Public Options and Profiteering

America is addicted to capitalism, and it's about to strangle their efforts at health care reform.  For a while it looked like the ultimate goal was a universal, free system like we have north of the border, but so far that has proved too socialist for even the most liberal of politicians.  The best they have been able to do is to propose "public options" to "compete" with the current system.  As much as they end goal is to provide coverage for everyone, it still leaves motivations in the wrong place.

Using competition as the means still leaves profit as the end goal and avoids the whole point: getting quality, healthcare for everyone, all the time.  Offering a "public option" simply gives a fall back for people unable to pay premiums or dropped by their other programs.  It's business as usual (with less guilt) for healthcare corporations except that just as Republicans have feared, costs go up, quality goes down, and in the end nobody wins.

The idea that seems to be left out of the debate is this: some things work better as a collective effort (ie socialism).  If you need proof, just take a look what happened before the Fire Department came into play.  It used to be that people would pay private fire companies to protect their house in the event of a fire.  In exchange for payment, they would receive a badge to display outside their house.  Sounds like a pretty good deal, except if your house caught on fire and you had the wrong badge, you were out of luck.  People realized this was a ridiculous system and a public Fire Department was created.  It remains to be seen why almost nobody identifies privatized healthcare as the exact same problem.

Why does this matter to me as a Canadian? Perhaps because I care that everyone has access to proper healthcare, or maybe because it SHOULD matter to Canadians.  We have long been worried about the "brain drain", losing quality doctors to the Americans, and because more than a few Canadians have had health related accidents south of the border, returning home with thousands in hospital debts.  Mostly though, this matters to Canadians because it makes us appreciate how lucky we are to live in the country we do.

As Bill Maher recently wrote in the Huffington Post, "Not everything in America has to make a profit".

The War on Warm

They're here.  They're loud.  They're climate change deniers, and they aren't going away.

Alex Higgins has written in the Huffington Post that even some media sources are getting in on the act, despite all evidence to the contrary.  Higgins hilariously describes the process:

"1. Global Warming Denier makes claim

2. Claim is comprehensively, indisputably debunked

3. Claim is withdrawn, while Denier publicly continues to assert they are the new Galileo and their critics are religious fanatics with no regard for facts 

4. New Global Warming Denier makes exactly the same claim as if previous debate never happened"

Although I wholeheartedly agree with Higgins' assessment, I believe that even he misses the point.  You will never be able to quash claims that deny history or science, so long as someone stands to profit from it.  Evolution is still disputed in certain circles, and even the Holocaust has its deniers.  Those who deny global warming provide themselves an easy excuse not to take action on our quickly fading environment.  However, what nobody seems willing to admit is that in the grander scheme of things, the legitimacy of human-caused global warming as a theory is irrelevant.  We are facing multiple issues that are as serious (if not more so) than global warming which are not only indisputable but have not been seriously dealt with.

Let's take a look at some of the issues that have been put on the backburner while argiuing about global warming:

1. Species extinction- not new, indisputable, and a serious threat to the survival of millions of species, including ourselves.  Keep an eye in particular on sharks and bees, on whom entire ecosystems depend.

2. Resource depletion- according to the world's leading geologists, peak oil will likely happen in the next 10 years, if it has not occurred already.  Results include prices hitting the roof on oil and everything that requires it for transportation, manufacturing, or as an ingredient.  Global economic collapse that will dwarf the current recession, and little that we will be able to do about it once it has started.

3. Population control- arguably the greatest threat to the environment.  Humans have by far exceeded their carrying capacity on Earth and have created unsustainable strain on their surroundings.  Other scary results include the potential for worldwide viral pandemics.

4. Global Water Shortages- the next big issue.  Over a billion people currently depend on the Himalayas for water, and like other glaciers, the mountains are losing their permanent ice.

Enough with the partisan bickering.  Let's deal with this thing while we still can.

The Long Road to Local

It seems we have reached a tipping point with local food in mainstream media.  Enough Canadians have demanded to know the source of their food such that many companies have started to claim "local" ingredients in their products.  This is very encouraging for the local food movement in that it means people are starting to care about where their food comes from.  Furthermore, it shows that the market has been willing to respond to these consumer demands.  However, even a passive viewing of some of these "local" claims suggests many are not all they are hyped up to be.

One of the most popular claims to "local" ingredients is simply to call them Canadian (Lays potatoes), which if you know your geography doesn't mean much.  Certainly, this gives some quality assurance, but removes any guarantee of environmental benefits.  Hellman's boasts their canola oil from the prairies, which run into the same problem (if you are from Toronto, your food might as well be sourced from Texas)

I am not one to be picky.  I think it's great that Canadian citizens and commerce are hopping on the local bandwagon.  I just think we need to be able to discern between a real change in operations and just a change in what we are being told.

Iran: An Update

I wrote a few days ago that the protests over Iran's allegedly stolen election were a major victory regardless of the actual outcome of the election or the first protests.  The demonstrated outrage that the Iranian people have shown has now indicated that the likelihood of foul play in this election is no longer a possibility so much as a probability.  Furthermore, the situation on the streets or Iran has gone from bad to worse in only a few days, and has set the world's eyes on what is happening.  As usual, foreign press has been cut off, internet time restricted, etc, but that has not stopped what is now a raging river of amateur video feeds and reporting that have found their ways through the filters.

What we are seeing in Tehran is no longer a 2000 U.S. Presidential kind of stolen election, but a genuine human rights violation and a deliberate oppression of peaceful, dissenting voices.  It is unknown how many protestors have been killed or injured since no reporting has been allowed, with the most common estimates hovering around 19 confirmed, but others indicating a much higher death toll.  Video footage found on CNN or youtube depicts a scene of total chaos, with random gunfire and clouds of tear gas  found everywhere.  One dark video on CNN depicted the pro-government militia breaking into houses to take people away.  Although you could see very little, subtitled screams of "they're coming! they're coming from the terrace! get out!" were audible.  It was certainly tough to stomach, especialy after recently spending 6 days in Berlin learning about the oppression that had occurred there over the last 80 years via the SS, Gestapo, and Stasi.  Not to be one of those people that compares every injustice to the Nazis, but it was particularly reminiscent of the case of Munich's White Rose movement in 1942.

