The Business of Food
January 2010
Film Review: Food, Inc.
By Chandra McDonald
Food, Inc., by filmmaker Robert Kenner, is a film that should be on every conscious consumer’s must-watch list. In a society where many people think that milk originates in the grocery store, Kenner reveals what’s behind the curtain between the consumer and the producer, showing us the truth about where our food comes from.
With the possible exception of water, nothing is more basic or more universal than the need for food. So, have you ever wondered why it’s cheaper to buy junk food – which is processed and packaged and shipped thousands of miles – than it is to buy fresh vegetables and fruit that are wholesome
and natural? Kenner provides a detailed answer.
Remember the Cradle and the Grave This Holiday Season
December 2009
By L. Sara Bysterveld
The holidays are a time of giving, to friends, family and those in
need. 
This year, don’t forget to give back to the earth by keeping cradle-to-grave impact in mind as you shop.
Cradle-to-grave refers to the impact of a product from the extraction of raw materials to its eventual disposal or recycling. Though a true cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment involves in-depth quantification of the environmental impacts at each stage of a product’s life cycle, as consumers we can attempt to estimate these impacts and buy with this in mind.
The stages of the life cycle of a product are extraction, production, distribution, consumption and disposal. At each step there are social and environmental repercussions of the methods
and materials used.
If You…
December 2009
- celebrate Christmas, exchange gifts with friends and family,
and want to give gifts that are meaningful and personalized
this year – give the gift of your time. Time gift certificates can include anything from: gardening help, child care, cooking a dinner (romantic or otherwise), organizing an adventure experience like snowshoeing or hiking, or gifting someone with an entire day where your time (cooking, cleaning, errand running, whatever is wanted or needed) is at your recipient’s disposal. - want to give gifts that are planet-friendly, visit www.davidsuzuki.org and give “Gifts that Keep on Greening”; or visit the World Wildlife Fund store where you can purchase organic gifts, or give the gift of wildlife adoption in support of WWF-Canada’s conservation efforts.
Small Steps Can Make a Difference
November 2009
Web Review: www.ecôllo.com
By Chandra McDonald
One small step for man (or woman) kind – and we’re not talking about walking on the moon! Rather visit www.ecôllo.com – a website dedicated to reaching out to everyday eco-conscious people who just want to do a little something, each and every day to make a difference.
The site was launched in the Fall of 2007 and is maintained by three online personalities: Pinky Bean (the writer), Leafy Green (the eco-explorer), and CeeBee (the outdoors adventurist). The goal of Ecôllo is to be equal parts informative, entertaining, interesting, and funny all while helping the average, every-day consumer live their lives a little more eco-consciously.
Prosumerism in times of recession
October 2009
By Jennifer Allford
Perhaps you’ve stopped and read the label of the t-shirts they’re
giving away on the sale rack to see they were made in
Bangladesh.
Maybe you’ve thought twice about buying the plastic
toy that was made in China or picking up the bag of oranges
from South Africa. If so, you may be a prosumer.
“A prosumer is a proactive consumer, rather than a passive one” says Todd Hirsch, the senior economist at ATB Financial. “The new prosumer gets more involved in the act of consumption, demanding more information about what the product is, where it was made, etc.”
That means instead of just blindly buying goods that come from half way across the world, more people are paying much closer attention to what they buy. “It’s a positive development,” says
Hirsch. “But it will require more time, energy, and probably money
for the consumer.”
Citizens of the Earth Come Together
October 2009
By L. Sara Bysterveld
A quick look around at the state of the world – the environment, the economy, global conflict – prompts many of us to wonder what we can do to help turn things around. Fortunately, many people around the world are working to improve their own lives and those of others, as well as the prognosis for our earth.
Among these millions spread over the earth, beliefs, goals and themes are often remarkably similar. As if there were one overarching set of beliefs guiding the actions of many, activists, philanthropists, visionary business owners and individuals of every walk of life are moving toward a similar vision of the future.
As it turns out, there is an overarching set of beliefs that matches much of what many envision for our collective future. It is called the Earth Charter, and it is an exhaustive document outlining what can and should be done to improve our odds for living long-term here on earth in peace, health and prosperity.
If You…
September 2009
- commute to work by motor vehicle you are among 81% of
Canadians. From 1990 – 2005, energy use by light
passenger trucks (including pickup trucks, vans and SUVs) increased by 98%, while energy use by large cars decreased by 13%. Although gains have been made in the fuel efficiency of passenger vehicles, they have been offset by the greater number of less fuel-efficient vehicles on Canadian roads. In 2005, Canada was second only to the US in its use of energy for road transportation among the G7countries. - drive a gas powered vehicle, as most of us do, you contribute to the 26% of Canada’s estimated GHG emissions that are derived from road transportation.
Transforming Guilt Into Responsibility
August 2009
By Margaret Chandler
Confession: I am an eco sinner. I don’t always take the bus, and I am a pathetic cyclist. I sometimes dine high on the food chain. I am a fickle composter. I used to joke that after I ate my organic seven-grain porridge in the morning, the rest of the day was a relentless downhill tumble. After all, it’s vexedly difficult to realize one’s best intentions when none of the dominant infrastructures be they public transport, food procurement, or housing are designed with sustainability in mind.
My sins are unique to my circumstances, but I’m sure you can make up your own list with alarming ease. After all, we can feel guilty about virtually anything if we care to indulge because
everything we do has an environmental chain reaction. To make
matters worse, we can even quantify our failings through online
calculators that will gladly tell us how extravagantly wasteful our
lifestyles truly are. Original sin pales in comparison.
