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USDA Updates Organic Regulations Over Dairy and Meat Producers

After years of discussion and review, the USDA announced their plans to strengthen organic regulations on organic dairy and meat producers, mandating that animals have to have at least 120 days out in a pasture.

Before this, the existing rules were consider vague, by some, and only required that the animals had to have “access” to pastures. Critics of the old policy have said for years that the loophole allowed dairies to claim organic while maintaining factory-farm like conditions and operate at odds with the full intension of "organic" and mislead consumers in the process.

Mark Kastel, Senior Farm Policy Analyst at the Cornucopia Institute (WI), had battled for the change had this to say in a Cornucopia press release.

Sir Paul McCartney Hosts New PETA Video, "Glass Walls"

PETA released a video short hosted by longtime PETA friend, Sir Paul McCartney. "People ask me every day why I became a vegetarian, and I felt that in this case—unlike in my songs—images speak louder than words," he says. In the video, McCartney shows viewers what happens on factory farms and discusses the recent U.N. report revealing that meat production is responsible for 18 % of global carbon emissions; more than all the cars, planes, trains, and boats in the world combined. The chilling video, titled "Glass Walls," can be seen here:

Find out more at Meat.org.

And for all of McCartney's many fans out there (and who isn't), to team up with the launch of "Glass Walls" video,  Peta's launched a contest to win The Beatles: Rock Band. More info,  here.

COAL COUNTRY Screening at NYC's Town Hall

 On October 20, 2009 at NYC's Town Hall, The Sierra Club and Earthjustice will present a special screening of 'Coal Country', the new feature length documentary that confronts the devastating effects of mountaintop removal coal mining in Appalachia.  The film reveals the truth about modern coal mining and is told by the people directly involved, both working miners and activists who are battling the coal companies in Appalachia. It’s a “new civil war,” as families and communities are deeply split over the issue of mountaintop removal mining (MTR). The tops of mountains are blasted away, exposing seams of coal, while debris is pushed into valleys and streams. Residents endure health problems, dirty water in their wells, dust and grime on their floors. The miners are frightened that, without MTR, they’ll lose their jobs and won’t be able to feed their families. 

The NYC event is part of a series of concerts, previews, and screenings of 'Coal Country' across the USA leading up to the release of the film on DVD on November 10, 2009 (order below thru GH ), the companion CD is available now. The film will debut worldwide on Discovery Networks' PLANET GREEN channel November 14, 2009.

The Town Hall event will feature musical performances by Diana Jones, the Klezmatics, Kathy Mattea and Jean Ritchie as well as special guests and a screening of excerpts from the film. Written, produced and directed by Phylis Geller with executive producer Mari-Lynn Evans, 'Coal Country' fearlessly confronts the repercussions of surface coal mining - the type of mining that requires the complete defoliation of mountaintops in conjunction with aggressive blasting, permanently altering the landscape and natural environment.

WHAT: 'Coal Country' screening and concert featuring special guests
WHEN: October 20, 2009 @ 6:30pm
WHERE: New York Town Hall
123 W 43rd St.
NYC, NY 10036-6507

More @ CoalCountrytheMovie.com , SierraClub.org and  EarthJustice.org

New Film, "FOOD, Inc" Examines the USA Food Industry

In the new film Food, Inc., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that's been hidden from  Americans with the consent of our government's regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. Our nation's food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment. We have bigger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, insecticide-resistant soybean seeds, even tomatoes that won't go bad, but we also have new strains of e coli--the harmful bacteria that causes illness for an estimated 73,000 Americans annually. We are riddled with widespread obesity, particularly among children, and an epidemic level of diabetes among adults Featuring interviews with such experts as Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation), Michael Pollan (The Omnivore's Dilemma) along with forward thinking social entrepreneurs like Stonyfield Farms' Gary Hirschberg and Polyface Farms' Joe Salatin, Food, Inc. reveals surprising -- and often shocking truths -- about what we eat, how it's produced, who we have become as a nation and where we are going from here.

Food, Inc opens June 12 with a limited run in NYC, San Francisco and Los Angeles, from Magnolia Pictures. Watch the Food, Inc trailer below -

Celebrate WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY !

  

Today, June 5th, is World Environment Day! Celebrate the wonderful environment that we live in and work to inspire others to do what they can to ensure and protect its beauty.   World Environment Day (WED) was established by the UN General Assembly back in 1972 to commenorate the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. It's celebrated every year on June 5th and is one of the main ways the United Nation generates worldwide awareness of the environment and serves to enhances political attention and action.

Each year the UN has a theme and host country for the day. The 2009 theme is ‘Your Planet Needs You-UNite to Combat Climate Change’. It reflects the urgency for nations to agree on a new deal at the crucial climate convention meeting in Copenhagen and the links with overcoming poverty and improved management of forests.  Click here for more info on the day and what you can do.

Around the world, there are hundreds of events and social media actions are being held, so pick how you can be involved, and jump in!  One event is the worldwide release of the highly anticipated film, HOME (watch it online here), by renowned photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand and produced by Luc Besson.  The beautifully made movie will be shown in more than 100 locations worldwide, in 23 languages and also available on DVD and BluRay today (order your copy below)!  Omaha, is North America’s host city for the United Nations World Environment Day, and will join cities around the world in the release of HOME, a stunning tour of our planet shot in high definition entirely from the air. Omaha and other cities, Paris (at the base of the Eiffel Tower), New York City ( Central Park) and London ( Trafalgar Square) will have free screenings today.

