Happy Turducken Day!The real history of Thanksgiving isn’t quite as simple as Squanto feeding the pilgrims of Plymouth Colony. Throughout early American history, colonists declared thanksgiving celebrations to mark safe landings in the New World, political and military successes as well as successful harvests. Thanksgiving Day didn’t become a national holiday until 1863 when President Lincoln proclaimed a day of thanks, not for the harvest but for the stability of society in spite of the Civil War.
Despite the history, the simple story we should be teaching to our kids is that Thanksgiving is a day to be thankful for the harvest—the local harvest that takes place right near our homes. We should be thankful not just for the delicious food on our tables but for all the benefits that local growers contribute to our lives and our country. The health of our nation and each one of us rests on the wellbeing of small family farms. When those prosper, our environment, economy and families all share in the good fortune.
Ninety-seven percent of Americans serve turkey as the centerpiece of their Thanksgiving meal, and although there are scores of recipes for roasting a whole turkey, there really isn’t as much variation as you might expect. The variety on our tables comes from >>>MORE
(Milwaukee, WI)
Milwaukee
Office of Environmental
Sustainability
The Milwaukee Office of Sustainability was created by Mayor to Barrett to position Milwaukee as a leader in environmental sustainability and performance in the 21st Century. The Office is charged with coordinating efforts to improve Milwaukee's water quality, reduce energy consumption, and stimulate economic development in the green technology sector. The Office of Sustainability emerged from the community input received from the Milwaukee Green Team, commissioned by Mayor Barrett in 2004. Visit today!
PRESS RELEASE:
Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) has rejected a proposal by Wisconsin Power
and Light Company (WPL), a subsidiary of Alliant Energy Corporation (NYSE:
LNT), to expand its existing Nelson Dewey Generating Station in Cassville,
Wisconsin, to meet the future energy needs of its customers.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020405/LNTLOGO)
In a 3-0 oral decision, the PSCW denied WPL's Certificate of Public
Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) application. The PSCW stated that
construction and operation of Nelson Dewey Unit 3 would not be the lowest
cost option for customers. The PSCW also expressed concern regarding Nelson
Dewey 3's potential greenhouse gas emissions and its impact upon the
environment.
"Our company is extremely disappointed in the PSCW's decision today and
the opportunities lost with it," said Barbara Swan, President-WPL. "We will
need to evaluate the PSCW's decision prior to considering alternatives for
our long-term generation growth strategy in Wisconsin..."
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The plant was voted down due to environmental concerns as well as the controversial need for coal power.
What are some healthy habits that you can work into your daily routine if the weather is so ch-ch-chilly as it is here in Milwaukee?
Great News!
When most people think about saving the environment, they think about recycling, driving their car less or, for the true activist, making their Facebook carbon neutral with some slew of fancy applications. At the grocery store, these people do their part to cut down on petroleum use by bringing their own reusable bag, often printed with some sort of “green” slogan, despite rarely actually being green in color.
But when it comes to fuel use, what kind of bag you use is less important than what you’re putting in it.
When you bite into a crisp Washington apple, that apple is covered in more than just wax to give it that beautiful, glossy sheen — it’s dripping in oil all the way back to its state of origin.
That’s because that apple has had to be shipped across the country — in a refrigerated truck, no less — just so it can take up space in grocery stores where other, gas-saving local apples could be.
An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but if it’s not local, it’s definitely not shrinking your carbon footprint.
As the United States approaches winter, when it’s more difficult to grow and harvest food, the environmental cost of produce goes way up as we start enjoying “fresh” fruits from places like Chile.
National and international transport has gotten more efficient, which means it’s easier than ever to import specialty food items and out-of-season produce from across the globe. In addition, fuel used for international freight traveling by air or sea is tax-exempt, which also cut costs. So although transport may be cheap, the environmental price is high.
Fortunately, people like Will Allen, former pro basketball player and now the CEO of Growing Power and recent recipient of a MacArthur Foundation genius grant, are stepping up to the challenge.
To address the lack of local produce in urban areas, Allen has developed a system of vertical indoor farming, which saves space in areas where land is at a premium. This practically eliminates the environmental costs of transportation by growing food right in the neighborhoods that will consume it.
Allen’s urban farm, located in the center of Milwaukee, Wis., uses a unique three-tiered system of plant and fish farming, which saves space, water and huge amounts of fuel. It also cuts carbon emissions. This system is what Allen hopes in the future will allow him to build “vertical farm skyscrapers” in other cities.
As global trade becomes easier and faster, food needs to stay local and slower.
Within Lawrence, organizations like the ECM and the campus garden grow some of the produce to sustain their projects. In addition, several community gardens as well as the local farmers market provide the community with opportunities to grow or buy local produce.
Although most of us aren’t being handed $500,000 no-strings-attached grants, we can still help by buying locally grown and produced foods. You may have saved some petroleum with your reusable shopping bag, but if it’s full of imported produce, it’s just as delusional as emblazoning a blue bag with the phrase “I’m green.” by Uof K writer, McConnell whom is a Dallas junior in English.
