EarthSave Miami Featured Articles
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The Environmental Impact of an Animal Based Diet
Coops are Fun
On Animal Rights and Ethics
Food Security
Katrina, Global Weather and Food Choices
Mercury is in That Fish
Reasons to Go Organic
Vegetarian Diet in the Prevention and Treatment of Cancer
Trans fats: The Stealth Killers
Reviving the EarthSave Message
Pharm Crops Phat Secret
Ketchup On Your Politics
Fast Food Is Dense Dude!
We’ve Lost the Family Farm But Haven’t Lost the Image
Mad Cows and Pernicious Prions
What America Really Eats
What’s So Important About Organic
The Surgeon General Says...
Berries Next Spring
We Are Omnivores, But...
Anyone For Lawn Croquet?
Gardening 2000
A Chef's Perspective
What's Happening To Our Food?
Good News For Soy
The Hidden Costs of Our Food Choices

 

 

   The Environmental Impact of an Animal Based Diet

Growing meat uses so many resources that it's a challenge to enumerate them all. But consider: an estimated 30 percent of the earth's ice-free land is directly or indirectly involved in livestock production, according to the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization, which also estimates that livestock production generates nearly a fifth of the world's greenhouse gases - more than transportation.

To put the energy-using demand of meat production into easy-to-understand terms, Gidon Eshel, a geophysicist at the Bard Center calculated that if Americans were to reduce meat consumption by just 20 percent it would be as if we all switched from a standard sedan - a Camry, say - to the ultra-efficient Prius. Similarly, a study last year by the National Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science in Japan estimated that 1 pound of beef is responsible for the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide emitted by the average European car every 70 miles, and burns enough energy to light a 100-watt bulb for over a week.

Grain, meat and even energy are roped together in a way that could have dire results. More meat means a corresponding increase in demand for feed, especially corn and soy, which some experts say will contribute to higher prices.

Though some 800 million people on the planet now suffer from hunger or malnutrition, the majority of corn and soy grown in the world feeds cattle, pigs and chickens. This despite the inherent inefficiencies: about two to five times more grain is required to produce the same amount of calories through livestock as through direct grain consumption, according to Rosamond Naylor, an associate professor of economics at Stanford University. It is as much as 10 times more in the case of grain-fed beef in the United States.

The environmental impact of growing so much grain for animal feed is profound. Agriculture in the United States - much of which now serves the demand for meat - contributes to nearly three-quarters of all water-quality problems in the nation's rivers and streams, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Because the stomachs of cattle are meant to digest grass, not grain, cattle raised industrially thrive only in the sense that they gain weight quickly. This diet made it possible to remove cattle from their natural environment and encourage the efficiency of mass confinement and slaughter. However, it causes enough health problems that administration of antibiotics is routine, so much so that it can result in antibiotic-resistant bacteria that threaten the usefulness of medicines that treat people.

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Coops are Fun
and Perfect for the Holiday Season!

by Linda Bower

"The Organic Buying Club of South Florida currently contributes to the health of families throughout the South Florida area by making available to them fresh, superior quality, and certified organic produce at reasonable prices." That’s the quote right off of the flyer that Jayne Rosenbaum uses to promote the business that she began three and a half years ago. There’s more: "Mrs. Rosenbaum, a devoted wife and mother of two active children, was frustrated with the high prices and inconsistent quality of organic produce available in South Florida." Sound familiar? Haven’t we all experienced high prices and inconsistent quality when trying to find fresh, organic produce?

In my opinion, Ms. Rosenbaum is filling a niche and the bellies of happy families everywhere utilizing the convenience and the quality these coops offer. I should know. I joined a group two weeks ago because I thought it would be fun and perfect for the holiday season. Since then I have had the pleasure of experiencing a delightful assortment of the "25 to 35 lbs. of exquisitely fresh, certified organic fruits and vegetables" that, thus far, two shipments have afforded me. Fortunately, I was able to find a coop just two miles from my home which Dr. Maria Rodriguez of Hands of Life Chiropractic started. The system offers a unique pre-paid bi-weekly mixed variety share with an emphasis on leafy greens. All of the produce is certified through QAI the largest international certifier in the world. Jayne, and her husband Howard, also "take a strong stand towards global responsibility and are very selective in purchasing only items that come from sustainable farms that are socially responsible."

The coop consists of one host and fourteen additional members. There is a one-time registration fee of $20 which includes a canvas bag to use for pickups. Each approximately 30 lb. share is delivered every two weeks and costs $43, cash only in the exact amount. The host is compensated with a free share and a $30 discount can be offered for "helpers". My first shipment contained: oranges, bananas, plums, grapes, carrots, collard greens, leafy green lettuce, tomatoes, cauliflower, green peppers, mushrooms, and leeks. Last week the share included: apples, bananas, plums, kale, baby herb salad, carrots, eggplant, yellow squash, mini sweet peppers, and purple onions. For an added fee, additional items are also available such as: raisins, dates, coconut, walnuts, sprouts, coffee, olive oil, bread, green drinks, salt, cocoa powder, soaps and beauty creams. Although they also offer some meats and cheeses, a host is more than welcome to maintain a strictly-vegan group.

For more information, they have two websites:
organicbuyingclubsofla.com or jayroseorganics.com or you can call (305)868-2136.

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On Animal Rights and Ethics

by Justin Lelia

After reading "Empty Cages" by Tom Regan, I called my Father to talk about the inhumanity of animal slaughter. After agreeing that animals have rights, my Father told me of a customer who hunted and killed a 1400 lb Woodland Buffalo with a bow and arrow. My Father wondered how a person could hunt an animal for entertainment. Inspired, I asked my Father what he thought of the ethics of eating animals. He reasoned that since the beginning of time people have been eating meat, and he said he liked the taste. The hunter might hunt for similar reasons. People have been hunting for eons; it’s exciting to many. If we agree that animals have rights, then enjoyment or excitement are not ethical reasons for encouraging their slaughter.

Ethics

People will continue to do what’s wrong for lack of knowledge, reasoning, and the fear of pain. For instance, people continue to smoke because withdrawal from nicotine is discomforting. Therefore, good feelings do not necessarily go hand in hand with ethics. Ethics are what we imagine to be the best way to conduct ourselves as parents, citizens, siblings, professionals, consumers, friends etc. According to philosophers and scientists, our ethics ought to be based on certain principles.

1) Do as little harm as possible.

2) Protect the best interest and moral rights of the affected.

3) Be fair, and have defensible reasons for any unequal treatment.

4) Respect community, especially the welfare of the vulnerable.

5) Uphold virtuous qualities like truth, beauty, courage, fidelity, compassion, generosity, and love.

Contrast these principles with those of veal producers.

