SumanSutra
"Am a Vegan and Green to Save the World" twitter: @sumansutra fb:sumansutra LinkedIn: sudarman email: sumansutra@gmail.comDecember solstice in 2011 on Thursday, 22
December solstice in 2011 on Thursday, 22
The December solstice will occur at 05:30 UTC on December 22, 2011.
The December solstice is also known as the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere and the summer solstice in the southern hemisphere.
See when the solstice happens in your city
The end of the world in 2012?
Many prophecies about the end of the world surround this date because it corresponds to the last day of the Mayan calendar. The 2012 December solstice will be on December 21, 2012.
What happens at the solstice?
The North Pole is tilted furthest away from the sun at the solstice. (Not to scale)
The December solstice occurs when the sun reaches its most southerly declination of -23.5 degrees. In other words, it is when the North Pole is tilted 23.5 degrees away from the sun. Depending on the Gregorian calendar, the December solstice occurs annually on a day between December 20 and December 23. On this date, all places above a latitude of 66.5 degrees north (Arctic Polar Circle) are now in darkness, while locations below a latitude of 66.5 degrees south (Antarctic Polar Circle) receive 24 hours of daylight.
Use the Sunrise and Sunset calculator to find the number of daylight hours during the December solstice in cities worldwide.
The sun is directly overhead on the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere during the December solstice. It also marks the longest day of the year in terms of daylight hours for those living south of the equator. Those living or travelling south from the Antarctic Circle towards the South Pole will see the midnight sun during this time of the year.
On the contrary, for an observer in the northern hemisphere, the December solstice marks the day of the year with the least hours of daylight. Those living or traveling north of the Arctic Circle towards the North Pole will not be able to see the sun during this time of the year.
The December solstice in the calendar
December 20 and December 23 solstices occur less frequently than December 21 or December 22 solstices in the Gregorian calendar. The last December 23 solstice occurred in 1903 and will not occur again until the year 2303. A December 20 solstice has occurred very rarely, with the next one occurring in the year 2080.(*)
Seasons, Equinoxes and Solstices
- Seasons Calculator – When seasons start
- March Equinox Explained
- –traditions around March Equinox
- June Solstice Explained
- –traditions around June Solstice
- September Equinox Explained
- –traditions around September Equinox
- December Solstice Explained
- –traditions around December Solstice
- Equinox day is not exactly 12 hours long
As with the June solstice, the December solstice’s varying dates are mainly due to the calendar system. The Gregorian calendar, which is used in most western countries, has 365 days in a common year and 366 days in a leap year. However, the tropical year, which is the length of time the sun takes to return to the same position in the seasons cycle (as seen from earth), is different to the calendar year. The tropical year is approximately 365.242199 days but varies from year to year because of the influence of other planets. The exact orbital and daily rotational motion of the earth, such as the “wobble” in the earth’s axis (precession), also contributes to the changing solstice dates.
Over the course of history, many different schemes have been devised to determine the start of the year. Some are astronomical, beginning at the September or March equinox, or at the June or December solstice. Solstices are more readily observable either by observing when the midday shadow of a gnomon is longest (winter solstice in the northern hemisphere) or shortest (summer solstice in the northern hemisphere). The solstices can also be observed by noting the point of time when the sun rises or sets as far south as it does during the course of the year (winter in the northern hemisphere) or maximally north (summer in the northern hemisphere).
(*) All dates refer to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Dates may vary depending on the time zone.
December solstice in relation to seasons
It is important to note that earth does not move at a constant speed in its elliptical orbit. Therefore the seasons are not of equal length: the times taken for the sun to move from the vernal equinox to the summer solstice, to the autumnal equinox, to the winter solstice, and back to the vernal equinox are roughly 92.8, 93.6, 89.8 and 89.0 days respectively. The consolation in the northern hemisphere is that spring and summer last longer than autumn and winter (when the December solstice occurs).
The relative position of the earth’s axis to the sun changes during the cycle of seasons. This phenomenon is the reason why the sun’s height above the horizon changes throughout the year. It is also responsible for the seasons through controlling the intensity and duration of sunlight received at various locations around the planet.