I have been quickly and deeply engaged in what has been going on over the last few days, as I cannot remember the last time there was such a major human rights case that was also so important for the fate of the collective world as well.  I wrote earlier about how groundbreaking a Mousavi presidency would be for Iran, with similar rhetoric leading many officials (in the U.S. and Britain in particular) to call for an intervention by Western forces.  Unfortunately, as the more historically educated have recalled, both of these countries have a long history of interference in Iranian affairs, from their CIA supported reinstalling of a violent regime in 1953 to their backing of Iraq in the Iran-Iraq War.  Ahmadinejad supporters have already blamed the unrest on interference from foreign influences, although so far this appears to be entirely a domestic issue; one can only imagine how this rhetoric would be stepped up if there was actual involvement of Western governments, even in a peacekeeping capacity.

Under fire from many across the aisle, Obama has steadfastly refuesd to be involved in the Iranian conflict any more than condemning the government's human rights abuses from afar.  This does not show any signs of changing for now, so protestors will have to rely on their continued solidarity and the foreign diplomatic pressure that has arisen from their constant stream of video and text to outside news sources.  Stay tuned on this issue, it looks like it is far from over.

Election 2009: Small Victories Amidst Violence and Unrest

Let me start by saying that I am by no means an expert on Iranian politics (as I am sure you are all aware),  but what is going on right now in Iran promises to be truly groundbreaking, so I am going to try and spread what I do know in hopes that we will all try to learn more about the situation right now.

So for those who have not been following, Iran held their presidential elections on June 12th of this year, with the incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad facing off against reformist challenger Mir-Hossein Mousavi.  We are much more familiar with the fundementalist Ahmadinejad, but the reformist Mousavi also has a long history in the upper ranks of Iranian leadership.  He was the Prime Minister until 1989 when constitutional changes removed his position, and also has been a candidate or potential candidate for presidency for the last 3 elections.

The controversy from this election came after Ahmadinejad won a two thirds victory over Mousavi on June 12th.  However, Mousavi has asserted allegations of election fraud and a partial recount has been ordered.  Mousavi (with 33 percent) was even so bold as to claim victory over Ahmadinejad, which seems extreme until one sees the massive empassioned following that Mousavi has.  Their protests  have filled the streets of Tehran with seas of green (Mousavi's campaign colours) despite of an order to shoot protestors that has already claimed several lives.

What makes this election so important is that Mousavi, a reformist, would drastically change the face of Iran if elected.  During the campaign, he promised to bring privatized television (free press) and more secular leadership to Iran.  Specifically, foreign policy and the military are controlled by The Supreme Leader, a religious, non-elected position.  Mousavi, along with many other Iranians, feel that such major responsibilities should be carried by an elected official, namely the president, who has an actual connection to the people.  He also criticized Ahmadinejad's economic policies.

A free press and more secularized government in Iran would mean major change not only domestically but also for the rest of the Middle East.  I am sure I don't have to tell you that historically, Iranian-Western relations have not been peachy keen since the Iranian Revolution in 1979.  Iran has clashed with the United States as well as Israel (Ahmadinejad does not recognize Israel's right to exist) on numerous occassions, and has consistently been seen as a threat by their leaders for decades.  Free (non-state controlled) press and truly democratic control of major government functions (military) could change everything.

Although it seems that Mousavi will almost certainly not take office (even with the recount pending, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameni has backed Ahmadinejad's victory) There are small victories to be found in this election.  Empassioned citizens have taken to the streets to demand reform and better control of their government, as well as an end to the alleged corruption of their current leaders.

I recently visited the remains of the Berlin Wall, and what struck me in learning about it is that even in oppressive or non-democratic regimes, leaders are aware of their people and en-masse, their voices can still be heard.  Iran is far from the oppression of East Germany (despite the shooting of protestors), and therein lies the hope for change.  Even if the election results are legitimate and the reformist movement is still a minority, it has received worldwide media attention and demonstrated its power domestically and internationally.  I am not familiar enough with Iran to know whether this is the right party to lead, but what I do know is that freedom of press and secularized government are some of the first steps towards greater peace worldwide.  As a major cornerstone of the Middle East, a major shift in Iran might make all the difference.

In the meantime, over 100,000 people are attending a "day of mourning" rally for the 8 protestors killed while Amnesty International says at least 170 have been detained for their involvement in the protests http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8107178.stm .  There has been a crackdown on domestic and foreign press reporting on the events transpiring, but small bits of coverage are still leaking out.  This paints a scary picture of the tense aftermath of thise election, and will hopefully not escalate into further violence or political arrests.

(Please note that although I have been following the story as much as possible in the last week, a lot of my information was taken from wikipedia so I could get a brief history of the candidates and Iranian politics in general.  As I said before, I am hardly an expert, so if any of my information is wrong please let me know and i will correct it)

Recessionary Guide to Summer Fun! (ok, and help the environment too)

So I write a lot about the environment and social issues a lot, but this blog is really about creating a better positive world for everyone.  That said, the recession has certainly set in and is bumming a lot of people out, and therefore is clearly an obstacle to fun and positivity.

I spent the last 35 days backpacking Europe with my beautiful girlfriend Kristen (and with our friend Mike for 3 of those weeks) and although the trip was by no means cheap, it certainly taught us how to have fun for little or no money.  I also happen to be unemployed upon returning home, so in that spirit, I present my Recessionary Guide to Summer Fun!  In it, you will find great things to spice up your summer without breaking the bank.  As an additional bonus, I limited the guide to activities that are gentle on the environment (although I can't guarantee the overall impact of festivals, etc)

1. Skip the gym, get outside!  I have always preferred the pavement to the treadmill, but for those who are more inclined to choose the gym, try going for a run, organize a casual baseball game, or just go for a walk!  

