thisisourmoment.org

Please take a moment to visit This is Our Moment and email our Senators concerning environmental legislation. Change does not appear out of the blue, we have to ask for it!

The time is NOW!

As a regular voter and an informed citizen I am appauled by the continued "heel-dragging" of my government when it comes to pressing issues of climate change and environmental responsibility. I elect my officials to represent the beliefs of myself and my peers, and expect to be able to hold them accountable for both their actions and inactions. Quite frankly, I believe that it is disgusting that here in the US we have next to NO environmental responsibilities.

I was obviously stunned by the President's call for "clean coal" (laughable) and Nuclear Power (destructive.) We need a REAL energy policy here in the US that is not spearheaded by special interest groups and corporate giants. I am tired of wealthy lobbyists controlling MY vote and refuse to let this opportunity for real change slip by.

I am not asking you to pass comprehensive energy and climate legislation, I am demanding it. My rights as an American are violated every day that these demands are not met. I deserve clean air, water, and renewable energy. As a United States Senator, I will continue to hold you personally responsible for these basic, inalienable rights.

If you continue to refuse to meet these basic needs, I will push to elect someone who can do their job and provide a safe environment for myself and my future children.

The time for change is NOW.

------------------

President Obama's call for comprehensive climate and energy legislation during the State of the Union speech has the support of the American people, and I urge you to support it as well. Among the reasons to support clean energy and climate legislation:

-- Less dependence on fossil fuels and enhanced national security: A climate bill will cut our oil imports by 5 million barrels a day and reduce our one billion dollar-a-day imported oil habit.

-- More innovation in our economy: A strong climate bill will help America's large and small businesses to grow again - that's why it has the support of 80 major companies and thousands of small businesses.

-- More jobs, and more sustainable jobs: A strong climate bill would create 1.9 million new clean energy jobs through investments clean and safe energy sources.

-- A healthier, safer environment for future generations.

I am counting on my senators to vocally and visibly express your support for the comprehensive climate and energy legislation that will achieve these goals and to reject proposals, like the "Dirty Air Act" proposed by Senator Murkowski (S.J. Res 26) which would undermine healthy air, clean energy and our national security.

Please let me know whether you will support comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation.

Excuse me, Waiter, but there seem to be alien life forms in my salad...

Well, folks.

I've been doing a lot of research lately on GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) and I thought I should share just a little of what I have picked up, especially for the vegan or vegetarian populace.

In case you're not familiar with GMOs or the inherently EVIL corporation Monsanto, here's a quick run down.

Basically, inherently evil Monsanto (or just "Monsanto") has spent decades convincing farmers that bad seasons are due to bad seeds, and therefore produce bad yeilds. So, less money for the farmer, more debt, and more dependence on "good seeds" that will produce more crops and more cashflow. Now that our economy is crippled at the knees, more and more farmers are flocking to Monsanto for this so called mystery cure.

Problem being, the "high yeild" seeds that Monsanto supplies are more expensive (obviously) and lab created. These seeds have never been exposed to nature, never evolved, and are more or less completely 100% alien. GMO seeds rarely produce a high enough yeild to cover the additional cost of the more expensive seeds, but farmers come back again and again because once you plant a GMO seed, there's no turning back. Modified seeds pollute soil, surrounding crops, and groundwater. If any ORGANIC crops are growing from the same soil mass or water, guess what? The alien seeds posess the freakish ability to forever modify the original plants genes, making them alien as well.

All this planting and replanting of genetically modified food serves to do is forever eradicate natural plant life on Earth. GMO seeds, since they are incapable of evolving in any natural way that can be planned and accounted for, must be purchased new every season. These plants DO NOT produce plantable seeds, so farmers keep on buying and buying. Obviously, insects pose a problem to a plant with no natural defenses, and I'm sure you'd never guess who owns ALL the pesticides that work on GMO plants?

Yes, Monsanto.

At this point farmers are buying GMO plant seeds by the barrel load, now that they must use them every season due to the fact that their soil will not support any organically grown seed, Monsanto will keep on selling them stronger and stronger pesticides. Natural animal species such as bugs can evolve and outgrow the pesticides, but the plant can never develop defenses for the bugs. As harsher and harsher chemicals are being sprayed all over our food, Monsanto gets richer and richer. It's like the "big oil" of food.

