McVictory?!

I just got this from GreenPeace:

"McDonald's joins fight to save the Amazon
Take your hand off the mouse. Now reach over your shoulder, and pat yourself on the back. Because you did it. The mighty McDonald's jumped when you objected to their role in Amazon destruction. After only a few months of being in the spotlight over rainforest destruction, and receiving more than 30,000 emails, McDonald's not only made a U-turn in no longer sourcing soya from the ashes of the Amazon but are also actively urging other companies to join them. This week the world saw what happens when tens of thousands of Greenpeace supporters from all over the world act together as one to protect the environment. So take a bow, smile and accept our heartfelt thanks for your efforts."

a But the McDonalds has had a rain forest policy for over a decade by now:

"McDonald’s is committed to establishing and enforcing responsible environmental practices for all aspects of our business.

As part of this charter, it is McDonald’s policy to use only locally produced and processed beef in every country where we have restaurants. In areas where domestic beef is not available in sufficient quantities to meet our needs, does not meet our quality standards, or is not competitive with world prices, McDonald’s imports beef from approved suppliers in other countries.

In all cases, however, McDonald’s does not, has not and will not permit destruction of tropical rain forests for our beef supply. We do not, have not and will not purchase beef from rain forest or recently deforested rain forest land.

Any McDonald’s supplier that is found to deviate from this policy—or that cannot prove compliance with it—will be immediately discontinued.

Issued: 1989
Updated: 2003"
Copied from http://www.mcdonalds.com/corp/values/socialrespons/market/rain_forest_policy.html
2006-07-28.

So I wonder:
Has McD ignored their own standards, or is the policy a big loop hole?
Ie: No cows in deforested Amazon former-jungles but hey it is OK to slash-and-burn down the Amazon to grow soy beans that is used as fooder from cows and other cattle?

Anyway, I hope KFC and the meat industry over all and everywhere stop encouraging destruction of pristine rain forests. As I am reading in the 2006 issue of the State of the World, the idea that comes up is EAT LESS MEAT!

BTW
I saw Super Size Me last weekend. What a crazy idea and what an discouraging outcome of his McD-bin! 1 month of McDiet took half a year to remedy ... There is a reason for the option to increase the meal always is in a bigger bag of french fries and a bigger cup of sugared soda. It is so cheap! Skip both, drink water and have the salad, but skip the sugar enriched sallad dressing. Cant McD just have oil/vinegar/spices-dressing?

PS
Do not forget Tell KFC to stop trashing the Amazon.

Play OFFSIDE!

The good people at Oxfam has this to tell you:

Sports brands 'offside' on workers' rights

Offside! identified FILA as the company least interested in improving labour conditions in its supplier factories in Asia. Campaign actions launched by Oxfam's internationally at the time of the launch received mass support, with at least 30,000 signatures generated worldwide directed towards FILA alone.

It's not too late to play the game Offside!
and send your protest to one or more sports brands.

Play OFFSIDE!.
See how long you can keep the ball in the air.
Then send your protest.

Play OFFSIDE!

Open electricity market in Portugal?

Do anyone know if the electricity market in Portugal is closed. I.e. is there only one operator, the EDP? Or are there any more operators. If so, how can one switch between operators. Again, if so, are there any operators that aim at introducing as much renewable energy into their mix as possible (or maybe even only!)?

A deregularised electricity market could be beneficial for Portugal, if there are pro-active operators that aim to supply energy, e.g. as electricity, from renewable resources (non-fossil and non-nuclear!).

Organic clothing soon into mainstream

I was elated to read that Levi Strauss will launch jeans made with organic cotton later in this year (2006) within their Levi jeans brand. Sadly most of the models will only be available in the US in 2006, and some selected stores in Europe. Hopefully the complete e-Levi collection will be available in Europe already in 2007.

Organic cloting has sofar only been available via specialty stores and very often only online. As far as I know none of the major international nor national chains have any organic clothing in their collections. Hopefully, Levi Strauss´ step will encourage other retailers and producers to introduce organic clothing into their collections.

Read more on: CSR Wire press release 2006-07-05.

---

I do not need to tell you why organic cotton is so much better for the environment compared to conventional and GMO cotton? Do I?

GMO is really bad since it is in almost all cases used to increase the use of toxins in agriculture:, eg see:
Greenreport report on BT GM cotton.
Greenpeace GE campaign
FOEI report on GM cotton in India
FOEI overview of the failure of GMO

Petition against nuclear power in Europe

A while ago I signed this petition against nuclear power in Europe.
Do the right thing and do that yourself!

http://www.million-against-nuclear.net

Europe's energy policy is at the crossroads: Triggered by fears over
supply security or climate change, the nuclear energy industry
hopes for a comeback. But nuclear energy remains the most
dangerous form of energy, the problem of waste treatment and
storage remains unsolved, leaving a dirty and dangerous legacy
behind for thousands of years. And nuclear power is financially
insane and no solution for the global warming crisis. Instead, we
need massive investments into energy efficiency and renewable
energies.

143 from Ernesto

At breakfast today I enjoyed an organically grown Granny Smith apple from Ernesto Bartusch in Argentina. I bought it in Biobrassica. 1 of 3 organic stores in Braga, Portugal.

If you want to know more about the Granny Smith I ate surf to Naure and More and punch in the code: 143.

The apple was lush, crunchy and juicy :-)

You may wonder why I bought fruit from Argentina when fruit from Portugal would have had a lot less mileage on the way to the store. True, but not always is organically produced fruit from Portugal available. I also bouth pears, from France I think.