Save Money On: gym membership, gas money

You will get:  Excercise, a tan

2. Pedal Power.  Park the car in the garage, pump up those tires, slap on a basket or rear rack, and bike!  Unfortunately, if you live in the 'burbs like me, it can be difficult to walk to the grocery store and elsewhere for errands.  However, even in Markham, most things are well within reach by bicycle.

Save Money On: Gas money

You will get: Excercise, sun.  In addition, I promise you will have more fun than you would have driving.  Lastly, if you are unemployed like me, it will also give you something to do to fill your time!

3. Eat Local.  Find your nearest farm/farmer's market and make a day trip out of it!  During the summer, many towns have a weekly farmer's market that you can visit, and if you can get to a farm, that is equally as rewarding.  You have to eat anyways, and buying local food is fresher, better for the environment, and often cheaper.  Furthermore, you have the added benefit of developing a relationship with you food and where it came from, as you can meet the people who produced it!  Last summer, Kristen and I made  trip to Whitamore's Farm, where we were able to not only buy fresh, but opted to pick out own strawberries and snow peas.  What we found was not only is it something to fill an afternoon, but you get to completely control your own food quality and really feel as if you have "earned it", for lack of a better phrase.

Save Money On: Food

What you get: Quality Control, cheap fruits and veggies (which is super for making pies and jam, etc)

4. Festivals.  Summer is the season for music festivals like Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, and others, but those are often expensive.  Fortunately, summer is also the time for local festivals for music, food, and drink that are cheap or even free.  If you are looking to save money, look into main street festivals that seem to run every weekend, or if you want more stimulation, try The Beaches Jazz Festival, Burlington Sound of Music or others.  Although it is actually in the fall, Kristen and I attended the Bala Cranberry Festival last year for some fun in Muskoka, and had a great time!

Save Money On: Entertainment

What you get: Food, music, drinks, new friends and good times!

5. Hit the beach or the park.  Pack a picnic and some friends, or even just a towel and a book, and relax!  If you've got a cottage that's great, and if not, a personal favourite park for me is Edward's Gardens at Leslie and Lawrence.  The Gardens are park of a parks network that starts at Lawrence and stretches uninterupted south almost to the Danforth.

Save Money On: Everything, the sun is free, man!

What you get: Soft grass/sand, clear air and skies, sun, and a tan.  Relaxation!

So that's all for now, if you have any other suggestions I would be glad to hear them!

My ideas as your ideas as you are me and we create together...

There is a sweet sort of irony in the fact that Darwin was not the pioneering mind of evolutionary theory, but rather its adopter, refiner, and perhaps perfecter.  Although he undoubtedly contributed a great deal to the theory (probably more than his predecessors) it is important to note that like Darwin's creatures of the Galapogos, great ideas are rarely born, but developed, often collaboratively.

The source of ideas is especially important today because in an increasingly technological world, they are often come and gone before we are able to slow down and realize what is happening.  In his lecture "The Rise of the Amateur Professional"

Charles Leadbetter talks about how cultural innovation is becoming increasingly collaborative, evolving through user modification and testing.  What is amazing is that in many fields, R&D labratories may not be able to keep up, as open-sourced culture will not only be designed by consumers for consumers, but also will be able to be tested for free, running hundreds, thousands, or even millions of trials simultaneously.

Although Leadbetter uses examples like the invention of the mountain bike to demonstrate his point, there are greater examples happening right now.  The existence of sites like YouTube (outside of simply posting existing material) say to established media "We don't need you!", offering a programming channel for everything from comedy to cooking shows to comentary on the politicians we love to hate.  All open source.  All amateur.  All the time.

Time Magazine's 2006 Person of the Year article (it was you, congratulations!!) says,

"America loves its solitary geniuses—its Einsteins, its Edisons, its Jobses—but those lonely dreamers may have to learn to play with others. Car companies are running open design contests. Reuters is carrying blog postings alongside its regular news feed. Microsoft is working overtime to fend off user-created Linux. We're looking at an explosion of productivity and innovation, and it's just getting started, as millions of minds that would otherwise have drowned in obscurity get backhauled into the global intellectual economy."

Learning from the music industry's major failure to embrace user control of media and culture, many companies have simply given up trying to stay ahead, and are simply turning to the users to tell them exactly what they want, when, and how much of it to give.  Countless artists have been signed because of large followings on Myspace (see: Fall Out Boy) or YouTube, or the Idol shows, the latter of which do it in real time.  It seems that those that have adapted to the new sources of culture have survived, and those that have dragged their feet have fallen behind.

Lastly, and on a slightly more serious note, in this new collaborative culture machine, it is extremely important that we take our responsibility seriously as users.  When we buy or use products or services, we give it our personal stamp of approval, and in avoiding them, we can demonstrate our disapproval.  We have a tremendous amount of power as individuals today to change our own world, and it starts with what we do, what we buy, what we wear, and what we eat.  I am not asking you to boycott anything, but simply to be aware, be informed, know your options, and if you desire change, always know that what you do makes a difference.

Could Obama Pull the Plug on the Volt?

It seems that President Obama's economic and environmental goals are at an impasse.

After ordering the replacement of GM's top dog, he is now taking aim at the Chevy Volt, GM's Hail Mary pass to try and leapfrog Honda, Toyota, and a handful of independent automakers in the race for affordable, practical electric transportation. It seems that because GM has been continually revising their estimated sale price for when the Volt launches, uh...whenever it finally does, Obama's camp is losing faith that it will be the saviour that GM has been hoping it would be. With the estimated price now up near the mid $40,000s and America mired in a recession with no end in sight, the car runs the risk of simply being too expensive compared to the new Prius and the Honda Insight.

