Vegan Recipe of the Week: Irish Soda Bread

St Patrick’s Day is right around the corner! This day may not be traditionally Irish, as many Americans use it for an excuse to party, drink, and wear green, you can still celebrate the Irish by culinary means. Many Irish friends of mine are always discussing the delicious treat of Irish Soda Bread, so we thought we would share a vegan version with you! This is a great treat by itself or serve with our Vegan Irish Stew. Have a blast this St Patrick’s Day and even if you do party your hearts out, remember Irish Soda Bread makes for a great hangover delight.

Vegan Irish Soda Bread

Prep Time: 20 Minutes    Bake Time: 45 Minutes

1 Cup Organic Soy Milk (or other non dairy milk)
3/4 Cup Organic Whole Wheat Flour
3/4 Cup Organic Unbleached Flour
1/2 Cup Raisins
2 Tbsp Water
1 1/2 Tbsp Organic Earth Balance Margarine
1 1/2 Tbsp Ener-G Egg Replacer (or Applesauce)
1 Tbsp Vinegar
1 Tbsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Basking Soda
1/4 tsp Salt

Preheat your oven to 375 F. In a regular size loaf pan, grease the bottom with a little extra margarine or oil. If you are using Egg Replacer, follow the directions on the box for 1 Egg and whisk together. In a bowl, combine the soy milk and vinegar and let stand for 5 minutes (it will start to curdle). In a large mixing bowl, combine the wheat flour, white flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add in softened Earth Balance and combine together. Add the Egg Replacer or applesauce to the soy milk and vinegar. Now slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix slowly. Add the raisins and mix, but do not over mix. Pour dough into the loaf pan and bake for 35-45 minutes.

 

A Bad Apple: Overworked, Underpaid, & Child Labor Abuses

I write this article with a bit of shame from behind my Macbook and my iPhone resting close by. Like any other modern citizen, I use my fair share of electronics from computers to mp3 players and even a smart phone. And as a labor conscious and environmentally aware consumer I tend to support companies who meet my ethics. Unfortunately, the electronics industry is seriously lacking in both fields. One of the great offenders happens to be one of the highest grossing electronic companies: Apple Inc.

The past few weeks have been a big disappointment for caring Apple customers. It begun a few weeks ago, during a shareholders meeting, Corporate and shareholders rejected new environmental standards. They voted against proposals which would have required Apple to provide a detailed environmental sustainability report and create a board committee focused on sustainability. Apple claims they are already taking motions to secure environmental sustainability of their products, however, have not given details.

The company also has been threatening a patent war with other smart phone creators such as Google and Samsung. Yesterday they started with a new and small company HTC, suing them for infringement on their patents. All other companies with similar phones to the iPhone, have been shot with warnings about being sued. Although, this seems like business as usual in the US,  the patent war may reduce the competition in the smart phone world,  which means less choices for consumers and bigger bucks for the Apple Corporation, who in the midst of a recession is not hurting one bit.

But the worst news coming out of Apple are the Labor Audit Reports released this week. Like most electronic companies, Apple outsources most of their manufacturing to many countries including China, Taiwan,  Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Czech Republic. The reports don’t name specific violations for each factory but there were 17 major labor violations including children working in the factories, workers on the job for more than 60 hours a week, workers  paid under minimum wage, and lack of environmental permits. The report shows that a total of 11 workers were found to be underage and a total of 57% of their factories do not comply with safety standards to protect their workers. Although, Apple released the reports to the public themselves and have promised to be working on these violations, it still doesn’t take away the fact that they exist.  We all know how horrible sweatshops and child labor can be, in fact I spend many hours of my life trying to combat such violations. This report which details all violations is not only a surprise to me as a consumer but a disappointment.  These types of abuses are inexcusable and abhorrent; something simply must be done!

But what can we do? The easiest answer is to boycott a company with such labor violations. However, with the electronics industry, we, the consumers have little choice. Most electronic and computer companies continue to source their manufacturing overseas in questionable factories. In fact, the International Labor Rights Forum has done some investigating into some of the sourcing for electronics and has found nothing to be happy about. It seems this industry is full of labor and environmental mishaps. Good news is, there are people beginning to fight it.  ILRF has begun to demand transparency within the industry and an organization called Good Electronics monitors electronic companies and sends out appeals. You can even check how your favored company matches up.

