When driving home from work, I’m always happy to catch a bit of radio program Marketplace. However, I was extremely disappointed to hear that they’ve recently picked up Monsanto as a major sponsor. As the bit goes,

“Marketplace is supported by Monsanto, committed to sustainable agriculture, creating hybrid and biotech seeds designed to increase crop yields and conserve natural resources. Learn more at ProduceMoreConserveMore.com.”

I’ve been considering writing about Monsanto for a long time, and this sparked me into action. The Marketplace ad is nothing more than marketing spin, greenwashing. It’s a blatant lie that Monsanto is
committed to sustainable agriculture, unless by sustainable they mean making sure the opportunity exists for them to line their pockets for years to come. By my definition, sustainable agriculture must include some element of environmental stewardship, to which Monsanto can claim a spurious connection at best. And conserving natural resources? What a joke. Their corporation bears responsibility for dozens of contaminated Superfund sites and has done irreparable harm to the environment.

I consider Monsanto one of the more reprehensible companies out there. They are a corporate bully, have an abysmal environmental record (including Agent Orange), unscrupulous ties to government officials - including those directly responsible for approving their products, and have introduced some of the worst changes to our food supply seen in history (dangerous genetically modified food, rGBH milk, aspartame, saccharin, even the decline of bees needed for pollination).

They are tracking down, harassing and prosecuting small farmers when their “Roundup Ready” crops drift into their fields or are carried there by pollinators, even employing private investigators to spy in farm communities. They don’t let farmers save their seeds, an age-old tradition, and are now going after seed cleaners.

Their genetically engineered varieties of plants are wiping out natural species and destroying the biodiversity of our plant life. They aggressively advocate for and pursue patents that sometimes border on the ridiculous, like a breeding technique for pigs that gives them ownership of all animals born using method. They are litigious, use child labor overseas, and have had a negative contribution to overall public health with cancer causing compounds like dioxin and PCBs.

The list could go on!

I’m not the only one that noticed the new sponsorship. I recently got an action alert, asking me to “Tell American Public Media to Stop Letting Monsanto Leverage Its Reputation!”

The alert asserts that Monsanto is taking advantage of Marketplace’s reputation for journalistic integrity in order to leverage their products and build a more positive record. They also suggest Marketplace has a history of favorable treatment to Monsanto.

Even if Monsanto may be getting favorable press from Marketplace and others, I am optimistic that new documentaries such as Food, Inc. may bring needed attention to the damage this company has and continues to cause to our world. (They must be concerned about this possibility too, as Monsanto is fighting back, trying to do some proactive damage control.) Between this and other related documentaries and books, I hope it causes many more to take an active look at large corporations and their impact on our food supply and environment.

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Even if you don’t click any of the other links in my post, make sure to check out
these:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/monlink.cfm
http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/05/monsanto200805

I have been interestedly listening and reading the news lately on the topic of The Great Disruption, an idea by Paul Gilding that we have reached the limits on both the economic situation and the environment at the same time, requiring a cataclysmic shift in our thinking. Consumption cannot keep growing at the rate it has been, the Earth has reached its environmental threshold too, and drastic action needs to be taken to set us back on the right course.

For people already trying to live a more green and frugal lifestyle, I think it is nice to see consumerism issues like this getting this mainstream press. First there was an article in the New York Times by Thomas Friedman that made their most read and emailed lists. Then On Point had Paul Gilding on for a great show that covered everything from global warming, to how future generations will live and work, to whether or not people are really happier when they accumulate more material wealth.

There have also been a few others, including those that talked about how even the ultra rich are finally starting to take notice of their spending behaviours and make small adjustments which have an impact on both the economy and the environment.

Trying to remain optimistic about the potential for change is hard. In America, consumerism seems to be the name of the game. People are always upgrading to the bigger, better, faster, newer model whether they need it or not, and until recently were ignoring both the financial and environmental consequences.

I think Gilding’s right in that unless people perceive this as a crisis, they are not likely to take action. My fear is that just like with the rise and fall of gas prices, changes are going to temporary. While we are feeling the economic crunch, people will cut back. Then they’ll go back to spending money on worthless crap they don’t need, won’t use, and can’t afford.

As my pregnacy got further along, we knew we needed to learn more about the birthing process. Research suggested the Bradley Method seemed to be the way to go. Espousing natural childbirth and including a large spousal involvement piece, there are multiple keys to the success of this approach.

Emphasis on nutrition makes sure mom is providing essential nutrients to baby and is in fit condition for the delivery, an endurance event. Specific exercises prepare the body for the birth. Coping strategies, such as physical positions and relaxation techniques to try, can make labor go more smoothly. Detailed information about the birthing process, potential interventions and complications prepares you for all outcomes. Including the spouses puts everyone on an even footing and equips the dads to assist during labor and the postpartum period.