Cruel, Calculating, and Cowardly

Industries who are responsible for the murder of animals swear that they are acting humanely to them (the word humane is synonymous with compassion, mercy, and consideration for other humans and animals). They tell us this because they need to conform to federal laws, and they want the public to think that everyone, including the animals, is happy. Let’s take a look at the scenario of veal production as one example of "humane" treatment.

Veal is the flesh of a young male calf. Veal consumers like it because it is tender and easy to cut. The use of a knife is often unnecessary. For some, eating doesn’t get better than this. One chef said enthusiastically "Veal is the king of meats", that "it melts in your mouth like fine chocolate."

Before the 1950’s the amount of veal the industry could yield from a calf was small compared to what can be yielded today. The yield grew when a method was introduced allowing calves to grow bigger without developing their muscles. Farmer’s put the calves in wooden or metal stalls that were small enough to prevent movement. As they were fed, the calves growth continued, but their flesh wouldn’t lose its desired pale color and tenderness because the muscles remained weak. Larger calves meant more veal. Prices went down, and more people could now afford to buy this "specialty" food. Today, there are well over a thousand veal farms in America. At these "farms", there are upwards of 3000 stalls, but the average is 200 stalls per farm.

The calves live a miserable existence confined to a two foot wide by five-foot long box. When they get to a certain size, it becomes impossible to turn around in the stall, and to lie down...in their own feces, might I add. Their knees become swollen and painful, and their minds traumatized from the deprivation of any movement or contact.

When people learn about veal production they often say, "I don’t want to think about it. It’s too depressing." It’s torture. That veal calves display disorders (rolling of the tongue and twitching) associated with psychological maladjustment is of no surprise. And for what reason do calves get treated thusly: to fulfill some gourmand’s appetite?

The veal industry says: "The humane production of veal calves is our top priority." They lie. As you can see, there is no humane way of producing veal. Calves are meant to be frolicking in spacious pastures, in contact with their mothers, eating grass. When we plug "veal farming" into our method for deciding between right and wrong, it fails across the board. The vulnerable are not to be used as feed, especially when we have plenty of other food to eat.

Contemporary people agree that animals are capable of feeling physical and emotional pain. Animals are not robots. Furthermore, many agree that an animal’s welfare means as much to them as ours does to us. In other words, the calf’s life is as important to the calf as ours’ is important to us. Animals have a desire to continue life like us. They are physiologically made with structures and functions that resemble ours; they eat, sleep, breathe, have a brain and nerves. Their existence has a purpose. We must be humbled by it.

We know that animals suffer when their freedom, happiness, and lives are destroyed. By honoring their existence, we may better appreciate the simple things we have in common with them, the simple things that make us happy: feeding ourselves and our young, being outside in nature, and having friends and family. What kind of person would deny someone those rights?

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Food Security

Joyce DiBenedetto-Colton

    Most folks in the developed world have not had to give much thought to it. We take available food for granted. We go to the grocery store, and there it is in all its glory. Grown, harvested, prewashed, processed and brightly packaged. No worries. But for 70 percent of the world's human population, access to adequate food is a daily concern.

    In April of 2005 the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development presented to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR), recommendations for International Trade and the Human Right to Adequate Food as a proposed safeguard to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Agriculture. That document states that according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) - the arm of the UN that addresses world hunger - more than 850 million lack adequate food. "Every five seconds a child under the age of five dies of hunger or hunger-related disease. Eighty percent of people suffering from hunger live in rural areas and derive their livelihood from agriculture." Yes, somewhat surprisingly, those poor and starving people make their livelihoods by farming. So, why are they starving? In this day and age, why isn't there enough food to go around? Well, actually, there is. According to the FAO, the world produces more than enough food to feed everyone, yet the number of people who suffer from hunger and malnutrition is increasing. What's going on? 

    It seems that industrial agriculture and, ironically, the over-production that it creates, undermine agricultural markets in less developed countries, forcing prices below their cost of production. "This process, known as dumping, disrupts local markets and affects livelihoods, living standards and access to adequate food, particularly in developing countries" (Rights & Democracy.)

T    his is such an important concept for people in the Western world - particularly US citizens - to wrap their minds around. Why? Because perhaps, just maybe, it will shed light on erroneous justifications for directions in industrial agriculture, particularly biopharming and genetically engineered crops. Monsanto, Aventis, Syngenta, Novartis and the hundreds of biotech companies around the globe will tell you that they are re-engineering the genes of plants, insects and animals to make the world a better place. Biotech giant, Monsanto has long said that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are necessary to meet the world's requirements for food, implying that there is insufficient production. The real problem is primarily over-production, compounded by a synthetic economic system that mandates failure in equitable distribution. The affluent get richer and the poor are shut out. What an ideal distraction for chemical and biotech corporations to position themselves for global dominance. Which they have. Just an hour or two on the internet googling biopharming and biotechnology can put things more in perspective. There are hundreds of companies that have rearranged food-plant genes for a variety of purposes. Monsanto bought out Calgene for its FlavrSavr® tomato, its BXN® cotton and its Laurate Canola. The tomato's fish gene extends its growing season into colder months. The cotton has a bacteria gene implanted right in it that kills insects that munch it, so there's less pesticide spraying for the farmer - but death to any insect that feeds on BNX® or on any plant that might cross-pollinate with it. The Laurate Canola was engineered to prevent its oil from causing the production of cholesterol in the body. An impressive selling point, considering heart disease remains a major killer in the US. Gee, wouldn't it make better sense to stop over eating? Or simply eat healthy, whole foods?

    There's another thing to consider. Quality of food. With all the concern over securing food availability, there has been insufficient regard given to the quality, wholesomeness or safety of food.

    Our world leaders, government representatives, and policy makers understand little if anything about sustainable food production, true drug-free health or ecology. So its little wonder that our most important needs - pure food and water - have been traded for financial status and social power.

    To make matters worse, biopharming corporations are using food-crop plants to grow industrial chemicals and potent pharmaceuticals in secret, open-air locations without safeguards for cross pollination with plants and crops intended for human or livestock consumption. Once these genetic structures are released into the natural environment, there's little hope of retrieving them. How secure is that?

    Until now, our best protection was certified organic production, but it's clear that organic standards are threatened as well. Not only by the threat of cross contamination, but by the proposed weakening of the the National Organic Standards. Don't just sit there. Take some action. Come to the next couple of EarthSave programs (see calendar) and learn how and who you can contact to express your concerns. And keep choosing certified organic. Locally.

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Katrina, Global Weather and Food Choices 

by Joyce DiBenedetto-Colton

Who’d-a thunk that food choices would have an effect on global climate change (better known as global warming?)  Would you believe that what people eat in this country has contributed to ice caps melting, wildfires, tornados and – yes – hurricanes? Have we been eating our way into bigger and bigger storms, and rising sea levels? If Americans continue to generate greenhouse gases at their present rate, we may be in for more Katrinas.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the United States emits more greenhouse gases per person than any other country in the world: Approximately 6.6 tons per person annually. That’s a-lot-a gas. While most of this can be attributed to fossil fuel use for producing electricity and driving gas-generated vehicles, much of it is due to intensive animal agriculture. When a person includes meat in their diet, they can contribute as much as 4 tons of heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere each year. 

