Some Wine Makers Love Climate Change

Is climate change actually good for wine vineyards? Some winemakers seem to think so, as it has helped them achieve consecutive years of excellent vintages. So they have little incentive to make any changes that would either adapt to climate change, or take measures to decrease their carbon footprint.

Are these winemakers correct, should we not care about climate change? Or are they blind to the true dangers ahead, and if so, how do you convince them otherwise?

In the current issue of Mother Jones magazine (August 2010), there is an interesting article,"Grapes of Wrath," by Mark Hertsgaard. It concerns the effect of climate change on vineyards and wine making, and is adapted from his forthcoming book, Hot: Living Through the Next Fifty Years on Earth.

Mark mentions how some winemakers are joyous about climate change. "Some of the most expensive wines in Spain come from the Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa regions," Pancho Campo, the founder and president of the Wine Academy of Spain, says. "They are getting almost perfect ripeness every year now for Tempranillo. This makes the winemakers say, 'Who cares about climate change? We are getting perfect vintages.' The same thing has happened in Bordeaux. It is very difficult to tell someone, 'This is only going to be the case for another few years.'" (p.38)

How do you argue with these winemakers? How can you convince them that these prime vintages won't last? It may be a very difficult task.

Mark continues with a dire prediction for vineyards in the U.S., though obviously the potential threat is worldwide. "If current trends continue, the "premium wine grape production area [in the United States]...could decline by up to 81 percent by the late 21st century," a team of scientists wrote in a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in 2006. The culprit was not so much the rise in average temperatures but an increased frequency of extremely hot days, defined as above 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit). If no adaptation measures were taken, these increased heat spikes would "eliminate wine grape production in many areas of the United States," the scientists wrote." (p.38)

Is this how most people react, unconcerned unless something directly affects them? And if it benefits them, are they are less likely to be concerned? When they finally act, will it be too late?

Boston GreenFest 2009

The Foundation for a Green Future, Inc. today announced that the second annual edition of Boston GreenFest 2009 will take place on Boston City Hall Plaza, Thursday, August 20, Friday, August 21 and Saturday, August 22.

Boston GreenFest 2009 will bring together community groups, corporations, small businesses, nonprofits, government agencies and citizens to share new technologies and ideas that can immediately change our daily lives and help bring about a more sustainable future.

Boston GreenFest 2009, the Foundation for a Green Future, Inc., and local volunteers will seek to connect with a broad audience from across all Boston neighborhoods to bring an inspiring message of action and change. Together we will work toward sustainability through art, music, fashion, discussions and interactive exhibits. By engaging participants, young and old, we will search for new ideas to reduce our impact on our planet.

Festival-goers will learn what it means to eat and grow local organic food, improve nutrition and health care, make better decisions about what we wear and the products we use for our personal care, green our city, build healthy communities, take action politically and personally, create green jobs and engage in a sustainable, green economy.

WHEN: Entertainment and programming hours will be Thursday, Aug. 20, 5-10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, Aug. 21 and 22, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Exhibitor hours: Friday, Aug. 21, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 22, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

ADMISSION: All events are free and open to the public.

Foundation for a Green Future, Inc. is a local nonprofit organization committed to educating the public and increasing awareness about green roofs, living walls, plants and trees as a means to improving air quality and abating global warming along with a host of other ways to create a greener path to a sustainable future in the City of Boston and elsewhere. It is the intention of this Foundation to help improve the quality of life by contributing to a healthier environment through education and specific actions.

“Boston GreenFest 2009 is a celebration of our environmental progress and a call to action for communities, citizens and corporations committed to an even brighter future,” said Karen Weber, Coordinator of Boston GreenFest 2009. “We can no longer wait for someone to tell us what to do to improve our world. We need to find the solutions ourselves. The answers are within reach and we applaud the many groups in and around Boston already making positive change worthy of celebration and recognition.”

Jim Hunt, Chief Advisor to the Mayor on Environment and Energy, writes: “Mayor Menino and the City of Boston are excited to welcome GreenFest back to City Hall Plaza. This year’s program looks to encourage and support local community development, promote health and wellness strategies, educate the public on energy conservation and alternative transportation, and update the public on sustainability initiatives that are being pursued city, state, and nationwide. The festival looks to combine educational programming with art projects and interactive components for area residents. It offers something for everyone interested in sustainability issues. The city is proud to serve as host for this event and we hope residents will take advantage of the myriad workshops, exhibits and demonstrations to learn what steps they can take to “go green”. Please join the Mayor and me at Boston GreenFest 2009. It will be a great festival and we look forward to your participation.”

Among the activities currently scheduled to take place at City Hall Plaza for Boston GreenFest 2009 are:

- 3 Stages of Multicultural Entertainment: More than 40 acts reflect Boston’s diverse cultural offerings — from West African rock, healer, dance, martial arts and puppetry to indie rock, soul and folk. We will attempt to power one stage with solar energy and another stage by pedal power! Some of the performers are: The Neighborhoods, Mamadou, The Lights Out, Boston Community Choir (annually perform gospel with the Boston Pops), Corin Ashley, Midatlantic, Am Stereo, INCUS, The Motion Sick, The Delta Generators, Michael & Marissa, Mike Verge, tem Blessed, Mighty Mystic and the Strings of Thunder, Inkas Wasi, Buck T. Edwards, Oneal Armstrong, Chocolate Fountain, Keith James and Potentials Unlimited, Yang's Martial Arts Academy, Nathan Hale School Choir, and Tibetan musicologist Gandiva Lorcan.

