Read n Seed 2: First Quarter of "Diet for a Small Planet

On my journey to begin reading this book I came across my first challenge. UMD's (University of Minnesota -Duluth) library didn't have the first book (Diet for a Small Planet) that Frances Moore Lappé wrote! After some intense searching with the ever friendly librarian, she helped me realize the only copy I could obtain was at the public library downtown. Yikes! Fitting in a trip downtown into my hectic schedule was a task in itself. Luckily, once I made the arrangement I was in and out in a matter of 20 minutes.

As I read through my first quarter of the book which contained:

PART 1: RECIPE FOR A PERSONAL REVOLUTION

• Chapter 1 - An Entry Point 
• Chapter 2 - My Journey
  (through page 57)
  
  and
  

PART II: DIET FOR A SMALL PLANET

• Chapter 1 - One Less Hamburger? 
• Chapter 2 - Like Driving a Cadillac
• Chapter 3 - The Meat Mystique
• Chapter 4 - Democracy at Stake 
• Chapter 5 - Asking the Right Questions
  (through page 114)

I thought it was crazy how much Frances Moore Lappé life has changed throughout her process of this book. She was a recent graduate, worked, couldn't figure out what she really believed in, explored different options while all being married to her husband. After this she began questioning many topics and wrote this book.
 Lappé began speaking about her books to many different communities and colleges. She was referred to as a new-age cook with healthier ideas which she disagreed with but knew she could discuss her views once her opinion was asked for her presentations. During these travels she had her child Anna and then went through her separation with the husband.
She began writing and exploring more to figure out what she truly believed in. I thought it was amazing how no matter what she dealt with in her personal life she continued to try to make others understand the impacts we all are making on the environment.

I think the most significant thing that I've learned over these two parts of the book was grains that we produced at least half of them are used to feed cattle.  Also that for every 16 pounds of grain and soy fed to beef cattle in the United States we only get 1 pound back in meat on our plates. The other 15 pounds are inaccessible to us, either used bt the animal to produce energy or to make some part of its own body that we do not eat (hair or bones) or even excreted (Lappe 69). These numbers blew my mind! I couldn't believe how little we actually get back from these huge animals.

The reviews of this book both online and as the book ages receives more and more positive notes on how so many people have changed their way of thinking. It truly makes you think about how everyone makes the statement about all the starving countries of the world and how we need to grow more food and produce more and more yet we have enough to feed them.

We just aren't using them wisely and literally feeding them to our own food. How Lappé states that we should consume less and make healthier food choices are the best way to begin the process of saving the starving. I honestly think that people should take time to read this. Yes, it did take place well before I was born yet the logic behind the truth of this matter has not changed.

For people to make a difference:
we each need to be the change we wish to see in the world.

Share & Voice 3: Blog Action Day 2009: Climate Change

Blog Action Day is defined as an annual event held every October 15th that unites the world’s bloggers in posting about the same issue on the same day with the aim of sparking discussion around an issue of global importance. Blog Action Day 2009 will be one of the largest-ever social change events on the web. This year the focus is set on global warming!

This year the focus is based upon Global Warming. I chose to inform people about how our lovely excessive spending and packaging is affecting our environment. Our trash is releasing carbon emissions into the air and deteriorating the one planet we love and need the most. We CAN help out this problem by:

170: Use it up, wear it out, make it do, do without 

Every time you complete this tip, you will reduce emissions by an estimated 2902 lbs.

More than anything else, it is what we buy that contributes to climate change. Well over half of our carbon emissions come from producing, distributing, and disposing of the goods and services we use. That’s not all bad news though. 

1. First, since we have a large degree of control over our purchasing habits (more so than over our housing and transportation habits) there is ripe opportunity here to make big reductions in our carbon emissions.
2. Second, making those changes can actually save big bucks.

 THE TIP: Try to trim needless consumption by buying:

• durable
• non-disposable
• used and recycled goods
• And by cutting out extraneous purchases that aren’t really of any benefit. 

*Cutting out just a tenth of your non-food, non-residential, non-transportation consumption will eliminate an average of 2900 pounds of carbon dioxide and save well over $500 each year.

Shrink and Save: Work isn't always fun but getting there can be, use it up, wear it out, make it do, do without

 B.A.D. (Blog Action Day):
From the smallest online journals to huge online magazines, Blog Action Day is about mass participation. Anyone is free to join in on Blog Action Day and there is no limit on the number of posts, the type of posts or the direction of thoughts and opinions. Get started, share your voice, and Take Action :)

Share & Voice 2: Free Range

I thought this video was a perfect tie into what we have been talking about recently in class. The whole inhumane treatment of animals and the slaughterhouses they get sent to. It also makes you think about the food you eat when you pull up to a drive through and grab your burger to go!  
 
