Celestial Show Set for New Year's Eve

by Robert Roy Britt

space.com – A delightful display of planets and the moon will occur on New Year's Eve for anyone wishing to step outside and look up just after sunset.

Venus, brighter than all other planets and stars, will dangle just below the thin crescent moon in the southwestern sky. It'll be visible -- impossible to miss, in fact -- just as the sun goes down, assuming skies are cloud-free.

Soon thereafter, Mercury and Jupiter will show up hugging the south-southwestern horizon (just above where the sun went down) and extremely close to each other. Jupiter is very bright and easy to spot; Mercury is faint and harder to see, but it'll be apparent by its location just to the left of Jupiter.

Jupiter and Mercury will set less than an hour after the sun, so timing your viewing just after sunset is crucial. You'll also need a location with a clear view of the western horizon, unobstructed by buildings, trees or mountains.

All the planets, along with the moon and sun, traverse an arc across our sky called the ecliptic, which corresponds to the plane in space that they all roughly share. For this reason, you could draw an imaginary line from the general location of Venus and the moon, down through the other two planets, and the line would point to where the sun went down. This line could also initially help you find Jupiter and Mercury.

Weather permitting, you can get a preview of the sky show on Tuesday, Dec. 30. On this evening, the planets will be in nearly the same place they'll be on Dec. 31, but the moon will be midway between Venus and the Mercury-Jupiter pairing.

One last trick:

Venus is so bright you can see it during daylight if you know where to look. Given Venus' proximity to the moon on New Year's Eve, this would be an excellent moment -- just before sunset -- to use the moon to help you find Venus and gain bragging rights for being one of the few people to be able to claim seeing more than one planet during the daytime (Earth being the other one).

What Is Yoga?

Yoga Means Union

Although many people think this term refers to union between body and mind or body, mind and spirit, the traditional acceptance is union between the Jivatman and Paramatman that is between one's individual consciousness and the Universal Consciousness. Therefore Yoga refers to a certain state of consciousness as well as to methods that help one reach that goal or state of union with the divine.

The 5 Points of Yoga

There are hundreds or more of such techniques and therefore as many different Yogas. In order to simplify and clarify the topic, Swami Vishnu-devananda summarized the vast science of Yoga into 5 principles of Yoga which are easy to understand and to include in one's daily life. These five points are: Proper Exercise; Proper Breathing; Proper Relaxation; Proper Die; and Positive Thinking & Meditation.

The Four Paths of Yoga

The various Yogic practices have been traditionally classified into the four Margas (paths).

These four paths are:

Jnana Yoga or Jnana Marga which is the Yoga of wisdom and develops the Intellect or will
Bhakti Yoga, the Yoga of devotion, opens the heart
Karma Yoga, the path of action of selfless service.
Raja Yoga, the royal or psychological which involves the mind. A branch of Raja Yoga which is Hatha Yoga which prepares the Yogi for the higher stages of Raja Yoga. Sivananda Yoga, the Yoga of Synthesis

Swami Sivananda recognised that every Yogi, or human being for that matter, possesses and identifies with each of these elements: Intellect, heart, body and mind. He therefore advocated everyone to practice certain techniques from each path. This came to be known as the Yoga of Synthesis. He also taught that in accordance with individual temperament and taste one can emphasize the practice of certain Yogas over others.

Further reading: The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga by Swami Vishnu-devananda, Meditation and Mantras by the same author, Bliss Divine by Swami Sivananda.

http://www.sivananda.org/teachings/yoga.html

Responses to plastic pollution

http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2008/12/29/news0424.htm

After seeing through the dreadful negative effects, movements have already been launched against plastic pollution. For instance, a United States law, implementing an international agreement called MARPOL Annex V, became effective on December 31, 1988. It prohibits the disposal of plastics into the marine environment and requires ports to provide reception facilities for ship-generated plastic wastes. More recently, in response to increasing public concern over environmental hazards caused by plastic, many countries are conducting various solid waste management programmes including plastic waste reduction by development of bio-degradable plastic materials. Intensive research is going on for making the bio-degradable plastic. Some bio-degradable plastic materials which are under development include: 1. PHAs 2.Polylactdes 3.Alipahatic polyesters 4. Polysaccharides 5. Co- polymers. PHB is an example of 100% bio-degradable plastic. Approximately a dozen of inherently bio-degradable plastics are now in the market, with range of properties suitable for various consumer products. Besides, biotechnological processes are also being developed as an alternative to existing route or to get new bio-degradable biopolymers. In the mean time, a number of developed and developing countries across the world have formulated land enforced law banning on plastic bag use and other plastic products, such as plastic bag use in Bangladesh from 1st March 2002, plastic bags and other non-reusable plastic products in India, plastic bags in Somalia from 2005, free distribution of single-use plastic bags and disposable cutlery and dishes in Taiwan from January 2003. To discourage the use of plastic products, some countries have already raised increased tax on plastic products including Denmark from 1994, Germany from January 2002, Ireland from March 2002, South Africa from May 2003, and Switzerland from 2002 while some other countries are highly considering a plus tax on plastic products including United Kingdom, Kenya and Australia (Monir and Ahmed, 2005).

Reduction Strategies:Reducing plastic pollution is a little bit complicated job. It needs to make wide sense and awareness of the problem even to the individual level and to act to counter it accordingly. However, here are some control strategies that we can take to reverse the tide of toxic, non-biodegradable pollution so that it will not overtake our planet, the only home of living beings.

Personal Level:
- Take no plastic bags from the grocer's self.
- Refuse plastic bags at the check-out counter.
- Don't buy plastic sandwich bags.
- Buy beverages in sustainable containers like glass bottles or cans.
- Use water purifying device rather than to use plastic water bottle.
- Make a habit of thinking about what comes with each thing that you buy.
- Look for and reward Earth-friendly packaging choices, such as- buy greeting cards in paper boxes instead of clear plastic shells. Use pens that refill instead of landfill.
- Remove plastics from your office and business farms.
- Building the habit of keeping plastic out of water ways. - In case of shopping, use own bags or recycled paper bags.
- Always remember litter generates litter. We should not dispose of plastic in the sewerage system.
- At the beach dispose of plastic and other litter in the bins provided. If these facilities are inadequate, contact the local authority responsible and lodge a complaint. Take your litter back home with you if there are no receptacles on the beach. Pick up any plastic litter you may see on the beach or in the rock pools in the vicinity in which you are sitting or walking.
- In the street never throw plastic or other litter out of your car or drop it on the pavement or in the gutter.

Organizational and Institutional level:
- The plastic that can't be recycled not to be produced in the first place.
- Plastic wrappings and bags should carry a warning label stating the dangers of plastic pollution.
- Reduce the amount of plastic used in packaging which is usually immediately thrown away.
- The Fishing community should not throw away waste lines, net or plastic litter in water.
- Building a better recycling infrastructure. Only about three percent of plastics are recycled according to the US Environmental Protection Agency.
- Recycled plastic can be used to make things like trash cans, park benches, playground equipments, decks and kayaks.
- Special fleece-like fabrics used in clothes and blankets can be made out of recycled plastic bottles.
- Practice and promote proper disposal of plastics in home and at the beach.

National (Government) level:
- All nations should adopt a "zero plastic waste" policy.v Govt. should accelerate research into alternatives.
- To subsidize the makers of bio-plastics.
- Support and promote support for recycling schemes.
- Draft a law to control the use of plastic products. Ban the use of single-use disposable plastic products (cup, plate, bottle, box and cutely etc.).
- Raise plus tax on plastic products.v Reduce tax on environment-friendly alternatives to plastic products.
- In special areas, completely ban the use of polythene and plastic products, for instance in parks, by the sides of lakes, government offices and institutions.
- Raise public awareness concerning the harmful effects of plastic products and the benefits of their alternatives through the use of TV, radio and newspapers.Role of Media and Environ concerned

NGOs:
- Launch public awareness building programs against plastic products including seminars, symposium, human chain and workshop etc.
- Re-use of plastics should be encouraged.
- Through the mass media and directly inform of the members of the public and government about the harmful effects of the use of one time disposable plastic products.
- Work with the government to ensure enactment and enforcement of a law banning the use of one-time disposable plastic products, all polythene bags and the increase of taxes on the raw materials imported and used for plastic products.

