Singer/songwriter Jewel is teaming up with the Campbell Soup Company and the National FFA Organization for the Help Grow Your Soup campaign which will help raise awareness of the importance of supporting the future of American agriculture.
Jewel said most people don't realize that the American farm is one of our most precious national resources. As a singer, I travel the world and experience new and exciting traditions. Yet to me, American farming continues to be one of the most valuable. As someone who has deep roots on the farm, I'm proud to support the future of agriculture across America. takepart and visit www.HelpGrowYourSoup.com and click on the red barn. For each click Campbell will donate $1 (up to $250,000) to the National FFA Organization to support its educational and sustainability efforts, as well as preserve several barns across the country.
For the 18% of voters who are still undecided about the upcoming Presidential Election, UDecide.org offers fact-filled flyers to help people make an informed decision about this defining moment. While it may surprise some of us who long ago pitched a tent in our respective political camps, many Americans aren't yet convinced about who will lead the country out of the current economic crisis (and other crises for that matter).
The flyers (not all of which are ready yet) also provide an excellent tool for the decided to make factually supported arguments for their candidates, and help voters pass through the gauntlet of bias: campaign ads, pundits, and, ahem, blogs.
takepart to start spreading the knowledge and check back regularly with UDecide.org for the new flyers.
After three years of declining deforestation rates, Brazilian authorities announced that logging rates in the Amazon have increased between two to three times since last year. Incra, the Brazilian government's land reform agency, now faces criminal charges for allegedly handing over rain forest to logging companies and creating fake settlements to avoid environmental regulations.
Photo: Paulo Santos/Reuters
The Amazon represents more than half of the planet's remaining rainforest, and serves a vital role of absorbing carbon from the atmosphere. Deforestation of the rainforest not only contributes to climate change, but leads to significant losses of biodiversity and threatens indigenous tribes, some of which have not had contact with the outside world.
Proponents of Prop 8 began their ad campaign to eliminate marriage for same-sex couples in California. The Yes-on-8 commercial claims that the California Supreme Court "mandated" the right to marry for same-sex couples and, as a result, school children will be taught about same-sex marriage unless Prop 8 passes. Watch it here:
This ad is infuriating. The notion that gay marriage will be taught in school is infuriating. The More
Ben & Jerry's and Greenpeace have teamed up to bring America its first Cleaner, Greener Freezer. Refrigerators and freezers have an enormous impact on Global Warming through their use of harmful Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and other harmful gases, known collectively as F-gases. Cumulatively, F-Gases account for nearly one fifth of the global warming pollution spewed into our atmosphere. Worse yet, HFCs pollution has much more staying power in the atmosphere than Carbon Dioxide (CO2), causing nearly 1400 times the damage CO2 does when measured over 100 years periods.
Greenpeace has long promoted hydrocarbon as a natural, environmentally friendly substance to replace HFCs as the cooling element in refrigeration units. The organization has made great headway with hydrocarbon in both the European and Asian markets and is now spearheading the use of the new technology in the United States in partnership with those environmentally conscious ice cream merchants, Ben & Jerry's. The freezers are currently in test use in Ben & Jerry's retail ice cream shops in the Washington DC, Vermont and Boston areas, while the company seeks EPA approval to spread the technology far & wide. Once EPA approval is attained Ben & Jerry's will share the technology with the ultimate goal of making Hydrocarbon freezer and refrigeration units the standard in the United States. More
The Associated Press via MSNBC (or is it the other way around?) announced yesterday the results of the first ever carbon cap-and-trade auction in the United States, which took place last Thursday, and raised $38.5 million. The byline of the article is Albany, New York, so I'm going to go ahead and say that's where the auction took place.The money raised will be filtered back to the ten states that took part in the auction, to be spent on renewable energies and technologies. Financially speaking, the auction was a success, as
Energy, financial and environmental interests paid $3.07 per allotted ton of emissions, about 65 percent more than the minimum set price of $1.86.
Though this is the very first auction of its type in the United States, but there are plans to make these quarterly events, the next of which is to be held December 17. I'm almost positive there was a better way to word that last clause, but I'm going to just let it go. More
When I was researching this post (yes, we actually do a little legwork on some of these things sometimes, thank you very much), I came across savetheredwoods.org, which has on its front page a beautiful mosaic photograph of a redwood tree. I'm going to show you a small version here, but I think you probably need to click the link to see a larger, more beautiful version.