Free Range Studios presents:
 

I hope we end up watching Fast Food Nation movie. It's been practically everywhere I've been researching for this class and I think it'd open up a lot of minds to the fast food industry.


This is another catchy tune that shows the youth that putting the lyrics Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut can be fun and that eating fast food is a easy choice. WRONG!

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 2: Weekly Update

My SMART goal: I will use only 4 sheets of toilet paper every bathroom trip for the next ten weeks. 

• I thought my SMART goal went very well. I slipped up the third day in the morning before school and then ran into a challenge at school. Otherwise, I kept to my goal and maintained the 4 sheets rule :)
  
• I was successful in dealing with the 4 sheets only at my home. Consciously, I had to think about grabbing only 4 sheets each time but as the week progressed I caught myself if I grabbed more than 4 and wound the roll back up. YAY me!! 

Alright, with my challenge section I'm going to need some help from my group. My dilemma is how much t.p. I should use when there isn't any individual sheet dividers. For example and my biggest downfall is in the locker room bathrooms. I have no idea when to stop pulling since there aren't lines!!!!  What should I do? Should I estimate a size length to stop pulling at? Do I double layer since the sheets are SO thin?? I tried both ways a few times but I'm completely lost at what would be the most sensible. GROUP: I NEED YOUR HELP!

I felt quite good about limiting my use during frequent trips to the ladies room.  As I spun the roll it made me happy to know that I was slowly limiting the amounts of trees cut down. I experienced some struggles and also uncomfortable when the "other number" happened because I'm a creature of comfort. I enjoy my fluffy excess toilet paper and cutting back during that time frame was a little rough. Not to be gross or imply any disgusting rumors but let's just say I'm thankful for running water and hand soap.

I found myself informing all my roommates and all of my boyfriends roommates. I told them about the statics I found on how many trees are lost a year due to t.p. waste. Everyone was actually shocked and floored at how such a simple item as t.p. can rapidly be the cause of so many trees being cut down. I learned that others are willing to help out if you show them hard facts on what's really happening. My roommates have all agreed to help out in my efforts of using only 4 sheets by taking it upon themselves to do the same! They helped me make signs to put up in both bathrooms that said "MOTHER NATURE IS WATCHING... 4 LEAF SHEETS ONLY" I'm so proud that they were willing to help out and take time to consider how this will positively effect our own savings. WOHOOO ROOMIES :) My boyfriends roommates however were a little more pessimistic about lessening their t.p. use. However, 3 of them said they'd make a conscious effort to help out so I use their experience in saving t.p. too!

Once my group assists me in my school toilet paper dilemma I will modify my goal to apply to an additional UMD bathroom rule since there aren't those lovely divider sheets to assist me in knowing when to stop! Otherwise, I think I will leave my goal as is. I'm excited to see not only how I do in this progress but how my roommates and the boyfriends household does too! Next blog I plan on writing in some of their thoughts on the 4 sheets topic and get some outsider info :)

Have a great homecoming week everyone...  

GO BULLDOGS





Blogged for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 2 hosted by Amy@Eco-Chic with Amy." Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 2

Eye Opener: CSPI

CSPI: Score your diet: My Score

Health Score: 39

Environmental Score: -20

Animal Welfare Score: -12

Grand Total: Uh-oh +7

• I scored the highest in vegetables (22 points) and fruits (16 points) but strangely I was below the average for both of the average recommended for vegetables by 7 servings (15 servings/wk) and fruits by 1 serving (7 servings/wk).

• I scored the lowest in cheese (-28 points) which I put I consumed 5 oz. /wk  (4 oz. /wk suggested). However, since I consume lowfat cheese I gained 8 points back in the health category.

• The category I needed the most improvement in was the environmental portion. I was a little shocked since I thought animal welfare due to my consumption of a high level of cheese. However, after reading the side note on Score Your Diet they define environment as: air and water pollution from manure, cattle belching, production and overuse of fertilizer, and pesticides; depletion of groundwater; unnecessary use of land to produce feed grains and soil erosion; over-grazing. 
• I do see why this was my biggest area of concern. I consume a lot of dairy products which cows live on farms causing all of the previous issues that affect the environment. I just can't help my love for cheese!!!!!!!!! I will continue to eat low-fat cheese and fat-free dairy. I would love to increase my fruits and vegetables by a couple of servings to really boost up my positive scales.

• Overall, I thought I did an "okay" job of eating green when really I am landed in the "uh-oh" zone. I need to start consuming less animal based meals since they are affected by all three of the categories (health, environmental, and animal welfare). This way I can remove the stereotype of "faster, fatter, bigger, cheaper" that Americans are striving towards in the supermarket.