Solstice’s influence on cultures
The December solstice has played an important role the lives of many people in ancient times. To this day, the world is still influenced by various traditions linked to the observance of the December solstice.
read more at: http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/december-solstice.html
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Get Your Good Cholesterol With A Vegan Diet
What is the difference between good cholesterol and bad cholesterol? The mere mention of cholesterol is enough to make people wince. Its reputation often precedes it in such a way that finding it in a nutritional label of a product is more than enough for anyone to put it right back in the shelf. Well, let’s not be quick to judge and give cholesterol a chance. After all, despite of cholesterol’s unsavory reputation, it actually plays an important role in several of your body processes. Cells use cholesterol to build membranes. It is also used by the sex hormones and by the digestive system. Approximately 20% of your total body cholesterol comes from dietary sources and the rest is synthesized in the liver. In an article entitled “Vegetarian Diets”, published by the American Dietetic Association, Volume 109, Issue 7 (July 2009), several benefits of the vegan diet were identified, and one of which is its role in lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level. With the aid of a special kind of protein called lipoprotein, cholesterol is transported through the bloodstreams from the liver to the cells and tissues that need it. There are two kinds of lipoproteins: LDLs and HDLs, and each have different functions. LDL cholesterol is referred to as the “bad cholesterol”. They are your body’s main transporter of cholesterol from the liver, to all the cells of your body.
As such, it is heavily loaded with cholesterol. HDL cholesterol, on the other hand, is the “good cholesterol” and plays the role of cholesterol scavengers. After the LDLs have performed their function, and the cholesterol needs of the cells and tissues were met, LDLs releases the cholesterol in the bloodstream. Ideally, the HDLs role is to pick up the excess cholesterol and transport them to the liver for storage. However, on instances when the cholesterol level in the bloodstream is high, and there is not enough HDL to pick them up, the cholesterol builds up in the walls of the arteries. If this happens, then there is one word to describe this—Trouble! T
hese build ups are called plaques, and may eventually cause narrowed or hardened artery walls, leading to heart diseases. This is why HDL is considered the good cholesterol and the LDL is the bad cholesterol. Vegan Diets Lower Cholesterol Levels! You read that right. No amount of cholesterol lowering medications can beat the effectiveness of a raw vegan diet in lowering cholesterol levels. A diet that consists of animal products is high in cholesterol. On the other hand, a raw vegan diet has relatively low cholesterol content and at times, none at all. Amazing, right? And that’s not all. It is also effective in lowering your LDLs because, unlike animal products, vegetables are low in saturated fats. Saturated fats are “bad fats” and these are the fats you don’t want to mess with since they are known to cause high cholesterol level. Another way a healthy vegan diet is effective in lowering cholesterol level is through its high soluble fiber content. With fibers in your intestinal tract, cholesterol is not easily absorbed by the body. You see, there are several ways you can benefit from a vegan diet or vegetarian diet. By feeding your body with the good cholesterol, you’ll reap the rewards of good health. Not only will it reduce the risk of heart diseases but it is also able to provide you the nutrients for important body functions.
http://www.raw-food-repair.com/good-cholesterol.html
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the 30-Day Vegan Challenge
The 30-Day Vegan Challenge
The Ultimate Guide to Eating Cleaner, Getting Leaner, and Living Compassionately
Whether you want to improve your overall health, shed a few pounds, demonstrate your compassion for animals, or help the environment, expert Colleen Patrick-Goudreau gives you the tools and resources you need to make the vegan transition – healthfully, joyfully, and deliciously. Addressing your every question and challenge, Patrick-Goudreau – dubbed the “Vegan Martha Stewart” – holds your hand the entire time, helping you to break free from old habits and to experience lasting benefits – both tangible and intangible.
Colleen Patrick-Goudreau is the award-winning author of five books, including the bestselling The Joy of Vegan Baking, Color Me Vegan, and Vegan’s Daily Companion. Through her writing, inspiring lectures, and popular podcast “Food for Thought,” she has guided thousands of people to living compassionately and healthfully.