So, one would assume that years of testing and research has been done on these GMOs, the food they produce, and the effects on animals and humans, right? Well, you would be 100% wrong. There has never been one ounce of scientific testing that can tell us exactly what GMOs do to the animal or human body. AND every single test that has been run on the plants themselves in the lab, has proven to be pretty much the opposite of what was expected when these plants were brought outside.

One important scientific consensus to remember is that we as a whole know very little about DNA, how it is relevent, or exactly what it is. But these seeds and plants are created by modifying strands of DNA that we know very little about, and then fed right into our bodies, where we're not quite sure what will happen to them.

There are currently NO safety testing requirements for GMOs. The FDA relies on recieving "scientific information" as to the pros and cons of GMOs from companies such as... MONSANTO.

Wait, that's where they get their research?

Absolutely it is.

How does this happen?

Under the BUSH administration the FDA's official standpoint was to "promote biotechnical diversity" as in "create as many steroid super plants as possible." Mainly, due to the fact that after the former Monsanto attorney running the FDA was in charge at the time, and has since returned to the company as VICE PRESIDENT.

The FDA was recently sued to make public their own findings on GMOs, and guess what? They are completely 100% different from Monsanto's original claims. the FDA’s own scientists showed that GMO foods are quite different and that they can lead to unpredictable and hard-to-detect allergens, toxins, new diseases and nutritional problems. However, only 1 in 4 of average Americans (if they even know what a GMO is) believes they have ever eaten a GMO.

And now the scary part. GMOs are found in an estimated 60-70% of foods in the US alone. And who eats most of these foods straight from the source? Vegans and Vegetarians. Yves and Morningstar have both been tested positive for GMO use. Tofu is especially dangerous because about 70% of crops grown in South America have been accidentally tainted by faulty GMO testing outbreaks, and that's where most of our outsourced tofu comes from. Also, pretty much anything containing corn or soy... Chock full of GMOs.

But don't think you're off the hook, Omnivores. In fact, a greater threat may be on the meat eating population, because about 75% of GMO crops are fed to livestock, which are then fed directly to you. Organic meat or not, it's still living on a steady diet of water and altered DNA.

And if you're vegan like me, and one of the main reasons you won't drink milk is because of the CANCER CAUSING GROWTH HORMONES shot into the asses of cows to make them produce more milk. (And if you didn't know that, gross, figure it out.)

Who did that come from?

"Monsanto for 1000, Alex."

Today's big winner is... Yo- Well, actually it's still Monsanto.

Monsanto stands to make a crapload of money when we have nothing natural left to eat, are riddled with disease and allergies (they are a huge leader in the medication feild) and need to purchase more and more pesticides for our ravaged space-crops.

I know this is long, but if you've made it this far, you're awesome. And I'm glad you care about what you put in your body. If you want to learn more about GMOs, go to:

Say No to GMOs!

And if you're tired of reading and just want to watch a video that will explain it to you like a 3rd grader:

Genetically Engineered Foods

WHEW.

IN SUMMATION: Buy organic. Buy local. Stay healthy.

Don't be a mindless, cancerous android. And remember, we are at the FRONT OF THE LINE to find out exactly what these space crops do to us, but not from lab testing... from our bodies.

<3 frankenbrynn

Coming of Age in Samoa

A collection of Margaret Mead quotations i find particularly great. and if you don't know who she is, well... inform yourself

"Never depend upon institutions or government to solve any problem. All social movements are founded by, guided by, motivated and seen through by the passion of individuals. "
— Margaret Mead

"We won't have a society if we destroy the environment."
— Margaret Mead

"Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
— Margaret Mead

"Sisters is probably the most competitive relationship within the family, but once the sisters are grown, it becomes the strongest relationship."
— Margaret Mead

"Always remember that you are adsolutely unique. Just like everyone else."
— Margaret Mead

"I was wise enough never to grow up, while fooling people into believing I had."
— Margaret Mead

"We are continually faced with great opportunities which are brilliantly disguised as unsolvable problems. "
— Margaret Mead

the greenpeace experience - jour un - first impressions

i am officially(ish) a working cog in the massive pinwheel of environmental protection that is greenpeace.

i say (ish) due to the fact that my continued employment with the orginization is not a til-death-do-us-part type relationship unless i score a total of 3 new members in the next 3 days. so, there's an ish.

i'm working on it.

day one (or jour un, for my french canadian sisters and brothers) was a successful venture for the most part. a little too much paperwork for my taste, but hey, it's still america.

after a rousing interlude with tax forms and emergency contact lists ("someone, somewhere out there cares about you. please just write down their name and phone number.") we moved on to some of the more pressing, and exciting matters.

