Friday, November 13, 2009

Read 'n' Seed 4: Third quarter of Omnivore's Dilemma




This section of the book is titled The Forest. It covers chapters 15-17 and pages 277-332.  This section begins by explaining how the author plans on making his own meal by hunting and foraging.  Next, he discusses animal rights and the "Omnivore's Dilemma". He also talks about being a vegetarian and how that also has its draw backs.
Facts:

There are 10 million Vegetarians in America.

Animal liberation: is the idea that the most basic interests of animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of humans. Advocates approach the issue from different philosophical positions but agree that animals should be viewed as legal persons and members of the moral community, not property, and that they should not be used as food, clothing, research subjects, or entertainment.

The author discusses Peter Singers book Animal Liberation at great length in this section as his inspiration to becoming a vegetarian.

Implications:
This section was much shorter than the others but I really liked how the author showed many sides of this issue.  He discussed the rights of animals and the importance of the decision you make to eat meat.  He also talked about our countries obsession with convenience and how it is effecting our health and our decision making.  The industrialization and brutalization of animals in America is unheard of in other countries. Pollen does not argue that everyone should be a vegetarian but instead that we eat animals with the consciousness, ceremony, and respect they deserve.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Share & Voice: Dine Green

Dine Green is a great website for finding a Certified Green Restaurant near you!  I think it would be very helpful when you are on vacation or in a new city to find tasty food without the carbon footprint.  :)  What standards do these certified green restaurants have to meet? Click here to find out! 















7 Ways to Green Your Dining Experience

1 Choose to dine green by patronizing Certified Green Restaurants®

2 Walk, take public transit, dine at a restaurant close to your home or office, or carpool when dining out

3 Carry pocket-size guides to sustainable seafood, like the ones from Blue Ocean Institute, to help you make smart seafood choices at the fish counter, or your local sushi joint.

4 Bring your own mug for coffee. Make sure to remind staff to make your drink in the cup you bring, not to waste by making it in a to-go cup, then pouring it into your travel mug

5 Consider menu items lower on the food chain. For example, chicken has a lower environmental impact than beef, while sustainable seafood has a lower impact than chicken, and vegetarian and vegan items have the lowest of them all.

6 Bring your own re-usable container and offer it to your server when you ask to take your leftovers home

7 Our research has found that several restaurants claim that 25% of food ordered by customers is wasted and thrown out. Be conscious about what you order and really think about how hungry you are.

For more information watch the Green Restaurant Association Educational Video!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 6: Weekly Update

My SMART Goal
Over the next ten weeks I will use reusable waterbottles 100% of the time when drinking water and other beverages such as coffee, sports drinks and juice and I will consume 8 glasses of water a day.


Successes
I was able to drink 8 glasses of water everyday this week! But believe me it was a struggle.  I had to leave myself reminders on my phone in order to get it done on the weekend but I feel like it will only get easier from here on out. I was also able to use a reusable container almost every time I drank something this week.


Challenges
We had our first basketball road trip this weekend and it was really hard to turn down plastic bottles.  They give us water and gatorade after every game.  It was hard to turn down the free gatorade because as a college student I almost never turn down free food.  I did use a plastic glass at the hotel without realizing it also.

Feelings
Overall, I am very happy about the progress I made this week.  I drank 8 glasses of water each day! I feel like it will continue to get harder to turn down plastic containers the more I travel with the team.  Hopefully, I can stay true to my goal.

What I Learned
I learned that making a change isn't always easy but it is worth it.  I have had fewer headaches because I am staying more hydrated.  I am also drinking less soda and coffee because I am always drinking water.

Plans for Next Week
For the upcoming week, I plan on keeping my current SMART goal:
I will use reusable waterbottles 100% of the time when drinking water and other beverages such as coffee, sportsdrinks, and juice and I will consume 8 glasses of water each day.

Check out the hydration calculator and see if you are hydrated!
I tried it and it said that I needed to drink 16 glasses of water a day based on my weight and the amount of time I spend exercising each day.





Blogged for Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 6 hosted by Amy@Eco-Chic with Amy


Sunday, November 8, 2009

Advocacy Project: My Political Representatives

President Obama
Democrat 
Website
Contact Information:
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111



















Congress
Senate: Amy Klobuchar
Democrat
Website




Contact Information:
Metro Office:
1200 Washington Avenue South, Suite 250
Minneapolis, MN 55415
Main Line: 612-727-5220
Toll Free: 1-888-224-9043













House: Colin Peterson
Democrat
Website
Contact Information: 

714 Lake Avenue, Suite 107
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501

(218) 847-5056













State Senator 
Julianne Ortman
Website
Contact Information:

100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. 
State Office Building, Room 125
St. Paul, MN 55155-1206
Phone: (651)296-4837















State Representative 
Jon Hoppe
Website
Contact Information:

317 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155
Phone: (651)296-5066















Governor
Tim Pawlenty
Democrat
Website
Contact Information:

130 State Capitol
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55158
(651) 296-3391














County Board President 
Harry Salminen
Becker County 
Website
Contact Information:

12176 County Hwy. 17
Detroit Lakes, MN  56501
Phone: 218-847-6295

















Mayor of Detroit Lakes, MN 
Matt Brenk

Website
Contact Information:
218-234-7040
mattbrenk@loretel.net