In this one-stop, comprehensive guide, Patrick-Goudreau
- debunks common nutrition myths and explains the best sources of such nutrients as calcium, protein, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids
- helps you become a savvy shopper, restock your kitchen, read labels, and prepare nutrient-rich meals without feeling overwhelmed
- offers practical strategies for eating out, traveling, hosting holiday gatherings, and attending social events
- empowers you to experience the tangible and intangible benefits of living a healthful, compassionate life
http://www.compassionatecook.com/media/videos/the-30-day-vegan-challenge
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Color Me Vegan
Color Me Vegan
Maximize Your Nutrient Intake and Optimize Your Health by Eating Antioxidant-Rich, Fiber-Packed, Color-Intense Meals That Taste Great
In Color Me Vegan, award-winning author and renowned vegan cooking expert Colleen Patrick-Goudreau brings an edible rainbow of plant-based cuisine to your kitchen table with 150 flavorful recipes designed to boost your health and perk up your palate. With color as the guiding principle behind each section, Colleen shows you how to harness the antioxidant power of every natural food in the color spectrum – from ruby red fruits to leafy green vegetables, to earthy brown grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds – and how to expertly prepare these foods for the greatest nutritional punch. And as always, each dish features Colleen’s trademark flair for bringing taste and fresh innovation to the table.
In the “Color Me Blue/Purple” chapter, for example, you’ll learn how the anthocyanins found in blue and purple plants can help protect you against high blood pressure and high cholesterol – and you’ll be treated to delicious recipes that showcase these plants, such as Lavender-Roasted Purple Potatoes and Purple Plum Pie with Crumble Topping.
In other chapters, you’ll find even more culinary delights, including:
- Ginger-Roasted Parsnips
- Apricot Red Lentil Stew
- Seared Tempeh with Cherry Balsamic Reduction Sauce
- Cashew and Red Lentil Burgers
- Quinoa, Tofu, and Kale with Walnut Pesto
- Lemony Pan-Fried Chickpeas with Chard Mango Saffron Mousse
- Strawberries with Lavender Sauce
From sensational starters and salads, to filling mains and sides, to crave-worthy desserts—in every color—each recipe is not just a feast for your stomach, but a feast for your eyes as well!
http://www.compassionatecook.com/publications/color-me-vegan
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Most Vegan Friendly Colleges in U.S.
Congrats to all the winning schools. Your students thank you and, if they could, so would the animals whose lives will be spared as the result of your serving delicious vegan cuisine in your food halls!
The number of vegetarian students has risen by 50 percent since 2005, and the number of vegan students has more than doubled in the same time period. There’s never been a better time to leave meat off your plate for good.
Winners in the Large U.S. Schools Category
1. University of California—Santa Cruz
After years of bouncing from one place to another on our list, UCSC has finally claimed the top spot as the national leader in cruelty-free dining. This radically progressive school’s implementation of the popular Meatless Monday program—in which a different dining hall goes completely vegetarian each week—has been a model for other schools across the country. Dishes such as stuffed portobello ratatouille, vegan Mexican tofu benedicts, vegan taquitos, and sweet-and-sour seitan get big applause from students. Throw in a vibrant activist community led by the pro-vegan group Banana Slugs for Animals, and it’s easy to see why left-leaning students flock west.
2. University of Florida
Establishing itself as a pioneer in environmental studies and management over the past decade, the University of Florida (UF) puts a high priority on sustainability, which is no easy task at a school the size of a small city. With the Office of Sustainability’s pledge to achieve zero-waste status by 2015, UF sees the devastating ecological impact of the meat industry as part of the problem. It led the school to embrace Meatless Mondays last year as a means of encouraging students to take control of their carbon footprints. The student event VegFest also helps foster an atmosphere of animal-free eating, and dishes such as tempeh salad with espresso-chili vinaigrette, grilled tofu three ways over wild rice, and vegan chicken tacos make the transition to a plant-based diet an easy and delicious option for campus residents.
3. University of California—Irvine
Proudly representing “the OC” on this year’s list, the University of California—Irvine (UCI) has come and gone on our list for years. But 2011 has been a good year for UCI, thanks in part to the efforts of Irvine Students Against Animal Cruelty (ISAAC), which has been pushing hard for the school to keep up with other University of California campuses when it comes to healthy and sustainable vegan foods. With a hearty emphasis on vegan versions of meat-based dishes, options such as vegan sweet-and-sour meatballs, chicken tacos, pad Thai, and chicken marsala are menu standouts. The school is also implementing a Meatless Monday program in order to help encourage students to choose healthier dining alternatives.