Concluding Remarks:

To size up, plastic pollution is one of the worth-mentioning concerning environmental issues of today to the outside world and a potential threat to Bangladesh as well. Toxic plastic pollutes air, water and soil, kills wildlife, poisons seafood and sea floor, poses serious health hazards and could even exacerbate global warming. Even it could be creating new habitats that don't virtually suit living beings down to the ground. Under these circumstances, the problem of plastic pollution is serious and requires further urgent study. Yet, we should not go without realizing the eternal truth that plastic is not itself a problem. Rather it is more useful, popular and really fantastic because of its some appealing qualities which can be produced with relatively little damage to the environment. But truly problems are with us; problems are improper production process, uses and careless and unthoughtfully disposal of plastics and plastic products to the environment. Now, we all should build up a habit of thinking more in general as conscious consumption is not only good for the Earth but also for us and take necessary steps for plastic waste reduction, reuse and recycling. So let us brood over the issue in our own ways, do the duties and discharge responsibilities normally and ethically bestowed on us from our respective platforms towards a plastic pollution free environment and launch a campaign essential to a green and peaceful future in non-violent way.

(Muhammad Selim Hossain is B.Sc. (Hon's) final year student of the Dept. of Geography and Environment, University of Dhaka.)
http://www.enn.com/sci-tech/article/38956

Commentary by: Erin Brennan

When I look at the amount of plastic all around me, I sometimes shutter. I purposely avoid purchasing products that are prepackaged or come wrapped in plastic if at all possible, but still, it is everywhere. I have gotten rid of most of the plastic in my house, replacing it with ceramic or glass and even stainless steel. I do not buy water in plastic bottles, not only because of the plastic problem, but also due to the fact that plastics leech nasty xenoestrogens that I just do not want to consume.

I am appalled though, when I go to the grocery and people are still taking plastic bags and still asking for things to be double bagged. Some stores have begun offering biodegradable plastic bags, but even these are likely made from non-organic or even genertically modified corn. Most large grocery chains offer reusable grocery bags for about $1, many of them made from recycled plastic bottles. I wonder when the US is going to get with it and ban plastic bags, and paper bags, for that matter. For less than $1, anyone can purchase a large bag that can be used again and again. We are lagging behing the rest of the world on this matter. It is time for the leaders of the US to step up and admit that plastics are harmful - to humans and the environment - and to institute use reduction strategies.

This is no longer an issue that concerns only hippies and out-of-the-loop environmentalists. This concerns the general public and the world at large. We are faced not only with the problem of what to do with the mountains of plastic waste that we have created, but now we must also deal with the environmental and HEALTH ramifications of our actions. Plastics release chemicals and xenoestrogens into ecosystems and are causing birth defects and reproductive problems. This is not limited to only lowly animals on the food chain, easy for us to forget about. No, worldwide, birth defects to the genitals of male HUMAN babies have risen sharply. Plastics, and harsh chemical fertilizers are the cause of this. For more on this, read: Concern for the Male Population.

Get reusable grocery bags here:

http://www.rawganique.com/HAhsb3.htm (Hemp Bags)

http://www.reusablebags.com/ (Variety)

http://www.chicobag.com/ (Nylon ultra durable, attaches to keys)

Get stainless steel water bottles here:

http://www.newwaveenviro.com/stainless-c-8_13.html

http://www.kleankanteen.com/

Genetically Modified Crops Reach 9 Percent of Global Primary Crop Production

From: Worldwatch Institute
Published December 5, 2008 12:04 PM

Washington, D.C. - Genetically modified crops reached 9 percent of global primary crop production in 2007, bringing the total GM land area up to 114.3 million hectares, according to Worldwatch Institute estimates published in the latest Vital Signs Update. The United States continues to be the global leader in production, accounting for half of all GM crop area.
GM production has been on the rise since the crops were first introduced more than a decade ago, and it now includes 23 countries. But controversy over the benefits of genetic modification continues, including questions about the technology's ability to deliver on promises of enhanced yields and nutrition.

"GM crops are definitely not a silver bullet," said Alice McKeown, a researcher for the Worldwatch Institute. "They sound good on paper, but we have yet to see glowing results."
Even as GM crop area expands, tensions are building. The European Union is expected to offer new guidance on the crops by the end of the year. Meanwhile, a new scientific study funded by the Austrian government suggests that a popular variety of GM corn reduces fertility in mice, raising questions about the technology's safety.

"There are still many unanswered questions about GM crops," said McKeown. "But the good news is that we have solutions to food security and other problems available today that we know work and are safe for humans and the environment, including organic farming."

Bush's Environmental Legacy on GMOs

From: Organic Consumers Association
Published December 8, 2008 10:25 AM

In a few hundred thousand years, after all weather effects of 21st century climate change have disappeared from the earth's surface, after our quietly smoldering nuclear waste has been extinguished, two destructive impacts traceable to George Bush's policies will yet remain.
The first is extinctions. Species that have died out, including the subset resulting from Bush's environmental policies, will forever deprive our evolving biosphere of their contribution.
The second is genetically modified organisms (GMOs) -- animals, plants, bacteria, and viruses, who's DNA have been mixed and mangled by insertions from foreign species. Once released into the ecosystem, by intention or accident, the genetic pollution self-propagates. No recall by the Obama administration can clean up Mexico's indigenous corn varieties, now contaminated by our genetically modified (GM) corn. No executive order can remove or even identify the wild mustard plants now carrying altered genes bestowed on it by the pollen from its cousin, GM canola.

We all know stories that illustrate the exponential effects of invasive species. Here's my favorite, recalled in my book Genetic Roulette:

"On Christmas Day 1859, the Victorian Acclimatization Society released 24 rabbits into the Australian countryside so that settlers could hunt them for sport and feel more 'at home.' The rabbits multiplied to well over 200 million, spreading out over 4 million square kilometers. That Christmas present now costs Australian agriculture about $600 million per year." http://geneticroulette.com/
Will GMOs of today show up as the "Australian rabbits" of the future? While their impact on our ecosystem and diet is largely unstudied, that has not stopped the current and past administrations from presiding over the release of millions of acres of GM crops. Not only does each plant carry a gene from bacteria or viruses, its DNA has hundreds or thousands of mutations resulting from the disruptive process of genetic engineering. Reports suggest that the side effects of GMOs are quite dangerous. http://geneticroulette.com/

Bush policies institutionalize GMO contamination

If we were to ban GMOs today, as is more than justified, some contamination from commercialized GM food crops will nonetheless carry forward in the gene pool of those (and related) species. This includes contaminants from our largest farmed GM crops, including soybeans, yellow corn, cotton, and canola, as well as the smaller crops: Hawaiian papaya, zucchini, and crookneck squash. Newly added--in this year's harvest--are GM sugar beets and white corn. There are also GM tomatoes and potatoes no longer on the market, but whose genes and seeds, to some degree, continue to persist "out there." But the dirty laundry list actually includes over 100 different experimental GM crops, field trialed at more than 50,000 sites in the US since 1986.

Although the government is supposed to make sure that these trials won't contaminate the surrounding environment, a 2005 report by the USDA Office of Inspector General harshly condemned the USDA's abominable oversight. "Current regulations, policies, and procedures," said the report, "do not go far enough to ensure the safe introduction of agricultural biotechnology." The agency's weaknesses "increase the risk that regulated genetically engineered organisms will inadvertently persist in the environment."
But George Bush's pro-biotech response was to further weaken the agency's GMO oversight--and he's trying to do it quickly, before Obama steps in. The proposed ruling makes gene escape more likely, even from GM crops designed to produce pharmaceutical drugs and industrial chemicals.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeffrey-smith/www.aphis.usd...

Monsanto admits more contamination

As a backdrop to Bush's rushed proposal, Monsanto just admitted that an acre of its field trialed, not-yet-approved GM cottonseeds, was inadvertently harvested and mixed with approved cotton. It then entered our food chain as animal feed and cottonseed oil. Oops.
But the FDA, EPA, and USDA employed another of the Bush administration's institutionalized abdications of GMO oversight. They declared the cottonseed contamination safe, in spite of insufficient data to support their claim.
If Bush gets his new USDA rule into effect, let's hope Obama heeds the advice of the Union of Concerned Scientists, which "recommends that the new administration make revocation, revision and strengthening a top priority." http://www.ucsusa.org/news/press_release/GE-contamination...

No that won't fully clean up our altered gene pool. But it will start to contain the runaway long-term genetic pollution that is now out of control.

