Don't Ask, DO Tell!

It is about time! After its seventeen year reign, the Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT) policy repeal has been signed by President Obama. The DADT policy forced the LGBT community to hide their orientation in the military, or face dismissal. More then 13,500 people were told to leave under this abhorrent policy. Now, finally, all those people you are asking to risk "dying for your county" can do so with enough dignity to at least be themselves. Contrary to popular beliefs, I say good job Obama (just please keep the ball rolling at this point).

Your Cup of Joe Could be Better...

If you are anything like me, you look forward to that nice hot cup of coffee (or in my case espresso) in the morning to start your day off right. Now most people are very particular about what type of coffee they drink; Starbucks, Seattle's Best, Folgers, etc. Have you ever thought of where that coffee comes from? How it is grown? Or even if it really is the "best tasting" brew as most of the labels claim? I invariably drink the best coffee ever grown, and that I can say with scientific certainty.

Coffee itself is grown on a small tree or shrub that grows fairly low to the ground. Naturally, it cultivates underneath taller trees, about 30 meters worth, and resides slowly ripening in the shade. Since shade grown coffee takes longer to ripen, it naturally makes the flavors more bold and complex. There are many benefits to growing coffee the way nature intended it to be grown. Shade reduces chances of pathogen infections which can wipe out whole coffee farms at an alarming rate. Shade also reduces weed growth, thus meaning coffee growers do not have to use as many harmful chemical pesticides (although most shade grown coffee is certified organic, meaning they do not use any pesticides). Although sun grown coffee produces high yields, it also calls for all taller trees to be eliminated, which creates much less biodiversity. "Biodiversity engenders ecological stability."

"Rustic" is the term used to describe the most natural growing conditions in the coffee world. This means that the coffee is grown under many levels of taller trees as well as grown without any pesticides or chemicals. Rustic most closely mimics the natural world. Studies have shown that the bird biodiversity on a rustic coffee farm is much higher which in turn means that the pesky insect levels (the birds food) are much lower. Some farms sans shade have shown a 70% increase of the horrid Coffee Berry Borer, who seems to love coffee beans even more then we do. Some studies show that after a shade growing area is converted into the higher yield sun growing area, the bird biodiversity decreased at a ratio of 10:4, or 60%. And it is not just about the birds, bats also watch over these farms at night. Shade farms attract bats, which eat pesky rodents such as insects, mice, spiders, and so on. Shade also causes the trees to process and release more nitrogen into the soil, thus meaning about 30% less fertilizers are needed, i.e. less water contamination.

So how do you know if your coffee is shade grown or not? Look for the certification seal. The highest standards for coffee is brought by the Smithsonian Seal, or the "Bird Friendly" certification. Another good seal to look for is the "Rain Forest Alliance". This time honored manner of growing coffee is scientifically proven to produce a better tasting cup of coffee as seen through the research provided here, but honestly, I think your common sense should prevail. Do yourself and the environment a favor, go out and try a cup of shade grown coffee. Not feeling bold enough to try something new, no worries, even starbucks offers a shade grown coffee, available year round here for only around $11 a pound! My personal favorite can be purchased here, Fraizer Farms Shade Grown Organic Coffee.

"Tigers in Red Weather"

Just a quick note..."The eco-system is like an aeroplane. We're all in it. We can go on taking away the rivets that hold it together and keep the plane up, for a while. No one rivet will decide when and where we crash. But ultimately, one rivet too many will bring us down." (page 27 Ruth Padel)

Go to Canada to eat your noisy Sun Chips

When I walked towards the checkout at the local sandwich shop with my trusty junk food, a bag of chips, nothing appeared to be out of the ordinary. As I opened my tasty bag of Sun Chips, I did happen to notice the green label bragging about their new biodegradable bag. I was a little surprised to see such a big company making the risky move of "going green". I do agree with the fact that every time we purchase something, we are saying that we approve. I wanted to continue to cast my vote for Sun Chips since they made this positive change. As quickly as this innovative blessing had arrived, it seemed to vanish.

I searched online to see if anyone knew where these wonderful "green" bags went. I was sickened to see hundreds of people stirring about the removal of these bags, but not in the way that I had hoped. One commenter by the name "disgruntled co-worker" posted "Sunchips are our favorite chip .... but I won't buy another bag for my family. The bags are irritating just sitting on the shelf. Pity the poor driver who has to stack them ...maybe his health insurance can cover the noise pollution. Please don't do this to your other products!!" (posted on Sun Chips in the Chicago Tribune). Hundred of more comments I read praising Sun Chips for taking these biodegradable bags off the shelf.

