Earth Day Post

[bubbles79]

It is still Earth Day, and I do have something on my mind that is... Earth-related... so I'm taking this opportunity to ask for your advice.

I read something recently which broke my heart. It was in a book about nutrition, and it was discussing the cultural realities that affect what foods are available to us. It said something like, "The question

Comments

[myras_girls]

That's a great list. You make me look like an Earth slacker! ;)

When did you go vegan? How are you finding it?

You are awesome and amazing and inspiring. *love*

[bubbles79]

Aw, I love you

[myras_girls]

Wow, that's totally awesome and inspiring! I struggle with the idea of going vegan. While I no longer drink cow milk, I still eat cheese and eggs, and, occassionally, ice cream.

Cheese and eggs would be really hard for me to give up. And I worry about having difficulty finding vegan food while traveling and at restaurants. My friend amazonsun is vegan and I've seen her be challenged when we've gone to D*C together. She can usually find food but she doesn't always eat well while traveling because her options are really limited.

Well I say good for you! Organic, non-processed foods are much better for the body. And so many people have dairy-intolerance and other animal product related illness that it makes ya wonder- you know.

[bubbles79]

I am worried about traveling, because aside from raw fruit and veggies which I can keep on me, there's not a lot of vegan fare to be found outside my kitchen. Plus, I don't plan on dragging Jen to every vegan-friendly restaurant in the Fort Collins area. She might kill me and eat me

[nonnierms]

A big one on my list is breastfeeding--completely natural and the carbon footprint of formula is HUGE (cows to milk to factory for processing to packaging to shipping to production of bottles to feed it with to the extra doctor's visits from not getting mom's protective antibodies, etc etc etc

[bubbles79]

I am completely sold on breastfeeding. Something tragic would have to happen to keep me from it. I'm so glad you're committed to that, too.

I was thinking that volunteering locally is the only way for me to go.
I'm just frustrated at the whole situation -- that people with the power to feed millions with their excess would rather see food go to waste so that they can manipulate prices and maintain maximum profitability. I want to destroy all the money and all the people who would kill or let others die to get it.
Instead I will serve soup. *sigh*

[nonnierms]

I'm a veteran breastfeeder :p 27 months with Sterling and gearing up to start with this one as soon as he's born! If I'm lucky enough to be able to stay home this time around instead of having to go back to work, I will probably do some pumping so I can donate to a milk bank so some other kid can get some breastmilk instead of formula :) I'm not a great producer for the pump so if I'm working, all I get goes to the babe but if I'm home, I make plenty to feed the babe and any that can be pumped would be available to help someone else :)

I worked food service my first few years of college and it was heartbreaking all the food we threw away that was perfectly fine and could have been donated to a local shelter/kitchen but wasn't because the corporation was too worried about possible lawsuits if anything ever went wrong. So much of what we threw away was well within the "safe" zone where it could be eaten or refrigerated :(

[gradeafan]

oop...good idea there nonni....I completely forgot to mention I have several times helped out at St. Vincent DePauls. The Phoenix location feeds more than 2000 every single day 365 days a year. They are always looking for volunteers.

http://www.svdpusa.org/

f

[gradeafan]

Short of becoming directly involved in some of the charitable organizations, I don't know that there is much a person can do to feel they make an immediate impact on hunger or the world situation. I make donations to a couple of groups, not much but its all I can afford. Also I sponsor a child thru a group my church hooked me up with.

I've tried to do a lot to cut down on trips in the car and recycling. I also avoid using A/C and Heat for as long as I can just for the electricity savings. But I'm not sure what having or not having cable has to do with it.

f

[bubbles79]

I think I will have to get directly involved. I need to feel like I'm doing something.

I already admitted to Chrysta that I cheated a bit on the list, because I do a lot of those things more for my personal health than for the health of the planet. I confess that a lot of it has to do with my financial health as well, when it comes to avoiding A/C, driving, and the dryer. I'm sure the earth doesn't mind if I benefit personally from my environmental correctness. :)

I only mentioned cable because as I understand it, the average household has the tv on more than 4 hours a day. With big screens getting more popular, sometimes that means they're drawing more power for that than for the refrigerator (the biggest power draw in most homes). I could have just said I don't watch a lot of tv. :)

[gradeafan]

Hmmm...well I don't know that my tv is on more than maybe two hours a day. But the offset is that since I work from home, my computer is on for at least 14 hours a day so I'm prolly not much help to the environment where that is concerned

[bubbles79]

Thank you! I appreciate your support, and the head start on the research.

Hey, you should add telecommuting to your list of good works. I know the computer uses energy too, but you could be doing something similar in a big half-empty office and commuting too (as most people seem to).

[pen_of_jen]

fuck mother nature...

[bubbles79]

Spoken like a true lesbian whore.

[pen_of_jen]

now debra... don't be bitter... just because i didn't go for your ass while we drove across the country doesn't mean you get to poke fun at my new found sexual prowess.

[bubbles79]

OMG I just realized you already had an icon that says GAY FOR RACHEL! You two are SO MENT2B!

[yabut]

I had no idea that you went vegan! I'll have to make sure that we have something you can eat at the wedding. I can't wait to see you by the way. Every time I see baby things I want to buy them for you!

[bubbles79]

Aww, you're so sweet.

Please don't rearrange the wedding on my account -- I'm used to having to improvise when I eat out.

I can't wait to see you too!!