Mitaku ye oyasin (All my relations)… I would like to pass along a very important message, from a sister who walks the Lakota path as I do, concerning our Sacred Earth. Prayers are needed, as well as action from those who know what to do, to help save the land from unnecessary desecration. Please look into your hearts and find the time to send out a message to preserve our lands… Pilama ye for your time in this urgent matter.

“Good Morning,

Carolyn Gray”

EarthWorks takes Action

Rio Tinto and BHP – Billiton have created a subsidiary that is proposing to mine a rich copper vein more than 7,000 feet below sea level east of Superior, Arizona. As a first step, Rio Tinto is currently shopping around a land exchange bill that would end an executive order banning mining from Oak Flat Campground and privitize more that 3,000 acres of public land.

Concerned citizens are worried about the loss of Oak Flat Campground, a very popular recreation area. Birders, climbers, campers, canyoneers, bikers, and hikers enjoy the area throughout the year, all of whom would be greatly harmed if these lands were forever taken from public access. Western Apache people have traditionally used the area for cultural, spiritual, and subsistance. The land exchange would include Apache Leap, a cliff where more than 80 Apache warriors chose to leap to their deaths rather than surrender to the US calvary.

Both the San Carlos Apache Tribe and the White Mountain Apache Tribe has passed unanimous reslutions opposing the mine and land exchange. In addition, the Concerned Citizens and Retired Miners Association in Superior, AZ has been meeting regularly opposing the land exchange and is circulating a petition.

Vegan breakfasts are easy: Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, and don’t think I let being vegan get in the way of that. Here are some yummy vegan breakfast ideas that are filling and nutritious.

1. Porridge. Steel-cut oats cooked with almond milk on the stovetop. Add in a drizzle of flax or coconut oil at the end of cooking for richness, and lots of chopped dates and apricots for sweetness.

2. Sweet potatoes. Yes, baked for an hour in the oven tastes best. I like to mash in lots of almond butter for protein, as well as a dash of cinnamon.

3. Scrambled tofu. No, it tastes nothing like eggs, but yes, it is delicious. My favorite recipe, lovingly titled Golden Tofu Scram involves tahini, sesame seeds, and sunflower seeds. How does that not sound good?

4. Granola mash-up. Warm up some homemade berry compote, top with a few handfuls of granola, and pour in a little hemp or almond milk for creaminess. Then, stir away! Trust me, its delicious.

5. Breakfast burrito. Wrap beans, guacamole, and leftover stir-fry veggies in a whole wheat tortilla for one commute-friendly breakfast.

6. Quinoa pilaf. While quinoa is cooking in water or your favorite non-dairy milk, stir in some pecans and dried cranberries. When finished, fluff with a fork and top with a little grated orange zest.

7. Cherry smoothie. This one is especially great in the summer. Combine 1 cup frozen cherries, 1 cup water, 1/2 T coconut butter, 1 T cocoa powder, 2 T unsalted almonds, and a few medjool dates in a blender and whizz away. Fresh, frothy, and fabulous.

8. Vegan pancakes. They’re easy! Doctor up your favorite traditional pancake recipe like this: Replace each egg with 1 T ground flaxseeds and 2 T water, and sub hemp soy or oatmilk with a little bit of cider vinegar for the buttermilk. I also like to replace half the white flour with whole wheat, and add in some blueberries or sliced banana.

9. Fruit salad. Another warm-weather favorite when you’re looking for something light. My favorite is a mix of strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries, topped with chopped almonds.

10. Banana boats. You can do this with one or two bananas, depending on how hungry you are. Split each banana length-wise and spread each half generously with peanut butter. Top with raisins, drizzle on the agave nectar, and dust with cinnamon.

~ By Marygrace Stergakos, Eat. Drink. Better. ~

The label cruelty free does not mean that a product actually is. There is no legislation that deals with the labelling of beauty and health products. This means, for example, that a product can be labelled cruelty free even if the company tested every one of the ingredients on animals but didn’t test the finished product. Cruelty free products can also contain animal products or use ingredients that were animal tested by other companies.

Vegan products contain no animal ingredients and are usually strict and specific about animal testing and using animal tested ingredients on their labels.
..There is a significant difference between a cruelty-free label and a vegan label. Vegan products adhere to cruelty-free standards, but in addition, these products don’t contain any animal ingredients or animal byproducts. Many conventional beauty products, particularly cosmetics and shampoos, contain ingredients that are derived from animals or animal byproducts

If you’re concerned that your beauty products aren’t vegan and a telephone call to the company doesn’t reveal whether an ingredient is animal-derived or not, PETA’s Wesley suggests contacting an animal protection organization. They’ll be able to provide you with the detailed ingredient information that makeup labels do not provide.

Here is a listing of some surprising animal ingredients to look for on cosmetic labels and some greener alternatives

Ingredient: Allantoin
Source/Use: Found in cows and other mammals and used as a healing agent in many cosmetic creams and lotions
Alternative: Allantoin is also found in many plants, particularly the extract of comfrey root.

Ingredient: Beeswax
Source/Use: Wax from virgin bees is used as a sealant in lipsticks, mascaras, eye creams, lip balms and nail whiteners
Alternative: Paraffin, vegetable oils and fats.

Ingredient: Boar bristles
Source/Use: Hair from boars commonly used in makeup brushes and toothbrushes
Alternative: Nylon or vegetable fibers.