So, where does all this gas come from anyway? Well, the first thing that might come to mind is manure. The United Nations Food and Agriculture figures estimate the production of excrement from US livestock alone to be 230,000 pounds per second; which translates into threatening amounts of CO2, methane, nitrous oxides and ammonia escaping into the atmosphere. Along with manure, cows emit considerable amounts of digestive gases through belching. The EPA found that “livestock emit about 70 million metric tons of methane annually as ‘methane burps’ as cows process food.” (EPA Journal Mar/Apr 1990, 24)  The thing about methane is that it traps 25 times as much heat per molecule as CO2, so manure and livestock waste management takes a sizeable toll.

Another greenhouse gas, nitrous oxide (N2O), traps 230 times as much heat per molecule as CO2. Manure, specifically chicken and turkey manure, accounts forsignificant levels of N2O because the poultry population of over 11 billion produces over 1.5 million tons of manure each and every day, according to the National Academy of Sciences figures.

In addition to animal excrement, other animal agribusiness practices contribute extensively to global warming. Millions of tons of fossil fuels and millions of acres of tropical forests are burned each year in the production of cattle and other livestock which has released over 1.5 billion tons of CO2 into the atmosphere over the last 3 decades. And the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides on feed crops contributes to greenhouse gases as well. According to USDA figures, more than 80% of the soy, corn and wheat produced in the US is fed to farmed animals. This translates into considerable amounts of heat-trapping gases being emitted that are increasingly problematic. 

We as Americans ought to take a look – a real look – at how we live, and then do something to help. Why not make a real contribution? Do your part to reduce the impact of global warming and climate change. Forget the meat. Eat veggies instead. Healthier food choices can help alleviate global warming. Living more lightly, ethically and mindfully is something we can all contribute. 

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Mercury is in that fish! 

  

According to Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), eating fish is risky. Fish can contain harmful levels of mercury, pesticides, dioxins, PCBs and furans. Mercury alone is such a potent neurotoxin that even small doses can cause irreversible brain and heart damage. While most Americans currently eat an average of just one serving of fish a week, fish consumption is already the primary source of mercury for those whose consume it.

      Mercury pollution places one at serious risk. One in six women of childbearing age in the US has blood mercury levels exceeding the “safe” levels recommended by the EPA. In adults, mercury exposure can bring on high blood pressure, cause tremors, and lead to infertility and liver and brain damage.

      Mercury is in fish. In the canned tuna from your grocery store, and in the salmon, shrimp, and shellfish you order at a restaurant. Dr. Vas Aposhian, a toxicologist and professor of molecular and cell biology at the University of Arizona found that mercury levels in albacore tuna are so high the fish should be avoided completely. Forty-four states have posted warnings about mercury contamination in their lakes, streams, and rivers. 

      Nearly all fish contain methylmercury. How does it get into fish? Mercury occurs both naturally and from man-made sources. Some of it can be traced to coal-burning power plants. Smokestacks release toxic mercury emissions which rain down into rivers, lakes, and oceans. Bacteria convert the mercury to a form that's easily absorbed by insects and other small organisms. Mercury moves up the food chain as small fish eat the small organisms and big fish eat the smaller fish. The highest concentrations accumulate in large predators such as shark, swordfish and tuna...some of America's favorite fish.

      Until the 1950's, problems related to mercury intake were not well-known. At that time, there occurred an epidemic among fishermen and their families in villages on Japan's MinamataBay. People whose diet was primarily seafood showed signs of brain damage; some were even fatally stricken with disease and seizures. An investigation linked the health problems to methylmercury poisoning from a local chemical plant that was discharging organic mercury into the bay. The villagers were getting sick from eating the fish that had absorbed the mercury.

      So why consume fish at all? Fish is touted as a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, which helps guard against heart disease. But flax seeds and walnuts are excellent sources of omega-3 without the risk. 

     Get smart – stop eating fish. And stop eating mercury.

     For more information, visit www.pcrm.org – or call 202-686-2210.

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Mad Cows, Pesticides and Genetically Engineered Crops: Reasons to Go Organic

 By Joyce DiBenedetto-Colton

 So, you need more reasons? Do you get to the grocery store and decide organic is just not worth the extra dollar? You think you’re healthy enough the way you are. You don’t really believe conventionally produced food can make that much of a difference to your health. Besides, there are medicines that can treat any maladies you have. And who says that “organic” is really much different anyway? Certainly the US government protects its citizens through the highest standards in the world…don’t they? Don’t they?

We talk ourselves out of healthier choices every day. Why do we do that? Why don’t we talk ourselves out of unhealthy, unethical, unintentional choices and into the best available ones? “Denial is not a river,” they say…but it sure flows through US. 

US agencies and industries have been covering up Mad Cow disease in this country for far too long. Even European countries – first England, then France – denied problems with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in their livestock for a time. But when England suffered cases of the human form of the disease (Cruetzfeldt-Jakob disease or CJD) they began a campaign to alert other countries not to put their heads in the sand as they had. It hasn’t been effective with us arrogant cowpokes across the pond.

The US has been similarly ignorant regarding genetic engineering and its non-retractable impact on our seed and food supply through unrestrained cross-pollination. Very few recognize the ominous operations already in place that threaten to contaminate our food supply by cross-pollination of our food crops with pharmaceutical and industrial chemicals genetically engineered into open corn, rice and tobacco crops, to manufacture chemicals for industry. And don’t expect our US Senators to understand this any time soon. 

The US Senate recently voted on an amendment presented by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) to prevent EPA from utilizing pesticide research deemed unethical. It seems that a few chemical companies have conducted experiments on humans that were clearly in violation of ethics standards. The passing of a revised version of the amendment will deter chemical industries for the time being. But make no mistake…the industry is as persistent as the pesticides they produce. It’s only a matter of time.  To view the full report, go to: www.democrats.reform.house.gov/Documents/20050616110407-47162.pdf 

        So what can you do? The answer is remarkably simple. Buy organic. Support organic. While organic may not be perfect, it’s the closest thing. Unless of course, you grow your own organic! By choosing organic you can avoid all of the aforementioned: Mad Cow, environmental and genetic pollution, and you’ll be protecting your immune system from the long-range detrimental effects of pesticides that accumulate in your fatty tissue year after year. 

        ESM’s July speaker will be Caryl Zook, an Independent Organic Certification Inspector who will discuss just what “certified organic” really means. And September’s program will show you how you can grow your own organic herbs and vegetables – even in pots.

