globalbriefs
News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.
Meatless Mondays World’s Largest Grassroots Diet Education Blitz Hits March 20
The annual global Meatout observance has grown explosively since its inception in 1985, with people in 30 countries and all 50 U.S. states participating last March. The latest U.S. twist in the 2011 Meatout edi-
WE
MEATLESS MONDAYS
Double-Duty Label Fair Trade Goes Domestic
tion will be events aiming to serve vegan food to 10,000 veg-curious passersby and newcomers to veganism as a way to introduce them to the idea of Meatless Mondays.
In the United States, national sponsor Farm Animal Reform Movement (FARM) reports that 30 million Americans have at least explored a meat-free diet, and one in five teens thinks that vegetarianism is “cool.” Major manufacturers and retailers have come to support the concept by adding meat- and dairy-free meals. Several national fast food chains now offer veggie burgers and some major base- ball venues even have veggie ballpark dogs. Meanwhile, national beef and veal consumption are declining, according to the Meatout 2009 International Report. “Going meatless once a week can reduce your risk of chronic, preventable conditions like cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity,” reports the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s Center for a Livable Future. “It can also help limit your carbon footprint and save resources like fresh water and fossil fuel.” The average American currently eats eight ounces of meat a day, 45 percent more than the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s recommended amount.
For more information, visit
Meatout.org.
Many people today are familiar with International Fair Trade, as it ap- plies to the importing of items such as coffee, tea and cocoa. However, as the movement has grown, it has become apparent that many of the challenges facing producers in developing countries are also shared by North America’s family farmers. Big agribusiness continues to thrive, while small farmers have gone out of business. Consumers pay more, while farmers receive less. Mean- while, farm workers are often denied fair wages and basic rights. So, a group of Canadian farm- ers, convinced that organics had been co-opted by large corporate- style interests and that cheap organic grain imports were undercutting their homegrown organic production, have given birth to Domestic Fair Trade certification. To aid organic food shoppers, they have developed the fairDeal food label. It will most likely show up in the organic bins of local food co-ops. Initial products include flax, wheat, barley, oats, beans, peas, lentils, hemp seeds and mustard.
Domestic Fair Trade Association (DFTA) members include farm work- ers and their organizations; farmers and farmer groups; retailers; non- governmental organizations; market- ers; and processors and manufactur- ers. Qualifying standards commit members to the principles of Domes- tic Fair Trade and continual improve- ment of their day-to-day practices.
For more information, visit
thedfta.org. 24 Collier/Lee Counties
swfl.naturalawakeningsmag.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72