Currently, the Prius and Insight are not available as plug-ins in North America, which does have an impact on their total emissions. The Volt on the other hand is designed for home and mobile plug-in, using gasoline only when you really need it, after about 40 miles (64km) of all-electric driving. Even though this is supposedly the greener option, the increased price sandwiches the Volt awkwardly in between the leading hybrids and some of the more rare, more expensive, all-electric cars already found on the road today. Whether the Chevy Volt ever sees market remains to be seen, but the last ditch hopes of GM and the American car dynasty may be tied directly to its fate, and for that, Barack Obama cannot be too careful about how he handles this situation.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/03/presidential-auto-task-force-gm-chevy-volt-electric-car-plug-in-hybrid-commercial.php

Spotlight On: Jessica Reiss, Founder of ecocessories

It's true that great ideas often come from the smallest companies.

Jessica Reiss is the founder of ecocessories, a growing recycled jewelry designer based in North Vancouver, BC.  Although Jessica is a good friend of mine, you don't have to be close to the company to know that it's an idea with legs.  She has been embraced by friends and strangers alike, and most recently by local forums for green living and fashion, including Granville Magazine.

ecocessories is based on the concept of taking old or unwanted pieces of jewlery, stripping them down, and designing new and exciting pieces from the truly staggering selection of elements that Jessica has accrued since her launch.  

If you were wondering, the "eco" element of Jessica's business is present from the moment she receives a new piece of jewlery, and is sustained throughout her process.  First and most obviously, the recycling of existing items cuts down drastically on their environmental impact.  Next, the recycled elements are sustainably cleaned and stored, and incorporated with new chains with the ecocessories signature touch.  Jessica's style is both recognizable and accessible, yet does not hesitate to challenge conventions of symmetry or to harmonize elements from completely different pieces or eras.

I recently had the privledge of talking with Jessica about ecocessories, including her plans for the future (conversation below).  If you are interested in green living, fashion, or are even just looking for a stylish gift for that special someone, I strongly urge you to check out ecocessories.

Rob: What inspired you to start recycling jewelry?

Jess: I attended a green consumer show called Epic Expo and was fascinated by all of the sustainable fashion. I knew I needed a second income so the wheels started turning about launching my own business. To recycle jewelry literally just popped in my head - a few artisans were sourcing vintage and antique jewelry for materials, but I wanted to recycle jewelry as the forefront of my mission. If I am making something to sell I like to know that I am giving a second life to recycled beads and I use sterling silver in my new jewelry designs because it is a precious metal that can be repurposed many times.

Rob: What has surprised you most since launching ecocessories?

Jess: Probably the outpouring of support. Everyone 'gets' my idea and is willing to help, which is very cool!

Rob: If you had to guess, how many pieces of jewelry have you recycled since you have started?

Jess: Hundreds!!

Rob: Other than recycling jewelry, what else does ecocessories do to reduce its impact?

Jess: Every time I need to make a new investment in office furniture tools etc. I always try to buy used first. I like knowing I am giving that item a second life and learning about the history attached. I also try to buy Energy Star appliances, such as the Printer/Scanner for the office and to use recycled materials when possible, such as the recycled cardboard boxes my jewelry comes nestled in. 

I truly believe that one person can make a difference in their environmental impact. Choosing to 'Live Green' is an easy choice because you end up with high quality, cherished possessions; you save money by reducing waste & consumption; and you inspire others to make the same decision!

Rob: ecocessories has recently been featured in a number of forums as a company to watch. What has been the biggest thrill for you so far?

Jess: The media attention has been pretty awesome at giving me exposure and driving some traffic to http://ecocessories.ca, so it has all been very thrilling. I was very excited when Granville Magazine - a local, renowned sustainability mag - sought me out for an interview. Their readers are exactly the market I want to reach with both my sterling silver designs and jewelry recycling services. Now my next mission is to grab Oprah's attention and I'll be set!

Rob: Any plans for the future?

Jess: I plan to just continuing to grow ecocessories and I have recently made a major change in my life to allow me to do that. I have left my full time job to focus on my entrepreneurial ventures and am very excited to focus some of this energy on the development of ecocessories. I will be attending a few markets locally in North Vancouver and Downtown Vancouver this summer, so stay tuned to http://blog.ecocessories.ca to find out when/where you can find my booth!

Rob: You have said that you would eventually like ecocessories to contribute some of its revenue to not-for-profits.  Do you have any in mind that you feel are especially important?

Jess: Yes. I work closely with the Human Dignity Initiative which is a fledgling non-profit just getting started here in Vancouver. The first project taken on by Wendy, HDI's founder, is the Solar Light Initiative. Wendy wants to bring solar flashlights to households in Cambodia and Uganda. The stats are alarming about the risks associated with using kerosene lanterns and HDI's solution will allow women & children to extend their working hours with this safe and affordable light source. Learn more at my previous blog entry:

Once ecocessories breaks even I will be contributing to this amazing cause!

Review: Beer Soap by BetweenFriends

I recently began browsing handmade website Etsy for vegan soap, since I have been having trouble finding some that is reasonably affordable and lasts.  I came across a number of sellers that were offering soap made from BEER, which I thought was so, so cool.  After a minute or so of searching for more, I found a soap made from Alexander Keiths that was shipped from Toronto!  This gave me the great opportunity to pick up the soap personally and save on unnecessary shipping and packaging materials.

The soap is made by a girl named Maggie under the username BetweenFriends, and so far it's been working great.  In case you are wondering, after I have a shower it doesn't smell like I just downed a keg by myself, the soap actually smells sweeter than beer and also has oils and other ingredients that complement it.  Also, unlike other vegan soaps I have tried, they are holding their shape well, which suggests they will last quite a while (can be a problem with vegan soaps)

If you are interested, there are many other Etsy vendors that sell beer soap, including several that sell Guiness (apparently it smells a bit like caramel).   However, one note of caution: Etsy users ship from all over the world, so if you are trying to keep it green, try and buy local.