Beijing's New Year resolution: Scrap Polluting Cars

Published December 31, 2008 09:09 AM

(Reuters) - Beijing, beset by choking traffic and heavy air pollution, will take more than 350,000 high-polluting vehicles off inner city streets from Thursday, local media reported.
China's capital has banned cars from the roads on one out of five weekdays based on the number of license plates as part of a six-month trial in the wake of broader restrictions during the Olympic Games in August that cleared skies and eased congestion.
Drivers of high-emissions vehicles, known as "yellow-label" cars, would be fined 100 yuan ($15) if found to be driving within the city's Fifth Ring Road, a highway on Beijing's outskirts, after a three-month grace period, the Beijing News said.

The measure stands to take about 10 percent of the city's cars off the road. Beijing currently has about 3.5 million registered cars.
The government had also drafted a compensation scheme that will give drivers up to 25,000 yuan ($3,600) if they proactively give up their cars during 2009, the paper said.
The city would also provide preferential loans to shipping and transport companies to upgrade their vehicle fleets to meet low-emission standards, the paper said, citing the city's traffic bureau.

Beijing authorities have credited cleaner skies above the capital in recent months in part due to the traffic restrictions, as well as decreased emissions from shuttered factories in the city's outskirts.

Car ownership along with rising incomes has skyrocketed in Chinese cities in recent years, posing head-aches for town planners already struggling to build roads and public transport to meet burgeoning urban populations.

(Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Editing by Ian Ransom)

The 5 Step Beginner's Guide to Eating Raw Food

2009 is upon us. With the New Year almost here, many people are making resolutions to get healthy. The quickest and easiest path to health, in my opinion, is by changing one’s diet. We’ve all heard the phrase ‘you are what you eat’ and it holds true. Your body- your cells- are comprised of the foods you eat. If you eat healthy, fresh foods, you will have healthy cells; therefore, your overall health will be greater. If you eat nothing but junk food, your cells will be made up of junk food, and your health will surely decrease as will your ability to fight disease and infection. Many people ask me what they can do to improve their health and quality of life. My response is always the same: eat raw foods.

I am not insinuating that I think that everyone should become a vegan and eat 100% raw food. But I believe that anyone can benefit from implementing more raw foods into his or her daily diet. The 5 steps below are easy to follow and can help anyone desiring to switch to a raw foods diet.

1. Eat at least 50% raw foods.

I always tell people who are interested in eating raw to begin by making 50% of their diet raw plant foods. This includes vegetables, fruits (mostly low glycemic), nuts, seeds, and cold pressed unrefined oils. By starting with 50% raw rather than jumping to 75% or 100% raw immediately, one can get used to eating raw while still eating some cooked foods, hopefully healthy ones.

Rather than trying to quit cooked food cold turkey, gradually increase the amount of raw foods consumed. This allows for more time to adjust mentally and physically. A lot of mental stamina is involved in making any lifestyle change. There can be a lot of physical changes that occur when switching to a much healthier diet such as weight loss or weight gain (if underweight to start), changes in skin and hair, cravings, changes in digestion, etc. You do not want to overwhelm yourself too early on and end up giving up. Give yourself time to adjust to your new lifestyle.

2. Cut out refined sugar, bleached white flour, and table salt.

Refined sugar and table salt are essentially drugs. At the very least, they are processed much in the same way as drugs such as cocaine and heroin. Refined sugar and white flour both start out as grasses. Sugar cane can be very nutrient dense if grown in the right way. Both start off healthy enough, but after being refined many times, the end product does not even come close to resembling the original. Sugar is produced by cooking raw cane juice down to make molasses, then cooking the molasses down to make brown sugar, then by bleaching the brown sugar to make refined white sugar – which contains no nutrients and not only causes cavities, but feeds candida and cancer as well. Sea salt is full of vital minerals, but table salt is refined similarly to sugar and in the process loses its minerals. To make up for that, iodine is added back into the salt, but that does not make up for all of the other valuable trace minerals lost. Table salt can dehydrate, irritate edema and increase high blood pressure, but sea salt will not.

White flour does not contain the whole grain, only a fraction of it, and has once again, been bleached of all its nutrients. Often, the bleached white flour is then “enriched” with synthetic vitamins to supposedly make it healthier. All pre-ground flour is rancid. Seeds and grains contain volatile oils and should never be ground and then left to sit on a shelf and go bad. Gluten intolerances and celiac disease are becoming increasingly more common as a result of years of eating white bread or pastas made from bleached flour, which essentially turn to glue inside of the intestines.

3. Cut out meat and dairy.

If you are a meat eater and want to stay that way, drastically cut back on the amount of meat you consume. Eat pasture fed meat if any. Or learn to hunt. Factory farmed animals are corn rather than grass fed and are often very sickly and given multiple rounds of antibiotics, hormones, even steroids. I don’t know about you, but I certainly would not want to eat that!

Meat should never be the focal point of the meal, nor should you eat meat with every meal. I am not saying this for the sake of my little furry friends, rather for your health. Years of eating meat can increase cholesterol (which is actually necessary in the small amounts that your body makes), clog arteries, and cause heart attacks. Just ask my grandfather who has had multiple heart attacks, a quadruple by-pass surgery, and an angioplasty what his diet consisted of most of his life. And he even ate vegetables! (Granted they were cooked in lard.)

Cow’s milk is for baby cows. Period. It is not made for humans to consume. I do not understand why people find this so hard to grasp. No sane adult would ever think of drinking milk from a nursing human mother, so why do people think it is ‘natural’ to drink cow’s milk? Most people are actually (biologically) lactose intolerant to some extend. Dairy is difficult to digest, causes mucus, and like wheat, can become thick and gluey in the intestines. Dairy is full of hormones and antibiotics too, along with a lot of other nasty things that come out of the cow when it is milked. Commercial dairy is pasteurized, killing any enzymes that would enable you to properly digest the milk, cheese or yogurt.

The practice of taking milk from animals developed during a time when it was hard to find and grow enough food to feed the family, tribe, or village. The animals were well taken care of and loved, and the milk products were consumed raw. If you choose to eat dairy, then eat local, raw cheese or milk. In many states, raw milk cannot be sold in stores, so you may have to visit an actual farm to get the milk, but many health food stores sell local raw milk cheeses. The raw dairy still contains lactase, the enzyme which digests lactose, and usually the small time farmers do not give their cows antibiotics or hormones and they may even be free range or pastured.

4. Find your support group.

There are raw food potlucks popping up all over the country. A raw potluck is a great place to meet new raw friends, to share recipes, and to try new dishes. It helps to be able to talk to others who are going through the same lifestyle change as you, or to get advice from people who have gone before you. If you cannot find a raw potluck in your area, you can always start one yourself or at the very least, attend a vegetarian or vegan potluck, especially if you are transitioning to raw foods from SAD (Standard American Diet).

5. Do NOT give up.

You may not be able to be all raw right away, or ever. Everyone is different, and everyone transitions at a different pace. Be patient with yourself. If you slip up and eat something you know you shouldn’t have or are trying to avoid, the worst thing you can do is to get upset with yourself. Guilt and shame can be just as unhealthy as poor diet and lack of exercise. Instead, resolve to stay strong.

Keep healthy, raw snacks on hand at all times to help you fight cravings. It is much easier to resist junk food or cooked comfort foods if you already have something healthy in your stomach. Learn to listen to your body and give it what it needs nutritionally, and in time, you will be able to overcome cravings and stay in control.

Photo: http://healthwellnesspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/raw-food.jpg

5 Ways to Stay Raw for the Holidays

Staying raw during the holiday season can be difficult. We are surronded by many tempting foods, the smells of which send us into a nostalgic state of longing for cooked comfort foods. Even though we know we don't really want to eat those foods, and even though we know we will just be tired and sluggish afterward, the temptation still exists. On top of all that, we are surrounded by friends and family who "just don't understand why you don't eat like a normal person." While often loving people, family can be very unsupportive of your "abnormal" eating habbits. While they may mean well, only having your best interests in mind, spending time around family and friends who are not exactly open to the world of raw foods can be disheartening. The holidays are stressful enough without having to deal with being poked and prodded by family memebers. I have discovered, the hard way, that openly airing my differences in lifestyle and eating habbits is not always the best thing to do at a holiday get together. The holidays used to be very hard to survive - I spent most of my time explaining over and over again to each new person who walked through the door what "weird" diet thing I was doing that year. I have gotten a little wiser, and have figured out how to survive the holidays with my nerves and diet intact. Here are five easy steps to follow to stay raw this holiday season.

1. Bring a raw dish with you.

Don't expect the host or hostess to provide a separate meal to fit your specific dietary needs. He or she may not fully understand the terms vegetarian, vegan, or raw. Many times I went to parties under the assumption that there would be vegan food for me only to discover that all of the dishes contained chicken broth or beef bullion (while some cooks mean well, to them, no meat or dairy did not include broth).

