Government Clearing Their Plates of Food Label Responsibility

Recently, I was reading a small blurb in a natural health magazine (tonic), that informed me, and other readers, that the government of Canada has announced they will no longer “police the nutrition claims on food labels to verify their accuracy”.  They have claimed food labels are not a health or safety issue to the public, so instead they will provide a website which consumers can bring forth their concerns to the food producers directly.  While I don’t think direct communication with the food companies is a bad idea, I don’t believe it will be effective if there is no government enforcement.  As a consumer, I can complain all I want to a company for claiming that their item is organic when in fact ingredients and research say otherwise, but without any reprimandation from a power house, why would they change their labeling which they have probably already printed thousands of and paid the printers.  It would not be in the best interest of business, so they will continue to abuse the loose regulations Canada has on packaging and claims made on packaging.

The article also cites mislabels or even omission of information on labels to be dangerous to those with food allergies or conditions such as, diabetes or Crohn’s disease.  Does that not make it a health and safety issue for those people?  Of course, as consumers and people in general, I believe we should all do our own due diligence for researching and just being in the know of what’s involved with our food items, but I’m not someone who has to live with a fear of possibly eating the wrong thing and serving the ultimate consequence: death. 

What do you think?  Should the government regulate the labels of food items and make food producers more responsible and forth coming about their products?

Solar-Powered Flying

In this weekend's "metro" (our free local newspaper in Toronto), there is an article all about a Swiss solar-powered airplane aiming to take a round the world trip.  Perhaps I'm not at as educated in the environmentalism broad spectrum as I thought I was, because I had no idea solar-powered airplanes existed.  What a great thing!
Naturally, the 63-meter wingspan plane has run into some complications and delays due to weather- as the plane is not designed to fly through clouds.  I guess this wouldn't make the plane a reliable mode of transportation for those wanting to go on vacation or other time sensitive destinations, but rather for the flying hobbyist.  And apparently to fly around the world!

Though I understood that solar power was taken from the sun and converted into power, I was never sure exactly how this was done.  Trusty Google to the rescue again (what would we do without Google?), was able to answer my question: how does solar power work?  And sent me to this website which explained to me that, "a solar power system uses photovoltaic (PV) technology to harness the sun's rays, converting sunlight photon energy into electrical current. Solar power panels produce energy from daylight, not direct sunlight, so they still produce electricity on cloudy or overcast days. Solar power can be used directly in your home to power lights and appliances – or exported to the electricity grid. ... The solar panels contain two layers of silicon, one with a positive charge and one with a negative charge. When the sun's rays land on a panel, electrons move from one layer to another, creating an electrical current. The inverter takes the current and converts in into usable power."

And for the visual learners:

Humanely Slaughtered Meat

After watching a documentary, "Earthlings", last week and my world being opened up to the awful animal treatment all around the globe, and specifically in our slaughter houses, it got me really thinking about the meat I eat.  While I think vegetarians are great for not eating meat, I don't believe it's necessary to give up eating meat in order to do it right.  I believe there are a few key components to eating meat right:
a) knowing how many slaughter houses are run and operate without any regard for the animal
b) educating yourself and others about the inhumane treatment of the animals
c) understanding where the meat you are eating is coming from- conducting the necessary research and taking appropriate action to purchase meat from reputable farmers, slaughter houses, stores or butchers

All these animals get to be out to pasture for their lives

It can be done.  I've begun my search, and I've contacted around ten different farmers and butcher who raise grass fed/organic/pasture livestock and asked them if their fair and humane treatment of their animals is then carried forward into the slaughter process.  So far, I have only received two responses- however, being a long weekend I assume many of them are enjoying some time off.  I look forward to hearing from the remainder of the farmers and butchers I contacted to know where I can purchase humanely treated and likely healthier meats.

Ignorance helps no one.  Many people I have spoken to about this have wanted to remain ignorant to the treatment of the meat they eat.  The typical responses I've heard are, "I don't want to hear those details", "it's been happening for years, you aren't going to change it now", "you've watched a documentary and read some research but that doesn't mean it's all true- you're brainwashed".  The people that don't want to hear about it don't like hearing that animals are treated so inhumanely and with such disregard for their well being and comfort, yet don't want to know enough about it to feel like they are ignoring it.  They don't want to put in the work that's involved in understanding the problem.  And many have said they don't want to pay any extra money or take any extra time to purchase their meat from a more reputable source.  That's the wrong attitude.  If you know there is a problem, that you can avoid and perhaps be a front runner to demand change- why ignore it? 

So, I'll be continuing the research and waiting to hear back from the other farmers and butchers I've contacted.  I'll update the resources section with the farmers/butchers who have humane slaughter practices in effect at their locations.  This has become a very serious and important cause for me that I'll be ensuring I do as much as I can to correct.

For now, I suggest everyone watch "Earthlings"!

Genesis

Originally started as a segment on my first blog, Living with the Seat Up, Eco Econ became a side project for myself.  For years, I have dabbled in environmental issues and even majored in Environmental Studies in university but in the last year or so my interest in all things environmental has blossomed even more.

Because I enjoy blogging so much over at Living with the Seat Up, I figured why not begin an environmental blog too? So here it is: Eco Econ-scious!  A blog about all things environmental, organic and generally just living well, all while keeping your hard earned dollars (and mine) in mind.