"Bicycle For a Day" & Matthew Modine Host Benefit for Solar One

You may know that Causecast leader Matthew Modine is really into bicycling. His comparison of automobiles to cigarettes inspired some strong reactions from readers on The Huffington Post.  For some time, he’s been an outspoked voice urging us to change our culture and especially the way we think about transportation.

If you’ve been involved in the great bike vs car debate and live in or near New York City, you can share in Modine’s revolution by joining him and his organization, Bicycle For a Day, for a fundraising benefit for Solar One on June 4 at 23rd Street & the East River.

Profits from event ticket sales will be donated to Solar One, to be used towards the purchase of 60 bike racks for the new Solar Two building, The First Carbon-Neutral, Net-Zero Energy Building in New York City.

Details:
Event Date and Time: 06.04.09, 06:30pm
Location: Solar One, 2420 FDR Drive, Service Road East
Price: $30 in advance, $35 at the door

The event will include a performance by hip-hop artist Rahzel and special promotions for the Bicycle Film Festival and the Brita Climate Ride.

BONNAROO MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES NEW ECO INITIATIVES

The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival has announced their new environmental initiatives for its 2009 event (June 11 thru 14 on a beautiful farm in Manchester, Tennessee).  This year's programs will further Bonnaroo's longstanding sustainability tradition, which won the festival outstanding marks from UK organization A Greener Festival, a rare distinction among music events worldwide. With new onsite utility sources, free water initiatives and an emphasis on buying local, Bonnaroo continues to provide a first-rate entertainment experience while fostering a community that cares for our planet. So far, 40% of patrons have participated in Bonnaroo's "green ticket" program, adding a donation to their ticket orders to support the festival's large-scale environmental efforts.

For 2009, Bonnaroo will concentrate on a "buy local" message by purchasing as many supplies and utilities as possible from the Tennessee area. To keep the message reverberating throughout its ranks, Bonnaroo will provide a list of regional food purveyors strongly recommended to all festival vendors and to educate patrons about local sourcing in their daily lives.

Green Houses of the Future - Design Ideas

I was told of a Wall Street Journal post on The Green House of the Future, and while many of the plans are a ways off, far beyond solar panels and other currently available technology,  it’s still very informative.  The WSJ asked several architects to design the most energy-efficient houses they could come up with.  All are very creative and in the imagination state but, very green!  Architect William McDonough of the Charlottesville, Va. came up with a leaf-like exterior design that absorbs sun, like solar panels, but is embedded in the actual exterior.

Another company, Cook + Fox came up with a home with a “biomorphic” skin that reacts to weather conditions. Sort of a solar chameleon, the home would turn dark in the sun to insulate the house from heat and cloudy or stormy outside, the home turns clear to absorb the maximum amount of energy. And, the home features a facade that captures rain and condensation (to meet the home’s water needs).  There are others, how about an edible house?  If you’re interested in some imaginative (maybe soon to be possible) green home designs, with images, check out the full WSJ post

Rodale, Inc Helps Out With NYC's PS 19 School / Community Garden

 

This week, Rodale Inc announced their support of a new community garden and playground at NYC's P.S. 19, the nation’s largest elementary school, in Corona Queens. Previously a asphalt lot, the new $1M P.S. 19 Community Playground was developed by the Trust for Public Land (TPL) in partnership with NYC's PlaNYC initiative and HANAC Corona Beacon, along with private funding.  “Rodale is honored to work with Mayor Bloomberg, The Trust for Public Land, and others in support of the new garden and playground at P.S. 19,” said Steven Pleshette Murphy, Rodale President and CEO. “We’re proud to bring our commitment to health and wellness to life for the benefit of the vibrant, energetic P.S. 19 community.”   The playground, which includes a community garden, a running track, multi-purpose courts, a water play spray, trees, an amphitheater, benches, play equipment and painted games, will be accessible to the school’s nearly two thousand students, along with families from the surrounding community.

At the playground’s grand opening event on Tuesday, April 21, Rodale’s Organic Gardening team helped some of the school’s 4th & 5th graders plant vegetable seedlings and seeds.  In addition, Organic Gardening is donating gardening books to P.S. 19 to enhance teachers’ lesson plans and bamboo for students to create and build a garden trellis.  Scott Meyer, Exec Editor of Organic Gardening said, “School gardens are an invaluable outdoor classroom that give teachers the opportunity to engage students with practical lessons in math, science, history and geography. And research shows that kids who tend a garden are much more likely to eat healthy foods. That’s a priceless lesson that lasts a lifetime.”

(Photo credit Junius Salazar)

"Gifts From Our Garden" To Help Others

President Obama recently asked Americans to look out for each other in these tough economic times. But how to help others if your income is not even enough for yourself? Here's an wonderful idea; donate the excess fruits & vegetables from your backyard to the needy and get a tax deduction, talk about a win-win situation! One city in the Bay Area of California has already started the "Gifts From Our Garden" movement.  GH readers, please watch the video clip below and spread the word (to local politicians, journalists, friends/neighbors) so this program can expand nationwide !!! And, thanks to video journalist, RichGail.