4. Ohio University
If you listen to outsiders, Ohio University (OU) may be primarily known for its history of “haunted” facilities and folklorish ghost sightings. Ask a student, though, and one becomes suspicious that these rumors may have been started to successfully contain OU’s best-kept secret—its award-winning vegan cuisine. Vegan ravioli, black-bean stuffed peppers, Tofurky sandwiches, vegan orange chicken and broccoli, and vegan cheesecake are a few samples of the extensive range of cruelty-free food options available.
5. University of California—Los Angeles
Last year’s big winner, the University of California—Los Angeles (UCLA) has made vegan food a top priority for the better part of the past decade, consistently keeping up with student expectations as more and more residents embrace a plant-based diet. With tasty options such as barbecue “beef,” Southwest veggie chicken wraps, and vegan cheese quesadillas, vegetarianism is so deeply engrained in the Bruin spirit that many students reportedly choose vegetarian options without even knowing it. So while Southern California is known for its fad diets and weight-loss culture, UCLA students know that the key to living life to the fullest is choosing real food—and that animals don’t count as such.
6. Cornell University
One of the many Ivy League universities to make this year’s list, Cornell has a long-established reputation as a school for serious scholars. Located in the picturesque city of Ithaca, New York, Cornellians rely on healthy doses of vegan cuisine to help fuel their ample brainpower. Thankfully, the school has responded by offering a wide range of cruelty-free options, including sweet potato-cashew patties, seitan pepper steak, corn-crusted tofu with jalapeño pico salsa, and vegan chocolate cake. As if that weren’t enough, toss in One World Café—Cornell’s on-campus café devoted entirely to vegetarian and vegan food!
7.University of Connecticut
Consistently ranked as the top public university in New England, schools across the region tremble at the mention of the University of Connecticut—not only for its legendary basketball teams but also for its cutting-edge take on animal-free foods. Vegan ravioli with veggies, grilled tofu with cranberry-apricot chutney, African peanut stew, and tofu vindaloo are just a few of the many menu highlights available at UConn.
8. University of Illinois
Boasting vegan options at every meal in every dining hall, the University of Illinois knows that vegan food is big business in 2011. A clearly labeled “vegan corner” in each dining location helps students stock up on vegan cheese, soy meat, and other tasty treats, while the chefs whip up flavorful recipes like vegan Caprese sandwiches (with soy cheese), pumpkin lasagne, spring rolls, and more vegan versions of meat-based Asian dishes than you can shake a stick at. Even the school’s convocation ceremony had vegan sloppy Joes on the menu—which shows just how engrained animal-free foods are in the student culture.
9. University of California—Berkeley
Perhaps the least surprising university on our top 10 list, Berkeley has a reputation for vegan-friendliness that is decades in the making. In a time when new vegan products are coming on the market every day, even an established national leader like Cal knows that it has to keep up with trends. Popular items like tofu scramble, vegan chicken nuggets, and vegan pizza are just a few of the literally hundreds of vegan options available at this veggie-powered school.
10. University of Colorado—Boulder
Returning to our list for the second year in a row, the University of Colorado—Boulder is located in the progressive bastion of Boulder, which has long been a go-to spot for outdoorsy vegetarians. The university itself is no slouch, making sustainability a campuswide priority. Both the school’s sports stadium and student government boast “zero waste” policies (a first in the nation on both counts), so the dining services department understands the significance of promoting eco-conscious cuisine—which means lots of vegan food. Clearly labeled vegan options, such as tofu rancheros, barbecue tofu with Cuban beans, seitan tacos, and vegan apple pie, are just a few of the many choices possessing a light footprint but big flavor.
Honorable Mentions
University of North Texas
A newcomer to our list—and to the national vegan dining stage—the University of North Texas (UNT) shook up the Texas establishment with its addition of the nation’s first all-vegan cafeteria at a large university (gaining national media attention in the process, as well as a peta2 Compassionate Campus Award). The school’s dining services staff report that they have since received calls from across the country as other schools look to mirror the UNT example. UNT has long bubbled under the surface—now, thanks to animal-free dishes such as tofu loaves, Aztecan quinoa salad, garden pesto veggie wraps, and vegan peach cobbler, the school is finally getting the praise it deserves.