The Search for the Perfect Vegetarian Burgers

As other vegetarians (and people who know them) know, veggie burgers can be crucial to fitting in at barbeques and parties in the summer, along with veggie kabobs, portebello, mushrooms, etc.  Last night, Kristen and I began our journey trying to find the perfect homemade veggie burger recipe, with moderate success.  The recipe included:

2 cups diced mushroom and 3/4 onion, sauteed

1 can white kidney beans

2 egg yolks

bread crumbs

top with lettuce, tomato, pickles (we were out, unfortunately), and dijon mustard (also out, used regular)

To begin with , the final product actually tasted quite good, although I would have preferred less bean and more mushroom.  We will have to test this out, but I think the beans were also responsible for the fact that the burgers were more or less mush inside.  Regardless, they tasted great, and gave us a good jumping off point for our next attempts (mushorom-onion-swiss? mmmm).  Stay tuned for the next attempts, and (hopefully) soon our second attempt at raw spaghetti.

(note: the pictures shown are not mine.  They are simply a reference for what these recipes should generally look like)

Late Night Post- Vegetarianism

So it's late and I am unable to sleep, so I thought I would post an entry.  I been asked a lot lately about why I made the choice to cut meat out from my diet, and usually I brush it off with a quick answer about my health or animal rights, usually whatever I think my audience will most easily understand.  Frankly, I feel a full answer would be overwhelming for most people who have asked, and would come off as preachy, which is not my intent.  In fact, there are a number of reasons why I have been veggie for 8 months now and why I intend to spend the rest of my life doing so, barring some unforseen circumstances.  I thought I might list a few of them for people to browse through since I have been asked a lot and really have never tried to give anyone a full answer, including myself.

In no particular order...

1. My health- there is no question that a properly executed vegetarian diet is healthier than most in which people eat meat.  Sure, you can eat meat and be healthy, but vegetarianism also lends itself well to eliminating cetain toxins and ensuring you get essential nutrients

a) Problems with meat- although meat is full of great things like protein, iron, omega3s,                   and all sorts of other great things (depending on which meat), they also tend to come with the added risk of things like heart disease, certain cancers, and obesity.  People also tend to eat meat that is especially bad for you, like pork or low grade beef.  It has been shown that the average North American consumes several times their required amount of protein, and this is due to a severe overconsumption of meat (only 1-2 servings needed per week).  I was a bad offender on this end, which is a major reason why I can't just "cut down" on my meat intake.  I need rules!

b) Greens- one key I have found to avoiding filler like cheese and carbs during my vegetarianism (with moderate success) is to make sure I get my 5-10 servings of fruit and veggies everyday.  If I do that, there is scarcely any room to squeeze in bad things into my diet.  As a result, I am able to get all of the nutrients lost from meat and gained others as well.

c) The results- since I have made the switch, I have lost 20lbs, and have WAY more energy than I did before.  I also feel better generally, since meat stays in your body way longer than plant matter, which can make you feel bloated or heavy.

2. Animal Rights- Let me say first that I don't think there is anything inherenty wrong with eating animals.  I do think there is an issue with how we eat them.

Mistreatment- along with health, the reason I initially started being vegetarian 2 years ago (on and off for the first year) was that I was exposed to some of the atrocities that are being committed against animals in the name of agro-business.  You can say what you want about PETA or KFC videos and the like, but it is common practice to herd thousands of animals into dangerously cramped areas where they spend their entire lives, often in cages.  Chickens, for example, have their wings clipped and often even have their beaks cut off so they won't peck at the others in ajacent cages.  It has been shown that half of the antibiotics andministered every year in the United States are given to livestock, not humans.  This is entirely due to the conditions they are raised in, which promote high risk of disease, which may spread quickly through the herd.  Even still, disease is commonplace and treated with mass slaughtering of the affected animals.  In 2004, 17Miliion turkeys were killed in Fraser Valley, BC because of an avian flue outbreak.  17 MILLION.  Speaking of which, I promise you don't want to know how your thanksgiving turkey is killed.

Needless Killing- I have been asked before, why don't you eat free range organic?  First of all, I do, when it comes to eggs and the animal products I do eat.  Mostly though, I feel we have come to a point where we don't need to kill animals to survive, so I don't.  I personally could not kill a cow or a pig or a chicken myself, and to me, it is impossible to rationalize paying someone else to do my dirty work for me.  It is far too easy to forget about how many lives are used up unnecessarily for our food, and people understandably don't want to think about it.  Regardless, here it is.  Annually, 10 BILLION animals are consumed for food... just in the Unite States.

3. The environment- I won't get into the math right now, but it has been shown that the industrial method of raising livestock is more harmful to the environment than any single other human activity (excluding energy production).  Currently, it accounts for approximately 18% of greenhouse gas emissions, which includes mass amounts of carbon, and also methane, which is far more dangerous.  That is more than cars and the aviation industry, to put it to scale. Furthermore, industrial raising of animals is responsible for immeasurable effects regarding land degredation, deforestation, excessive pollution of our soil and waterways, and the list goes on and on.  Specifically, 70% of the world's agricultural land is dedicated to livestock operations. It is not an exaggeration to say that we could literally solve the world's hunger problems if everyone was vegetarian.  That's how much land is wasted on meat instead of grains and vegetables.

