Voted Yet?

The scale of changes we need are immense. The challenges we face to not only our nation, but to life on earth itself, are staggering. It is time for a transformational leader. Go vote for him.

But it is not up to him to bring the transformation. No person can do that. It is up to all of us to make the changes that need to happen. Our government and our future will only be as good as we the people make it by what we do, how hard we organize, how loudly we make our voices heard.

It's alright to feel hope. In fact, it is essential. But it is even more important to feel determination. To continue the hard work of learning to live with each other on this tiny planet, and live on it in such a way that nourishes this earth that gave us birth.

But for today? Vote. Help others vote. Make sure that votes are counted.

This is Huge

Organic Farming “could feed Africa.”

While many have been pushing for Africa to build large scale industrial farms growing genetically modified (GM) crops (mainly those selling GM seeds and industrial fertilizers), a major new study for from the UN to be presented today shows that organic practices in Africa not only can raise productivity, but do it in a way that avoids the social and economic costs of shifting to those large scale industrial farms.

In other words, organic farming can feed people without simultaneously impoverishing them and making the land incapable of supporting them over the long haul.

Wars, Lies, and Elections: Our Newest Animation

We obviously have an opinion on all these topics (wars, lies and elections that is), but always try to base our opinions on research and facts. Here are some sources for key facts in the cartoon. There are a lot more sources for each of these, but this is a good overview.

• There were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq

• 9/11 panel found no link between Iraq Al Qaeda

• Powell admits there was no link to Al Qaeda

• Report on US Military casualties

• Iraqi of civilian casualties

• Iraqi Casualties Overall:
Lower Estimate (Lancet Survey)
Higher Estimate (Opinion Research Business)

• Estimated cost of war

Also, here are the credits for all the super-talented folks who helped make this cartoon:
• Written, Directed, Voice Over and Typography by Harold Moss
• Animation Direction, Story Boards and Animation by Phil Lockerby
• Music, Sound Design, Additional Writing and Voices by David Wilson
• Art Direction and Character Design by Zartosht Soltani
• Producer, Franklin Zitter
• Executive Producer, Tammy Walters
• Coordination and Research by Marcus Batista

A Garden Grows in Washington? It should do.

During WWII, Americans grew 40% of the fruits and vegetables we ate in backyard Victory Gardnes. We need new Victory Gardens, this time to win the battle against global warming and environmental degradation. Right now food travels an average of 1500 miles to reach our plates, and consumes enormous amounts of fossil fuels even before it hits the road. We need to grow more of our own food so that our grandchildren have enough food to eat. What better place to highlight such an idea than on the White House lawn?

Here's a video making that modest proposal to the next president.



And a petition he's started to that end on his website promoting edible landscapes. Pretty. Yummy. What's not to like?

End the Junk Mail!

Sign the petition to create a no-mail registry on the model of the no-call registry taking you off sales call lists. Save your time, save the environment.

Peak Oil Made Easy (but no less earth shaking)

A wonderfully coherent, easy to understand discussion of peak oil, frrom the upcoming documentary What a Way to Go.

Once Again--Stop Using Food for Fuel

There was some question lately about a leaked IMF report saying 70-75% of the recent precipitous rise in food prices was linked to the increasing use of food crops for bio-fuels. The IMF quickly came out and said that in fact it was a preliminary report. A months later, the report is out and says the same exact thing.

Grist has a good rundown on the report and the earlier hubbub.

The bottom line, however, is clear. We are facing the prospect of dramatic global warming and the possibility of having passed the peak supply of oil. We need alternatives, but policies based on money grabs by vested industrial industries, i.e. offshore drilling and crop based biofuels aren't going to be solutions. Just money grabs. We're subsidizing this process, encouraging it. Of course, we're also still subsidizing oil companies. It's time to stop.