        There are so many more reasons to go organic…but aren’t these enough? Go ahead. Choose organic. You’re worth it!

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_{Vegetarian Diet in the Prevention and Treatment of Cancer}

by Joyce DiBenedetto-Colton

This past April, ESM participated in a breast cancer awareness event to educate people about the importance of diet in preventing and treating many types of cancer. There is significant evidence showing correlations between diet and cancer rates. Up to 80% of cancers of the breast, prostate, and bowel are due to dietary factors. So, there are ways through healthy diet, to decrease your risk of cancer and improve survival if you are diagnosed with breast cancer.  And remember, breast cancer affects both women and men.

Numerous studies show, cancer is much more common in populations consuming diets rich in fatty food – particularly meat – and less common in countries eating diets rich in vegetables, grains and fruits.

The facts are simple: Breast tumors are “fueled” by estrogens. High fat intake increases estrogen in the blood. With low-fat diets, estrogen levels drop.  Vegetarians have significantly lower estrogen levels.

Cross-cultural comparisons point a finger at animal fats as a principle problem in cancer rates. The best diet eliminates animal products and keeps vegetable oils to a minimum.  Fats (particularly animal fats): 1) increase breast cancer risks, 2) increase estrogen and reduce carrier molecules that keep estrogen in check (estradiol produced in the body is linked to the amount of fat in the diet), and 3) increase production of cancer-causing “free radicals” (radical oxygen molecules.)

The National Cancer Institute has long recommended that fat be limited to less than 30% of caloric intake. However, we now know that these levels are too high to prevent cancer, or to increase survival for those who have been diagnosed with cancer.  Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) recommendations, are closer to 10% of calories from fat or about 13 grams per day. On a typical American diet 37-50% of calories come from fat – or about 50-60 grams per day. Researchers estimate the typical American diet leads to about a 40% higher risk of dying from breast cancer compared to a low-fat vegetarian diet.

Here, a distinction between oils needs to be made. While all oils and fats can affect estrogen levels, certain fats are more harmful than others. It is important to greatly reduce or eliminate saturated fats from animal products – as well as partially-hydrogenated vegetable oils, also referred to as trans-fats. If you add oil to foods, use quality certified organic mono-unsaturated oils like extra-virgin olive oil and canola oil.

Simply cutting back on fat and meat intake may not work - Getting fat off your plate must be paired with generous amounts of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans which provide the phytonutrients and fiber needed to keep estrogen levels in check. 

So Remember:

·    When you do consume added oils, use certified organic oils like X-virgin olive oil and/or canola oil.

·    Consume as much certified organic produce as possible. 

·     Reduce or eliminate refined and processed foods from your diet. Eat organic whole grains: eliminate white breads and pastas and refined white sugars.

Also Remember:

·     Up to 80% of cancers of the breast, prostate, and bowel are due to dietary factors.

·     A healthy vegetarian diet filled with fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans - and low in added fat - is the best way to prevent cancer and the best diet for improving survival rates in people with cancer.  

Follow-up:

·     Read the PCRM Cancer Project information which can be found at www.pcrm.org 

·      Find support systems in your community to learn about healthy vegetarian and vegan diets. Or log onto www.earthsave.org 

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_{Trans Fats: the stealth killers}

  by Joyce DiBenedetto-Colton

  According to the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 issued in January by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) trans fatty acid consumption should be as low as possible. However many doctors and healthcare experts contend that our trans-fat consumption ought to be zero.

      While trans fatty acids occur naturally in animal products, they are also formed when vegetable oils are hardened into solid shortening through partial-hydrogenation. Trans-fats are found in many processed and fried foods like french fries, fried chicken, doughnuts, cookies, pastries and crackers. In the US, typical french fries have about 40% trans-fat and many popular cookies and crackers range from 30% to 50% in trans-fat. Doughnuts have about 35% to 40% trans-fat. Many food companies use trans-fat instead of oil because it reduces cost, extends storage life of products and affects flavor and texture.

      Trans-fat consumption is known to increase blood levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) or "bad" cholesterol, while lowering levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) known as "good" cholesterol. It can cause major clogging of arteries, type 2 diabetes and other serious health problems. According to a Danish Nutrition Council report, trans-fats are associated with a 10-fold higher risk in the development of coronary heart disease as well as having a negative effect on the human fetus and newborns. One study [Atherosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology: Journal of the American Heart Association, July 2001] found that the ability of blood vessels to dilate (to enlarge or expand) was 29% lower in people who ate a high trans-fat diet. Vessel function is known to be impaired in patients with cardiovascular disease. Top nutritionists at Harvard University’s School of Health acknowledge that little in our food supply is more dangerous than trans fatty acids. "By our most conservative estimate, replacement of partially hydrogenated fat in the U.S. diet with natural unhydrogenated vegetable oils would prevent approximately 30,000 premature coronary deaths per year, and epidemiologic evidence suggests this number is closer to 100,000 premature deaths annually." If the 100,000 figure is correct, then an average of 274 people are dying each day from consuming trans-fats. Just as sad, is the far greater number of non-fatal but serious and damaging heart attacks caused by trans-fats, in addition to numerous other health problems which could be avoided through better dietary choices that eliminate partially hydrogenated oils as well as animal fats.

         It is now universally accepted that trans-fats should be eliminated from our diet as soon as possible. Dr. Walter Willett, of the Harvard School of Public Health calls the partial hydrogenation of oils the "biggest food-processing disaster in  U.S. history." He says: "In Europe [food companies] hired chemists and took trans-fats out.... In the United States, they hired lawyers and public relations people. No one doubted trans-fats have adverse affects on health, and still companies were not taking it out."  In July 2003, Tommy Thompson, the Bush's Health and Human Services Secretary, gave the following warning to consumers: "Trans fats are bad fats. The less trans-fat you and I eat, the healthier we will be." If the U.S. Government agrees that trans fats are so bad, why aren’t we banning them?

      Denmark has effectively banned partially hydrogenated oils. Oils and fats are forbidden on the Danish market if they contain more than 2 percent trans-fat. The penalty for violation of the law is a fine and up to two years in prison. [Danish Exec. Order No. 160 of  11 March 2003.] Denmark's food minister said: "We put the public health above the industry's interests."  Other European countries will follow suit as well as Canada. Last November, Canada’s House of Commons passed a motion calling for the establishment of the task force followed by regulations or a law to limit trans-fat content in all food products.

      While other countries take steps to remove trans-fats in their foods, the U.S. has decided to list trans-fat content on labels. It is up to consumers to know how to protect their health and fend for themselves. The FDA is requiring that by 2006, manufacturers list trans-fat content on Nutrition Facts labels.