Little did I know, Sun Chips was actually a product of Frito-Lay, who was ironically owned by Pepsi Co Inc. Pepsi Co is one of the most influential Fortune 500 international companies, in partnerships with the other most powerful companies such as Starbucks and Lipton. This HUGE company had the power to really make a positive change that could have snow balled into a major trend here in the United States. Frito-Lay officially announced they would discontinue these biodegradable bags in the United States due to the consumer complaints. A private party reported that the sales have dropped 11% since January when these bags were introduced. No actual statistics were released by Pepsi Co themselves. Frito-Lay has also declined to release the dollar amount on the creation and production of these biodegradable bags. Now why would a company withhold information unless they had something to hide? I am not sure whether to be ashamed of the consumers for their selfishness or to blame the all powerful Pepsi Co for their vague reasons, but I think I will stick with both. Now, instead of the bag that decomposed in about 9-14 weeks, we are left with more plastic chip bags that never really break down, they just crumble into small dust like pieces over hundreds of years. With Frito-Lay manufacturing over 30 million bags of Sun Chips a week, I am sure it will be no time until we are immersed in preventable garbage. You made your bed, and now we all will be forced to lay in it. 

Bottom line, maybe I should move to Canada? In Canada, they have decided to keep the biodegradable bags for their whole line of Sun Chips flavors. Frito-Lay's sustainability chief aired a public service announcement informing us that Canada will indeed keep the biodegradable bags, and that he has always been proud about the way that Canadians take care of Canada which makes him proud to be a part of something that can continue to help make and keep Canada beautiful. He sums it up by basically saying, get over it and if you still have a problem with the noise, they will send you a FREE pair of ear plugs. That is right folks, again, Canada is ahead of us, I thought we were supposed to be really competitive here in the United States? Watch the PSA HERE.

Dear La Jolla Planning Commission...

Dear La Jolla Planning Commission,

I can remember as a young child traveling hours to La Jolla sea shores to visit "Children's Pool", or as I liked to call it, "Seal Beach". Since the protection rope has been in place, the seals have continued to come year after year to this cove providing me, and about 100,000 other visitors a month an incredible close up experience with nature. Now, as a San Diego resident, I ask and plead that you reestablish the protection rope at Children's Pool to limit the barbaric actions that people have been partaking in.

This small, 200 foot long beach is the only mainland breeding ground for hundreds of miles in all directions. San Diego has over 70 miles of public beaches, making Children's pool only account for about 25% of ONE of those SEVENTY miles. Since the Harbor Seals are semi aquatic, they need stable grounds to rest on. Since the rope has been removed from the seals protection, La Jolla has become a place I loathe to visit. 

Barking dogs sent to attack the seals, men teaching their children how to chase the seals into and past the cove, abandoned babies, and some even prematurely deceased seals were the scenes that greeted me on my most recent visit in November 2010 to this beach. Anti seal activists line the beach and sidewalks jeering and jesting at any chance they get while the seal activists painfully witness these poor creatures being mistreated. They are calling it a battle between the "children versus the seals" but honestly, give me a break. I do not know a child that would want to see these seals sent away. Children's Pool is one of the only place that seals can be seen and admired in their natural environment. With all the rocks and swift tides created by the viewing wall, this is not even a safe beach to take children swimming in, so why not let it be? 

I am simply asking that the protection rope be instilled year round. We need to learn to respect nature, and teach our children the same. If it is about money, as most things are, think of all the revenue La Jolla will loose if these seals no longer pup at Children's Pool? Seeing the seals has been the ONLY reason why I have even gone to La Jolla over the past twenty years. I promise you that I will not spend a dime within the city limits, nor will I bring my family, until this issue has properly been resolved. 

Respectfully,

Danielle Taylor

(This letter has been sent in to the City of La Jolla, and I will continue to send it in until I get a reply...11/16/2010)


For more information on this please visit Save La Jolla Seals. 

If ignorance is bliss, than he must be elated!

My "issues" with urging civil rights

 "A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death."

"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it."

-Albert Einstein

Mull it over. Do these inspiring quotes mean anything to you? They do to me. Are these things implemented into your life or are they simply words you read? Are your ethics based on what your heart tells you, or are they based on an outside source like religion? Religion is not a bad thing, but it can become a dangerous thing if people believe that religion makes a person ethical or moral. Fear or punishment and the hope for a reward is something we are taught as kids by our parents when they want us to clean our rooms, "Tommy, go clean your room or else you are grounded. If you do a good job and keep it clean, I will buy you that new video game you wanted!" Come on folks, I think it is time we grow up.

