Not quite. But Javier Cabral writing for Zocalo shares some interesting spots in East L.A. that give promise to Angelenos for finding local, sustainable, and natural food options in East L.A.
From Zocalo:
East Los Angeles has no Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods. But it does have El Super and Top Valu. They are just as fulfilling. For the renegade vegetarian or the naturally healthy immigrant ranchero or simply the health-food-curious searcher, now is the time to take a revolutionary step: go food shopping east of the river. No more trips westward for pricey pints of unsweetened almond milk and salubrious meats.
Join me on a shopping day and let me show you.
My excursion starts with a beverage. “La gente preguntó por ella,” says Jorge Caballero in response to my query about how he came to be selling unsweetened almond milk. (“The people asked for it.”) Caballero is assistant manager of the Top Valu supermarket chain located along historic Whittier Boulevard. It’s a Latino favorite, and the store sells about a dozen cartons of alternative milk a week. Only one of those units is getting sold to me—I promise. The rest are purchased by other inner-city almond milk lovers. More
Photo Source: EGP News
Why are developers so difficult? Or is it politicians? In the world of development such as building new residences and commercial property in underdeveloped areas like the old Marina, local politics are more to blame for the poor decisions that get made about which new high rise will block the ocean view, or which multimillion dollar development project will destroy the Ballona Wetlands. And poor Gaia, having to sit idly by while humans decide her fate.
It seems Marina del Rey residents have suffered more than most in L.A., however. Too bad, because they are surrounded by one of the last eco systems left in this city.
From LA Weekly:
Think you’re fighting a monster development next door? Wondering what sort of math lets a developer of a big retail and housing development claim he’s not attracting any new car trips to the streets by you? The people of Marina del Rey feel your pain and then some. “You hear about communities that are fighting one big project — well, here we have 17,” says David Barish, a Marina resident. “It’s unheard of.” For decades, Marina residents, environmentalists and boaters who love the relaxed vibe on the water have skirmished with the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, the landlord that lucratively leases out the famed public land called Marina del Rey. More
Photo Source: Del Rey
At LAgb, it is hard not to be mistaken for a hoarder. In an average person’s world, items that are used once usually end up in the wasteland. Not at LAgb. There are bins and drawers and closets full of used items that cannot be recycled. The thought of items filling up landfills just creates too much guilt.
Most pens are not recyclable. I cannot tell you how many people I have run into, especially in universities (hello LMU!) that are not aware that throwing pens in the recycle bin does no good.
To prevent the guilt from building up, a good habit to pick up is to buy pens made of recycled or compostable materials (Papermate makes an excellent one). The best option is to buy pens that use refills to prevent dead pens from polluting the landfills. But what do you do with those disposable pens that do not have the capacity to live another life? Or how about those pens that consumers are too lazy to refill?
Look no further. LAgb has been in the process of collecting dead pens from the office and home, in hopes of finding an eco-friendly way to recycle them. And we think we’ve found a solution.
Are you a proud pen-hoarder too? Here is a great way to recycle your pens and clear your conscience: Make art with your pens.
No–not you.
Penguy is embarking on a project to make art out of his Mercedes Benz. He is collecting over a million pens and decorating his car with them.
Got some pens to get rid of? Send your pens to him by checking out his website. And be a supporter of the Earth and art at the same time.
Photo Source: Pen Guy
Faeries makeup is eco friendly
The bad news and scares about cosmetics in the U.S. is no joke. Consumers are not protected from the use of harmful chemicals, because the U.S. does not regulate the cosmetics industry. But when searching for an alternative, options seem slim. An ideal cosmetics company is one that puts consumers and the Earth first while also creating an effective product. But which companies do that?
LAgb has been on a fervent search for that answer and recently ran into Faerie Organics, an online cosmetics company created by owner and founder Erin Minks. The website asserts that Minks created her cosmetic line in her home using organic and natural ingredients. In addition, the ingredients that have been considered most harmful in cosmetics, such as formaldehyde and lead, are not found in Faerie. To see if the company was the real deal, LAgb purchased some products from the website to test out.
The results? LAgb took a stab at testing out the Faerie Organics mineral makeup foundation first. Here is what we found out so far:
-Ease: Shopping was super easy. Faerie allows for new shoppers to purchase sample kits that contain several shades of foundation and blushes that can be tested before buying a full product. And checkout is easy, allowing the shopper to use a paypal account or credit card to complete the transaction.
-Cost: The price for each sample kit was fairly reasonable ($5), as well as the cost for one mineral makeup foundation ($18). Shipping was not overly expensive either ($5), which made the total cost of Faerie Organics foundation about 70% of the cost of its competitors.
