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Climate Change is critically important to address by first reducing our consumption via conservation and efficiency. Simultaneously households and businesses need to start using passive and active renewable energy at some level, including passive design, on-site generation, and purchasing renewable energy through your utility or if that is not an option renewable energy offset can be purchased through a private  provider.

The quickest way to do that would be for our government and business models to reflect full cost and life cycle economic analysis rather than comoditizing resources and pollution and we would quickly see how affordable renewable energy is.  As one quick example, 39% of the fresh water in this country is used to cool thermal power plants.  Pollution, droughts, and desertification continue to impact the availablitilty of fresh water.  If we are to put a value on carbon then we also need to put a value on fresh water and other natural resources that are severely impacted by externalizing the costs of buring fossil fuels.

EcoSense

posted 3 years, 7 months ago
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Bravo--well said!  Labelling should be required for GMO foods and food products from cloned animals.  More must be done to protect the organic food supply from GMO foods and other chemical laden agricultural practices. The price for conventional foods should factor the external costs of GMO foods and make those industries responsible for those costs pay the costs.  The conventional media should be making the public aware of these controversial and ecologically destructive practices so that people can make better informed decsions on their food choices.

posted 4 years, 3 months ago
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Governor Vilsacks comments on organic and renewable energy sound promising and I hope this will result in more support for these avenues rather than big agrobusiness.  I have been a huge supporter of organic and local foods for almost 20 years.  After converting from a mainly vegetarian diet,  six years ago my husband and I started raising on own meat to ensure our own health and that the meat we eat is raised naturally and humanely.  We know many other families who are also trying to do raise more of their own meat in their spare time and it is financially challenging, but worth the effort.  We initially bought organic feed, but it became cost prohibitive in this recession.  We go to great efforts in the rest of our lives to be sustainable with conservation and reliance on solar power.  I want to know what Governor Vilsack and the state of Oregon will do to provide more financial incentive for family hobby farmers to make it more attractive and affordable?

posted 4 years, 3 months ago
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