If you bring a dish with you, you ensure that you will have plenty to eat and some to share if anyone is interested. Don't push your food on anyone unwilling to try it though. That brings me to my next point.

2. Do NOT push your beliefs about diet and lifestyle onto anyone else.

No matter how passionate you are about something, some people will always be resistant to things that they do not understand. This does not mean that they are bad people, they are just missing out. Not everyone will welcome your damnation of the meat and dairy industies, and I'm sure Mom or Grandma will not appreciate you talking bad about cooked food after she spent three days making a delicious and possibly very unhealthy meal for the entire family.

If someone happens to ask, and shows genuine interest, then by all means, explain away. It is probably best in this case if you stick to the health benefits of eating raw rather than sliming other ways of eating. People generally respond better to information about how your health has improved and your skin has cleared up than condemnations of their particular lifestyle. The more you push, the more others will resist.

If negative attention is not what you wish to attract from your family during the holidays, I suggest avoiding standing on your soap box. While we all want to share our amazing way of healthful eating with everyone we love, not everyone is open to or ready to receive that information.

3. Have your own raw holiday celebration.

Having a celebration at your house and inviting all of your vegetarian, vegan, and raw friends is a great way to enjoy raw versions of all of your favorite holiday dishes. A holiday themed raw potluck is sure to be a lot of fun, include many delicious dishes, and provide support during the time when you need it most - when the temptation to eat cooked holiday food is strong.

4. Keep snacks with you at all times.

Whether out shopping or at Grandma's, the smell of baking cookies and sugar cookie scented candles are enough to drive any sworn raw foodist mad. To fight off any temptation you might have, keep a variety of snacks with you at all times. I don't have a single raw friend who shows up at a party or social event empty handed. We get pretty used to not having the option of buying a biscotti at the coffee shop or munching on the finger food at a party. I always have a variety of fruit, nuts, and trail mix of some sort in my bag.

I suggest carrying a few different snacks. You never know what kind of craving will hit you. I like to have options too. I prefer to have something salty to snack on before the big dinner. It's also nice to have something sweet to munch on when everyone else at the holiday gathering is eating pie or cookies for dessert.

5. Don't give up if you fall off the wagon.

Eating raw should not cause so much stress in your life that you beat yourself up over a little slip up. The negative effects of guilt and shame felt as a result of eating some cooked food are just as bad, of not worse for you than the food itself. If you eat some cooked food, no big deal. Don't worry about it. Pop some digestive enzymes, drink some kombucha, and at least enjoy it. Don't let something little ruin your entire holiday celebration.

If you happen to not be able to stay raw during the holidays, just pick up where you left off at the start of the new year. New Years is a time of new beginings, and putting the past behind us.

Follow these simple steps this holiday season, and you are sure to survive the holidays, raw diet intact.

If you need some ideas for holiday-themed raw recipes, visit:
http://www.livingblissfoods.com
or email:
info@livingblissfoods.com

A Little Bit About Raw Food

Deciding to make a positive change in your health and wellbeing can be difficult in the fast-food, convenience store filled world that we live in, but it can also be one of the most life-changing, rewarding decisions you will ever make. Choose to look at eating raw not as a diet, but as a lifestyle. The more often and longer you eat raw and living food, the more that you will find your life has been transformed in ways you never imagined possible.

Raw food and living food includes whole, unprocessed, and unheated foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, raw nuts and seeds, cold-pressed oils, and often sprouted seeds and grains. Generally, foods are not heated above 105 to 115 degrees. Past this point, enzymes necessary for the proper digestion of the food are destoyed and the nutritional profile of the food is compromised.

When you eat raw foods, you eat food that:

Is in its most delicious, healthy, and natural state!
Contains no preservatives
Contains no artificial flavoring, coloring, or dyes
Contains no processed ingredients, refined sugar, or table salt
Is gluten, dairy, and meat free

Raw foodists are not alone in their desire to eat healthy, fresh, unprocessed food. Raw food guru and author, David Wolfe, estimates that "at least 1 million people in the USA embrace some aspect of the raw-food diet, based upon traffic at various Web sites and the 100,000-plus copies of his book, The Sunfood Diet Success System, that have been sold since 1999," (1).

1. "Healthful, Raw-food Trend is Picking Up Steam", Jerry Shriver, USA TODAY

For more information about raw food and the raw food lifestyle, visit:
Living Bliss Raw and Living Whole Foods

Sunfood Nutrition

The Winter Solstice

Today, December 21, 2008, is the day of the Winter Solstice for the Northern Hemisphere. The actual Soltice event occured at 12:04 AM (UTC - Coordinated Universal Time). Today is the official beginning of winter.

A solstice is an Astronomical event that occurs twice a year - once in the summer, the longest day of the year, and once in the winter, the shortest day of the year. This is due to the fact that the tilt of the Earth on its axis is either greatest or least toward the sun, causing the sun to reach the northern or southern hemisphere. The word solstice is derived from the Latin sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still), because at the solstices, the Sun's apparent movement north or south comes to a standstill.

In another sense, the solstices along with the eqinoxes (which occur in the Spring and Fall) are representative of the seasons. In some languages, the solstices and exinoxes represent the changing of seasons, and in others they are said to be the center or midpoint of the season. It is also important to note that the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere is Winter Soltice in the Southern, and that the Summer Soltice in the Southern Hemisphere would be the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere.

2009 Equinox and Solstice Days and Times
Equinox (Spring) March 20 11:44
Solstice (Summer) June 21 5:45
Equinox (Autumn) September 22 21:18
Solstice(Winter) December 21 17:47

LEED Certification and Green Design

LEED Certification and Green Design
by Erin Brennan

LEED Certification is a Green Building Rating System developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

LEED buildings are third-party independently certified and are "the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings," (1). LEED offers certification for new building designed to meet green standards. LEED also certifies older buildings which have been redesigned or remodeled to meet certain criteria making them more energy efficient. LEED offers certification standards for commercial interiors, schools, healthcare facilities, and retail outlets, as well as homes, apartment buildings, and condominiums. Through the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED offers neighborhood development, design, and planning focused on sustainability and smart growth (1).

LEED certification indicates a property’s sustainability by awarding points for almost any different element of 'green design'. Sustainable features such as energy-efficient lighting and low-flow plumbing fixtures, rainwater collection and reuse systems, and even bicycle racks are all given points. The points are then totaled to award different levels of LEED certification ranging from Silver and Gold to Platinum, the highest (2).

LEED programs are used by "architects, real estate professionals, facility managers, engineers, interior designers, landscape architects, construction managers, lenders and government officials," (1). Municipal and State Governments are beginning to use LEED to plan and construct public buildings from libraries to police stations. Government agencies at the federal level are using LEED as well. LEED projects are in progress in 41 countries around the world (1).

LEED certification provides third-party verification that a building or project meets both green building and performance criteria. The benefits to LEED certification are both environmental and financial in nature(1).

According to the U.S. Green Building Council,
LEED-certified buildings:
•Lower operating costs and increased asset value.
•Reduce waste sent to landfills.
•Conserve energy and water.
•Healthier and safer for occupants.
•Reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
•Qualify for tax rebates, zoning allowances and other incentives in hundreds of cities.
•Demonstrate an owner's commitment to environmental stewardship and social responsibility.

According to a study done by the CoStar Group, a Commercial Real Estate Information Group, LEED certified buildings outperform similar non-green buildings in not only energy efficiency, but sale price, rental rates, and even occupancy. Sometimes the margins are pretty large. According to the CoStar study, LEED building have rent premiums on average $11.33 higher per square food than non-green buildings and have over 4% higher occupancy rates. Additionally, buildings certified by EnergyStar (another energy efficiency rating system) sell for an average of $61 more per square foot than non-green buildings. However, LEED certified buildings astonishingly sell for an average of $171 more per square foot than non-green buildings (2). According to Andrew Florance, president and CEO of CoStar, "Green buildings are clearly achieving higher rents and higher occupancy, they have lower operating costs, and they’re achieving higher sale prices," (2).

LEED has emerged as the building industry’s top sustainability rating system above the possibly better know EnergyStar, and has become virtually synonymous with the term 'green building'. For this reason, "There’s a bit of urgency now that the value of buildings could be affected if they are not LEED-certified," says Mark Bennett, a senior attorney with the Miller Canfield law firm which specializes in green building and climate change issues (2). According to the National Green Building Finance and Investment Forum, a conference involving financial sector and property investment leaders, "If you’re building today without LEED, you’re building in obsolescence," (2).