So if an outright boycott is out the door, what options do you have? You can purchase your electronics refurbished or used, so that your dollars aren’t going straight to the pockets of industry giants such as Apple. But if used electronics makes you nervous you can  demand accountability and transparency from these companies.  Contact them directly and let them know how you feel about labor rights and environmental standards. Let’s stand up together against this industry, because in the way of this modern world their products are a unfortunately or not a necessity. Let’s demand the companies be more responsible and you can start by letting Apple know you think their labor and environmental choices are a bad apple!

-Gina Williams

 

On the Wings of Disappointment: The State of In-Flight Recycling in the U.S

Between the long security lines (wherein you must juggle shoe removal with the loading of your luggage properly onto a conveyor belt, all while keeping track of your  oh-so-important ticket) and the delayed departure times, air travel can be a nuisance before you even step foot on an airplane.  One of the few pleasant consistencies of a process that is decidedly inconsistent, is the complimentary drink and snack service offered on most domestic flights. Once that snack cart starts rolling triumphantly down the aisle, even if it nips my elbow on its blessed journey to quench passenger’s thirst and assuage pangs of mid-flight hunger, I can not help but to perk up a little. “A cola? For me? No charge?” I seem to suffer a mild case of amnesia and do not recall the hundreds of dollars I have likely spent on this flight and how that could easily cover the cost of  Mountain Dew or two.

This service is typically followed by your friendly flight attendant strolling up the aisle with a small plastic bag seeking the debris from you in-flight nosh.  What happens to that debris is the topic of a report conducted by the nonprofit  environmental group, Green America. The report’s title, “The Sorry State of Recycling in the Airline Industry,” reads like a huge spoiler for the content that follows. Hint, hint…things are not looking too green up in the skies of blue. The report asserts that airlines in the United States of America alone generate over 880 million pounds of waste per year, of which 75 percent is said to be recyclable. Only 20 percent of that is actually recycled!

In addition to all these fun percentages, the report also contains rankings of the major airlines in the United States based on five areas of assessment: the variety in waste recycled,  any future in-flight recycling plans, the size of in-flight recycling program, the education/encouragement of employees in onboard recycling programs and other in-flight sustainability initiatives. The airlines were ranked as follows, from best to worst: Delta Airlines, Virgin America, Virgin Atlantic, Southwest Airlines, Continental Airlines, Jet Blue, American Airlines, British Airways, Air Tran, United Airlines, and US Airways.  Despite of the rank received, no airlines currently recycle all of the main types of recyclables: aluminum cans, glass, plastic and paper.

While this report may sound all doom and gloom, there is  hope for the airline industry and its apparent aversion to recycling.  The most important variable in implementing these changes  is you, the passenger. Green America Corporate Responsibility Director Todd Larsen explains,  “A lot of companies will do something that’s green if they feel there’s public support for doing it.” Green America further suggests that people become proactive passengers by  doing things, such as: questioning your flight attendant about a particular airlines recycling policy, removing your debris  yourself whenever possible to recycle at home, and  by writing to airlines in order  to voice your support of such programs.  They have also provided a  form  on their website where you are encouraged to share your airline recycling experiences, both positive and negative.

It may be easy to just accept your Mountain Dew and surrender your can at the end of the flight to the trash bag in your flight attendant’s well-manicured hands, but being a decent citizen of planet Earth, you know that doing the easy thing is not always the same as doing the right thing. Encourage airlines to bone up on recycling 101 by writing to the companies and support airlines that do implement in-flight recycling programs. Every time that bag comes around ask your flight attendant “Is there a place to recycle this?” The more they hear requests like these, the more likely they will change the policy. When in-flight recycling is not available, shove that empty can and newspaper into your carry on bag to recycle at home.

And while you are at it-making these hard decisions and doing the right thing- you could do the environment a huge solid and simply fly less. In-flight recycling is much easier to implement when the snack cart is your kitchen cabinets.

-Meghan Hurley

 

And the Green Nominees Are…

Yes it is that time again where the celebrities and film community come together to award the best films of the year. Everyone is a buzz over the highest grossing film Avatar and the Indie darling the Hurt Locker. But what about the documentary section? Often this field is overlooked unless a high profile producer/director is on the ticket ala An Inconvenient Truth or Fahrenheit 911.  However, with this year’s nominees we are hoping the field gains more notoriety and possibly could make an impact on the ever growing Green Movement.