Lastly, I would like to say that although I am very principled in my beliefs regarding vegetarianism, I am hardly a saint.  There are many, many things that disguise their use of animal parts which I have accidentally eaten, and also some which I simply cannot be bothered with.  For example, many types of alcohol use animal parts as a filter in their production (I don't know the science, but it happens) and I don't care to trouble myself to avoid them, since it is a major inconvenience for such a trivial issue.  On a less serious note, I am really bad at remembering not to eat Caesar salad, which has anchovies in the dressing.  I think it is important that I admit these things because vegetarianism is all abou tmaking positive changes, and the worst thing I can do is intimidate someone who is considering making the switch.  At best, I hope I have inspired you, and at least perhaps educated as to some of the reasons I became a vegetarian.

An additional note, if you are/were also veggie, let me know some of the reasons why you decided to do it, and if you stopped, share why you went back to eating meat.  All the best.

This just in: World's fastest car.........1972 Datsun?

So maybe the title isn't totally in the appropriate context,  but according to Treehugger, that title belongs to a 1972 Datsun named White Zombie.  The converted electric has been setting world records all over the place in 1/4 Mile drag races, going up against Corvettes, Ferraris, and souped up muscle cars, and leaving them all in its dust.  Whether you are a gearhead or a treehugger, that's just impressive.  The car began setting records with a set of 60 lead-acid batteries, and has since been replaced with lighter and more powerful lithium ions.  In the video, you can see the car doing a quarter mile in 11.8 seconds, and reaching 110mph in the same race.  I think it's time for a Fast and the Furious sequel, featuring Ed Begley Jr playing Dom.

Revised dialogue:

"I  live my life a quarter mile at a time. Nothing else matters: not the ozone layer, not global warming, not the EPA and all their bullshit. For those ten seconds or less, I'm free. "

Death, thy name is consumerism

Every time the name "Black Friday" has come up in conversation in the last few days, I have talked about how the name suggests something horrible and dark, not a day where people get to shop at enormous discounts.  Sure enough, Black Friday was marked with several deaths this year in a way that points a very stern finger at the obsessive consumerism that has taken over many of the world markets.

The most talked about death occured on Long Island, NY where a WalMart employee was trampled to death by customers who broke down the doors to be the first ones in the store.  Most scary was when the store management announced they were closing because of the death, and customers yelled and complained, and many continued to shop, refusing to leave the store (death is SUCH a nuisance, I know)

Two others, of whom I have few details, were shot at a Toys R Us (read it again if you must, but it's correct) and were also killed.

It occured to me to blame WalMart and other retailers for building up such a high pressure day that people just couldn't resist, or maybe advertisers for making people want the newest gadgets ever-so-bad.  But then I realized that none of these groups are to blame.  The people responsible for such horrible frenzies are the people who place value on these events, who line up just to be the first in the store, and many, many others.  

Dead is the day when recession meant less cheaply-made luxuries and more frugality.  During WWII, it was the norm for English families to grow their own vegetables.  Now most people don't even know what country theirs come from.  Today is the age of planned obsolesence, excessive disponsable income, and trends which are dead and uncool before they even see the light of day.  It's hard to believe that this is a recession.

This is why we do what we do...

I don't pretend that things like this are the direct result of any one form of action, but they would never happen without events like Park(ing) day and organizations like The Streets are for People.  This is a video of some of the amazing changes that have been made in NYC to make the space safer and more enjoyable for people. (source:Treehugger)

Quote: "we put down just the orange cones, even before we get to the apoxy or the tables and chairs and people are out in them, just in between the cones because that's how hungry people are for public space."

The Paradoxically Myopic Economist

It is common in the discourses of mainstream media, and even more so on Bay Street, to talk about economic stability as if it were the be-all-and-end-all of societal harmony and human existence.  Time after time, social and environmental "threats" are dismissed in terms of lost dollars or jobs in our economy.  To be fair, employment is extremely important, and people will almost always act in their own best interests, which in our 21st Century world means gaining financial security for our families above nearly all else.  However, also in this complex 21st Century world, we face challenges that should be trumping economic strength, and yet are not.  The environment, more than anything right now, is such an issue.

Of course, I am not suggesting that we all burn our possessions and live in mud huts to save the Earth, far from it.  However, we seem unwilling as a population to make even small compromises in our already vast and (frankly) excessive wealth to make the necessary progress in climate change and pollution to save the Earth and potentially countless human lives.  This was demonstrated clearly through Canadians' outright rejection of the carbon tax proposed by the Liberals, as well as countless other individual excesses which we seem unwilling to give up (have you seen how many people are still driving alone on the DVP? Jeebus!).  Perhaps it is lack of education on the real effects of climate change, or maybe it is apathy, or even nihilism, but in any case, the necessary reaction (although substantial from some) is still generally lacking.  The question I pose to all you economists then is, When the glaciers melt and polar icecaps sink into the sea, major seaside cities are underwater and millions are displaced, when famine is widespread and unquenchable drought is as common in summer as smog warnings in Toronto, does anybody care what our GDP is? Will we be paying attention to how much the TSX fell today? What about minimum wage?

Aside from whether you think this is mere alarmism or not (trust me, none of this is out of reach, and maybe not even far away) the point is that eocnomists (and by that I mean anyone who uses the economy like a punchline, yes you Mr Harper) have tended to view movements like environmentalism as special interests who will myopically sacrifice jobs and economic value, when truly, without REAL action on climate change and pollution in the coming future, we may face a world where economies are either irrelevant or even non-existent, and when jobs are a luxury rather than the norm.  Perhaps it's time for a new type of economic thought.

Nuit Blanche!!

Have you ever been excited, but you don't know what for?  That's how I was feeling last night when Kristen and I headed downtown to pop our collective Nuit Blanche cherries.  Although I had heard of the event (I was invited to the inagaural NB and now curse myself for not going!) we didn't really know what to expect, and the experience hit us like a transport truck designed by Picasso and driven by Warhol.  It was both obvious and abstract, meaningful and arbitrary, accessible and avant-garde, and more than either of us could have expected.