1. U.S. Green Building Council, http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CategoryID=19
2. CoStar Group, http://www.costar.com/News/Article.aspx?id=D968F1E0DCF73712B03A099E0E99C679

The MOST important Yoga Pose you are NOT doing

by Brandon Gilbert

Headstand, or shirsasana, is the King of Yogic asanas. Simply put, an asana is a yogic posture or body position.

When doing headstand the body is completely inverted and held upright supported by the forearms, while the crown of the head rests lightly on the floor.

This process of inversion is what makes headstand so powerful, particularly because it reverses the flow of gravity. Usually gravity is pulling us down and compressing our bodies, yet when we do inversions this process is completely reversed. So instead of working against us, gravity is working for us by decompressing our bodies and reversing the flow of the circulatory and lymphatic system.

What are the benefits of headstand?

Regardless of the style or level of yoga your practice, inversions revitalize and rejuvenate your whole system. Turning your body upside down reverses the effects of gravity and floods your vital organs and brain with nourishment. The pineal and pituitary glands are activated, balancing the hormones. By elevating the legs, circulation, venous return, and lymph drainage are improved, and strain and fatigue are relieved. Inversions also aid in sleep, evoke calm, quiet, and soothe the nerves.

Doing inversions and spending some time upside down everyday is one of the best things you could possibly do for yourself. Inversions are basically an elixir of life.

Gravity's effects

Gravity slowly but surely weighs us down and saps our strength. We stand, sit, or walk with head above the heart, legs and pelvis underneath. As the years rack up, so do the damages. Subcutaneous fat sags. Varicose veins and hemorrhoids erupt. Weary of incessantly pumping blood through its vast circulatory network, the heart falters. According to Payne, the ancient yogis called gravity "the silent enemy." The yogi performs a martial-arts sleight-of-hand: Upend oneself and enlist gravity's power to arrest the ravages of that self-same force.

The human body is sensitive to the fluctuations of gravity because it consists of more than 60 percent water. From the skin in, the body is dense with cells, floating in a bath of intercellular fluid. A complex network of vessels weaves in and around every cell, steadily moving fluids through valves, pumps, and porous membranes, dedicated to transporting, nourishing, washing, and cleansing.

According to David Coulter, Ph.D., who taught anatomy at the University of Minnesota for 18 years, when one inverts, tissue fluids of the lower extremities drain—far more effectively than when one is asleep. Areas of congestion clear. In a 1992 Yoga International article on Headstand and the circulatory system, Coulter wrote: "If you can remain in an inverted posture for just 3 to 5 minutes, the blood will not only drain quickly to the heart, but tissue fluids will flow more efficiently into the veins and lymph channels of the lower extremities and of the abdominal and pelvic organs, facilitating a healthier exchange of nutrients and wastes between cells and capillaries."

According to Sivananda “Sirshasana(headstand) is really a blessing and a nectar. Words will fail to adequately describe its beneficial results and effects. In this Asana alone, the brain can draw plenty of Prana and blood. Memory increases admirably. Lawyers, occultists and thinkers will highly appreciate this Asana. This leads to natural Pranayama and Samadhi by itself. No other effort is necessary. If you watch the breath, you will notice it becoming finer and finer. In the beginning of practice there will be a slight difficulty in breathing. As you advance in practice, this vanishes entirely. You will find real pleasure and exhilaration of spirit in this Asana.”

The Four Systems

Endocrine System

The headstand a favorable reconditioning effect on endocrine gland secretion (Copeland, 1975), to enable it to withstand greater stress and strain (Kuvalyananda & Vinekar, 1963). Inversions done accurately are always relaxing and reduce stress and strain. The blood circulation to the brain is improved in Sirsasana; the sluggish cells are rejuvenated and the brain being the seat of intelligence is stimulated. It also stimulates the pituitary and pineal glands on which the growth, health and vital strength of a person depends.

Nourishes and stimulates the pituitary and pineal glands. In particular, Headstand provides refreshed blood and bathes and nourishes the hypothalamus, pineal gland and the pituitary gland. These glands play an important role in the endocrine system. The endocrine system uses hormones to regulate the metabolism of the cells. Our growth, health and vitality depend on the proper functioning of these two glands that control the chemical balance of the body. The secretions of the pituitary regulate sexual characteristics and growth of the reproductive organs. It also regulates the function of adrenal, thyroid and the ovaries. It is the hormone which stimulates the production of milk in nursing mothers. Thus, pituitary is the master gland which plays a very important role in regulating menstruation and pregnancy. The inverted postures in turn regulate the functioning of this master gland.

Circulatory System

Inversion exercises the heart and encourages venous return. Inversions do much the same for the body that aerobic exercise does. According to author Elaine N. Marieb, "The important factor stretching cardiac muscle is the amount of blood returning to the heart (venous return) and distending its ventricles"(Human Anatomy & Physiology 4th edition, Benjamin/Cummings Science Publishing, 1998 p 679.) Inversions use gravity to bring more blood to the heart - turning yourself upside down encourages venous return (Iyengar, 1991; Werner, 2004; Raman, 2004). .

Reduces heart strain. Normally, your heart works against gravity; inverting your entire body in the headstand lessens the strain on your heart. The heart works persistently to ensure that freshly oxygenated blood makes its way up to the brain and its sensory organs. When inverting, the pressure differential across the body is reversed, and blood floods to the brain with little work from the heart (Iyengar, 1991; Werner, 2004; Raman, 2004).

Minimise fatigue and brain tissue degeneration. Headstand allows a plentiful supply of oxygen-rich blood to reach your head and brain (Sivananda, 2004) - Increasing the blood flow through the brain cells increases your thinking power, clarity, memory, concentration, and the sensory faculties (Iyengar, 1991, pg 190) and moreover minimises brain tissues do not degeneration (Raman, 2004). Fatigue of the brain cells which occurs as part of everyday life will not occur with regular daily practice of Head stand. This is due to the rejuvenation of the brain cells with fresh blood and O2 (Raman, 2004).

Lymphatic System

The headstand also importantly increases circulation and drainage of lymphatic fluid.

Fluid build up reduced. Lymph, like the blood returning to your heart via the veins, is dependent upon muscular movement and gravity to facilitate its return. Thus, in the headstand, lymph fluid is relieved from the legs and ankles and with regular practice prevents the buildup of fluid in the legs and feet.

Because the lymphatic system is a closed pressure system and has one-way valves that keep lymph moving towards the heart, when one turns upside down, the entire lymphatic system is stimulated, thus strengthening your immune system.

Nervous System

Headstand stimulates the nervous system.

Headstand increases mental alertness and clarity. The immediate change felt after performing this pose is an enhanced alertness which lasts through the day.

Soak brain fresh blood. The most important aspect of inverted poses is to soak the brain with blood for a fixed period of time which never happens in other systems of exercises. According to Dr Raman (Raman, 2004):

“This rejuvenates the brain cells and prevents age related cerebral atrophy. Senile changes in brain are prevented. And as mentioned before ischemic strokes can be completely prevented as the blood supply is enhanced without pressure.”

Calms the brain and helps relieve stress and mild depression. It is a centering, calming and soothing pose. A cooling effect is felt on the face in the pose.

Respiratory System

Inversions also ensure healthier and more effective lung tissue. When standing or sitting upright, gravity pulls our fluids earthward, and blood "perfuses" or saturates the lower lungs more thoroughly. The lower lung tissue is thus more compressed than the upper lungs. As a result, the air we inhale moves naturally into the open alveoli of the upper lungs. Unless we take a good, deep breath, we do not raise the ration of air to blood in the lower lungs. When we invert, blood perfuses the well-ventilated upper lobes of the lungs, thus ensuring more efficient oxygen-to-blood exchange and healthier lung tissue, oxygen consumption and blood flow (Jevning et al, 1983).

When done properly, headstand helps the spine become properly aligned, improving posture, facilitating good breathing and reducing muscular stress. The inversion rests the lungs which feel refreshed. The vital capacity increases as the lungs learn to breathe against the strain of the body organs resting on it in the posture (Raman, 2004).

Digestive System

Increase heat and improves digestion. Headstand increases gastric fire and produces heat in the body.