such as:

deforestation:

• only 20% of the world's ancient forests remain intact. they are not renewable, yet most of our breathable oxygen comes from these forests, which we are tearing down like they're on sale at macy's.
• the indonesian "paradise forest" is burned down at a rate of 4.5 MILLION (MILLION) acres per year, to plant palm trees. yes, palm trees.
• due to the cataclysmic destriction of their habitat, there are only about 10,000 orangutans left in the entire world. again, for palm trees.
• indonesia, which is roughly the size of 2.5 times the state of texas, is the number 3 largest contributer to global warming. mostly, due to the burning of ancient forest. for palm trees.

and the obvious, global warming.

• climate change WILL eliminate about 70% of all life on earth in the next century. and yes, boys and girls; that includes humans. that would account for the largest extinction of all time. not even dinosaurs can touch that one.
• the US accounts for 5% of the world's population, but contributes 25% of the world's pollution.
• US congress has yet to lift a finger to combat global warming. the only bill ever to cross the floor had high expectations, but was disolved soon after "special interest groups" in Washington spent $80 million dollars in FIVE MONTHS to weaken and dislocate it.

• say goodbye to polar bears. they have about 20-40 years left of existence. if they're lucky. more realistic numbers are in the 7-15 year range. the melting of polar ice is creating a desperate trend of slow starvation amongst them. polar bears are some of the most paternal animals in the wild, but they have actually been spotten cannibalizing their own young to survive.

and why?

if you have an answer to that question, i would really love to hear it.

note: this is not an acceptable answer

after this, we took a break for lunch and to digest both food babies and information. personally, the thought of polar bears eating their infant young left me without much of an appetite.

after some more super-secret-society greenpeacisms we watched this awesome video, which i have already whored all over the internet at this point, which will not stop me from doing it here.

and now, here i am, safely at home, eating bananas and dreaming of polar bears and toilet paper.

i will say that before my interview and even orientation, i really had no idea what a long and impressive list of achievements greenpeace actually has. i mean, we all know the name (*unless you're my mother.) but do we really know what they do?

good question.

and now, a short list of greenpeace actions that i had no clue about before today, but was always secretly thankful for.

April 3, 2006: After months of pressure, consumer actions, online activism and more than 100,000 emails from Ocean Defenders everywhere, seafood suppliers Gorton's, Sealord and parent company Nissui withdraw their active support for Japanese whaling.

March 9, 2006: Electronics giant Hewlett Packard commits to a phase out plan for a range of hazardous chemicals in its products.

February 14, 2006: An area twice the size of Belgium has been given greater protection in the Amazon after a Presidential decree. The decree by President Lula of Brazil to create the 6.4 million hectare (around 16 million acres) conservation area is a great victory for the people of the Amazon battling land grabbers, cattle ranchers and loggers. The decree calls for around 1.6 million hectares to be permanently protected and totally off limits to logging and deforestation.

February 7, 2006: Take 10 years of difficult, dangerous, and at times, heartbreaking work. Add thousands of activists from around the world - some who sent emails, some who stood on the blockades, some who voted against destruction with their wallets, some who were beaten, some who were sued, some who were arrested. But eventually common sense has prevailed and one of the world's treasures, the Great Bear Rainforest, is saved from destruction.

Noveber 28, 2005 - The Swiss vote no in a referendum to determine whether or not genetically engineered (GE) crops and animals can be grown in the alpine nation during the next five years. Their verdict in each and every one of the three main languages was the same - nein, non, no, to GE.

July 5 , 2005- Bad Barbies, toxic Teletubbies and rotten rubber ducks could have been slowly poisoning small children. The very chemicals that made these toys so soft and tempting to teething toddlers have been shown to damage organs in animals. But the European Parliament has banned manufacturers from using six of these toxic chemicals, freeing Europe from many toxic toys for good.

October 22, 2004: A decade of lobbying, scientific research, and direct non-violent action by Greenpeace and environmental groups around the world comes to fruition as Russia ratifies the Kyoto Protocol, bringing to force the world's sole global effort to address the dangers of global warming.

June 22, 2004: Unilever, Coca Cola and McDonalds promise to phase out climate killing chemicals in their refrigeration equipment. In 1992, Greenpeace launched Greenfreeze with the help of two scientists who pointed out how to avoid HFC's altogether.