Ingredient: Biotin
Source/Use: Found in all living cells and used in cosmetics and shampoos
Alternative: Plant sources.

Ingredient: Stearyl alcohol or sterols
Source/Use: A mixture of solid alcohols that may sometimes be prepared from sperm whale oil and is used in skin creams, hair rinses and some shampoos
Alternative: Vegetable stearic acid

Ingredient: Fish liver oil
Source/Use: A source of vitamin A sometimes used in cosmetics and hair dyes
Alternative: Vitamin A derivatives from carotene (carrots) or synthetic sources

Ingredient: Mink oil
Source/Use: An emollient used for its moisturizing properties in cosmetics and skin creams
Alternative: Vegetable/natural oils such as avocado, almond and jojoba

Ingredient: Silk/silk powder
Source/Use: The tiny fibers made by silk worms to form a cocoon — used as a coloring ingredient ion face powders and soaps
Alternative: Milkweed seed-pod fibers or synthetic silks

Ingredient: RNA (Ribonucleic Acid)
Source/Use: Slaughterhouse waste that is commonly used in many protein-enriched shampoos and conditioners
Alternative: Plant cells

Ingredient: Sponge (luna and sea)
Source/Use: A sea animal that looks like a plant and is used as an ingredient for sponges and loofahs
Alternative: synthetic sponges

Ingredient: Stearic acid
Source/Use: Fat extracted from cows, sheep and pigs and used as a lubricant in deodorant, hair spray, shampoo and soap
Alternative: Vegetable fats or coconut

Of all the horrors on this planet, I find the use of animals for the pleasure of humans (those with a very sick nature), to be one of the most despicable. It is rather disgusting to think people actually pay money to view a creature being used in ways that totally disrespect their nature, and dishonors our guardianship over those less capable of protecting themselves.

The atrocities commited on a daily basis really makes me wonder which is the better role, being a human, or being an animal. At least animals, when left alone in their true habitat, are true to their own basic nature and have no wish to control the world around them. Some humans behave in such a way as to show they are more inhuman than they would like to think. Pehaps if this treatment by humans, of animals against their will, were reversed… well then one might take a step back and see just how sick some people really are.

I would like to point the way to a rather disturbing example of why I find a world where humans mistakenly believe they have the power over animals to do things that go against their basic nature so abhorrent. 10 Animals Being Used for Human Entertainment is just a very small example of how widespread this travesty truly is.

I find no amusement in the disrespectful treatment of those beings the Creator has placed upon this planet as part of the Great Balance. Who are we to take advantage of the wild ones who live alongside us? There is only shame in such treatment. We can stop this simply by not participating, and letting our voices be heard in protest of these bizarre practices. Most people don’t even think about it, but it is the darker part of human nature which turns a blind eye to the dishonor we show when we condone such behaviour.

If you are a farmer, or know a farmer who needs assistance in converting to organic farming, there is a very short window of opportunity to do so now, for 3 weeks during the Month of May 2009. Many people worked very hard to get this farm bill on the table, so be sure to get the word out and take advantage of this while you can!

Washington, D.C. May 5, 2009 – USDA today announced a special three- week sign-up for farmers in the process of converting to organic farming to receive technical and financial assistance through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), a move applauded by the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and its grassroots member organizations across the country.

“This was a was a wrong that needed righting, and with today’s announcement USDA is not only setting it right, but doing so in an innovative and farmer-friendly manner,” said Aimee Witteman, NSAC Executive Director. “We thank NRCS and USDA leadership for listening to the concerns of organic farmers and applaud their new initiative.”

For more details on how to sign up between May 11th and May 29th, please visit Organic Consumers Association to get the whole scoop. It is important to pass this information along to your networks as quickly as possible to beat the deadline. This is good news for Organic Farmers!

You may wish to visit ATTRA – National Sustainable Information Service: Agricultural and Organic Farming News to get the latest information as well.

If there is one thing that irritates me when it comes to nurturing our garden, it is the battle we wage with the wee little buggers that love to eat our greens as much as we do. Some of these plant loving creatures are highly visible, and bold as brass when it comes to taking advantage of our loving care to create a healthy green atmosphere, in which they seem to believe is a lovely banquet set out just for them.

Personally, I would prefer they find a better place to feast, yet unfortunately I cannot persuade natures little nasties to find a new place to dine without getting a little mean about it. Even though it goes against my nature to eliminate creatures that must have some purpose on this planet, I just wish it could be served elsewhere, preferably far away from our beautiful garden. I would be very happy to find an organic pest control that can eliminate my gardens most unwanted enemies without using strong, toxic poisons, or causing harm to my family and the environment.

In my search to resolve these concerning issues, I believe I may have discovered a way to conquer the bugs without feeling too guilty over this pest elimination in my tiny yard and garden space. In comes Green Light Organic Neem. This is 3 Products In 1, Insecticide, Miticide, & Fungicide.

Use On Flowers, Trees, Ornamentals, Vegetables, Fruit & Nuts, Shields To Prevent The Germination & Penetration Of Fungal Spores On The Leaf Surfaces, Contains 70% Neem Oil.

Well then, I do believe the tide of this battle may have just turned in my favor! Now that I have such a great weapon in my organic arsenal to help in this Battle of the Bugs, I can share this knowledge with others interested in learning how to fight natures nasties as well. I am always happy to hear other peoples opinions and/or experiences, so feel free to comment and let me know what you think!