Tones and cleans digestive organs. The weight of the abdominal organs on the diaphragm encourages deep breathing, which gently massages the internal organs. By reversing the pull of gravity on the organs, especially the intestines, it helps to cleanse them by releasing congested blood in the jejunum and colon. Fresh warm blood invigorates the cells and overcome problems of the liver, kidneys, stomach, intestines and reproductive system (Raman, 2004).

Constipation eliminated. The change in posture enhances peristaltic contractions and aids good elimination. Constipation is eliminated provided the water and fiber content of the diet are normal (Raman, 2004).

A note of caution

When trying headstand it is important to be properly prepared. By preparing properly and being extremely mindful of proper body alignment, you can significantly reduce your risk of injury. Other things to keep in mind when trying inversions are the strength of the neck, pre-existing injuries or conditions such as high blood pressure, glaucoma or detached retina. Women who are pregnant or menstruating should not practice these poses. If you're new to inversions, I'd recommend practicing them under the guidance of an experienced yoga teacher.

In closing

If you find headstand too daunting then follow this link to learn about some simpler yoga inversions.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/3417110/Yoga-Inversions


References:

http://www.nshouseofyoga.com/Article-Inversions.htm

http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Yoga-Inversions/591088

http://www.yoga.net.au/benefits2/

To read more from Brandon Gilbert, visit: http://brandon-gilbert.blogspot.com/

The Failing U.S. Economy is Not a Financial Problem, It's a Health Problem

by: Mike Adams, NaturalNews Editor
Thursday, December 18, 2008

(NaturalNews) The shutdown of the American economy has begun. Today Chrysler announced it would shutter 100% of its factories for one month as it seeks bailout money from the Federal Reserve. The Fed, meanwhile, slashes its interest rates to zero, even while promising to print unlimited trillions of new dollars in order to "save" the U.S. economy.

Meanwhile, the state of California has announced it would halt all infrastructure projects (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/18/us/18...), meaning that the construction and maintenance of bridges, roads and schools will be abandoned until new money can be found.

On the same day, the U.S. dollar plummeted to a 13-year low against the Yen. Investors around the world are realizing the dollar is doomed, and they're increasingly betting against it. (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=...)
Earlier this week, an important international meeting of heads of state was held in Latin America. The most notable fact about this meeting is that the USA was not invited.

The power and influence of the United States of America is rapidly plummeting, and the closing down of Chrysler's factories is a major warning sign that the U.S. economy, which has long operated on financial vapor, has begun an unprecedented reconfiguration that could mean the end of the dollar as a world currency and the final gutting of America's long-doomed manufacturing industry.

Why the health of the People determines the fate of the economy

In other countries, workers are willing to work for less money, executives are aggressive and well educated, and companies aren't burdened with out-of-control health care costs that have been enforced by the Big Pharma / FDA conspiracy that seeks to keep Americans diseased and medicated.

The upshot is that, in many ways, America can no longer compete on the world stage, and it is now suffering the predictable effects of an economy built on mass consumer poisoning and the continuation of disease...

To read the rest of "The Failing U.S. Economy is Not a Financial Problem, It's a Health Problem", please visit: http://www.naturalnews.com/025120.html

Commentary by Erin Brennan

Thank you, Mike Adams, for another provocative and thrilling article. While I agree with many points that Adams makes in this article, I think that he is forgetting one key point, which I will discuss a little later. I agree that the pharmaceutical industry's reign needs to come to an end. We live in an over-medicated society, and the FDA is more than willing to push through even the most deadly drugs without proper testing (see my article "Avoiding Animal Cloning" for a great example). I agree that as a society, we are purposely kept diseased. Keeping the masses sick and medicated is a genius way for doctors and pharmaceutical companies to ensure a constant revenue flow. I also agree that healthy workers will be much more productive in the workplace and will cost companies far less in healthcare costs and sick days. I agree that more money would be available in our unstable economy if the rates of cancer and chronic disease in this country went down.

The part of this that I do not agree with however, is Adams' suggestion of how to go about making changes in the overall health of our society. I think that education is key here - along with ending the corruption of the FDA and the pharmeceudical industry. However, we can NOT force people to make healthier food choices. We can make healthier food choices more available and more affordable. We can NOT make people stop taking pharmeceutical drugs and over the counter medications. We can make alternative, holistic care and natural medicine more widely accepteded and supported, by our govenment and insurance companies alike. History has proven that you cannot take away the right of the people to choose to injest substances that are harmful to their health and well-being. Just look at the prohibition of alcohol at the turn of the last century and the current "War on Drugs" that has cost billions upon billions of dollars; Dollars which could have been spent ensuring that all Americans have access to nutritious and healthy food choices rather than soft drinks, french fries, and burgers. People seems to always resist what is forced onto them, whether it is in their own best interest or not.

We cannot expect our govenment to make an about face and suddenly start pushing natural and healthly choices in the faces of Americans, just as they have for many years with the pharmeceutical industy and modern medical care. We cannot expect that, in a short period of time, grocery stores will just rearrange their shelves, with healthy items on display and not-so-healthy items at the bottoms of the shelves. Grocery stores will begin to do so when natural, healthy food items start selling as well as oreos and cheetoes. That means that is up to us to become educated consumers. I always tell people to vote with their dollar. The dollar always seems to win in the end, and as long as Americans continue to buy into the advertisements from the junk food and pharmaceutical industries, that is what will continue to be made available.

I think that a major part of the problem is that many people operate under the misconception that eating healthier and/or taking herbs and supplements is more expensive that eating the way they currently do. Maybe this is true when you only look at the short-term cost. It costs less right now, in this moment, to buy junk food and processed food items, but when you factor in the long term costs of health care for diet and lifestyle related disease, it becomes very apparent that is not, in fact, more expensive to lead a healthier lifestyle.

I have to admit, though, even though I am a strong supporter of freedom of speech and think that everyone has the duty to educate him or herself enough to make wise decisions regarding health, etc. - I think that advertising junk foods and medications during children’s programs and allowing junk and soda machines in schools is outrageous and needs to stop. Children are very influential and may not necessarily understand why, physiologically, junk food and sodas can harm them. Adults should care enough about themselves and their children to make healthy decisions, but I think that it is safe to say that no one wants to live in a world where they are forced to eat health food. Healthier food choices should be made more affordable and available, but dramatically changing from one extreme of junk food and pharmaceutical drugs to another of naturopathic medicine and health food is not likely. The FDA has done its best to ensure that Americans believe that herbs and natural supplements are either unsafe or will not make them any healthier, despite research done in other parts of the world to the contrary. Gradual change made through education, awareness, and making better food choices available is more likely to work.

While I am hopeful, like Adams, that our government will begin to support more natural health initiatives, sadly, I lost faith long ago. I am fearful that the corruption of the FDA, the pharmaceutical corporations, and our government run so deep that the only way to recover from their virtual monopoly on "healthcare" is for the system to completely crumble before being rebuilt anew. They own the healthcare system in this country and they are not going to go down without a fight.

Holy Basil: The Incomparable One

Holy Basil, the sacred herb...

Holy Basil, also known as Tulsi, is sacred and a principle herb in the Indian system of Ayurvedic medicine. In the ancient scriptures the Padma purana and the Tulsi Kavacham, Tulsi is described as a protector of life (1). Tulsi is also called "The Queen of Herbs" in India.

Holy Basil is held in such high esteem in Ayurveda that everyday use is encouraged. The ancient rishis integrated the use of Tulsi into daily life by incorporating it in religious rituals (1). The holy basil plant is sacred in India and is venerated daily by Hindus who usually have a potted plant in the home.

From ancient teaching to modern science...

Holy Basil is said to balance the chakras, or the energy vortexes of the body. The chakra system of Ayurveda, an idea similar to the meridian system of Tradtional Chinese Medicine, can become unbalanced or contain blockages which prevent the flow of energy from chakra to chakra. When blockages exist, mental, physical, and spiritual health is diminished. Tulsi is also said to calm the mind and body(1).

Scientific research is proving what the ancients knew to be true about this amazing herb. Holy Basil is classified as an adaptogen. "An adaptogen is an herb that is used to increase the body's resistance to stress, trauma, anxiety and fatigue," (2). Holy Basil, and other adaptogens, are "nontoxic in normal doses, produce a general defensive response against stress, and have a normalizing influence on the body. Adaptogens balance the systems of the body (maintain homeostasis)," (2). Just as the ancients recongnized the ability of Tulsi to balance the charkas, scientists are now recognizing the ability of the herb to balance the systems of the body represented by the chakras.

