Best of The Panelist
by The Panelist, USA on 08.23.07
Whole Foods defines and labels "locally grown" as, "Only produce that has traveled less than a day (7 or fewer hours) from the farm to our facility." But even organic produce has a carbon footprint. So what is a “localvore” to do when Whole Foods can’t even measure up? Eat local. As in meats and vegetables produced within 100 miles of your kitchen. This is no easy feat, but local-eating proponents say that even just spending $10 a week on local choices can make a big impact.
One of the puzzling things about today's energy climate is why the U.S. is so content to continue its course, allowing Big Oil to call the shots. Indeed, the big question is, why aren't we investing more in alternative energy? If you are looking for alternative energy investment, it might be time to look to Japan. There are already potential plans in development, backdating from 2050, so that the steps to reaching a better energy goal can be made starting now. If Japan can make an affluent and sustainable society, why can't we?
For those of us interested in sustainable community development, Wal-Mart is a hard company to like, let alone love. But Adam Werbach, former president of the Sierra Club and current CEO of Act Now, has gone from vilifying the big-box store to consulting for it. His friends and clients were up in arms when he decided to take on Wal-Mart as a client but Werbach has never been one to shy away from controversy.
A somewhat controversial method of reducing CO2 emissions is via clean coal technology. The vast majority of operating U.S. power plants are coal-fired, and there is no shortage of coal in the United States, with well over 200 years worth of proven reserves at the current high consumption rate. It only makes sense that we learn how to safely harness this cheap source of fuel. Still, the problem of reducing global warming's real culprit, CO2, is not mitigated.
There is no such thing as clean coal. Cleaner, yes, but it still sucks. Conservation first, renewables second, and that's it.