We were overjoyed to hear that two great films (both trailers are below) dealing with environmental subjects were among the nods. Food, Inc which has gained much popularity in the mainstream and Art House Theaters covers the frightening and eye opening subject of our current American food industry. Many label this as a “Must See” and it even earned a recommendation from Oprah, and you know how her word can cause ripples throughout the land. Oprah radar status or not, this film is an incredibly powerful look at our nation’s food industry and could possibly rival the impact of Sinclair’s  Jungle.

Of the Oscars Green nominations, another eco-friendly film was included in the Documentary section, although nowhere near as popular as Food, Inc.  The film, The Cove, exposes the illegal practice and cover-up of the slaughter and sale of dolphin meat in Japan. The dolphin meat contains outrageous levels of mercury and is misleadingly labeled as whale meat. It’s astonishing expose brings to light inhumane as well as environmentally damaging practices occurring currently. Another great must see Green film!

This Sunday as you share drinks and bet on the winners, let’s hope either of these Green Oscar nods gains a trophy. Even if neither wins, at least their nominations will bring more attention to these films and hopefully educate more people on the harmful and disgusting practices that still exist in our food industry around the world. Enjoy your Oscar parties and remember to serve organic and healthy snacks and of course reuse and recycle your party waste!

 

Nuclear Power, the Renewable Wave of the Future?

When I think of nuclear power, two images come to mind: the scheming Mr Burns of the Simpsons and the tragedy of Chernobyl.  Both of these images were born from an era long ago (yes, 1989 is after-all, 20 years ago)! Often nuclear power is thought of a thing of the past, born out of the days of the Cold War. Then why is it that I am hearing so much about it these days? From the President’s State of the Union to mainstream media, it seems to be everywhere. People are turning back to nuclear power in the midst of the impending oil crisis and the knowledge that we need a new way to approach energy in this country and throughout the world.

The world’s first nuclear power plant used to supply electricity opened in 1956 in the UK.  Since then, power plants have been built throughout the entire world and were at their heights in the 1980’s.  However,  the accidents of Three Mile Island and Chernobyl have cast a shadow on the energy source, and nuclear power, once the darling of the country has been stunted. The idea of supplying the world’s electricity through nuclear power has been quietly put on a shelf, that is until recent years. Currently, 15% of the world’s electricity is supplied by nuclear power. However, we may see this trend change in upcoming years.

Many nuclear supporters, such as France, have begun touting it as a feasible answer to the oil crisis and some have gone as far as labeling it renewable energy. Supporters of nuclear being a renewable energy point to the fact it produces little or no greenhouse gases. And that current Uranium stocks (how nuclear power is created) are enough to last , at current rates, 2000-2500 years.

Calling Nuclear Power a renewable energy has sparked some huge protests among the environmental community. Most notably, nuclear power is created by Uranium, which must be extracted from the Earth through destructive mining techniques. Also, there is the problem of nuclear waste, which is incredibly dangerous. Although, nuclear power may not produce greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, it still produces waste that must be placed somewhere. Where are they going to put all this waste? For decades they have been burying it in containers, hoping thousands of years will reduce its radioactivity, however, if an earthquake or war breaks out containers could spill into the soil and water supply. This waste is terribly harmful to humans and the environment, one just has to look to Chernobyl for an example or that three eyed fish from the Simpsons.

Speaking of Chernobyl, it is clear nuclear power can be dangerous. Although meltdowns are very rare, if one were to occur, it could be horrific and harmful to the environment. The land and water surrounding Chernobyl is still feeling the effects of the meltdown in 1986.   As mentioned these incidents are a rarity, however the nuclear power industry must spend costly amounts on safety within the plants to be certain these will not occur.

It seems likely that many nuclear power supporters and industry are looking to promote it as a renewable source to benefit from the tax cuts and subsidiaries that are awarded to true renewable energy sources.  You can just see Mr Burns putting those bony fingers together and hissing “Excellent.”   So far, even with the President backing it, nuclear power has not been included in the definition of renewable energy.  For instance, the International Renewable Energy Agency has yet to include it. And nuclear power has seen an even greater backlash here in the States. Vermont’s Senate recently voted not to renew the state’s Nuclear Power Plant contract another 20 years. Without a contract, the plant is likely to close in 2012.

