Truffulas and Thneeds

Sounds a lot like, "When pigs fly." I never would have thought S&M and sustainable timber would have anything in common, but now I realise that that was judgemental and narrow of me.

I always think being embraced by the mainstream and becoming a permanent part of pop culture is really denoted when something becomes a permanent part of sex culture. And now I'm happy to say being green may have gone platinum.

Twelve years ago, I was shopping in Georgetown and came across a grand display of condoms, walls and walls of condoms individually wrapped in novelty paper. (I think this was right next to a store displaying walls and walls of Manic Panic hair dye, with stores and displays such as these expressing the charm of counter-culture/mainstream fringe Georgetown. Oh-so-popular with teenagers from the suberbs because they were oh-so-outside of our natural environment. This was before J. Crew and Benetton moved in.) I remember one of the condom wrappers was bright green, with a familiar triangle of biway arrows and the words, "Recycled." I thought it was funny because even then I felt my calling would be a career in support of the environmental movement (where did I go wrong...?). But I think the humor it was meant to portray was more gross humor. A condom would be the last thing you would want to recycle.

Now, environmental conscientiousness appears to be more of a focus in the sex industry and not just the butt of a joke. I feel like this is a victory of some sort. Isn't it great when greenies can find jobs outside of the environmental movement itself?

Slate has an interesting slideshow this week about one of the largest cruxes to raising endangered species awareness: lack of the "awww factor". The slideshow is an interesting but simple, straightforward discussion of species versus ecosystem conservation and species value versus valuation. The awww factor and public buy-in in conservation are also discussed.

Just as the conservation movement has often taken advantage of charismatic species for fundraising and awareness raising efforts, there have been many attempts to get around many of the world's most critically endangered species' lack of charisma. EDGE is one organization promoting many species that have not found themselves in the limelight of conservation, neither that of the public nor of researchers and conservation organizations

The mission of the EDGE of Existence programme is to prevent the extinction of the world's most evolutionarily distinct species.

EDGE aims to do this by raising awareness, focusing research efforts on studying these species in their natural habitats, and finally by implementing research-based conservation programs with local community involvement. EDGE is an organization worthy of our attention.

I believe all efforts to raise endangered species awareness-- based on individual species charisma, used in species-focused efforts or umbrella-approach efforts; wilderness aesthetics used to save entire ecosystems or the critical species therein; and more scientifically based approaches-- are valid and necessary in the greater effort to promote conservation and biodiversity. But I really like EDGE's focus on species that have generally not received our attention in the past, that need to receive our attention if we wish to maintain their genetic, evolutionary, and behavioral uniqueness.

Ken's answer as to why Matt Drudge would run FDA propaganda in two headline stories today.

The FDA has passed a new regulation that dictates that meat processors spray certain processed meats with E-coli eating viruses. (How do you like those hot dogs, cold cuts, and pepperoni pizza...oh my!). Nothing like finding a new shortcut that allows processors to continue sloppy, rushed processing. And now the FDA can breathe a sigh of relief: maybe they'll get away with inspector shortages. But how to get the public to accept this new practice? Viruses are scary (example: HIV is a virus). More FDA propaganda: call it a phage (bacteriophage is the technical term for the viruses) and an additive. Not so scary?

Just in case you aren't fooled by minced and twisted words, Drudge Report and other news sources are running stories about the recent Taco Bell outbreak (Beef burrito, anyone? No thanks: not until it has a bacteriophage additive!) and reports about germ-laden chicken (Given the state of the modern day poultry farm, poor mom can't even cook a healthful dinner at home. But not to worry! Bacteriophages are here!).

I've heard that the FDA will soon require this package of "phages" be sprayed on all processed meats, period.

Bacteriophage or not, viruses mutate. I worry for my friends and family, and I am thankful that I'm a healthy vegetarian. Then again, I'm not safe either: USDA researchers have developed flavor-enhancing, bacteria eating food wraps. Yum! We'd all run out and buy organic, if the USDA hadn't convinced us that top organic producers are just as evil as feedlots.

So, Matt Drudge, how about some real news? Run a story on these new additives, and this (so strangely hard to find) new regulation that will require all meats be sprayed with viruses. It really shouldn't be news that meat from feedlot cows, sprayed with intestinal contents in the slaughterhouse assembly line, can be contaminated.


P.S. Bacteriophages invade cells by piercing the outer membrane and digesting cell walls.

The Omnivore's Dilemma

I can't wait to read this. I've been thinking a lot about food lately (maybe because winter is coming to Fairbanks, and I'm in fattening up mode?) and whether large scale/industrial organic is any better than conventional farming. And I love food (thinking about it, eating it, growing it, gathering it...), so this book should be right on target.

From the New York Times:

Wealth, abundance and the lack of a steadying, centuries-old food culture have conspired to make us Americans dysfunctional eaters, obsessed with getting thin while becoming ever more fat, lurching from one specious bit of dietary wisdom (margarine is better for you than butter) to another (carbs kill). Pollan diagnoses a "national eating disorder," and he aims to shed light on both its causes and some potential solutions. To this end, he embarks on four separate eating adventures, each of which starts at the very beginning — in the soil from which the raw materials of his dinners will emerge — and ends with a cooked, finished meal.