      So when you’re shopping, you’ll need to pay attention to the label. But watch out! Many products will say they have zero grams of trans-fat, but you will see from the list of ingredients that they still contain partially hydrogenated oil. That's because under FDA regulations "if the serving contains less than 0.5 gram, the content, when declared, shall be expressed as zero." Suppose a product contains 0.4 grams per serving and you eat four servings (which is not uncommon). You have just consumed 1.6 grams of trans-fat, despite the fact that the package claims that the product contains zero grams of trans-fat per serving. 

     Why not stick to whole organic foods and forgo the trans-fats and the worry? Get your necessary dietary fats by eating whole foods like nuts, avocado, olives and flax. And if you use oils, choose organic unsaturated oils. It’s much simpler, healthier and better for the whole planet. Eat well.

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Reviving the EarthSave message 

It’s been eighteen years since John Robbins’ bestseller, Diet for a New America, was published with its trifold message that connected diet to personal health, the environment and the treatment of farmed animals. Public response to the book was overwhelming and generated a rapid grassroots movement. Forming the non-profit organization, EarthSave, was Robbins’ response to an outcry from readers pleading for ways to more effectively convey the book’s message to friends and loved ones as well as to their general communities. The international organization grew steadily forming chapters in more than thirty-five US states, as well as Canada and Germany, aimed at educating the public about the many benefits of healthy, plant-based diets. Over the years EarthSave has been known for holding local events, monthly community potlucks donning sumptuous vegan and vegetarian buffets, and providing support and sound resources for those transitioning from a standard American diet

As with many grassroots volunteer organizations, EarthSave has seen its share of financial difficulties, in addition to facing monumental misconceptions instilled into the general public. However, EarthSave has managed to not only stay afloat, but continue as a unique vessel for carrying a valuable, mindful message of how each of us directly impacts our local and global environment many times a day through what we chose to eat.

EarthSave’s message however, has been overshadowed in recent years by catastrophic events. Beginning with the September 11^th tragedy, the subsequent invasion of Iraq, the US presidential campaign and most recently the South Asian Tsunami, world events have created enormous distractions from how we as Americans continue on a detrimental course of blatant (yet ironically surreptitious) consumerism. 

The EarthSave message is just as important as ever. Even more so. It is imperative for realizing ways to ensure optimum personal health, to minimize harmful impacts on our precious air, water and soil, and to recognize the rights of other animals to live freely, without the threat of systematic torture and suffering. Realizing how all of these are connected to food choices awakens a sense of ethics and offers a perspective that can empower individuals to make conscious, intelligent choices. The more one continues exploring these connections, the greater one’s ability to achieve optimum health and contribute to our world in positive ways.

As EarthSave members and as decent, responsible planetary citizens our strongest message is through our own example, in the standards we set for ourselves, and in the kindness and understanding we extend to others.

We hope in the year ahead that you will continue practicing mindful food choices and enlightening others about the effects of dietary choices on the planet. In a world confronted with tragedy and turmoil, let’s not loose sight of the right thing to do. Help us bring EarthSave’s message once again to the fore. 

In the months ahead EarthSave Miami will be focusing more on EarthSave’s core message. Showings of the award-winning video, Diet for a New America, will be scheduled throughout the year beginning in January. Check the calendar for locations and times. If you’ve seen the video, bring a friend to see it. 

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Pharm Crops Phat Secret

Genetically Modified (GM or GMO) food crops are no secret. Controversy over splicing animal genes into vegetable crops began in the 80’s prior to the commercialization of this technology in the early 90s, and the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) 1992 decision that GM foods would not need to be labeled, and that mandatory pre-market safety testing was not required. As a result, large percentages — more than 50% of soybeans and 35% of corn — are from GM seeds. Consumers have been shopping in the dark without labeling, and the environment and human health have not been adequately protected or monitored for long-term effects. Most folks concerned about their food choices are aware of all this. In the United Kingdom consumers have been successful in banning GM crops. Here in the US, buying organically produced foods seems like the only assurance of avoiding GMOs – or is it? 

            It’s surprising so few people are aware of the GM contamination of food crops occurring through cross-pollination. It’s no doubt the industry has made every effort, at great expense, to keep quiet the suits against them, and the recall of crops, for occurrences of airborne cross-pollination of corn, soy and rice. What’s troubling is how indifferent Americans are about food security. This indifference and apathy has allowed biotech companies like Montsanto and DuPont (the same giant chemical corporations selling toxic pesticides and herbicides, and the GM plants engineered to resist them) to move their biotechnologies and their profits forward. But make no mistake, their secrecy has been their strongest tactic in implementing the latest and most troubling of GMO technology… pharmaceutical crops, better know as “pharm crops” or “biopharming.”  

            Pharm crops are a whole new way for chemical companies to produce drugs. The idea is to use crops as factories by letting genetically engineered plants grow pharmaceuticals in their tissues to be extracted later as antibodies, blood thinners, contraceptives as well as industrial enzymes used in building materials. What may seem like inevitable progress in some scientific circles spells imminent disaster in others. What makes this issue so important is that most of the plant species being used for pharm crops are also major food crop plants – corn, soybeans, and rice.  Already, there have been problems with environmental contamination at and surrounding many of the secret locations of hundreds of field trials in more than a dozen states (and yes, Florida is one.)  Not only are there cross-pollination problems (meaning unsuspecting farmers have had to destroy their crops due to genetic pollution with engineered traits) but the leaf and root tissue of GM pharm crops can “leak” potent drugs into soil that may persist for extended periods rendering the soil unsuitable for food crops. Wildlife and insects unknowingly feeding on pharm plants can suffer from possible effects of drugs like potent hormones and blood thinners. 

            Pharm crops are not intended as food crops. So why are corn, soy and rice – as well as tobacco – being used as trial crops, which runs the highest risk of irreversibly contaminating our food supply? Why are secret trial crops being grown in the open air and not in enclosed, controlled environments?

            To learn more, see the excellent report on Pharm and Industrial Crops published by the Union of Concerned Scientists on their website at www.ucsusa.org . To voice your concerns over the threat that biopharming is posing to our food supply visit the Organic Consumers Association online at www.organicconsumers.org .  In the meantime, become informed, consume as much organic food as possible – and keep your fingers crossed.

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Ketchup on your Politics? 

If you’re finding current political campaigns increasingly tasteless, you’re in luck.  You can simply spin a little ketchup on your politics. You heard right. Ketchup. By electing to use America’s most popular condiment, you’ll be on-a-roll to support your favorite party candidate.