Labeling nuclear power as renewable seems like a far stretch to me and to most of the environmental community. Instead of focusing time and energy on labeling an incredibly expensive and waste emitting source, it would be in our best interest to focus on real renewable sources. This includes wind, solar, and even geo-thermal. We need to be funding and devoting new technologies to these renewable sources instead of wasting our time on a debatable source of energy. We must figure out a way to produce more energy at cheaper rates through sources such as sun and wind.  It is time we become focused and actually forge a sustainable energy plan to ween ourselves off this nasty oil addiction, and nuclear power just isn’t the answer. Ask the victims of Chernobyl or that three eyed fish, if you don’t believe me.

-Gina Williams

 

How Many Acts Does it take to Phase-Out A Light Bulb? Apparently, One

The act of having an especially good  or clever idea is often  represented  in visual media by a  glowing light bulb appearing above the thinker’s noggin. The “Aha” look on the person’s face coupled with their index finger pointing skyward serve as optional accents to the universally understood symbol for a stupendous notion in action.  Whatever the opposite of a light bulb spontaneously appearing above one’s head would be- perhaps a rotting egg or a pet rock would materialize out of thin air, – is how I felt when I recently read about the phase-out of  incandescent light bulbs occurring not only in the U.S, but in numerous other countries on multiple continents.

Apparently my ignorance of this incandescent lighting phase-out, which in the United States was put into motion  with the passing of the Energy Independence and Security Act in  December of 2007, is not uncommon. The second annual “Socket Survey” conducted by Osram Sylvania revealed that while 74% of people surveyed said they have switched to energy-saving light bulbs in the past year, that only 26% were aware of this mandated phase-out which will begin with the phasing out of 100 watt bulbs in January 2012. Subsequent years will have higher watt bulbs meeting a similar end in the United States, with 75 watt bulbs going bye-bye in 2013 and 60 and 40 bulbs meeting  same dim fate in 2014.

The bright idea (light bulb puns, they are addictive) behind this phase-out is to cut Green House emissions and save on energy costs, which seem to be sound enough reasons to eradicate the production of an item. This phase-out though, like most governmental legislation, is not without its critics. The most likely immediate replacement for incandescent bulbs during this phase-out for consumers will be Compact Fluorescent Light, or CFL’s for brevity’s sake . These types of bulbs have been the recipient of harsh scrutiny as regions across the globe enact their own phase-outs of incandescent bulbs. Issues  ranging from the type of light they give off (unflattering or headache inducing) to concerns about the dangers of the mercury contained within these bulbs have caused some people in areas such as the UK to hoard the more familiar incandescent bulbs before there are no longer any left to buy.

While I can surely agree with a move towards a more energy- efficient type of lighting, I also can relate to an uneasiness to give up  what is  familiar for a newer technology- especially when that technology is the light bulb; an invention that truly revolutionized the world  (perhaps even more so than the  George Foreman Grill- come on, you know you have one, and  you LOVE it!) .  I can especially relate to this apprehension after looking over the seemingly intensive  rules for safely cleaning up and disposing of one of the mercury-containing CFL light bulbs if it becomes broken. This apprehension could also be born of  ignorance and a laziness when it comes to chores that have more than three steps, such as the Foreman Grill’s simple formula of chop, grill and eat.

Either way, as the GI Joe public service announcements used to say,  “knowing is the half the battle”,  your guess is as good as mine as to what the other half of the battle may be, but perhaps now that you are aware of this ban you can begin to adjust for your future without incandescent lighting.

-Meghan Hurley

 

Vegan Recipe of the Week: Vegan Lasagna

Earlier this month, the Groundhog predicted 6 more weeks of Winter! Now that we are near the end of February, I guess that leaves us about 4 more weeks of cold weather, snow, and pouring rain. The up side of all the terrible weather is keeping dry and warm with some delicious comfort food.  One of my favorite winter treats is lasagna. It is warm and tasty and makes the ice melt outside! This recipe can be made with or without soy meat or cheese.  So curl up in your favorite blanket and grub down on some vegan comfort food!