We started off the night emerging from the Dundas subway station after spending the last half hour surrounded by drunk highschoolers (who smell sweeter than more mature drunks, incidentally, I think it's the excess of sweet juices in their vodka drinks), only to be surrounded by literally thousands and thousands of people.  Dundas square was packed, so instead we went to check out Massey Hall, where there was a cool little installment of an office ceiling above an alley filled with corporate waste.  As people were walking through the alley, a homeless man was begging for money, which we later considered could be part of the exhibit (art or poverty?)

We also spent some time in the distillery district at some amazing galleries and installments, and got to meet up with Spicy and some of his friends.  We split off to grab a coffee and meet up with some international friends from Seneca, which didn't end up materializing, but it sounded like they had a great time too.

We visited Nathan Phillips Square twice, and it was truly unreal.  The lights in the windows of city hall were flashing on and off in patterns similar to how windows media player reacts to music, and then switched to a contrast between the light and dark that showed a shadowy figure dancing to the music.  This was followed up by tetris, pong, and space invaders, which were met by the cheers and groans of the audience, depending on which side they were cheering for.  Four people ran across the pond in the middle of the square, also met by the cheers and flashing of cameras, only to be apprehended by security upon reaching the other side.  As would be expected, Johnny Law received boos from all sides, and then everyone went on their merry way.

Unfortunately, we didn't get to see nearly enough, as the subways were only running to Finch until 1:30.  Hopefully next time we will stay longer and take in more of the white night, which left us tired but wanting more.

Poor Poor Peugeot

So I bought an old Puegeot racing bike about 3 months ago, and I have been loving riding it around and was even commuting to school on it until I took a spill about a week ago.  Now, I knew there were some problems with it that I needed to fix but that basically sealed the deal that I wouldn't ride it until I fixed them.  Anyways, I was taking a look at the gears yesterday and how they were shifting (since they were the reason for my fall) and I realized that because of the fall, my whole back wheel is now warped!  It still rides but I can't imagine it would be that safe to do a ride of any real distance on it.  That combined with a need for new brake cables, new handlebar tape, a loose brake handle, etc etc and now I am wondering if it will even be worth it to fix.

The reason I bought an older bike originally was because I wanted something to get around on but didn't want to spend 700-800 for a new road bike just in case I didn't actually end up riding that much.  I have since discovered that I love riding places though, and now I need to consider whether it's worth putting money into an older $250 bike or just selling it as is and getting a newer and lighter bike.  I guess i will see exactly what the quote is for everything including the new wheel.  Any thoughts from more experienced/knowledgable riders?

Silky Smooth

In my boredom rummaging through the fridge, I found myself reading the side-label of a carton of Chocolate Silk.  For those not in the know, Silk is a brand of soy-based milk alternative, and frankly, the chocolate version is fantastic.  I have never actually had the regular version because I do still comsume dairy, but I prefer chocolate Silk to chocolate milk, and I am a guy who LOVES his chocolate milk.  Anyways, In my perusing of the carton, I noticed a statement of environmental commitment claming that Silk is made with wind energy.  The ambiguous wording evaded making any specific claim as to how much of their energy was actually wind, so as a dedicated anti-greenwash...ist?..er?...yeah, so I looked into it a little further.  What I discovered was that (a little to my surprise, I admit) Silk actually uses 100% wind power!  I needless to say, I was THRILLED that I had been supporting green business without even realizing it!

In my excitement, I wrote an email to Silk's customer service account expressing my grattitude for a product that I so loved (something to the effect that I was now not just a happy customer, but a proud one, cute, I know).  Not 24 hours later, I received a personalized email from one of their representatives saying how refreshing it was to get such positive feedback etc etc...it was pretty great

Moral of the story: 

1) Silk tastes great

2) it's a great choice if you want to cut down on dairy, whether you are vegan or an environmentalist, lactose intolerant, or whatever

3) a legitimate environmental commitment by a fairly mainstream company

4) costs about the same as regular chocolate milk

5) great customer service

that's all for now, ciao!

Park(ing) day

so it's been a looong while since my last post, but don't worry, there will be more to come soon! In the meantime, check out the blog for an event I am running called Park(ing) day. the whole idea is to pay for a roadside parking space and then turn it into a temporary greenspace/park. I am sure the few people that actually read this already know about it, but if not check it out!

http://parkingdaytoronto.blogspot.com

Zenn Bootism (as in being given the boot)

Low speed electric car manufacturer Zenn (Zero Emissions, No Noise) are still not approved for use in Ontario, despite approval in the rest of Canada, the United States, and Europe. This is ironic since Zenn's headquarters are in Toronto, so even their own employees are not allowed to drive the car to work. Zenn manufactures what they call a "neighbourhood vehicle", which is a 2 seater with top speed of 40km/h and range of up to 50 km. This may sound low, except that this car is not meant for trips to the cottage or the hour drive down to Bay Street from Richmond Hill. It is meant exclusively for short trips to get groceries (don't worry, it's bigger than a Smart car) and to get around when a car is neccessary and nothing else will do. Perhaps the powers that be will soon recognize the practicality of this car and raise its approval from being considered a golf cart (for use on private property and by park officials in provincial and national parks only) to the legitimate vehicle that it is.

[ps, ZENN is planning the release of CityZenn for the Fall of 2009, with a range of 400km and top speed of 125km/h. it will be fuly highway and road certified]

Quick Fact: There are more greenhouse gas emissions produced in the United States from cheeseburgers (methane from cows, transportation, refrigeration, etc etc) than from all of the SUVs in the United States http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/02/video_jamais_ca.php

Yay for Liberals!

Stephen Harper just might be the best thing to happen to Canadian politics. Now hold on, just give me a ch...no...no....calm down, just let me explain. Let me start at the beginning.