Joyce DiBenedetto-Colton

It’s no joke. Conservatives are making every effort to avoid supporting the Democratic presidential candidate at all costs. And why not? We should vote with our dollars. Although purchasing Heinz ketchup doesn’t really support the Kerry campaign, many right-wingers simply couldn’t bring themselves to support products bearing the Heinz name. As a result, two new products are now on the market: W Ketchup and Bush Country Ketchup. It may seem silly, considering that Hunts and DelMonte, among others, are viable options to the number-one Heinz product. But this right-wing boycott might smack of serious – and malicious – politics. The creation of these new condiment brands is more than a food choice. It’s admittedly an effort to affect the sales, and profits, of the Heinz Company simply because it bears the name of John Kerry’s wife Teresa Heinz Kerry

Okay, it is silly. 

To be fair, I doubt liberals would be caught dead with Bush Country Ketchup on their veggie burgers. I know I wouldn’t. But not because of its name. And not strictly because of its superficial political message. I wouldn’t choose it because of what it’s made of. Even if something’s not ideal, it’s important to make the best available choice. 

And there are much better choices available than Bush Country or W Ketchup. In fact, Heinz produces a certified organic ketchup. And I must confess, I have a bottle in my refrigerator. I feel similarly about the presidential candidates. It’s important to consider what they’re made of. It’s no secret that the top environmental NGOs are supporting John Kerry for president based on his track record in the senate. For some, support comes as an anti-Bush vote – based on Dubya’s record. Either way, liberal, moderate and some conservative Americans are hoping to make a change in the brand of politics they have   been served over the last four years. 

President Bush has received poor reviews in response to the more than fifty environmental policy changes made during his administration including his abandonment of an international treaty on global warming, approval of a federal dump for nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain in Nevada, his proposal to drill for oil and gas in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, easing rules for impact assessments before thinning national forests, cleaning up fewer toxic Superfund sites and loosening restrictions on logging and mining on federal lands. 

John Kerry has voted consistently in support of protecting our environment. He has demonstrated concern and know-how for balancing government policy with regulations for industry and protections for our environment and human health.

Of more serious concern is the mounting threat created by the war in the Middle East. An increasingly complex problem to be sure. Resolving the destruction that the United States has wreaked on Iraq will surely take time, tax dollars and many more lives. Kerry’s plan to mend foreign relations and form renewed cooperation between nations seems a positive direction. Bush continues to gain support through his use of fear tactics. 

Whatever your political affiliation, or whomever you think is the best candidate for president, be absolutely sure to cast your vote on November 2. If you need assistance with registering to vote (which must be done by October 1) or to request an absentee ballot (an outstanding convenience) contact the Miami-Dade Elections Department at 305-375-4600 or the Broward office at 954-357-7055. 

Wouldn’t it be nice if this really was just a ketchup war? Well, it’s not, so go vote.   n

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Fast Food is Dense Dude!

It’s official:  America  is suffering an obesity epidemic. Despite volumes of information available on healthy foods, diets and lifestyles, Americans continue to choose foods high in saturated fats, cholesterol and refined sugars. The Medical Research Council (UK) found that quantity of food may not be as much of a contributing factor to obesity as the quality or type of food. Fast foods were found to be “energy dense” foods that can fool people into consuming more calories (or food energy) than their bodies can use. Even small portions of fast foods pack enough dense energy for a whole day…but not much nutrition or fiber. So lighten up! Eat your veggies: No cholesterol, virtually no saturated fat, and pure unrefined energy. Besides, what’s faster than a banana? 

 

Did You Know…

	Poor diet and inactivity caused 400,000 deaths in 2000, a 33% increase over 1990*
	Over half of Americans are overweight and 31% are obese**
	Obesity rates in children have risen 50% in recent years**
	60% of disease worldwide is caused by cardiovascular ailments, which are linked to over-consumption of saturated and trans-fats, refined sugar and increasing inactivity***
	Americans comprise 5% of the world’s population and account for 33% of total global sugar consumption**

*According to US government statistics  

**According to the World Health Organization

***According to UN reports

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We’ve Lost the Family Farm But Haven’t Lost the Image:
Or, Food Ain’t What it Used to Be

by Joyce DiBenedetto-Colton

        When one thinks of food, chances are restaurants come to mind. Or perhaps a supermarket or grocer. How many people picture fruits and vegetables hanging on a tree or vine? Not many. Contemporary Americans have little idea of how the foods that they put into their mouths every day are produced. And it’s little wonder – we’re so removed. But somehow, there still remains in our memories undying images of the family farm. Those wholesome pictures of farmyards that always include animals. Chickens scratching cracked corn on the ground, pigs wallowing in mud and cows peacefully grazing in grassy fields. How is it we hold on to these outdated images in lieu of reality? The answer may not be as simple or clear as it seems. 

It may seem that the mission of marketing and advertising for major food and agriculture industries has been to get you to think a certain way about their products. Partially true. But what they really need to accomplish in order to succeed is to get you to stop thinking. To cloud issues, put up smoke screens and to create a façade to hide what is actually practiced by the industries. And consumers must be responsible for themselves. 

            As of March, our GOP-controlled House voted to ban lawsuits that blame the food industry for people’s health woes, saying that such cases could bankrupt certain sectors of the industry – particularly fast-food chains and restaurants. This came on the heels of a report that found that two out of three adults and more than nine million children are overweight or obese, and the government stating that overeating and obesity could soon replace smoking as the number one preventable cause of death. The majority in the House seems to feel the industry needs protection, but the public can fend for themselves. However, the public has for decades been mislead and misguided about healthy foods and diets by the food and agriculture industry. 

            Most of us grew up learning the Basic Four Food Groups; an ingenious marketing campaign of the Meat and Dairy Council. With few modifications, it is on what our dietary health standards are still based. It is the basis for college curriculum to train dieticians and nutritionists. Even now, children are taught that fat-laden animal products are required for good health. The industry provides schools with free posters, literature and classroom curricula on the importance of consuming milk, cheese, eggs and meat. But important to whom? Leaders in the industry, of course. And then, oh yes, all those in Congress that receive PAC contributions from the industry. And then there is the not-so-evident mega-industry that is oh-so tied to commercial agriculture…the chemical industry. 

            Since World-War II, there has been a dramatic shift in the way food is produced in this country and in our health and healthcare. And industry has done an unbelievable job of keeping people from thinking about it. But take a few minutes here to do just that…think about it.