Vegan Lasagna

Prep Time: 30 Minutes    Bake Time: 40 Minutes    Serves: 8

1 Box of Organic Lasagna Noodles
2 Jars of Organic Pasta Sauce (or homemade sauce)
1 Cup Organic Mushrooms
1 Cup Organic Zucchini
1 Cup Spinach
1/2 Cup of Onions
3 Gloves Garlic
2 Cups Crumbled Organic Tofu
3 Tbls of Nutritional Yeast
3 Tbls of Veggie Broth
6-8 Ounces of Vegan Mozzarella Cheese (Vegan Gourmet or Daiya)
2 Tbls Olive Oil
1 tsp Oregano
1 tsp Basil
1 tsp Pepper
1/2 tsp Salt
10 Ounces Vegan Soy Crumbles (optional)

Preheat the oven to 375 F. In a large pot, boil water with a splash of Olive Oil and salt. Once the water is boiling add in the lasagna noodles and boil until firm but not overcooked. Meanwhile cut up all veggies and in a skillet warm up the olive oil, garlic, and onions. Add in the mushrooms and zucchini. In a large bowl mix together the crumbled tofu, oregano, basil, pepper, salt, Nutritional Yeast. Once this is mixed add in the soy crumble, if choosing to use them. Add this mixture and the spinach to the skillet. Cook for ten minutes or until the veggies are a little soft.
In a casserole dish cover the bottom in pasta sauce and sprinkle vegan cheese. Lay down a layer of lasagna noodles and a thick layer of the skillet mix, followed by a layer of noodles, sauce, and cheese. Make several layers until all ingredients are included. Finish with a layer of pasta sauce, cheese, and a dash of nutritional yeast, oregano, basil, and pepper. Place in oven for 40 minutes. Let it stand for at least 10 minutes before serving.

 

We All Scream for Fair Trade Ice Cream!

You remember that childhood rhyme: “I scream, you scream, we all scream for Fair Trade ice cream! ” Ok so maybe the childhood rhyme didn’t include Fair Trade, but it does now! This week was a triumphant one for the Fair Trade world, as ever popular ice cream giant, Ben & Jerry’s announced all their ice cream will be fully Fair Trade certified by 2013! That means all ingredients used in over a hundred delectable flavors will be Fair Trade certified!!! The Fair Trade world is buzzing about this recent development as well as mainstream media outlets including the BBC.  In fact, Ben Cohen & Jerry Greenfield were interviewed on the BBC about these changes (click to watch the video).

It may come to no surprise that a hippie-esque, responsible company from Vermont would make such a commitment, however it has been a long time coming. In 2005, Ben & Jerry’s became the first ice cream company to source some of their ingredients through Fair Trade means and currently provide Fair Trade flavors such as Chocolate, Vanilla and Coffee Heath Bar Crunch.  Ben & Jerry state themselves that if it weren’t for their corporate partners, Unilever, the transition to Fair Trade would have happened long ago. It looks like they have finally convinced the higher-ups going Fair Trade is the natural evolution for a company like Ben & Jerry’s. It is encouraging to see major companies like this hop on board and we certainly hope it becomes a trend.

Such a commitment by a company as large as Ben & Jerry’s will make a huge impact. Not only will it bring Fair Trade directly into the American mainstream marketplace (bringing awareness right to our doorsteps), but it will also provide a partnership with several Fair Trade cooperatives, totaling close to 27,000 farmers! Wow! This is really going to affect several people in this world and the achievement should be celebrated. FLO’s Chief Executive, Rob Cameron put it best when he stated, ” Tackling poverty and sustainable agriculture through trade may not be easy but it is always worth it, and Ben & Jerry’s has demonstrated real leadership in laying out this long-term ambition to engage with smallholders, who grow nuts, bananas, vanilla, cocoa and other Fair Trade-certified ingredients.”

We, at Autonomie Project, also want to extend our Thanks and Congratulations to the Ben & Jerry’s team for their Fair Trade pledge!  We have had the pleasure of working with some of their staff on the Fair Trade Boston committee. Here in Boston, we have a deep dedication to Fair Trade and are currently working together on a Fair Trade Towns Initiative to help Boston become a Fair Trade City! We are getting closer and closer to making our wonderful city a Fair Trade certified city and we are glad we have Ben & Jerry’s walking with us. Now if they would just make a vegan flavor or two, we could celebrate this Fair Trade by none other than eating some ice cream!

