Thursday, April 29, 2010

The Eco-Chic Expo on May 1 helps you go green in style

If you feel like it might be time to amp up your support of Seattle's sustainable community, it's as easy as attending the free Eco-Chic Expo on Saturday, May 1, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center.

Organized by three friends, moms and green-business owners -- Tracy Oklander Anderson (Tread Light Gifts), Sarah Bell (mamaswap.com) and Jennifer Porter (Satsuma Designs) -- the Eco-Chic Expo is meant to "share with the community that a greener lifestyle can be easy, fun, even fashionable," explains Oklander Anderson.

More than 15 local companies will be on hand selling their eco-friendly wares and sharing tips on how to go green. Demonstrations include how to make organic paper and non-toxic cleaning products. Greenlake's Sugar Sugar salon is offering complimentary lip and brow sugaring. And mamaswap.com, an online marketplace for gently used kids' clothing and gear, will host tables filled with $2, $5 and $10 items for "bring-an-item/take-an-item" honor-system exchanges.

Vendor booths include earth-friendly kitchen accessories from A Greener Kitchen, reusable fabric sandwich bags from ReUsies, sustainable wood jewelry from Thinknow, chocolate-based organic skin care from Sweet Beauty and organic chocolate to eat from Theo.

You can also learn about organic produce from Full Circle Farm and sustainable style from the Sustainable Style Foundation and meet The Seattle Times's EcoConsumer, Tom Watson, who is also project manager for King County's Recycling and Environmental Sciences Department.

Jello Mold Farm will be selling locally and sustainably grown, chemical fertilizer-free flowers and Dante's Inferno Dogs will be preparing an Eco-Chic Expo exclusive all-natural "Eco-Dog," with a portion of all sales donated to the Ballard Boys and Girls Club and other parks organizations.

New vendors and speakers are still being added, so check the Eco-Chic Expo blog for updates.

If you have a shop, sale, event or great product tip you'd like to share, e-mail seattleshopping@nwsource.com. Follow us on Twitter for the latest local sales, great deals and noteworthy products, designers and stores.

Copyright © The Seattle Times Company

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Saturday, April 17, 2010

Be The Heart Of Your Home: Review and Giveaway! - Shaman Organic Chocolate

Be The Heart Of Your Home: Review and Giveaway! - Shaman Organic Chocolate

Is Direct Trade Sustainable?

April 17th – International Day of Peasants’ Struggles

April 17th – International Day of Peasants’ Struggles

April 17, 2010 by Phyllis Robinson

We received the following letter yesterday from our friends and colleagues at Grassroots International, an organization dedicated to furthering economic, social and human rights by funding global movements for social change. Please take a moment to read the letter and take action now.

Dear Friends,

As early as next week, the US Senate could vote on legislation with tremendous consequences for farmers and small producers across the globe.  The Lugar-Casey Global Food Security Act, also known as S. 384, aims to increase US foreign assistance for agricultural research and production and represents the biggest US agricultural aid initiative in more than half a century.   
Please take action now to tell your Senator to oppose this legislation until the ‘GE Clause’ is removed.

As a result, the legislation directs $7.7 billion toward agricultural research and development, including a federal requirement that U.S. taxpayers pick up the tab for GE crop research.

Contact your Senators now and tell them ‘No GE crops in foreign aid.’

However, this ostensibly laudable effort is deeply flawed by a clause which specifically mandates research on genetically engineered (GE) crops.

Although Senator Lugar has responded to critics of the GE Clause that the language was meant to simply highlight GE research as eligible for funding, not mandate it, the actual text of the bill says otherwise and must be revised before its passage in Congress.

Public records indicate that agricultural biotechnology giants like Monsanto have spent millions of dollars lobbying members of Congress to shape S. 384.

The push for this critical Senate vote coincides with International Day of Peasants’ Struggles, April 17th.  Fourteen years ago, this day was declared by Grassroots International’s partner the Via Campesina to commemorate the slaughter of 19 members of Brazil’s Landless Workers Movement by military police.  To honor peasants’ struggles this year, the Via Campesina has called on member organizations and supporters to say “No to corporate control of agriculture and food.”  Moreover, scientists who have examined the evidence around the globe agree: GE crops are not the answer to world hunger.  Recent UN reports point to agroecological methods, like those promoted by Via Campesina, as a much more viable solution to sustainably meeting the world’s food production needs.Take a stand for food sovereignty today by telling your Senators to oppose the Global Food Security Act’s mandate for GE research. 

