globalbriefs


News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.


Moth Misery Bright Lights Drive Them to Extinction


National Moth Week, held from July 23 to 31 (visit NationalMothWeek.org for podcast), has prompted the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) to encourage cities to install motion-sensitive dimming streetlights and is working to designate dark-sky parks that could provide a refuge for nocturnal species. The giant silk moth and other insects pollinate 80 percent of our food crops. In turn, their bodies sustain innumerable birds, rodents and bats. Entire ecosystems rest on their delicate, powdery wings. Only two species of moths are protected under the Endangered Species Act, and three others have gone extinct in the past decade. Many populations are see- ing declines of up to 99 percent. Between monoculture crops, pesticides, changing climate, urbanization and decreasing darkness due to artificial lighting, the future of night-flying moths is uncertain. Their only goal is to reproduce, guided to suitable nesting grounds by the


shadow of the moon; many moth species do not even have mouths. However, cities now glow brighter than a full moon, and ambient light pollution radiating from urban areas draws moths to their deaths. IDA Program Manager John Baren- tine says, “Every time a person turns off and shields a porch light on their house, they’re helping.”


Source: Sierra Club


GMO-Free Pioneer New Grain Transport to be Contaminant-Free


Large food companies that are switching to non-GMO (genetically modified) soy and corn products must still worry about their ingredients picking up GMO contamination through conventional supply chains. Now, Captain Drake LLC, a North Dakota grain plant, has acquired its own million-bushel terminal with dedicated rail cars used exclusively for GMO- free grains. President Mark Anderson maintains,


“We’ll be able to obtain the best non-GMO com- modities from three regions: North Dakota, Minnesota and Manitoba, Canada.”


In a 2015 Nielsen study of 30,000 consumers, 43 percent rank non-GMO as


very important and 80 percent said they would pay more for foods that indicate a degree of healthfulness. Sales of non-GMO products exceeded $10 billion last year and are growing. Anderson explains, “The supply chain needs to be tightened up and moved


domestically. We consider this to be another strategic asset for food and bever- age clients seeking suppliers committed to guaranteeing the integrity and purity of non-GMO commodities.”


24


Source: Tinyurl.com/NonGMOGrainTerminal Long Island Edition


www.NaturalAwakeningsLI.com


Farm-to-Work Fresh Veggies Come Direct to Offices


Pioneering employers are now offer- ing fresh vegetables to help employ- ees improve their diet—and their health. Tech companies are even hiring professional chefs to prepare healthful lunches and snacks. In Texas, the Farm to Work program is making it easy and affordable for workers to pick up baskets of local produce at the office. Participants aren’t required to


pay an initial lump sum or commit to buying every week. Instead, they can sign up to receive produce in any given week. Other groups around the country are also looking into work- place produce delivery programs, and while many use the traditional community supported agriculture (CSA) model, others are experiment- ing with different procedures. The Farm Fresh Program, in Bell-


ingham, Washington, connects local farmers to employers interested in re- ceiving weekly deliveries. Meanwhile, Farm2Work, in Arkansas, links local purveyors of produce, meat, eggs, dairy, pies, jams and jellies to area employers. New York’s Adirondack Harvest, a branch of the Cornell Co- operative Extension, started by helping a single farmer link to area employers. The next step, says Teresa Whalen, the group’s southern chapter representa- tive, is working to persuade insurance companies to subsidize workplace CSAs in the same way they’re starting to subsidize gym memberships.


Source: FarmToWork.org


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