Dec
18
2009
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I don’t know about you but I am convinced that Global Warming is very “real” and I am also convinced we are not taken this “real” problem seriously enough. I am also convinced that global warming is now not only an environmental problem, today Global Warming is a very “real” socio-economical problem. One way out of Global Warming is a draconian reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, not a simple task by any means. There are serious economical and technological factors involved. On the economical side Richard Tol, leading author of the U.N. climate panel, stated that to cut carbon emissions enough to meet the 2 degrees goal set by the industrialized nations, the leading industrial nations would have to slap a huge tax on carbon-emitting-fuels. One that by the end of the century will reach something in the order of $4000 per metric ton of Carbon Dioxide, or $35 per gallon of gas ($9 per liter). According to Tol, the impact of a tax hike of this magnitude could reduce world GDP 12.9% in 2100. Good Luck with that one… On the technological side of things, at the present moment most of the word’s electricity comes from coal. For two of the biggest emerging economies, China and India, the production of electricity based on coal is about 80%, Ouch!!! And the worst thing is that there isn’t a clean, dependable and most important cheap source of abundant energy that will entice industrialized and emerging economies to make a quick switch from coal based energy. So what is the solution? In my opinion one of the solutions is to pour lots of $$$ in R&D looking for technological breakthroughs in energy generation. Unfortunately our beloved leaders are putting the money in other areas that promise little or no chance to solve the real problem. Must have listened to Mr. Paul David Hewson when on the issue of Global Warming he quoted Thomas Friedman’s line “Don’t change your light bulbs – Change your Leaders”. I also think we need to do our part, we need to be mindful on how use the energy resources that are available to us everyday. Think about it this way: we have a time limit to solve global warming, last time I checked we don’t have anywhere else to live but planet Earth. So it’s still a good idea to change your light bulbs to energy efficient ones. Think about the future generations and the impact that your decisions will have on them, Please. Technorati Tags: Global Warming, Carbon Dioxide, U.N. Climate Panel
Nov
30
2009
Why Should We Believe It’s Organic Or Is ItPosted by Edward Noon in General Trading, tags: organicFrom Organic Consumers Association, May 18 2009: The USDA waited five years before sending auditors to China to examine the practices of that country’s certifying agents. And even when in China, the USDA’s auditors visited only two farms in the entire country. On these two farms, they found multiple noncompliances with U.S. organic standards. USDA auditors also discovered that Chinese-based organic certifying agents did not always provide a translated copy of the U.S. standards to clients who apply for organic certification. The Chinese findings support concerns that American farmers have raised for years, which is that organic imports from China may not always be held to the same strict standards as American crops. They also raise serious questions about whether Chinese farmers are adequately informed about the USDA organic standards and requirements. “If the reputation of organic food is impugned through illegal and fraudulent activities in China, and an incompetent level of oversight by the USDA, it will be the domestic farmers and entrepreneurs that built this industry who will be harmed,” added Kastel. Yes, American farmers have a legitimate concern but don’t we as consumers have the same concerns about any USDA organic certified product regardless of country of origin. Is there any reason to believe that the USDA would do a better job of auditing here vs. China or any country? http://www.cgfi.org/2006/08/09/can-you-trust-the-usda-organic-label/
Nov
19
2009
Hold the Sashimi, Please…Posted by JAC in Food Products, General Trading, Health, Japan, tags: Carton Footprint, Sustainable, Toro Sashimi, TunaI recently read an article in Time magazine concerning one of my favorite dishes, Toro Sahimi (Tuna). I love Toro Sashimi and every time I have the opportunity, I indulge myself with more than one piece of this Japanese culinary delicacy. There are however a few things I didn’t consider when savoring my delicious chunk of fatty tuna. Most of the tuna that we eat in the Bay Area comes from the port town of General Santos City in Southern Philippines, one of the world’s great tuna-fishing ports. The best tuna will sell for about $700 wholesale. After being cleaned and put in dry ice it takes the 10.30 a.m. flight to Manila. The next day, the fish will be in Tokyo, Seattle of California. So think about the Carbon footprint my nice and delicious little piece of sushi left behind. And it doesn’t end here, in September the European Commission recommended that the European Union support a temporary suspension of the global trade of Atlantic Bluefin tune. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) estimates that Alantic Bluefin that spawn in the Mediterranean could disappear from those waters as early as 2012. As you might have guessed the ban was shot down by E.U. members with high stakes in the tuna trade. Scientists believe stocks of southern bluefin around Australia have probably fallen more than 90% since 1950 and could continue to drop. In order words the amount of tuna we are consuming worldwide is not sustainable and the consequences of not having tuna in our oceans could be disastrous for the ocean ecosystem and probably many economies. So next time I go for sushi I might choose an alternative dish, probably Corn Sushi. With nice supersweet corn grown in the Northwest of the USA. We can make a difference, one mouth at the time… Leave some of that delicious tuna to your great-grandchildren. Technorati Tags: Tuna, Sustainable, Carbon Footprint In an effort to reduce obesity, New York City has instituted a law requiring restaurant chains to post the calories in foods. Some professors from New York University and Yale, tracked the results at the major fast food chains in poor neighborhoods of NYC where there is a higher incidence of obesity. What they found out: • Half customers noticed the calorie count What is interesting, is that when the researches checked the receipts they found that the people had actually ordered slightly more calories than the typical customer had before the labeling law went into effect! • NYC customers had a mean 846 calories after labeling law, before the law it was 825 calories. Labeling laws, are they effective? Apparently not. Labeling is also being tossed around in Obama’s health package. Price and quantity more important than health and quality. More info at NY TIMES
Sep
29
2009
Why Organic Vegetables Are BadPosted by Edward Noon in General Trading, tags: Environment, Health, organicOr are they? I am an environmentalist, I think green, I buy organic. Now I am asking myself questions. I went to my local Wholefoods grocery store and looked in the freezer section. Wholefoods has their own private label, 365 Everyday Value. I examined the 365 Everyday Value Organic frozen vegetables, asparagus, spinach, edamame, a California blend (broccoli, cauliflower, and carrot), a Thai blend, and a Stir Fry blend. Much to my surprise each of these organic vegetables and blends were product of China, all from China each and every one. The price was cheap and reasonable compared to the non Wholefoods private label organic product. So my question is, yes I get a great dollar value, but is it environmentally correct to be buying organic product from China? Should I be buying pesticide laden vegetables from the USA and more local than global? Think of the environmental cost of transportation from China compared to local vegetables. Which has a greater impact on the environment? A larger carbon footprint? Or should I be only thinking of my health and eat organic even if it means a larger carbon footprint? A good question to ponder, my health today or my children’s, children’s, children world of tomorrow? Health vs Environment? Technorati Tags: organic, environment, health The following pictures are interesting. A Japan school bus sponsored by Microsoft (I wonder why they don’t do the same in the USA) juxtaposed against a school bus in India. And where is it that we look for answers to our computer problems? India of course! What I found interesting is that we value the quality of our food and think our food quality is the best, yet where is it we are going more and more frequently to secure our food? China, Vietnam, India, and so on. So what do these photos have to do with food? Well, if we look at the Microsoft bus we see first class quality versus the Indian bus which is low quality. In China and other 3rd world countries where we are sourcing more of our everyday foods we find 1st class factories, top of the line just like the Japan school bus, and 3rd, 4th or 5th class factories just like the Indian school bus. Do you know where you food is coming from? A Japan School Bus  Japan School Bus  Japan School Bus  Japan School Bus with students. And a School Bus From India  India School Bus But where do you call when you have a technical problem with your computer? India or Japan?
Aug
22
2009
Our Canned Corn Superstars rub shoulders with PGA SuperstarsPosted by JAC in General TradingOn Sunday, August 16th, Yoko Hiserote and Chiaki Tanaka rubbed shoulders with the Golf Stars at the 91st PGA Championship held at Hazeltine National Golf Club Chaska, MN. We understand Yoko even shared a few words of wisdom with Japanese Golf Rock Star, Ryo Ishikawa, also known by the nickname “Hanikami Oji” (literally, “Bashful Prince”), we are not sure what the conversation was about, probably just giving him an update on Corn conditions observed during the week. All of them had a great time courtesy of Seneca Foods Corporation.
Picture of Chiaki at the 91st PGA Championship Are you an international traveler? Are you up to date on cultures through out the world? Take the quiz and enjoy. |
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