The Educated Consumer
- Why organic?
The most compelling
reason to me is that many farm workers get sick and even die from pesticide poisoning. In the
report Fields of Poison 2002, I read that the EPA estimates 10,000 to 20,000
cases per year of pesticide poisonings among U.S. agricultural workers, not to
mention their families. It's much worse (globally on the order of millions) in
developing countries.
See also the
United Farm Workers of America (UFW) (the legacy of
Cesar Chavez) and Pesticide Action Network North America, which both funded the abovementioned report.
Ironically, we lose about 23 to 25% of our crops to pests now compared with
losing about 20% before the use of pesticides (or so said Cesar Chavez in an
interview).
- The Meatrix / Store Wars /The Meatrix II: Revolting - animated shorts on the food industry
- EatWild.com is apparently my source
for "safe, healthy, natural and nutritious grass-fed beef, lamb, goats, bison, poultry, pork and dairy products." See also
This Steer's Life, an
article on the cattle industry.
-
Why milk isn't nice--however this partisan article only talks about factory
farms. Some dairy farms are nice (e.g., Organic Valley milk is good), so try
to find out where your dairy comes from. (Organic doesn't necessarily mean the
cows are treated well or not raised in factory farms, just given fewer drugs and no homones.) Check the
Cornucopia Institute
dairy ratings.
- Monterey Bay's Seafood Watch--print out a seafood guide to see what to eat and what to avoid
- Organic Consumers Association Buying Guide. My old list of Animal Products I Support.
- Vegetarian is the New Prius, an article about environmental impacts of meat consumption
- Working Assets credit card and phone service
- Socially
Responsible Investments (a Yahoo list)
- The dangers of plastic in food and drink. Also read the follow-up and check out the poll.
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