The second quote I have to give a little thanks to Leilani Munter  for her work in The Cove. She posted this quote on one of her videos regarding the slaughter. Evil things are going on across the world right now. People are starving, being beaten, wrongfully accused, mislabeled, stripped of civil rights, murdering, and so on, yet some of us simply sit in front of the television and watch it all unfold. Do something. You do not have to go and personally stop a murder, but show you care, get educated, spread the word, start a blog, do something. I have recently been persecuted for "having an issue with protesting for gay (civil) rights." Nothing will stop me from being me. No one will make me lie down and take all the in justices in the world. Silence shows that you have either given up, or that you do not care. I care. 

10/14/10 International Save Japan Dolphins Day

Today, I write with a heavy heart. Tomorrow is the International Save Japan Dolphins Day. If you are unaware about the yearly dolphin slaughter in Taiji, Japan then please follow this link to discover a small synopsis of what is making my heart so heavy. The Cove .

I few nights ago, before I turned in for the night, I sat with my handy recyclable pen in hand and made a list, and not just any list. I made a list that was titled "If I could, I would..." I continued to make this list several pages long, with some bullet points listing several detailed explanations, but the one that lay the heaviest, was ironically the simplest and shortest.



"If I could, I would put an end to "The Cove" in Taiji, Japan."

I ordered a beautiful bracelet from EcoJoia which arrived after only a few anxiously awaited days. It is a beautifully crafted, platinum coated and satin corded bracelet with the words "Save Japan Dolphins". It has been on my left wrist since I eagerly tore the package open at the mailbox, since I couldn't wait long enough to walk back home and use a proper utensil. And there on my wrist it will remain.

When I first saw the movie "The Cove", I was not only brought to blubbering tears, but I was also greatly motivated. I wanted nothing more than to have the money to hop on a red eye flight to Taiji, Japan and stop the injustice myself. However, I live paycheck to paycheck, meaning no paycheck would permit me making this flight unless I skipped out on my lavish need to heat and electricity. So plan B, I did research, and I did, and am still doing, everything I can from my home front in San Diego. Here are the steps I took:

1.) I did ample research before I started running my mouth off to people about it. There is something so true, yet so overlooked in Gandhi's famous quote, "An ounce of practice is worth more than tons of preaching."
2.)I started spreading the word by having my family and friends realize how much I cared about this cause. I asked them if they would watch the movie with me on family nights. Some turned their heads and took the ostriches approach with their heads in the sand, while others became as touched as I was, and am. We must respect those who choose this ostrich approach, as infuriating as it may be. You can't force someone to care.
3.)I donated time and money. I know what your thinking, another monetary donation, another thing sucking my wallet dry. Karma says we must give to receive, so if it is a few dollars, it is more then enough as long as you give it with your whole heart. The cause does not care how "well-off" you are, they care how much YOU care. As for donating time, it can be as simple as picking up trash in a small section of the beach after your family spends a fun filled day under the sun, or can be as elaborate as joining the front lines of ending this bloodshed in Taiji, Japan. Both are just as important.
4.) Now this one is optional, so tailor it to your life. I personally gave up 100% of seafood. No more fish, shrimp, crab, and even Caesar dressing (all too often listing anchovies as the main ingredient). Love your sushi too much? Try cutting back. Anything helps.
5.) And here is where my list of steps takes center stage, educate others about getting educated!

This is where YOU come in, get educated, don't just take my word for it. If I can inspire just one person in this world to care about this injustice, then I know I have done my job. And don't take that the wrong way...my job in this effort will not be over until The Cove in Taiji, Japan no longer bleeds red.

Here are a few links to get your started on your research:
The Cove Movie Website
Take Part-The Cove
Save Japan Dolphins

Follow "Save Japa Dolphins" Blog

Welcome

Welcome to the Pass it on Today blog. This blog started out from the monthly Publication of "Pass it on..." newsletter published in at the Power Source Gym and Training Center in Running Springs, California. Each month several articles are written and printed with one thing in mind, How can I better the minds and lives of other fellow human beings? As it gained local popularity, I started to ask myself another crucial question, "Since people are listening in this small town, how can I make my audience larger?" Here it is. I hope you enjoy what you read and discover here, and most of all, I hope you don't just take my word for it, but expand on the issues I present. If you find something you like, something good, then remember, "Pass it on Today!"