREA.org website and the event information page for more information. http://www.the-mrea.org/energy_fair.php

Smaller Living. The small home movement is getting big. Sonya Newenhouse, President of Madison Environmental Group, Inc. will give a talk, Small Homes and Green Building, Sunday at 10am. She’ll share her enthusiasm for marrying the small home movement with the green building movement. She’ll provide a short history of small homes and the environmental, economical and social benefits of living in one. The presentation will also include ideas on how to live small in your current home. She’ll end the presentation describing a new small, smart sustainable home venture, Casa Kit Homes. These homes are inspired by Sears Roebuck kit homes and the Passive House Principles.

Summary. Catholic and Orthodox church leadership joined forces in declaring that Christians have an obligation to care for the earth. This proclamation may in part be a response to the scripture that states a time will come when those who destroy the earth will be destroyed. (see Revelations 11:18) An article published by The Independent in 2002 states:

“Pope John Paul II and Patriarch Bartholomew will together sign a declaration warning that the world faces an environmental and social crisis, asserting that Christians have a particular responsibility to combat it, welcoming the rise of environmental consciousness and laying the foundations for developing a joint “environmental ethos”. Senior clerics say it is the first time that two church leaders have signed a joint declaration of action of this kind. … The service and the signing come at the climax of a series of floating symposia during the last seven years, the brainchild of the Patriarch, whose enthusiasm for environmental issues has led to him being dubbed the ‘Green Pope.’ He first took another ferry through the Aegean to the island of Patmos in 1995 for the 1,900th anniversary of the writing of the Book of Revelation. There the Orthodox Church formally declared pollution to be a sin. Subsequent voyages have included a circumnavigation of the Black Sea and a voyage down the Danube immediately after the Kosovo war.” [More...]