 

Go For Gold…or Green?

Every 4 years, the world stops and watches in awe as one city in the world hosts the Olympic Games. The top athletes convene in one city to prove to the world their abilities and the world engages in friendly war, for once.  In 2008 the Summer Olympics were hosted by China, who made several efforts to be sure their display would be considered “green.” This February the Winter Olympics are being hosted in Vancouver, Canada.

It seems like a no brainer that Vancouver, who often makes the list of Greenest Cities (in fact 90% of the city is run on renewable energy), would have no issues making sure this year’s Winter Olympics is nothing short of Green. And sure enough, they started off with a bang! Making big steps to prove to the world they are Greening the Winter Olympics with LEED certified buildings and expanding the public transportation system, to name a few. In fact Vancouver is trying their hardest to be recognized as the “Greenest Olympics Games Ever.”

Obviously, these are terrific achievements and set a great example to the rest of the world. However, there are some serious things to consider. Because of an unseasonably warm winter this year (Gasp! Could Climate Change be to blame?!), British Colombia has seen less snow and required the committee to truck in loads of snow.  We don’t need to explain twice how this impacts the environment, with all the carbon emissions it has created. Although, the committee has reported it will be purchasing offsets for these emissions, they only plan on offsetting less than half. This begs to question, do the Vancouver Olympics really deserve Gold for their Green?

David Suzuki has put together a “Green Scorecard” for the Winter Olympics. And although they may score high for their LEED certified buildings and a Green Olympic Village, the imitation snow has left many wondering if they deserve such high regards. This scorecard gives them a Bronze medal, even though the UN and the Vancouver Olympics themselves are rewarding a Gold medal. However, even winter athletes are demanding that more attention be paid to the climate. With Climate Change directly affecting their sports, they want the Olympic committees and the host cities to commit to higher standards in the future.

So what could be done to be sure Olympic Games are as environmentally aware as they should be? Grist writer,  Jonathan Hiskes, makes an excellent suggestion.  In order to really and truly change the impact of the Olympic Games, why not make it stationary? And we kind of have to agree. Centralizing the Olympics close to where most athletes are based would cut down on building and travel costs, which are the biggest environmental offenders. Even though worldwide cities would lose tourist cash and a chance to show off to the world, the environmental impact would be enormous. If the Olympics are setting examples, as they claim, this would be one hefty example to make. Lollapalooza did it and survived, so why can’t the Olympics?

 

Winter Sale Ending, Plus New Rewards Program!

Since launching a little over two years ago, building our business has not been easy. But we’re still here today thanks to you: our loyal customers! As a small token of our appreciation of your support of Autonomie Project and our Fair Trade, eco-friendly fashion, we’re happy to announce the launch of our new Autonomie Points customer appreciation rewards program!

From now on, when you shop, you will automatically earn points based on how much you spend. The next time you come back and shop with us again, you can redeem your points for a discount off your next purchase. Points are worth 10% of what you spend, so the savings can be big! Not to mention that points can be combined with any other Autonomie offer including gift cards and coupons.

Now is the perfect time to start shopping and accumulating your Autonomie Points. Our Winter Clearance Sale has been a great success, but it has to end. Shop now to receive our great winter discounts PLUS start earning points towards your account. The sale ends this Thursday at midnight and then prices go back to regular retail. So take advantage of our semi-annual sale offer and shop now!

Finally, we want to thank all of you that showed your support and generosity in the wake of the earthquake tragedy in Haiti. Due to your support, we were able to donate over 100 pairs of Ethletic footwear to the people there. We are now working on transporting the donated goods down South and hope that in the meantime, you will continue to support the groups working on the ground to help get Haiti back on its feet. Here are some of our favorite NGO’s that we hope you will support:

Partners in Health: www.standwithhaiti.org
Oxfam: www.oxfamamerica.org
The Rural Haiti Project: www.ruralhaitiproject.org
Haiti Projects: www.haitiprojects.org

Thanks for everything and don’t forget to help us spread the word and love of Fair Trade!
The AP Team

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