I will be the first to admit, I am not one for following Canadian politics. I am by all means a patriot, but I have become so disenfranchised and disappointed by our political environment that I can't bring myself to vote for either the Liberals or Conservatives in elections. Instead, I vote for Green Party because I know they at least have the balls to stand for something. Since I started paying attention to politics in general, I haven't been able to shake the feeling that regardless of which party is in power, we basically enjoy the same level of unproductive fence jumping from our government. This is where Mr Harper comes in. As somebody who has been attacked from the beginning (justifiably or not) as a Canadian version of George W. Bush, his policies have undeniably polarized the Canadian political environment. The reason why I say this is a good thing is because it has FINALLY allowed the Liberal party to get up the courage to separate themselves from the Conservatives policy-wise and actually stand for something (other than the petty arguing that is supposed to appear like standing for something). Today the Liberal Party announced plans for a carbon tax, and frankly I just about fell out of my chair. The plan, which is extremely necessary for climate chnage reversal and long overdue, stands to place pressure on commerce to force more environmentally friendly practices. Of course, we can expect HARD lobbying to reject this, but it's still an enormous step forward. For those concerned about extra costs, yes some things will cost a little extra, but part of the plan is tax breaks for the public to not only compensate for the extra costs, but to concede that commerce has never really taken on the tax burden that they should have.

All in all, we can expect a lot of resitance to this from the Conservative Party, who has already launched aggressive attack ads (which frankly are insulting to the listeners' intelligence) as well as from big business (like somehow this environmental idea is new to them), and maybe in the end it won't end up being that effective, but it's still an enormous step forward for Canada simply to have the framework in place from which to build upon later. So thank you, Mr Harper, for being shockingly right wing even for your party, and allowing the Liberals to actually be, well...liberals.

Compact Flourescent Lights - warning

As many of you probably know by know, compact flourescent lightblulbs are far more energy efficient and long-lasting than traditional incandescent lighting. However, there are two points of caution to be taken into account if you are thinking of switching (or have switched)

1. The bulbs contain small amounts of mercury. IN fact, the mercury is part of how the bulbs work, so its necessary. However, mercury is highly toxic, so the bulbs must be disposed of safely and properly.

2. Apparently there have been reports that if the bulbs are left on after they have died (which takes a long, long time) the continuing current can actually cause them to catch fire. The only way to prevent this is to remove them as soon as they burn out so they aren't left absorbing electricity.

Of course, there are also LED bulbs that are even more efficient than the compact flourescents, and they don't have these issues, at least as far as I am aware. They are more expensive, so you really have to decide if the cost is worth it to you.

TED

I have recently taken quite an interest in watching a lecture series on youtube called the TED seminars (Technology, Entertainment, Design). They are a series of seminars from the greatest scientists, anthropologists, designers, politicians, etc on ways we can help change the world, often relating to their own expertise, but certainly not limited to it. These are unquestionably the best lectures I have ever seen and I highly recommend checking one or two out if you want to learn something without actually having to read anything. They are only about 2-30 minutes each usually so they are quite easy to digest. I have included one relating to health and environmentalism called "What's wrong with what we eat" by Mark Bittman (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YkNkscBEp0). Other speakers have included Al Gore, Jane Goodall, and others, and include subjects ranging from poverty to economic change to global warming to just human nature in general, so there's something for everyone.

Ps, as many of you know, I am a vegetarian, and if you want to know some of the reasons why, or you are thinking about it yourself, check out the Bittman video. In fact, check it out anyways because it's worth watching even from a health perspective. He isn't a vegetarian himself so I promise he won't try and guilt you into it. Preview: Nearly a fifth of greenhouse gases come from industrial livestock production. 10 BILLION animals are killed every year for human use in the United States alone. 70% of the agricultural land in the world (30% of the earth's land surface) is attributed directly or indirectly to producing the animals we eat. Check it out.

This week in going green- mooshoes and ecocessories

So clearly I've gotten well out of the habit of making regular posts, mostly because I am busy with work, selling the house and my last courses at Laurier. I will try to make a point of doing regular posts again even if that means just doing them on my lunch hour or whenever. This week I have two cool things to tell you about if you are (like me) wading through seas of information about going green trying to find the best (and most practical) way for you. Hopefully these can help you out.

Mooshoes- this is a vegan shoestore based out of NYC, so not all of their shoes are necessarily eco-friendly, but they are certainly all animal friendly. I mention them because they carry some of the best eco-brands out there, including Simple, which in my experience has been extremely difficult to find at a reasonable price, if at all. The one place I found on Queen Street listed the shoes at around $20-25 more than Mooshoes did, so it's certainly worth the shipping. In addition, Simple's Ecos do not appear to be available in Canada (according to a retailer in Port Carling) but they are on Mooshoes. They do a lot of business out of their website and shipping is only $15 to Canada! Now, before you say "Rob, $15 isn't that cheap", that's $15 if you order 1 item, 2 items, 20 items, regardless of how many or how much they cost. I currently have an order out for a pair of sandals and my much sought after Ecos for $124 including shipping. Considering how uneblievably difficult it has been to find the shoes i want it will be worth every penny when they get here. (ps, the Ecos themselves were $70, the most expensive ones Simple makes were $90). The shoes I got have hemp uppers, and laces made from recycled plastic bottles. The soles are recycled tires, except the term "recycled" is misleading, there were never broken down and reprocessed, you can see the tire tread on the soles, which is SUPER cool! Anyways, enough about that.

Ecocessories- this is a little accessories business that my friend Jess started, and let me just say I am VERY impressed, I wouldn't plug it otherwise. Her website is www.ecocessories.ca which right now links to her blog (this business is VERY new, but mucho cool) but will soon be an actual website. You can already check out some of her work and it looks amazing. From what I can tell at least some of her stuff reuses beads from elsewhere and there are some very cool plans for eco-friendly shipping. Of course, most importanly, all her work is super stylin' and I can't wait to see more of it. I definitely plan on buying some for Christmas/birthday gifts and so should you! Anyways, that's all for now, Adios