June 1, 2004: Iceland steps back from plans to kill 500 minke, sei, and fin whales over two years, announcing a quota of only 25 minkes for the year. Greenpeace web activists fueled domestic opposition by gathering 50,000 worldwide signatures of people who pledged to visit Iceland if the government would stop whaling. With a potential value of more than US$ 60 million in tourist spending against a whaling programme, which generated $3-4 million in profits, the pledge dramatically illustrated that whales are worth more to Iceland alive than dead.

February 18, 2004: The Stockholm Convention comes into force following years of lobbying by Greenpeace and other environmental organisations. A key feature of the Convention calls for the elimination of all persistent organic pollutants. They include intentionally produced chemicals, such as pesticides and PCBs, as well as by-products such as cancer causing dioxins that are released from industries that use chlorine and from waste incinerators.

February 15, 2003: Thirty million people worldwide hold the largest anti-war protest in the history of humankind.

2001: After years of negotiations and pressure from Greenpeace, a global agreement for the elimination of a group of highly toxic and persistent man-made chemicals (Persistent Organic Pollutants or POPs) becomes a reality in May 2001 when a UN treaty banning them is adopted.

2000: Turkey's plans to build its first nuclear reactors at Akkuyu as part of a larger project to construct 10 reactors by the year 2020, is finally cancelled in July after eight years of campaigning by Greenpeace and others. The only remaining market for all major western nuclear companies is China.

2000*: The Biosafety Protocol is adopted in Montreal, Canada. It aims to protect the environment and human health from risks of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) by controlling international trade of GMOs. Greenpeace has campaigned to stop the irreversible release of GMOs into the environment and to protect biodiversity from genetic pollution since1995.

1999: Nine countries ban the use of harmful phthalates in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) toys for children under three and the EU introduces an "emergency" ban on soft PVC teething toys.

1997: After campaigning for urgent action to protect the climate since 1988 by Greenpeace and others, ministers from industrialised nations adopt the Kyoto Protocol agreeing to set legally binding reduction targets on greenhouse gases.

1996: The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty is adopted at the United Nations.

1994: After years of Greenpeace actions against whaling, the Antarctic whale sanctuary, proposed by France and supported by Greenpeace, is approved by the International Whaling Commission.

1994: Greenpeace actions exposing toxic waste trade from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to non-OECD countries culminate in government negotiation of the Basel Convention banning this practice.

1993: The London Dumping Convention permanently bans the dumping at sea of radioactive and industrial waste worldwide.

1985: French nuclear testing in the South Pacific again becomes the subject of international controversy, particularly following the sinking of Greenpeace's ship, the Rainbow Warrior, by the French Secret Services.

1983: The Parties to the London Dumping Convention call for a moratorium on dumping radioactive waste at sea. As a result of Greenpeace's repeated actions against ocean dumping, this is the first year since the end of the second world war when officially no radioactive waste is dumped at sea.

1978: Greenpeace actions halt the slaughter of grey seal on the Orkney Islands, Scotland.

1975: France ends atmospheric tests in the South Pacific after Greenpeace protests at the test site.

1972: After the first Greenpeace action in 1971, the US abandons nuclear testing grounds at Amchitka Island, Alaska.

okay, so maybe the list isn't that short. but believe me, i tried to include only the most important. i don't think you'd want me to continue with the other 83 pages or so, so this should do.

tomorrow begins... early, to say the least. and i've got a lot of green homework to get done around here instead of inventing tasty dessert specials. so, that about does it for me today!

stay tuned for jour deux: return of the dirty hippie.

[end]

greatest invention ever (in the history of today)

i'm not really sure if anything else was invented today, so i'll go ahead and claim that title as my own for now.

however, if you happen to have the low-down on anything better, created today after 6pm, please let me know. i'm not trying to start a war here.

ladies and gentlemen: the official unveiling of...

BANANARAMA

yes, bananarama, created from the very depths of... whatever i could find in my kitchen right now.

to create for yourself:

: 1 sliced banana, frozen for about 10 minutes

: vegan chocolate chips

: vegan marshmellow fluff

: top with walnuts

= mix and enjoy!

it's.just.that.easy. and delicious.

it has kind of an ice cream-y vibe to it, but exponentially better tasting and better for you.

for added benefits, add one part cat stevens or yusaf islam and chillax.

[end transmission]

obligatory and awkward first post

yes, here i am.

blogging and all.

feels good.

stretching out. getting my feet wet.

other colloquialisms.

i think i'm done now.

(brynn)

boo!