If passed, the Global Food Security Act will not only massively expand US funding for GE technology, it will also serve to further consolidate corporate control of food systems and undermine food sovereignty.

Thank you for all that you do.

Sincerely,

Nikhil Aziz
Executive Director

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | No Comments Yet

Posted via web from Exotic Chocolate Tasting

April 17th – International Day of Peasants’ Struggles

April 17th – International Day of Peasants’ Struggles

April 17, 2010 by Phyllis Robinson

We received the following letter yesterday from our friends and colleagues at Grassroots International, an organization dedicated to furthering economic, social and human rights by funding global movements for social change. Please take a moment to read the letter and take action now.

Dear Friends,

As early as next week, the US Senate could vote on legislation with tremendous consequences for farmers and small producers across the globe.  The Lugar-Casey Global Food Security Act, also known as S. 384, aims to increase US foreign assistance for agricultural research and production and represents the biggest US agricultural aid initiative in more than half a century.   
Please take action now to tell your Senator to oppose this legislation until the ‘GE Clause’ is removed.

As a result, the legislation directs $7.7 billion toward agricultural research and development, including a federal requirement that U.S. taxpayers pick up the tab for GE crop research.

Contact your Senators now and tell them ‘No GE crops in foreign aid.’

However, this ostensibly laudable effort is deeply flawed by a clause which specifically mandates research on genetically engineered (GE) crops.

Although Senator Lugar has responded to critics of the GE Clause that the language was meant to simply highlight GE research as eligible for funding, not mandate it, the actual text of the bill says otherwise and must be revised before its passage in Congress.

Public records indicate that agricultural biotechnology giants like Monsanto have spent millions of dollars lobbying members of Congress to shape S. 384.

The push for this critical Senate vote coincides with International Day of Peasants’ Struggles, April 17th.  Fourteen years ago, this day was declared by Grassroots International’s partner the Via Campesina to commemorate the slaughter of 19 members of Brazil’s Landless Workers Movement by military police.  To honor peasants’ struggles this year, the Via Campesina has called on member organizations and supporters to say “No to corporate control of agriculture and food.”  Moreover, scientists who have examined the evidence around the globe agree: GE crops are not the answer to world hunger.  Recent UN reports point to agroecological methods, like those promoted by Via Campesina, as a much more viable solution to sustainably meeting the world’s food production needs.Take a stand for food sovereignty today by telling your Senators to oppose the Global Food Security Act’s mandate for GE research. 

If passed, the Global Food Security Act will not only massively expand US funding for GE technology, it will also serve to further consolidate corporate control of food systems and undermine food sovereignty.

Thank you for all that you do.

Sincerely,

Nikhil Aziz
Executive Director

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | No Comments Yet

Posted via web from Exotic Chocolate Tasting

Is Direct Trade Sustainable?

Monday, April 5, 2010

Mark Allen Discusses World Championships, Winning and Chocolate ...

Shaman Organic Chocolate-First Native American to produce Fair Trade Chocolate

Posted via web from Exotic Chocolate Tasting

Should You Buy Organic Chocolate?

Most of us love our chocolate. But did you know there are significant differences between the supermarket varieties, and certified organic product. Commercial interests try to dupe us into believing their product is the real thing, when it left that blissful state long ago on the way to the Supermarket.

Fair Trade

When it comes to chocolate, most of us are aware that when Europeans first took this fruit to Africa, there was child slave labor involved in Cocoa production. These days many farmers use their children to help them take care of their farms, but unfortunately unscrupulous chocolate companies such as Nestle and Hersheys, are more interested in short term profits, than the welfare of African children!

Recently Cadbury announced that they are switching over to Fair Trade Chocolate after intense lobbying from consumer and green groups. Most organic chocolate, on the other hand, is certified free trade. Those wanting a clear conscience when eating chocolate will wish to make sure their favourite brand is fair trade certified!

Pesticides and Toxins

Chocolate in its raw form has been shown to have relatively low levels of toxins such as lead. Unfortunately, this is not the case after processing. Here is the result of one study.

"What's interesting is that cocoa beans tested had an average lead concentration of

"In fact, a team of American and Nigerian researchers found that lead levels in raw cocoa beans were 60 times lower than lead levels observed in processed chocolate products, the Chicago Tribune reports".