Holy Basil has been shown to reduce cortisol levels in the body. Cortisol is a stress hormone. Elevated cortisol levels result from stress, whether physical or mental in nature as the body does not physiologically differentiate stress. Just as the ancients knew that Tulsi calms the mind and body, scientists now know that by lowering cortisol levels in the body, that Holy Basil can help to relieve stress and anxiety.

The Incomparable One…

Holy Basil is a cure-all of sorts in Ayurveda. Tulsi is used to treat everything from colds and flu to digestive upset and bloating (3). The plant is cleansing to the respiratory tract and protects cells from radiation. The oil of the plant has antiseptic qualities and protects against disease caused by bacteria, fungi, and parasites (3).

I agree that Holy Basil is the incomparable one. Of all of the herbs used in Ayurveda, Tulsi is my favorite. I drink Tulsi tea on a daily basis and take a holy basil tincture when I am under great stress. I notice a calming, normalizing effect on my physical body and over my emotions. Holy basil makes me feel balanced and uplifted in the face of stress and anxiety. I recommend dinking holy basil tea daily. Organic India makes a wonderful line of Tulsi teas. They are all organic and come in many delicious flavors. I also recommend taking a high quality tincture. Two excellent formulas containing holy basil are Shen Formula and Ganges Dream, both by Jing Masters.

1. "Holy Basil", http://www.organicindia.com/tulsi-holy-basil.php
2. "Lost Secrets of the Ancients: Adaptogens", Brennan, Erin, http://erinbrennan.blogspot.com/2008/12/lost-secret-of-ancients-adaptogens.html
3. "Tulsi (Holy Basil)", http://www.chopra.com/tulsi

Increasing Energy Efficiency - Winterizing the House

A simple way to go green at home and to save money on expensive heating bills this winter is to insulate your windows. Most older, single pane glass windows are incredibly energy inefficient. Windows can either leak heat to the outside or, due to poor seals, allow cold air to blow inside.

We have recently taken up the task of weather-proofing our house for the winter. Once the weather turned cold, we realized how poorly insulated our home is and how drafty our windows are. We moved into this house at the end of the summer, so we rarely used our air conditioning and did not turn on our heat until it was absolutely necessary. Once we did, however, we realized that our house was being bombarded by cold drafts coming from the windows - which are probably from 1970 or earlier. Many of the windows do not even seal properly.

We found some cheap and easy to install supplies at the hardware store and sealed our windows to keep the warm in and the cold out. We bought foam piping to plug the area between the window sill and the frame and we got weather stripping for our doors. We also bought plastic sheeting to tape over our windows. Window insulating kits are available, but are much more expensive as you have to buy one for each window. We probably spent about $10 total on supplies which, by this point, I'm sure have paid for themselves in savings to our energy bill.

We researched thermal curtains, which are essentially very thick double layered curtains meant to keep heat or cold from penetrating. The cheapest we could find a panel for was about $20 each. At this price, it would have cost us upwards of $400 to purchase curtains for every window in our house. Instead, I visited the fabric store and found double layered upholstery fabric in many different styles and patterns in the clearance area. I chose some nice, neutral colors, and for about $130 I bought enough fabric to make curtains for each window in our house - and a slipcover for our couch.

So far, it seems that our winterizing efforts have paid off. Our house is much warmer than before and now I don't have to wear my coat inside to be comfortable. Thanks to the insulation and the thick curtains, our windows are no longer drafty. I feel certain that our investment of about $150 total (window insulation, fabric, and curtain rods) will pay for itself in savings to our winter heating bills.

Concern for the Male Population

by Susanne Morrone, C.N.C.

(NaturalNews) Canada’s national newspaper, The Globe and Mail, reports something is happening to men and boys which concerns scientists and researchers: fewer boys are being born than girls. How far-reaching is this problem? In a study by Dr. Devra Davis of the University of Pittsburgh, the combined figures for U.S. and Japan is a “staggering tally of 262,000 ‘missing boys’ from 1970 to about 2000 because of a decline in the sex ratio at birth.”Scientists are also puzzled why there is a lopsided ratio of girls to boys being born in the Canada's Aamjiwnaang First Nation. Interestingly enough, this community is almost surrounded by petrochemical plants. In Canadian babies, hypospadiasis has increased by 60% since the mid-1970’s. This is a disfiguring defect, where the urinary opening is on the underside of the penis rather than its normal anatomical position. Other countries are seeing an increase in this condition as well.From 1983 to 2005, young Canadian males in the 20 to 44 age bracket have seen a 54 per cent rise in testicular cancer. Testosterone levels in U.S. men have declined by nearly 20% over the past two decades. Both fertility and virility rates are down, including the shrinking size of male gonads.There’s a definite parallel in the animal kingdom. Man-made chemical toxins frequently assault males of different species with fiercer effects. Amphibians such as male toads are being feminized.University of Florida zoologist, Dr. Theo Colborn, author of “Our Stolen Future” and president of the Colorado-based Endocrine Disruption Exchange, offered her expert opinion. She fears some chemicals are impeding normal brain development, with greater impact on males. As an example, she cites attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder as two to four times greater in boys than girls. She also feels chemical exposures could explain why enrollment at U.S. and Canadian universities favors females, currently at 60 to 40 per cent.The environmental impacts of phthalates in plastic inhibit testosterone production and possibly may cause irregular genital development. Brominated flame-retardants may block the thyroid hormone critical to proper development of both the testes and the brain. University of Missouri professor, Dr. vom Saal, said, “This mishmash of synthetic hormones - leading to too much estrogen and too little testosterone and thyroid hormone - is making "a mess of sexual development in males." He conducted studies relative to sperm health comparing various geographic locations. A markedly lower sperm count in males from farming areas verses urban areas suggests pesticides are to blame.Of the world’s 100,000 registered chemicals, many are endocrine disruptors, exhibiting toxic hormonal effects along with carcinogenicity. Even in mere parts per million, these chemicals can upset the intricate working of human hormones. Xenoestrogens are found in DDT and other organophosphate pesticides, PCB’s, plastics, bisphenol A, DES, as well as mercury and uranium. They’re in our food and the air we breathe. This continuing chemical assault from pesticide applications is taking a serious health toll. There is good reason to be pro-active in lessening these assaults as much as possible, and the effects upon men and boys is obviously a major one.

Source for this story:
Canada’s National Newspaper, The Globe and Mail
“Humanity at Risk: Are The Males Going First?” September 20, 2008

http://www.naturalnews.com/025076.html

Commentary by Erin Brennan

This article highlights the scary reality that plastics and chemical waste products are endangering not only the environment and the lives of animals, but the human species as well. Plastics, waste and by-products from processing plants, and chemical pesticides all contain chemicals similar in nature to the human hormone estrogen. While we all need estrogen, some of us more than others, the xenoestrogens that can be absorbed into our bodies by exposure to plastics and chemicals can cause significant health concern. Xenoestrogens act like estrogen inside the body and can cause hormonal imbalance and a whole slew of other nasty problems. Fertility problems are common in men with elevated estrogen levels. The size of the male gonads are shrinking and many male babies are now born with birth defects of the genitals - all because of the assalt of xenoestrogens present in our environment. Similar yet more severe birth defects are threatening many species of amphibians. Amphibians, who spend a great portion of their lives in water, have skin which is very porous and allows for easy absorption of xenoestrogens which make it to the water supply. The birth defects are often so bad that whole populations are at risk because the males are unable to mate and produce offspring.

I would also like to point out that xenoestrogens are not the only culprut at work here. Phytoestrogens are present in many foods that humans regularily consume. Soy is becoming increasingly more popular in the west as processed meat and dairy substitutes, and as filler for many processed food products, including meats. Soy and soy byproducts are rich in phytoestrogens, which, like xenoestrogens, behave the same way as estrogen in the human body. I am not in favor of the consumption of soy or its byproducts, unless fermented in the case of miso, tempeh, or nama shoyu (an unpasturized soy sauce). It is also important to note that much of the soy grown today, like corn, is genetically modified. If one does choose to consume soy products, it should be only organic, fermented products. The fermentation process seems to change soy into a form more suitable for human consumption. Men and boys especially should avoid soy products.

Another issue to raise is that of the incredible amount of hormone treatments used today. The very birth control pills that so many women I know unfortunately take are showing up in measureable levels in our water supplies. Menopausal women often also take hormone replacement therapy. Animals raised in factory farms are given hormones to increase their growth rate, size, or milk production. We are surrounding ourselves with hormones and their synthetic counterparts at the detriment to our own health and well-being. This is not only an issue of environmental protection, but an issue of ensuring the future propagation of our species.