We were happy to find a local class timed almost perfectly to coincide with my third trimester. We lucked out with our instructor, a person almost certainly designed to lead others through this type of experience. Going through the class together allowed us to set aside time each week to focus solely on the baby’s impending arrival. The information we learned in the classes was invaluable. Once labor started, we knew exactly what was going on and where we were in the process almost every step of the way. There was no fear in my labor. Hospital staff commented that we seemed remarkably relaxed for first-time parents.

It’s also created an ongoing social opportunity. We keep in touch with the other couples from the class, and most recently had a party to celebrate our children turning two.

When I found out I was pregnant, I originally booked an appointment with my family practitioner, but quickly changed my mind and instead decided to go with the midwife group at the local hospital. I liked the idea of working with people who specialized in pregnancy and birth, and didn’t consider it just another small facet of the overall knowledge base they are expected to maintain. They also hold the philosophy that birth is a natural event and not a medical emergency, a different approach from your average doctor.

The Certified Nurse Midwife group at our local hospital is made up of several women that see appointments and handle deliveries. (There are many kinds of midwives. CNMs attain graduate degrees, are licensed as RNs, and receive advanced study in obstetrics and gynaecology.) Patients see each of the midwives, so you are comfortable with whoever is on call at the time of your delivery. The midwives spent a lot of time with us at our appointments, well more than the average OB. Our first appointment (for both spouse and I) lasted an hour! They provided an 800 number we could call with questions or concerns, day or night. They took a natural, holistic approach to the pregnancy and provided information on things like nutrition, exercise, and medicines.

When it comes to the actual birth, they have a little leeway with hospital regulations, and are likely the best option for those wanting a birth with minimal interventions. When I was in labor, the let us do what we wanted to do, but also supported us with suggestions on positions and tips to make pushing more effective. They helped me have a natural birth, drug free birth with no interventions and no tearing!

I should note that while we chose to go the midwife/hospital route, others may desire a homebirth. This really wasn’t a consideration for me as a first time mom going in with little knowledge of my options. However, if I were to do it all again, I’d consider it. There’s something to be said for giving birth in the comfort of your own home, secure in your surroundings.

In summary, I felt I was in really good hands with the midwives and would highly suggest them to anyone. In other countries midwives attend nearly all births, and I’m always surprised when people around here aren’t even aware of the option.

Now that our son is getting a bit older, I’ve been thinking a lot about the parenting decisions we’ve made to date. Many of the issues that we agonized over pre-baby, or in the early days after his arrival, are now old hat or no longer relevant.  Still others have laid the foundation for the fantastic experiences that we have with our son every day.

In the coming weeks, I’m going to post about some of the major decisions we’ve made, how and why we came to those decisions. By documenting my thought process I’m hoping to help inform others and also capture what I’m thinking at this stage in my life. It may seem a bit premature to be judging our experiences after a mere two years of parenthood, but I want to get this stuff down while it is still fresh in my mind. I’ve already largely forgotten much of my pregnancy and some of the early days!

It may also be a bit pretentious of me to think others will care what I think. However I believe that people take many factors into consideration when forming their opinions, including the convictions of those they know or that are their peers. Hopefully my observations will add to the collective knowledge built as they research, as well as give any family members reading a peek into the rationale behind my parenting actions.

Finally, I realize these may not always be the same choices others make (often times they seem not to be the norm), but I am confident that we have made the best decisions possible for our family. I am neither looking to argue nor dictate others do what we do.

From the Canadian news this week, we get a story about some men risking life and limb to free dolphins that had been trapped in ice.  On the surface, this is a heartwarming story and the men should be commended for their bravery. It also made for an interesting juxtaposition to the seal hunting that is just getting ready to commence in Newfoundland.

But there is something about it that puzzles me. These men were fishermen by trade. They regularly kill and harvest animals for a living. They have no qualms about hauling in fish with nets and hooks day after day. So what is it that made them want to help the dolphins?

Several news reports mentioned that the dolphins were crying, that the sound is one thing that drove villagers to action. So is it this human-like emotion that saved the dolphins? I hear others talk about how dogs and cats are different from animals slaughtered for food because they show personality and affection, so maybe it’s a similar sentiment?

Is it their perceived intelligence? If so, then why doesn’t this caring extend to other animals that are similarly smart and show signs of human behaviour, like pigs? It’s one thing that I find so disingenuous, this caring for animals on one hand, while killing them with the other.

I’m not going to knock people that help animals. Anything done to spare the suffering of a living being is a good thing. I just struggle to understand this perspective and realize that one day soon our son may be asking questions on this topic that I’m unprepared to answer.

Bottled water has been a hot topic in the news lately, in part due to a report by the Environmental Working Group disclosing that the 10 best-selling brands of bottled water contain contaminants similar to those allowed in tap water.