University of Pennsylvania
Penn has really taken off over the past several years, gaining a reputation as a petri dish to test cutting-edge vegan foods that will eventually find their way to off-campus diners. Vegan Daiya cheese pizzas (or pepper jack “cheesies”), cranberry scones, Indian dishes, and carob-chip banana squares are just some of the hundreds of vegan foods available that would make Benjamin Franklin—a vegetarian—proud of his school.
Winners in the Small U.S. Schools Category
1. Northwestern University
Last year’s top-ranked small U.S. school, Northwestern University is back on top in 2011. The dining services department reports that between 35 and 55 percent of students select a vegetarian or vegan entrée every day, and with options such as tofu French toast, country-fried seitan steak with vegan mashed potatoes, and vegan curried tofu with jasmine rice, it’s easy to see why. Throw in a new Meatless Monday program, and you can see how this school’s motivated and ambitious student population has enough energy to dance for 30 hours straight.
2. Brandeis University
With a vibrant streak of progressive activism dating back several decades, Brandeis students are known for setting the bar high and waging high-profile campaigns when their demands aren’t met. Thankfully for the campus chefs, vegan food is one area where students have nothing but kind words. With popular dining choices such as in-house vegan brownies, vegan spaghetti and meatballs, barbecue veggie riblets, and vegan beef tacos, it’s easy to see where students get their energy.
3. Georgetown University
After being absent from last year’s list, Georgetown has returned in 2011, thanks in part to visually appealing entrées such as seitan gyros with soy yogurt, vegan beef stir-fries, vegan sloppy Joes, and vegan barbecue riblets. Given that Georgetown is a school known for producing presidents, high-scoring athletes, Supreme Court justices, and other influential figures, the vegan-friendly menu at this historic campus gives us hope for the future.
4. Brown University
Brown has been deemed number one for possessing “America’s Happiest College Students,” and a quick glance at the menu will explain why that is. Hearty and creative vegan dishes such as Jamaican jerk tempeh and vegan nuggets with sesame seeds are standout options. This year, the school unveiled a range of new vegan baked goods, including vegan pumpkin cheesecake and brownies.
5. Bennington College
A name on virtually every list of progressive and eco-friendly campuses, Bennington is a beacon of vegan-powered hope from deep in the heart of “dairy country.” Founded on donated farmland, the school’s main building was a renovated barn (and maintains the name “The Barn” to this day). Don’t let the school’s pastoral atmosphere fool you—this is a school that is up-to-date, at least in the culinary sense. The diverse menu of hundreds of cruelty-free options includes Indonesian tofu and peanut salad wraps, Cajun tofu with Creole sauce, multigrain vegan nuggets with barbecue sauce, tofu stroganoff, and vegan stuffed shells with marinara sauce.
6. University of Rochester
A new addition to our list for 2011, the University of Rochester is just now receiving national praise. A school historically tied to vegetarian Susan B. Anthony, Rochester has made significant strides as of late, thanks to delicious dishes such as kung pao tofu, vegan cheese quesadillas, and tofu ravioli with wild-mushroom pesto. The administrators also work closely with campus organizations like the Student Association of Vegan and Vegetarian Youth (SAVVY) to keep up with food trends.
7. University of Puget Sound
A regular on our list for several years now, the University of Puget Sound is in many ways the standard that other schools look to for serving vegan cuisine. True to the school’s “Vegans Around the World” theme, inventive dishes such as vegan cutlets, spicy sweet potato-bean burritos, Field Roast deli slices, and tofu-spinach breakfast burritos serve as perfect complements to the students’ ever-present organic, fair-trade coffee.
8. Bradley University
Despite not having the name recognition of bigger regional institutions like the University of Illinois, Bradley gives big schools a run for their money when it comes to vegan dining options. Making a return visit to our list, residents of this school of just over 6,000 students enjoy dishes traditionally reserved for the luckiest of urban dwellers, including tofu marsala, portobello Napoleon with soy cheese, and spicy tofu scramble.
9. Wesleyan University
One of the most selective universities in the U.S., Wesleyan is no stranger to our list, having been a nominee for several years in a row and having won the top spot two years ago. With a student-run organic vegetable farm funded by the Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences and delicious vegan entrées such as barbecue seitan, tofu spinach lasagne, and pasta with roasted cauliflower and peppers with walnut pesto on constant rotation, it’s easy to see why people are clamoring like crazy to get into Wes.