-Earth-Friendly: Faerie Organics boasts that it does not use any harmful chemicals or ingredients. It lists all of its ingredients on its website. Ingredients that are used in Faerie Organics’ foundation impressively contains less than 10 ingredients total and includes Mica, Boron Nitride, and Titanium Oxide, which all scored fairly low on level of toxicity on Skin Deep, a safe cosmetics database.
-Effectiveness: LAgb tested the airbrush foundation. First, the foundation color was a perfect match for yellow and olive skin. In addition, the foundation worked extremely well to provide sheer but complete coverage without creating a “cakey” look. Little reapplication has been required. The foundation also has not created any major irritation to the skin.
-Organic: One criticism of Faerie Organics is the lack of proof that its products are certified organic. While it seems that the products are legitimately higher quality than many of its competitors and does not seem to use any preservatives, the lack of the organic certification label creates concerns that consumers are being misled into thinking they are buying an organic product when they are not.
-Shipping: Faerie Organics offered rush shipping for $8. But LAgb found that unnecessary as the product arrived within a week. The shipping package could have been more eco than using a standard shipping envelope and bubble wrap. LAgb would have been more impressed if the shipping package was made of 100% repurposed materials or compostable materials.
Overall, Faerie Organics got very close in meeting LAgb’s expectations with its foundation line. LAgb plans to test out its other products and check back to see if Faerie Organics gets its certification going.
Does your cosmetics meet the challenge? Find out what your makeup is made of at Skin Deep or contact us for a review of your product.
Photo Source: Faerie Organics
The average vegan, vegetarian, and meat eater all have one thing in common: they are guilty of practicing consumption habits that are harmful to the planet. But the difference between the V’s and M’s makes a meat eater a more sinful person. That is because the meat eater eats meat.
Why does the world continue to eat meat at the rate in which it does? Because meat tastes good, smells good, cooks great on the grill, gives a dense and rich source of energy, vitamins, and minerals; the list a meat eater can give goes on and on. Sure, meat eating is no new fad. The ritual of consuming meat goes back to the good ol’ hunting and gathering days. But only recently has meat consumption become a detached experience, where the consumer plays no role in the killing of an animal. In addition, meat consumption has become a human-made and profitable industry, where meat is made in science labs and slaughter houses.
Nevertheless, meat eating environmentalists and non-environmentalists alike pride in their meat consumption habits. After all, you are driving around in a Prius so it must be O.K. But let us not forget the other way meat consumption is: unsustainable.
According to a UN report, livestock in the world accounts for 18% of the greenhouse gas emissions, 8% of the total use of water, 70% of the degradation and deforestation of the Amazon rainforest (among others), and accounts for the highest records of water and land pollution than any other source of pollution on the planet.
Meat consumption also raises many political issues, not only in the developed nations but also developing nations.
What’s the solution to this destructive habit? If the meat eating is an absolute must, building relationships with local farms that raise animals can help ensure that the consumption of animal meat does not contribute to the environment’s downfall. If that is hard to do, make sure that the meat being purchased at the grocery store has a stamp of approval from an organic and humane label, and make sure that the animal was grass fed or some better option. (if the meat being consumed is seafood, check out the seafood pocket guide before consuming). Another option is try opting for vegetarian most days and have meat on special occasions.
For those that are hard core, go vegan and vegetarian and enjoy knowing that you are not part of the problem but the solution.
Photo Source: Mind Yourself Chicago
After a very long time away, LAgb has been inspired to get back to the posts. What inspiration you ask? Partly guilt, partly moved by new eco-news, and partly flattered by LAgb fan mail. Hopefully, the arrival of the July new moon this Friday will set in motion a kick-arse, regular-posting, and oh-so-interesting LAgb. Sorry you have missed us.
For those fans out there, prepare for some new exciting news!
Till next time,
LAgb
Consuming soy raises some major issues. It has been reported to produce hormonal imbalances in the body (especially in children). In addition, it is a highly genetically modified plant and consumers looking for a non-GM version will quickly learn it is almost impossible to find. So, it is no surprise then that BOCA Foods is being boycotted by the Organic Consumers Association for using GM soy in its burger patties.
BOCA Foods, owned by Kraft, is certainly distrusted by LAgb. For those BOCA loca lovers out there, consider reading up on how to find GM free foods before you make a store run, or try making your own veggie burger patty.
From Organic Consumers Association:
BOCA Burgers is a popular so-called “natural” brand of veggie burgers owned by Kraft Foods. Companies like Kraft work hand-in-hand with Monsanto to lace common foods with GM (Genetically Modified) ingredients, with absolutely no labeling nor safety-testing required, and in many cases market these products as “natural.” Kraft, North America’s largest food company, has perfected the art of turning genetically engineered crops and animals raised in factory farms on GMO feed and injected with Monsanto’s (now Elanco’s) rBGH into “food.”