            Since about 1945, chemicals (pesticides in particular) that were developed for warfare were marketed to farmers to apply on crops as insecticides and rodenticides, as well as chemical fungicides and herbicides. Keep in mind that these are all biocides…meaning they are used to kill biological organisms (you are a biological organism.) Synthetic/chemical fertilizers were also marketed to farmers to increase crop production. Today, hundreds of biocides (poisons) and other harmful synthetic chemicals (fertilizers) continue to be applied to foods on a daily basis. Poisons that don’t wash off. Poisons that seep into the soil and our groundwater, that run-off into our surface waters, evaporate into our air and return as acid and toxic rain, or escape to deplete ozone in the stratosphere. A great number of these chemicals also store in fatty tissue for decades. They accumulate in the fatty tissue of animals who are fed commercial crops that have been drenched in chemicals. And let’s not forget chemical hormones produced and used to increase the growth of farmed animals, and the chemical pharmaceuticals used to prevent epidemic premature loss of sick animals. All of these chemicals are in the fatty tissues of “food” animals. And then people consume concentrated chemicals stored in animal fat through milk, cheese, eggs and meat. Regular consumption of saturated fat is enough to contribute to heart disease, stroke and diabetes, but add the chemicals and you have cause for a number of cancers, and the break down of immune and reproductive systems. But, you know what? There are chemical drugs produced and marketed to medical schools, hospitals and doctors to treat all these diseases. In fact the pharmaceutical sector of the chemical industry has it all covered, including letting Congress know just how the Healthcare system needs to operate.

            It is not as simple or clear as it may seem.

            In order to begin thinking clearly about food and food choices, the image of the pre-WWII organic family farm must be replaced with a more realistic picture. Consumers need to take responsibility for their own health and for knowing how their food is produced from seed to plate. That’s no simple task.

            There are many resources available to learn about healthy food choices. EarthSave is one of them. Check out the online resources in this issue, read a copy of Food Revolution  by John Robbins or check out the book on cassette. 

            What ever you do, lose the family farm – image.   

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Mad Cows and Pernicious Prions

Joyce DiBenedetto-Colton

            Early in 2001 news of Mad Cow Disease (or BSE) began to receive overdue media coverage as the disease spread from England to more than 15 countries including France, Spain, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Portugal, Canada and later, Japan. The world was finally just beginning to understand the dangers of eating commercial meat. Only an event as devastating as September 11th could upstage this horrendous health threat - and it did.  For more than two years, Mad Cow has been on the back burner while the US has turned its attention to the Middle East.  Now, as news breaks about the occurrence of Mad Cow Disease in the U.S., perhaps this deadly threat will receive the media coverage it deserves.

Many of us are understandably concerned about loved ones who maintain a standard American diet. But be prepared for denial and resistance from others when breaching the topic of Mad Cow and the threat it poses to all of us on this side of the pond. When the CIA declared AIDS to be a threat to national security, they had little idea what a threat we are facing regarding Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy, or TSE. The best thing you can do for family and friends is to pass on credible information regarding TSE prions and how to avoid putting oneself at risk. 

            Of course, we are all at risk - if we eat in restaurants, use cosmetics containing bovine ingredients, or consume products that may have ingredients like gelatin lurking in them, including vitamin supplements in gelatin caps or Altoid mints.  And what you won't be hearing on the news anytime soon is the threat posed by other types of meats - from animals that have been fed the same type of prion-contaminated livestock feed. You might have been under the impression that government standards were protecting us. While it's true that bonemeal was banned from livestock feed, bloodmeal was not. And there has been virtually no enforcement for feed standards, so the industry has admitted there have been, and continues to be, regular violations. There are no guarantees that any commercial animal products are free of TSE prions. Even deer and elk throughout the US are infected so that venison is dangerous fare.

            The only real way to protect oneself is to learn about TSE prions and how to avoid consuming them. If you have access to the Internet you will find a wealth of information on Mad Cow and TSE. You can also contact Dr. Michael Greger online at  www.veganMD.org or phone 206-312-8640.

Dr. Greger is an MD who has researched TSE and focused on its implications in America. There are also books with general information on Mad Cow, including Beyond Beef  by Jeremy Rifkin (1992); Mad Cowboy: Plain Truth From the Cattle Rancher Who Won't  Eat  Meat by Howard Lyman (1998); and The Food  Revolution, John Robbins' latest book (2001). 

 

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What America Really Eats

A new Harris poll suggests that Americans are trying to eat better by making healthier food choices. Yet the majority of Americans still raid the fridge in the middle of the night.

Healthy choices

Today, 36% of Americans are eating more nutritious foods than a year ago. More than a quarter of us (28%) are eating more organic foods, and 24% are eating more soy products.

Midnight Snacks

More than three-quarters (78%) of the nation raids the fridge or the pantry in the middle of the night. Ice cream is the favorite choice (23%), followed by crispy snacks such as chips, popcorn and pretzels (17%).

Question of Balance

More than a quarter of Americans (28%) say they eat "a balanced diet," while 17% describe their meals as mostly "meat and potatoes". And then their is the largest group (32%) that confess that their typical diet consists of "whatever I feel like eating".

Worldly Food

More than a third of us (36%) are eating more ethnic foods today then we did a year ago.

Time to Celebrate!

The favorite place to celebrate is at a restaurant (50%), while 32% choose to entertain at home. That leaves 18% to "party at a friend’s place". That sure makes the cleanup easier!

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What’s So Important About Organic?

You have been moving towards a more plant-based diet, and you are taking much better care of yourself. Your heart thanks you and the planet thanks you for recognizing the importance of making the effort. Isn’t that good enough? Actually, "good enough" is a hard question to answer, because there is always room for improvement, so you have to decide what is good enough for you. But consider some of the realities about many of our foods.

Today’s industrial agriculture produces a bountiful harvest—food enough for our country and for export abroad as well. But to achieve such high levels of productivity, industrial agricultural systems rely heavily on chemical pesticides and fertilizers, on growing only a few commercial crops, and on planting only one crop per field. Unfortunately, this approach brings with it many serious environmental and social costs: reduced biodiversity, damaged soil, depleted groundwater, polluted rivers, impoverished rural communities.

Fruit and vegetable growers in Mexico, Guatemala, Canada and elsewhere are using pesticides that cannot be used under U.S. law on crops that end up on America’s tables every day. Some of the pesticides, like the cancer-causing fungicide Captan, have been banned for use on certain crops by our Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) because they pose a significant health risk. Many of the pesticides found in produce are classified as carcinogens, nervous systems poisons or endocrine system disrupters. The EPA now considers that 60 percent of all herbicides, 90 percent of all fungicides and 30 percent of all insecticides are carcinogenic. A 1987 National Academy of Sciences report estimates that pesticides might cause an extra 1.4 million cancer cases among Americans over their lifetimes. The bottom line is that pesticides are poisons designed to kill living organisms and can also be harmful to humans. In addition to cancer, pesticides are implicated in birth defects, nerve damage, and genetic mutation.

The American public eats billions of pounds of fruits and vegetables contaminated with illegal pesticides each year. For example, the average consumer eating the USDA’s recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, will eat illegal pesticides in these fruits and vegetables at least 75 times per year. Washing or peeling does little to reduce or eliminate the numbers or levels of most pesticides found on fruits and vegetables. To make matters worse for our kids, exposure to pesticides in food and water is disproportionately heavy early in life. Up to 35 percent of lifetime exposure to some carcinogenic pesticides occurs by age five.