Diesel, Made Simply From Coffee Grounds (Ah, the Exhaust Aroma)

By HENRY FOUNTAIN
Published: December 15, 2008

In research that touches on two of Americans’ great obsessions — coffee and cars — scientists at the University of Nevada, Reno, have made diesel fuel from used coffee grounds.
The technique is not difficult, they report in The Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, and there is so much coffee around that several hundred million gallons of biodiesel could potentially be made annually.

Mano Misra, a professor of engineering who conducted the research with Narasimharao Kondamudi and Susanta K. Mohapatra, said it was by accident that he realized coffee beans contained a significant amount of oil. “I made a coffee one night but forgot to drink it,” he said. “The next morning I saw a layer of oil floating on it.” He and his team thought there might be a useful amount of oil in used grounds, so they went to several Starbucks stores and picked up about 50 pounds of them.

Analysis showed that even the grounds contained about 10 to 15 percent oil by weight. The researchers then used standard chemistry techniques to extract the oil and convert it to biodiesel. The processes are not particularly energy intensive, Dr. Misra said, and the researchers estimated that biodiesel could be produced for about a dollar a gallon.
One hurdle, Dr. Misra said, is in collecting grounds efficiently — there are few centralized sources of coffee grounds. But the researchers plan to set up a small pilot operation next year using waste from a local bulk roaster.

Even if all the coffee grounds in the world were used to make fuel, the amount produced would be less than 1 percent of the diesel used in the United States annually. “It won’t solve the world’s energy problem,” Dr. Misra said of his work. “But our objective is to take waste material and convert it to fuel.” And biodiesel made from grounds has one other advantage, he said: the exhaust smells like coffee.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/16/science/16objava.html?_r=1&ref=earth




Commentary by Erin Brennan

While this solution will not solve all of the energy problems the world might have, I think that this kind of innovation is a good step in the right direction. Rather than filling up our landfills, food waste such as coffee grounds can be converted into fuel. This is exactly the lines of thinking we should be headed toward in the future - turning previously unuseable waste products into something useful and even profitable.

Living sustainably and in harmony with the planet needs to become priority. There are so many green options available today - from green design, to composting, biodegradable containers and recycling programs, to solar, wind, and geothermal energy - that everyone is given the opportunity to live more ecofriendly. Daily, we are presented with new and increasingly more innovative ideas as to how we can integrate modern technology with compassion and care for the ecological wonders around us. It is becoming increasingly more profitable for companies to "go green," and with energy costs on the rise, more individuals are seeking out ways to lower costs and increasing energy efficiency at home and on the road.

And of course, when sitting in traffic, I would rather smell the rich aroma of coffee than noxious chemical fumes coming from the car in front of me!

The Benefits of Eating a Plant-Based Diet: Avoiding Animal Cloning

One of the top news stories from 2008 was the FDA approval of “food” from cloned animals. I usually only attempt to show the health benefits of eating a diet free from animal products and generally avoid lecturing on the moral and ethical reasons to avoid meat and dairy. This time, however, I seriously doubt that I am alone in my outrage over this, which not only brings up animal cruelty issues, but religious and moral questions, along with a vast array of safety concerns. This is just another sad display of the FDA’s willingness to approve anything in order to line its pockets with money from the USDA and pharmaceutical lobbies. Time and time again, the FDA has proven how inept it is at enforcing proper research and testing into pharmaceutical drugs, and in many cases, thousands upon thousands of deaths have been the result. Rather than protecting the American public from cloned and genetically modified foods, which are being banned or at the very least, labeled in other countries, the FDA has given the factory farm industry the go ahead to sell meat and dairy products from animals cloned and/or possibly genetically engineered by humans.

Barbara Glenn of the Biotechnology Industry Organization calls cloning “a breeding technique that will improve the quality and consistency of food” (1). However, Michael Hansen, a senior scientist with Consumers Union, says that “data supporting the FDA decision are based on just a few cloned animals and include little information about their offspring.” Hmm. Imagine that. The FDA making the decision to approve something based on little to no scientific evidence rather than on extensive research into its safety. Michael Hansen goes on to say that “The vast majority of clones don’t make it to adulthood…There are a lot of sickly animals.” Such health problems among clones raise concerns about animal welfare and food safety (1). I’m not sure that I understand how sickly cloned animals will “improve the quality” of food, but I guess we won’t have to wait long to find out. According to The Wall Street Journal, some farmers have reported that the offspring of cloned animals have already entered the marketplace (3). But you would never know whether the meat you are eating is coming from a traditionally bred animal or a cloned version because the FDA determined that meat and milk from cloned animals and their offspring would not be labeled because it was “the same as conventional food and did not pose a safety risk,” (2).

Despite the FDA’s assurance, some companies have declared that they will not sell milk or meat from cloned animals or their offspring for fear over the safety of such foods, and to spearhead a possible consumer backlash fueled by religious and moral opposition to cloning. During a public comment period that ended in 2007, the FDA heard from more than 150,000 consumers who rejected the Agency's plan to introduce cloned animals into the U.S. food supply (4). Many polls show that the public's opposition to food from clones is incredibly high. A national survey conducted in 2007 by Consumers Union reported that 89% of Americans want cloned foods to be labeled. Additionally, 69% said that they have concerns about the safety of cloned meat and dairy products. A Gallup Poll from December 2007 reported that more than 60% of Americans believe that cloning animals is immoral. A Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology from the same time found that a similar percentage say, despite FDA approval, they will not buy milk from cloned animals (4).

There is concern from animal advocacy groups that the use of cloning may contribute to creating even harsher factory farm conditions than presently exist. "The surveys show that the public is morally opposed to cloning. Animals suffer terribly in the cloning process, and the FDA has ignored these issues," said Tracie Letterman, Executive Director of the American Anti-Vivisection Society (2). There is also concern that introducing cloned animals and the offspring of clones into the US market could have economic ramifications in the global marketplace (2).

According to Joseph Mendelson, Legal Director of the Center for Food Safety, "The FDA's flawed and cavalier approach to cloned food and its potential impacts called for a truly rigorous scientific assessment,” (4). While the FDA repeatedly claimed that it conducted extensive, peer reviewed studies on the safety of “food” from cloned animals, it turns out that the agency’s assessment only referenced three peer-reviewed food safety studies, all of which focus only on the issue of milk from cloned cows (4). The most disturbing part of the lack of objective research on the part of the FDA is that the studies the Agency sited were funded in part by the very biotech firms that produce clones for profit (4). Not one of the studies focused on the safety of meat from cloned cows or pigs, or milk or meat from the offspring of cloned animals, and there was absolutely no data on milk or meat from cloned goats (4).

Behavior like this is what we, as Americans, have come to expect from the FDA. What is supposed to be a consumer advocacy and safety watchdog, in actuality, is unethical and time and time again shows little real concern for the safety and well-being of the American public. The issue of unlabeled food products from cloned animals being introduced into the US market place is not only an issue of animal rights, but an issue of religious freedom, as those who oppose cloning for moral or religious reasons should have the right to know if the foods they choose to consume are from cloned animals. This is also an issue of economic stability as the decision to allow foods from cloned animals and their offspring into the market could very well create issues in the global marketplace. And then, there is the issue of the safety of foods from cloned animals, which we are still unsure of due to the FDA’s lack of genuine and long-term research.

What can you do about this issue? Well, if you like the political route, you can contact your legislators and tell them that you do not support allowing meat and dairy from cloned animals or their offspring to be sold as food. Or demand that food from cloned animals be labeled as such. I believe that the best and most vital way to make your voice heard every single day is to vote with your dollar. By choosing to avoid purchasing and consuming animal products, you are sending a message. Remember, those with the money make the decisions. If you don’t support what they are doing, do not give them your money! By eating a plant-based diet, you can avoid unknowingly consuming "food" from cloned animals. I really don’t have much else to say about this, except that cancerous, diseased, pus-filled, antibiotic-filled, hormone-filled, steroid-filled, and now cloned “food” is what you can expect to consume if you choose to eat animal products from a typical American factory farm.

1. “FDA Approves Food From Cloned Animals”, Webb, Sarah, Discover Magazine
2. “F.D.A. Says Food From Cloned Animals Is Safe”, Martin, Andrew and Andrew Pollack, The New York Times
3. “FDA Is Set To Approve Milk, Meat From Clones”, Weiss, Rick, The Washington Post
4. “FDA Approval of Clones Stalled by Passage of Milulski-Specter Amendment in Farm Bill”, http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/cloning