Good Green News

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Our world is full of bad news.  Locally, we are bombarded with stories on crime, accidents sickness, death and destruction.  Then the national news serves up a daily dose of reports on war, famine, poverty, climate change and politics.  I have decided that from this point going forward, I will continue to discuss topics important to the green movement, but I will reserve Mondays for good green news.  Monday subjects will range from people, activities, legislation and research aimed at improving our planet to inspirational stories, celebrations and community activities by people trying to make a positive difference.

My first good green Monday story salutes World Vegetation Day, which is celebrated today, October 1st, and kicks off Vegetarian Awareness Month.  For those interested in improving their health through dietary measures, this is a great opportunity to investigate the benefits of a veggie-friendly diet.

It is important to note that there are several levels of vegetarianism, and they are summarized as follows:

  • Vegan:  One who abstains from the use of animal products;
  • Vegetarian:  One who excludes from his/her diet meat and slaughter by-products, fish, shellfish, other sea animals and poultry.
  • Pescatarian:  One who practices a diet that includes seafood but not the flesh of other animals.
  • Weekday vegetarian:  One who practices a diet of part-time vegetarianism, often called flexitarian, choosing what to eat and when, i.e., proponents of Meatless Mondays.

Research shows that a vegetarian diet is associated with lower blood pressures and cholesterol, better heart health and even lower rates of cancer.  The American Dietetic Association holds the position that “appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, naturally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases”.  As a bonus, being vegetarian also may contribute to a sense of happiness and well being.  A 2010 study in the Nutrition Journal concluded that vegetarians report significantly less negative emotion than meat eaters.

So let’s celebrate World Vegetarian Day and Vegetarian Awareness Month on some level, ranging from incorporation of more vegetables into our diets to the elimination of meats on some days.  If you are feeling really bold, now may be the time to go cold turkey and eliminate meat.  Let’s celebrate green, live green, be green!

Learn Green to Live Green

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Starting a green regimen can be a rather daunting task.  Even browsing the Internet yields so many “hits”, making it  difficult to determine where to begin on this journey.  Attending a green expo is a great way to get educated on green programs and products.  These events feature green commodity manufacturers who showcase their goods in a central location while permitting consumers to view these offerings thoroughly and ask questions.  Demonstrations at these events are both informative and entertaining.  

Green expos can be found in different regions of the country year round.  With a little research, it is possible to find an event in most areas.

One such upcoming event is “Greening Up at the Expo” in Central Point, Oregon this weekend (June 30 through July 1, 2012).  This expo will feature greater than 50 exhibitors and 27 sponsors and will include presentations on many areas of green living, including jobs, financing, entrepreneurship, eco-nature tourism, home building and remodeling, gardening, transportation and energy.  Further details about this expo can be found at theoregongreenexpo.com.  

A second noteworthy upcoming green expo is the “Living and Eating Green Expo 2012” in Cleveland, Ohio.  This event will feature several keynote speakers on topics such as plant-based diets, women, sex and food, food selection and cancer risk, breaking food seduction, and the impact of living green.  There will be several vendors available, who will distribute information and product samples.  Also included is a Vegan Food Fest.  The “Living and Eating Green Expo 2012” will be held on September 8-9, 2012 at Lakeland Community College.  Further information can be found at http://thejourneymag.com/living-and-eating-green-expo-2012/.

A third newsworthy upcoming green event is the Natural Health and Products Expo presented by Green Events LLC.  This expo will be held in Oshkosh, Wisconsin in January, 2013.  It will feature organic cuisine, how-to workshops, and health screenings, along with a marketplace of eco-friendly businesses selling a variety of products from natural body care items to organic cotton clothing and Fair Trade gifts.  The venue for this event is the Sunnyview Expo Center in Oshkosh.  Additional information can be found at http://thejourneymag.com/living-and-eating-green-expo-2012/.

There are abundant opportunities to educate ourselves on living green.  There are numerous expos, workshops and demonstrations available to learn all facets of green living.  So, let’s educate green, live green, be green!