While Kraft/BOCA claims to offer what they describe as “non-GMO” versions of its soy foods, these products are neither certified organic (organic prohibits GMOs) nor monitored by the Non-GMO Project, so it’s impossible to verify BOCA’s non-GMO claims. Likewise, Back to Nature, another so-called “natural” Kraft brand, claims that some of the corn and soy ingredients in their non-organic foods are “non-genetically engineered,” but these claims are not verifiable either.
Tell Kraft you’ll be boycotting BOCA Burgers, Back to Nature products, or any Kraft products that aren’t certified as organic. Sign the petition
Photo Source: Glamorous Trash
Sure, China’s building wind turbines at a rapid rate. It is no surprise to LAgb, because we suspect China will become one of the leading countries in preventing global warming, despite its massive contribution to pollution today. A good sign of this is the country’s recent contribution to the building of wind turbines. The only problem, however, is that the wind turbine sector is not being used efficiently.
In 2010, China overtook the United States as the global leader in installed wind power capacity, representing yet another triumph in the much-hyped clean tech race between the world’s two largest economies. Looking beyond the numbers, however, the true nature of China’s wind energy development appears far more bleak.
According to the newest data released by the Chinese Renewable Energy Industry Association (CREIA), by the end of 2010, China had installed a total of 41.8 gigawatts (GW) of wind capacity, just ahead of the U.S. total of 40.2 GW. Even more impressive is the growth of China’s wind sector: while the United States added only about 5 GW of new capacity in 2010, China installed 16 GW. In 2009, China surpassed the U.S. to become the world leader in clean energy investment.
So why aren’t China’s top energy policymakers celebrating the recent wind capacity milestone, given the country’s unprecedented achievements in renewable energy development? Instead, in a January meeting, officials with the National Energy Administration (NEA) lamented the fact that China still trails the U.S. in the amount of wind power connected to the grid—with only an estimated 31.1 GW grid-tied by the end of 2010. Read more
Photo Source: NYTimes
North America’s largest consumer advocacy organization, the Organic Consumers Association (OCA), which represents over 850,000 consumers, announced last month a new campaign to oppose the name change of the fair trade certifier TransFair USA to “Fair Trade USA”. TransFair has applied for the new name to be trademarked, along with the term “Fair Trade Certified”. As the certifier that works with major brands such as Starbucks and Ben & Jerry’s, it is in effect an attempt to legally claim, as an exclusive brand, a term that encompasses a broad movement that extends far beyond the work of TransFair.
“Since our campaign began two weeks ago, more than 9,900 conscious consumers across the United States have sent letters to TransFair USA opposing their name change to ‘Fair Trade USA,” says OCA Executive Director Ronnie Cummins. “TransFair’s response pitifully claims that the new name is ‘popular’ even as they get strong evidence of a revolt by consumer stakeholders that see the new name as yet another step by TransFair to co-opt and corporatize the Fair Trade movement.”
Consumers and organizations dedicated to building equitable markets for disadvantaged farmers and artisans through Fair Trade, believe that the term should be celebrated as a movement, not a brand claimed by any one organization. To help celebrate Fair Trade as a movement of many parts, OCA asked consumers, stores, companies and organizations to sign a petition to urge TransFair to keep the name they have established. Leading fair trade organizations and companies have already signed their names. The petition can be found here.
OCA has also joined forces with Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, the top selling brand of certified fair trade soap to request the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) launch an investigation of deceptive practices in the advertising and labeling of certain “Fair Trade Certified” personal care products. The FTC formally responded thanking OCA for bringing these issues to the agency’s attention and inviting additional communication from consumers. Over 4,200 letters from outraged consumers have since been sent requesting FTC prevent TransFair from continuing to allow brands such as Hain’s Queen Helene and Avon’s Mark to use as little as 2% certified fair trade ingredients in their products while displaying on those products a “Fair Trade Certified” ingredient seal identical to that displayed on products composed mostly or entirely of certified fair trade ingredients. The complaint and supporting exhibits may be viewed at: http://organicconsumers.org/bodycare/stop-transfair.cfm
David Bronner, President of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps stated that the FTC complaint is the last resort. “We have sent letters and held face to face meetings to stop TransFair from misleading consumers with deceptive fair trade marks and claims, which conflate products with majority and minimal fair trade content. The former provide real market volume for fair trade farmers; the latter sabotages that market. TransFair receives the same licensing fee for their look-alike marks on both majority and minimal fair trade content products, and is losing sight of its mission.”
The Fair Trade movement emerged decades ago with the goal of delivering a better standard of living to many impoverished farmers and workers in the developing world, where unfair and exploitative prices, wages and working conditions prevail, trapping millions in poverty.