10. American University
A previous winner on our list, American University is a beacon of hope emanating from the nation’s capital again this year. Featuring hearty and healthy options such as vegan zucchini quinoa lasagna, picadillo stuffed peppers, and vegan cherry pie, students never have to travel far to get a delicious meal on the go.
Honorable Mentions
Oberlin College
Thanks to progressive policies speaking out against racism, sexism, and homophobia, Oberlin is the place where the country looks to see what the next social trend to sweep the country will be—and that’s good news for vegans everywhere. With daily offerings such as vegan black-bean burgers, vegan eggless salad, and mushroom, pea, and asparagus risotto, a visit to Oberlin is like jumping 20 years into the future to a world where everybody is vegetarian and loving it.
Bastyr University
Surrounded by the dense fir and hemlock trees of Saint Edward State Park, Bastyr has become a nationally recognized name, thanks in part to its emphasis on the study of natural medicine and its belief in the healing powers of plant-based foods. Healthful treats such as vegan banana bread, black bean soup, coconut tofu curry, and vegan chocolate cake give students the strength to heal others while leading by example.
Rhode Island School of Design
As the preeminent fine arts school in the nation, the Rhode Island School of Design understands that visionary minds need fuel. And since meat is a leading contributor to obesity, strokes, and even impotence, having healthy vegan options available is key to keeping the creative juices flowing. That’s why vegetarian choices are widely available on campus and at the campus’s food truck—dubbed “Rosie”—where students can grab dishes such as seitan stew with quinoa and millet salad, sesame tofu with tomato compote, and Appaloosa bean salad with lime-chipotle vinaigrette.
http://features.peta2.com/Vegan-Colleges-2011/
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VEGucated
| Synopsis |
Vegucated is a feature-length documentary that follows three meat- and cheese-loving New Yorkers who agree to adopt a vegan diet for six weeks. There’s Brian, the bacon-loving bachelor who eats out all the time, Ellen, the single mom who prefers comedy to cooking, and Tesla, the college student who avoids vegetables and bans beans. They have no idea that so much more than steak is at stake and that the fate of the world may fall on their plates. Lured with true tales of weight lost and health regained, they begin to uncover hidden sides of animal agriculture and soon start to wonder whether solutions offered in films like Food, Inc. go far enough. Before long, they find themselves risking everything to expose an industry they supported just weeks before.
But can their conviction carry them when times get tough? What about on family vacations fraught with skeptical step-dads, carnivorous cousins, and breakfast buffets?
Part sociological experiment, part science class, and part adventure story, Vegucated showcases the rapid and at times comedic evolution of three people who share one journey and ultimately discover their own paths in creating a kinder, cleaner, greener world, one bite at a time.
http://www.getvegucated.com/the-film/synopsis/
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Let’s Make A Wish “World Vegan World Peace” 11.11.11
11 Rules for a Blessed Day on 11.11.11
1. TODAY I WILL NOT STRIKE BACK. If someone is rude, impatient, unkind, I will not respond in a like manner.
2. TODAY I WILL ASK GOD TO BLESS MY ‘ENEMY’. If I come across someone who treats me harshly or unfairly, I will quietly ask God to bless that individual. I understand “enemy” could be a family member, neighbor, co-worker or stranger.
3. TODAY I WILL BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT I SAY. I will carefully choose and guard my words being certain that I do not spread gossip.
4. TODAY I WILL GO THE EXTRA MILE. I will find ways to help sharing the burden of another person.
5. TODAY I WILL FORGIVE. I will forgive any hurts or injuries that come my way.
6. TODAY I WILL DO SOMETHING KIND FOR SOMEONE, (BUT I WILL DO IT IN SECRET). I will reach out anonymously and bless the life of another.
7. TODAY I WILL TREAT OTHERS THE WAY I WISH TO BE TREATED. I will practice the golden rule. “Do Unto others as I would have them do unto me”- with EVERYONE I encounter.
8. TODAY I WILL RAISE THE SPIRITS OF SOMEONE WHO IS DISCOURAGED. My smile, my words, my expression of support, can make the difference to someone who is wrestling with life.
9. TODAY I WILL NURTURE MY BODY. I will eat less . . . I will eat only healthy and vegan organic foods. I will thank God for my body.