Chocolate absorbs everything from its environment. That means that toxic substance used in manufacture are going to get into the chocolate! Certified Organic Chocolate comes from areas where pesticides are not used. It may still have residues, but they are generally much lower. Organic chocolate is generally not processed using chemicals, often a larger source of contamination than those in the growing environment.

Additives

When selecting an organic chocolate, make sure they are not using refined sugar in the production. Commercial chocolates have quite a few additives.

Here is the list from Cadbury dark Chocolate. Sugar, Cocoa Mass, Cocoa Butter, Milk Solids, Emulsifiers (Soya lecithin, 476), Flavour. May contain traces of Nuts. Dark Chocolate contains Cocoa solids 45%.

Unfortunately, with no certified foods, including chocolate, there is no requirement to list pesticides, herbicides, lead or other heavy metals in the product. Even the ingredients listed can come from many sources, and may be very detrimental to human health. Omission is a common practice amongst food giants to avoid scrutiny!

Conclusion

When all is said and done, Organic Chocolate is a better alternate to Commercial varieties. It does cost more and Dagoba sell a 56.7 gram square for $6.95 a piece.

Organic chocolate has many advantages, particularly if it is cold pressed and may retain much of the antioxidant and other nutrient value of the raw cocoa bean.

Posted via web from Exotic Chocolate Tasting

Should You Buy Organic Chocolate?

Most of us love our chocolate. But did you know there are significant differences between the supermarket varieties, and certified organic product. Commercial interests try to dupe us into believing their product is the real thing, when it left that blissful state long ago on the way to the Supermarket.

Fair Trade

When it comes to chocolate, most of us are aware that when Europeans first took this fruit to Africa, there was child slave labor involved in Cocoa production. These days many farmers use their children to help them take care of their farms, but unfortunately unscrupulous chocolate companies such as Nestle and Hersheys, are more interested in short term profits, than the welfare of African children!

Recently Cadbury announced that they are switching over to Fair Trade Chocolate after intense lobbying from consumer and green groups. Most organic chocolate, on the other hand, is certified free trade. Those wanting a clear conscience when eating chocolate will wish to make sure their favourite brand is fair trade certified!

Pesticides and Toxins

Chocolate in its raw form has been shown to have relatively low levels of toxins such as lead. Unfortunately, this is not the case after processing. Here is the result of one study.

"What's interesting is that cocoa beans tested had an average lead concentration of

"In fact, a team of American and Nigerian researchers found that lead levels in raw cocoa beans were 60 times lower than lead levels observed in processed chocolate products, the Chicago Tribune reports".

Chocolate absorbs everything from its environment. That means that toxic substance used in manufacture are going to get into the chocolate! Certified Organic Chocolate comes from areas where pesticides are not used. It may still have residues, but they are generally much lower. Organic chocolate is generally not processed using chemicals, often a larger source of contamination than those in the growing environment.

Additives

When selecting an organic chocolate, make sure they are not using refined sugar in the production. Commercial chocolates have quite a few additives.

Here is the list from Cadbury dark Chocolate. Sugar, Cocoa Mass, Cocoa Butter, Milk Solids, Emulsifiers (Soya lecithin, 476), Flavour. May contain traces of Nuts. Dark Chocolate contains Cocoa solids 45%.

Unfortunately, with no certified foods, including chocolate, there is no requirement to list pesticides, herbicides, lead or other heavy metals in the product. Even the ingredients listed can come from many sources, and may be very detrimental to human health. Omission is a common practice amongst food giants to avoid scrutiny!

Conclusion

When all is said and done, Organic Chocolate is a better alternate to Commercial varieties. It does cost more and Dagoba sell a 56.7 gram square for $6.95 a piece.

Organic chocolate has many advantages, particularly if it is cold pressed and may retain much of the antioxidant and other nutrient value of the raw cocoa bean.

Posted via web from Exotic Chocolate Tasting

Mark Allen Discusses World Championships, Winning and Chocolate ...

Shaman Organic Chocolate-First Native American to produce Fair Trade Chocolate

Posted via web from Exotic Chocolate Tasting

Stop the traffik ivory coast

How can anyone enjoy a Hershey bar after they see this

Posted via web from Exotic Chocolate Tasting