The movement, fueled by hundreds of retailers, NGOs, mission-driven for-profit “Alternative Trading Organizations” and conscious consumers, has established criteria and standards for fair pricing, wages and working conditions in farming and processing of diverse commodities and products. Products certified to these standards empower farmers and workers, and their families and communities, enabling them to improve their lives and livelihoods.
One Fair Trade standard and certification organization is the Fair Labeling Organization (FLO), which has developed fair trade standards and certifies producer groups that comply with these standards. TransFair is the US arm of FLO, and receives a “licensing fee” from companies that use the TransFair logo on products that are certified or contain fair trade ingredients.
Another Fair Trade standard and certification system is the Institute for Market Ecology’s (IMO) Fair for Life program. Fully committed fair trade companies including Equal Exchange, Theo Chocolate and Dr. Bronner’s have chosen to use IMO rather than FLO/TransFair for several reasons. In particular, IMO does not allow use of its seal on products and brands that do not have a majority of fair trade certified ingredients or materials. Further, Fair for Life also broadened the scope of fair trade to allow for the certification of virtually all agricultural commodities produced in developing countries if Fair Trade conditions are met along the entire value chain.
The Fair Trade Federation (FTF) is a US membership organization that accepts only dedicated fair trade “Alternative Trading Organizations,” and screens applicants against rigorous fair trade criteria. Fully committed fair trade companies such as Equal Exchange, Co-Op Coffees, Guayaki and Dr. Bronner’s are proud members.
While TransFair has done an admirable job in promoting the concept of fair trade and broadening its visibility, OCA and Dr. Bronner’s are concerned that TransFair has permitted its certification to be used in ways that mislead consumers and has attempted to claim exclusive use of the term “Fair Trade” in ways that unfairly hurt other certifiers and undermine the fair trade movement.
David Bronner continues, “Many in the movement feel that TransFair needs to be held accountable, and that consumers need to be educated about alternatives, in particular IMO’s Fair for Life certification program. To prevent TransFair from monopolizing and abusing the term “Fair Trade”, the Organic Consumers Association and Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps have filed a formal complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. It details the issues and problems with TransFair, along with illustrative examples of ‘fair trade cheater brands’ like Avon/Mark and Hain Celestial/Queen Helene.”
Photo Source:
OCA
It is an exciting time in fashion, because big players like Prada are finally getting the idea behind eco-socially conscious design.
Prada, known for its refined and expensive Italian clothing and accessories, recently announced that beginning in its spring 2011 collection it will begin to make and sell clothing that will be made by local artisans. The new “Made In” fashion line will celebrate the artistic talent, materials, and culture of the geographical area in which the clothing is made. This is a big step away from Prada’s traditional approach to fashion; rather than having its items made only in Italy, the company plans to collaborate with local artisans of a region to create a unique and masterfully crafted set of clothing and accessories that will originate in a particular region. LAgb thinks this idea is golden and will likely blow away Prada’s high fashion competitors.
What does this mean for Prada eco-enthusiasts? True eco-fashion is hard to come by, not to mention good looking eco-fashion. “Made In” has the reputation of Prada behind it. In addition, if done right, it has a high chance of promoting sustainability and the well being of local communities around the world.
Here is a sneak peek into some of Prada’s new “Made In” lines:
“The “Made in Scotland” items in Prada’s Made In collection include navy blue kilts and wool tartans. The navy blue kilts are crafted in Scottish workshops by traditional kilt makers who are experts with the early 18th century weaving and manufacturing techniques. The navy blue kilts have slightly frayed edges and feature the traditional and simple belt buckles. The wool tartan prototypes are crafted from the 1819 Wilson’s Key Pattern book.
The “Made in Japan” items in Prada’s Made In collection consist of custom made jeans produced by the high-end manufacturer, Dova. The interior of the jeans are inked with a portrait of a tiger, and various other Japanese inspired designs such as scrawled calligraphy and dragon motifs. Seven washes and four different textures of cloth are available to choose from.
The “Made in Peru” items in Prada’s Made In collection showcase knitwear made of alpaca wool, which was considered to be the “gold of the Andes” by the Inca civilization. The knitwear is woven and spun in Peruvian campesinos, spanning into twenty-two different hues. One example is an olive green V-neck sweater, banded across with woven ivory and safflower yellow wool.”
Making sure that labor conditions are fair and natural resources are preserved would make Prada’s “Made In” line a sure win with eco-fashion enthusiasts. More importantly, Prada could win a gold medal for increasing access to good eco-fashion by lowering its prices to this line. There is no word yet on how Prada will approach these issues yet.
Photo Source: Frillr