This is not altogether shocking when you consider that in some cases, the tap water comes from the same source as the bottled watered. What was more of a surprise to me was learning that bottled water is not closely regulated and is not required to undergo testing as often or as thoroughly as municipal water systems.

This could be because bottled water is regulated as a food under the jurisdiction of the FDA, while municipal water is overseen by the EPA. As long as the bottle contains a “label of substandard quality” the contaminants are allowed, water can be treated with antimicrobial agents, and companies can continue using advertising that conveys a misleading level of purity.

According to WebMD,”Americans drank 9 billion gallons of bottled water in 2007, or slightly more than 29 gallons for every man, woman, and child in the country. They also shelled out $22 billion on a product that critics of the bottled water industry say they should be getting for free from their home faucets.”

We’d been wanting to get a water filter for our house for a long time, to make use of the existing tap water but improve on its taste and chemical makeup. We finally settled on an Aquasana, one of the lower priced under-counter models. While filters will be an ongoing expense, it’s a bargain compared to the estimated 1900% markup on bottled water. Factor in the environmental impact created by plastic containers and product shipping, and it should be easy to make a case for dumping the water bottle in almost any scenario.

It’s been a long time since I’ve posted anything to the blog, but not for lack of inspiration. I need to let go of my perfectionist tendencies and just post things, even if they’re not impeccably polished. So, in that vein, I bring you my latest post.

Sometimes I feel I’m going overboard, being cautious about potential things that could harm our family, things that many people don’t give a second thought. Once example is heating food in the microwave in plastic containers.

While all my coworkers heat their frozen diet meals in little plastic trays, I’m forever dumping my leftovers onto paper plates or into ceramic containers to heat or using the toaster oven to avoid the microwave all together. (After all, even if the chemicals migrating into the food aren’t harmful, microwaves do alter the nutritional content of the food and emit radiation.)

Occasionally somthing will arise that makes my confidence in a decision grow. This time that boost came in the form of a news story, old but only recently brought to my attention, showing how a U.S. company is using a large microwave to recycle plastic, turning it back into oil. Obviously this would be great from an environmental perspective, but yikes! I realize that most everyday microwaves can’t perform such a feat, but that it can be done at all says a lot both about both the cooking method and the composition of the container.

To add to the argument, recent tests show that many so called “microwave safe” plastics still leach BPA into food. So while going for the safer plastics with recycling codes 1, 2, 4 and 5 and only those labeled for microwave use can certainly help, the best option really is not to use plastic containers.

I had this post ready to go before Christmas and didn’t get it posted, but decided to put it up now anyway.
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I was already planning to blog about Christmas and consumerism when this tragic story about Black Friday came along. A temporary worker at a New Jersey Wal-Mart was trampled under a stampede of eager shoppers, suffering fatal injuries.

What kind of person tramples another to death without care? One that prioritizes financial gain over compassion. There is nothing more important than life. And that a life was taken away by a group of sheep trying to save money, probably while seeking presents to give to others, is digusting. Unless there is a life-threatening emergency, I can see absolutely no justification for such behaviour. I would rather pay double than stand crowded in the cold November weather to save a small sum. When compassion is disregarded and replaced by greed, we all fall down.

On a more positive note, I recently came across an awesome site via the Holistic Moms Network leaders group. It’s called the Center for a New American Dream. They have a great section and brochure on their site called Simplify the Holidays that is all about getting away from the commercialism and stress of the season and returning the focus towards peaceful celebration and personal fulfillment.

We’ve RSVP’ed to attend a vegan Thanksgiving potluck, to be held the evening before the holiday. I’m quite excited about it, and know the gourmet in our family is already agonizing about what to bring that will best show off his amazing cooking skills. Since going vegan, we’ve never been to an event outside our house where we’ll be able to eat anything served.

Despite the fact that neither of us are big social butterflies, we’re putting ourselves out there for this in part to integrate ourselves into the local veg scene. The organizer has promised they drew other families with kids last year, so I think we will fit in OK.

I’m sure at his young age our babe doesn’t notice or care that what he’s eating is not exactly what everyone else is having, but as he grows I am predicting this will change. From reading messages on veg parenting lists, it seems many kids get to a point where they don’t want to be the oddball out. I am thinking that it will help if he can see as he grows that there are others that eat the way we do.

Not that we need to have the approval of others, but there’s something about being around like minded individuals to enliven the spirit and reinforce commitment to decisions. Even when your choices are different from 95% of the population, you at least know the remaining 5% are with you. (Or at least pretending to be, wonder if the FBI will be there? )

Hopefully the evening goes well. If so, we look forward to attending additional events like this in future. As the babe grows, perhaps he’ll come to develop friendships with some of the other kids. And if not, at least the event shows there are others out there that follow the compassionate eating model that we do. Plus, it may give us some fabulous suggestions to freshen up our menus.