I recognized (and not only because his name is at the bottom) this as the work of James Balog, who has received the title of "extreme photographer" in some circles. This is probably due to the fact that to get that image of that redwood, Balog has to repel from the top of another giant redwood, taking pictures all the way. More
For now, a list of Che thoughts, a review will follow this afternoon:
Benicio Del Toro is great and finally got a role that showcases how talented he is.
Che is actually 2 films, one if the story of Che in Cuba and one is the story of Che is Bolivia. While they can stand on their own, it is best if they are viewed together in the "roadshow version." The films become more interesting and compelling when they are viewed in the context of the other.
I like the second film's (Bolivia) style better. it is shot handheld and at an aspect ratio of 1:85. Then again I tend to be a pessimist.
Again, Benicio Del Toro is really good.
Soderbergh is probably right and at the end of day it really is all about engagement (and lack of).
I liked the lack of exposition. How amazing that the only real set-up is focused on geography.
It looks good and sounds good - but this is a film by Steven Soderbergh, so it should.
The rich like to keep the poor down. True then, true today.
Matt Damon is one of my favorite people.
Che was pretty amazing - his willpower I wish I had.
Last week Sarah's Social Action Snapshot called on us concerned denizens to urge Gov. Schwarzenegger to require menu labeling in California chain restaurants. While that legislation is just a muscle-bound signature away, there's more to be done to ensure that consumers are provided with accurate and accessible nutritional information. It seems McDonald's is dragging it's over-sized red heels to offer customers clearly visible and decipherable labels. With comically elaborate fold-out brochures and posters that require a magnifying glass and a Rosetta Stone, they don't make it easy people to make informed choices about their meal.
While there's hope that menu labeling could see action on a national scale with upcoming federal legislation, it's important that influential corporations are on the same page, or menu board at least.
takepart by urging McDonald's to provide nutrition information on their menu boards. And check-in with CSPI to learn about implementing a menu labeling policy in your area.
This week marks the 27th anniversary of Banned Books Week, a nation-wide celebration organized by the American Library Association. I am a proud library card carrying member, and have been known to cheer "Free Books!" in support of this wonderful public institution. But we, the reading masses, must remain vigilant to ensure those book stay free. Considering the current Republican VP nominee may have a penchant for controlling free access to information, at least "rhetorically", the ALA's mission is critically pertinent:
Intellectual freedom can exist only where two essential conditions are met: first, that all individuals have the right to hold any belief on any subject and to convey their ideas in any form they deem appropriate; and second, that society makes an equal commitment to the right of unrestricted access to information and ideas regardless of the communication medium used, the content of the work, and the viewpoints of both the author and receiver of information.
As guardians of public access to information, librarians serve a critical role in our nation's democracy. While some people may consider censorship a tactic of totalitarian regime or religious zealots, Sarah Palin's alleged efforts should remind us that attempts to ban or restrict certain "objectionable" materials are close at hand. There are certainly well-intentioned movements to remove access to particular books, such as protecting children from "inappropriate" or "offensive" content. However, that responsibility should be left to a parent or guardian's discretion and not to the whims of a particular group or an individual's ideology.To learn about previously challenged books check out the ALA's website.takepart to find out from the ALA what you can do to fight censorship and keep available at your local library.
I agree. I live in a small town as well. I have for several years now wanted to do something to make a difference with our food, children, animals, enviroment, etc. I just don't know where to turn. There has got to be someone or some organization out there to help and guide people like us to help our community. I would be willing to do the "work" if I had some backing. Maybe the right person will see our messages and help. People like us are wanted so bad out there and here we are sitting and waiting. BTW, FOOD, INC IS AWESOME!!!!
Singer/songwriter Jewel is teaming up with the Campbell Soup Company and the National FFA Organization for the Help Grow Your Soup campaign which will help raise awareness of the importance of supporting the future of American agriculture.
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The Associated Press via MSNBC (or is it the other way around?) announced yesterday
