Linda Riebel, Ph. D.
Healthy Person and Planet
Did you know that, after the automobile, food production is the most earth-damaging human activity? Pesticides, water pollution and diversion, the hormones and antibiotics concentrated in meat production, depleting supplies of ocean fish, packaging, and long-distance distribution are just some of the burdens that modern food production puts on the planet.
You can help! In my book Eating to Save the Earth (Celestial Arts, 2002), I list some of the most important things you can do to help the earth:
· Eat more organic and locally grown food· Reduce waste· Buy food with less packaging· Eat less meat (or no meat)· Recycle and compost· Join a Community Supported Agriculture farm (see website listing below)There are many, many other choices you can make to participate in the inspiring transition our generation is making from destructive to sustainable lifestyles: fuel-efficient car and appliances, socially responsible investing, composting, replacing chemically dependent lawns with native plantings, and best of all, simply buying less stuff. The heartening part is that the choices that are good for your health are usually the same ones that are good for the earth.
Here are some organizations and websites I like:
Back to Publications.The Center for Ecosystem Survival is a San Francisco non-profit dedicated to saving tropical rainforest and coral reefs around the world. In its 11 years of existence, CES has donated $ 2 million to projects in ten countries. Among CES’s programs are Adopt-an-Acre and Adopt-a-Reef; Nature Savers; Insect Discovery Lab; Biodiversity Slide Set; and an annual spring fund-raiser, Bowl-the-Planet. Check out CES at www.savenature.org.