Some of the farming community has recognized that there are more sustainable methods of farming, via integrated pest management, crop rotation, natural fertilization, and even good old fashioned weeding to eliminate the need for chemicals that eventually end up in our food and water. Over the past 40 years, the number of farmers who use organic methods and the products they bring to market has been steadily increasing. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is working to standardize the meaning of agricultural products labeled as "organic", which now accounts for about $3.5 billion in food products. The regulations are intended to reduce the variation in practices, attitudes, and philosophies of those involved in the organic movement to ensure that "organic" does not come to be another "natural" label on the grocers’ shelves. To help push this effort, there is the National Organic Standards Board as well as the Florida Certified Organic Growers & Consumers group to serve as a voice for the farmers who are committed to keeping our food supply as healthy as possible.

The local health food stores have been an outlet for organic food, and now many of the larger grocery chains are adding organic choices to their selection. But, this is also a case of supply and demand. You can do your part by letting your local grocer know that you support the organic choices that are provided to you and to encourage them to expand their organic selections. Another alternative would be to find out about subscription farming, where you contract directly with the farmer and eliminate the middle man. You will be rewarded with more nutritious foods that not only have less chemical residues, but taste better as well!

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The Surgeon General Says...

The surgeon general’s report on overweight and obesity creates a useful foundation for whatever personal health plan you intend to carry out in 2002. It conclusions: that obesity leads to disease and death; that it’s largely the result of eating too much and moving too little; and that commercial, social and civic forces contribute to an unprecedented epidemic that now kills nearly as many people as does tobacco. His recommendations? Try:

· Eat five servings a day of fruit and vegetables

· Meet the federal dietary guidelines

· Take a multivitamin daily

· Eat more fiber!

Medical interventions usually target illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, asthma, endometrial cancers independently and often fail to address the underlying cause. Research continues to show that a low-fat diet – high in fruit, vegetables and whole grains, and containing no more calories than are burned off – can reduce risk for many of these conditions. Such diets can also control or even delay the symptoms of some diseases, including diabetes and heart disease.

 

Ever wonder how fruits and veggies protect you against completely different diseases such as heart disease and colon cancer? The answer may lie in the fact that both diseases seem to start with inflammation of cells lining either blood vessels or intestines. A new study found that salicylic acid – an inflammation-fighting compound in aspirin that is also found in fruits and veggies – was 12 times higher in the blood of vegetarians than in the blood of meat eaters.

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Berries Next Spring?

by The Pinecrest Gringo

Eat an organic breakfast; then race out to your backyard for dessert: pick and eat a handful of delicious, organic, sweet mulberries that have ripened overnight.

Mulberries are the sweetest, juciest berries available in south Florida. They may not be available in your local food market, but you can easily grow your own (check Hopkins nursery in Ft. Lauderdale) by planting a branch from an existing mulberry bush. Here’s how:

	Obtain a branch 3/4" in diameter and at least 4 feet long
	Dig a hole and insert 9 inches of the branch
	Refill the hole and slightly tamp the soil to steady the branch
	Spread some decaying mulch 2" from planting to 10" from planting
	Water daily for 10 days; then every other day for 10 days; then every third day for 15 days; continue as needed to promote growth

Mulberry plantings will be most successful following mulberry season (late May to early June).

Next year you will enjoy a few berries, and each succeeding spring there will be more and more berries. They are at their optimum sweetness when completely black (no tinge of redness). This is best determined in bright sunlight.

There are no serious pests or diseases: just add some organic fertilizer (mulch and rinsed seaweed at the bush’s drip line) occasionally for increased yield. These bushes do best in full sun, and are fairly resistant to frost. However, they bear the most fruit after a cold winter.

A few of these mulberry bush branches will be available at our May pot luck dinner (for a small donation to EarthSave). Planting this bush will not only supply you with delicious organic berries each spring, but it will also help to reduce pollution by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. That should make you feel berry good!!

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We Are Omnivores, But...
by The Pinecrest Gringo

Yes, our mouth is structured with incisor teeth for tearing and biting as well as molar teeth for grinding. Yes, we have enzymes for digesting both animal and plant foods. But our digestive system, particularly our colon, is much longer and more convoluted than those of carnivores. Why? The reason remains a mystery, but is most likely a result of a diet consisting mostly of plants, with an occasional recently killed animal when available.

For thousands of generations before us, most of our existence on this planet has been as hunters & gatherers with miles of walking, tree climbing, plant gathering, and chasing (or being chased). This active lifestyle was very healthy for reducing the likelihood of heart disease and cancer. The meat that was consumed back then was much leaner as well (we are not the only creatures with sedentary lifestyles these days). Nowadays, the "hunting and gathering" for most of us consists of a trip to the local food market in our SUVs. Not only do today’s meats contain as much as ten times the fat content of the wild animals of yesteryear, but they also contain added hormones and antibiotics. Research shows that we will live a healthier life if we eat more plant food (many of which have anti-carcinogenic properties) and less meats. Additionally, the amount of physical activity that we engage in increases the probability of maintaining optimum health.

Even though the physiological features of our bodies allow us to be omnivores, it is much healthier to consume our foods as if we were herbivores (plant foods only) because present day conditions are so radically different from those earlier days.

Also, please keep in mind the life and health of our planet. The raising and slaughtering of animals is a major source of water pollution, rainforest destruction, and topsoil erosion. Even small changes in our diet can have a profound impact on the world we leave for our children.

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Anyone For Lawn Croquet?
by The Pinecrest Gringo

When was the last time you played croquet? Yes, almost all of us have beautiful, manicured lawns that make a great setting for croquet, but seldom have I seen it being played recently.

We manicure these lawns with lawn mowers that have no pollution standards - they are the SUV’s (which also have no pollution standards) of the lawn care equipment. Their manufacturers make little effort to reduce the pollutants that they produce, and Congress has done nothing to enact compliance standards.

So as we cut our lawns, we pollute - millions of us. Unless we reduce the pollution that we create, global warming will continue with grave consequences. The time to act is now, and not when these problems become worse.

In one of my previous articles, "Wasn’t This A Nice Hot Summer", I stated numerous way to reduce the pollution that we create. How about if we replaced the grasses of our lawns with beautiful ground cover, either just green foliage or pretty flowers. These ground covers (usually 2 to 4 feet high) require almost no maintenance and also absorb more carbon dioxide and produce more oxygen than the standard lawn grasses.

In South Florida and in many other part of our country, fungicides and insecticides are used to keep the grasses looking healthy. Natural ground covers also eliminate the need for chemicals, while providing a more natural home for the insects and animals that can live there.

If you, as an individual, do not reduce the pollution that you produce, then you may suffer the mental and physical anguish from not being proactive with your life.

So, please, think of ways that you can reduce pollution, and then, make it happen!

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