10. TODAY I WILL GROW SPIRITUALLY. I will spend a little more time in deep meditation today. I will read something spiritual or inspirational; I will find a quiet place (at some point during this day) and listen to God’s voice.
11. TODAY I WILL SAVE THE PLANET. I will save water, save energy, save paper, eat only organically and earth-friendly plant source vegetables, promoting to friends for saving the planet by being vegan and go green. I wish there will be World Vegan World Peace.
Have a blessed day…Be Veg Go Green 2 Save the Planet
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World Vegan Day at UK Parliament
November 1st, 2011. Witness an historic moment for veganism – the first time that World Vegan Day was marked in the UK’s Parliament.
Vegan MP, Kerry McCarthy, presents positive information about the health benefits of a vegan diet and highlights the cruelty of the meat, egg and dairy industries. She also warns of the disease risks linked to meat-eating and the environmental destruction caused by the livestock industry.
Watch part 1 at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ev2QL9qoImo
Watch part 2 at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPG72ICmC00
Read a transcript at
www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2011-11-01a.895.0&m=40201#g896.0
Find out more about Kerry McCarthy and her fellow vegan MPs at:
www.kerrymccarthymp.org
www.chriswilliamson.org
www.cathyjamieson.com
$500-Billion Renewable Energy Project Moving Forward
Desertec (HUGE Solar & Clean Energy Project) Moving Forward
By Zachary Shahan
If you haven’t heard of Desertec yet, it’s about time you did. Desertec is a half-a-trillion-dollar renewable energy project (yes, I said trillion) planned for Northern Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. We’ve written about it several times over the years. If built, it is projected to produce 15-20% of Europe’s electricity by 2050, as well as providing the Middle East and North African (MENA) region with a good deal of its electricity.
While many have been skeptical of this giant renewable energy project, it’s got the backing of over a dozen major companies and institutions (including: Munich Re, Enel, Abengoa Solar, Deutsche Bank, RWE, Saint-Gobain, E.ON, HSH Nordbank, ABB, Siemens, Flagsol, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, PWC, Flabeg, Jungmut Communication, Skies & Meadows, Nissen Consulting, EBL, Heidelberg Innovation, Nur Energie, M & W Group, MGM Consulting Partners, Red Electrica, and the Desertec Foundation) and it has been moving forward steadily. Now, it’s been announced that construction of its first power plant — a 500-megawatt, €2-billion ($2.8-billion) concentrated solar power (CSP) plant in Morocco — is going to start in 2012.
The first phase of the 500-megawatt project is a 150-megawatt, 12-square-kilometer solar facility that will cost about €600 million ($822 million) and will take 2-4 years to complete.
Those behind the Desertec Industrial Initiative (its full name) point out that deserts receive enough solar energy in 6 hours to power the world for a year. Seriously. Nothing compares to the potential of solar energy, as I’ve pointed out a few times before. And, of course, much of that potential is in sunny deserts.
Image via DESERTEC
source: http://planetsave.com/2011/11/01/500-billion-renewable-energy-project-moving-forward/
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Animal can smile
Do animals smile?
Posted Mon Sep 26, 2011 2:27pm PDT
Pavlov might have called that contented look on a dog’s face a collection of conditioned reflexes, but now science is catching up with what animal lovers have always known.
According to Professor Nicholas Dodman, head of animal behavior at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts School of Medicine, until recently, scientists have generally underestimated the emotional range of animals. Dodman says that today it is widely accepted that mammals do experience primary emotions such as fear, sadness, anger, and happiness and perhaps even some secondary emotions like jealously. He points out that your pet might not understand the exact details of your hard day, but is sensitive enough to curl up and listen.
We can’t be sure if the animals pictured here are truly smiling, but looking at them may make you smile.
(Photo: Keith Kissel/Flickr)
(Photo: A. Davey/Flickr)
(Photo: Phelyan Sanjoin/Flickr)
(Photo: Maurice/Flickr)
(Photo: liz west/Flickr)
(Photo: Noel Feans/Flickr)
(Photo: Martin Harvey/Getty Images)
(Photo: Fuse/Getty Images)
(Photo: Anup Shah/Getty Images)
(Photo: Fuse/Getty Images)
http://green.yahoo.com/blog/greenpicks/316/do-animals-smile.html;_ylt=Al8D3CrBv8PNK8.I9t4G3J.AV8cX
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