- Green Fashion Tent including the EcoRunway: A creative series of fashion shows featuring adults and youth who will model clothes/accessories they made from eco-conscious materials. Designers range in age from 10 yrs and up. Boston designer Sam Mendoza, Sparklle Thames, Rhonda Fazio, Franchesca Salamanca, and the Stylistas are a few of the EcoRunway leaders.

- GreenFilmFest: Free film showings throughout the festival for children and adults, portraying themes of sustainability, nature and hope, including Greening of Southie, FRESH, and Out of Balance.

- Kid Friendly Area: Jam-packed section devoted to kids including two full days of family friendly entertainment with appearances by Ruff Ruffman from WGBH’s “Fetch!,” Phineas the Dog puppetry, Sidewalk Sam, magician Darren Yong, The Yo-Yo Show, Loco Kids, storyteller Big Joe, facepainting, eco-friendly Creative Balloons, inflatables, yoga with Sadhana Studio, and ponies to pet from the Blue Hills Riding Center!

- The One Gallon Challenge: On Wednesday, August 19, an unusual group of very high efficiency cars will convene in Greenfield, MA. These “next gen” cars are unlike what the public has seen before. On Thursday, August 20, they will attempt to travel 100 miles on the energy of a single gallon of gasoline to Boston GreenFest on Boston City Hall Plaza. They will be on exhibit throughout the festival.

- EcoGallery:

- National Geographic “Irreplaceable: Wildlife in a Warming World” Exhibit: A traveling photo exhibit by the International League of Conservation Photographers, in partnership with the nonprofit Earthjustice, that reveals the effects of climate change on endangered species.

- Eco-Photo Contest: Contest for the Boston Public Schools to acknowledge the 3 schools that most succeeded in bringing awareness about the environment into their school and curriculum. Winners will be awarded $250 in gift certificates by Jamaicaway Books on Saturday, August 22 at 2 pm. Entries will be on display.

- Product giveaways and samples: Cabot Cheese, Kashi, SOYJOY, Luna, Clif Bar, and more!
- Time Tunnel: A 50’ x 10’ walk through time in which one sees the world in its beauty and bounty; then in its degradation and loss of resources; and finally a future in which everyone working together can return the world to a sustainable path. Public artist & Architect: Franziska Amacher.

- Wheel Answers: the answers you’ve been looking for may be on this special wheel set up by Johnny Monsarrat.

- Green Town Meeting: An event at the State House Grand Staircase on Thurs. Aug 13th, 10 am – 2 pm, to which everyone, including our political leaders, academic leaders, faith leaders, youth leaders, nonprofits and more are invited to discuss and sign the GreenFest Manifest — a commitment to others and ourselves.

- Green Business Breakfast: The downtown business community will join in an engaging networking session and pertinent discussion on Thurs. Aug 20th, 8-9:30 am, Boston City Hall, Curley Room (by invitation, not open to the public).

- Green Jobs: Discussion and showcase of Boston’s green job market.

- Cooking Demos: Learn how to cook with fresh vegetables from your organic garden!

- Workshops, Speakers and Presentations: Covering wide array of fascinating topics including energy efficiency, health, nutrition, beauty, gardening, textiles, greening our cities, and much more.

- Health, Fitness and Spiritual Classes and Workshops: Yoga classes by Sadhana Studio, Kung-Fu demos by Yang’s Martial Arts, walking tours with walkBoston, and more.

- GreenBus: powered by veggie oil, the Green Bus will come down from Dartmouth College to educate festival-goers about green initiatives.

- Call2Recycle: educational mobile trailer teaching about recycling rechargeable batteries and cellphones through interactive computer games.

- Traditional Drum Circle: 200 drummers will circle City Hall in the morning and evening – it will be an unforgettable experience.

- Valet Bike Parking set up by Urban Adventours.

- Walking Tours: A Taste of Boston! Join walkBoston for quick 20 minute tours to get to know Boston by foot.

- Healthy Delicious Food from locally-minded eateries including Bolocco, Grasshopper, and Equal Exchange Café.

- More than 200 exhibitors featuring eco-conscious vendors, green technology, urban farming, small business displays, a farmers’ market and environmentally conscious artisans featuring unique items for sale.

Righteous Porkchop: Or Don't Be a Supermarket Zombie

It is a striking and disturbing image. There are "lagoons" in North Carolina yet forget any idyllic visions you might possess. These lagoons lack white sand beaches or crystal clear water and no one would want to vacation near them. For these lagoons are actually disgusting pools of liquified hog manure! They are the place for enormous amounts of waste produced by huge factory hog farms.

To understand the creation of these lagoons, as well as much more about the perils of factory farms,. you should read Righteous Porkchop: Finding a Life and Good Food Beyond Factory Farms by Nicolette Hahn Niman (HarperCollins Publishers, Feb.2009, $23.99). This new hardcover book, 322 pages long, reveals disturbing facts about the "factory farms" that produce our pork, poultry, beef and seafood, and offers an alternative of small, more humane and sustainable farms. This book is not for the faint of heart but I think it is a very important read.

Nicolette Hahn Niman used to work for Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., spearheading a campaign against hog factory farms, especially the pollution they cause. The lagoons of manure can be very dangerous, causing all sorts of environmental problems. While working on this problem, Nicolette researched and studied other factory farms as well, the results of which end up in this book. Nicolette's contributions eventually led to some success against the pollution caused by hog farms.

The industrialization of agriculture eventually led to the creation of huge factory farms, where profit seems to be the driving force. Concerns for the animals seems to take a back seat. For example, in the hog factories, the pigs are kept in very crowded conditions, allowing them no room for any exercise. Their air may be contaminated with ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, dust, viruses, bacteria and more. There is little genetic diversity with these animals, as the factories seek only a particular type, to produce the lean pork they seek. There must be a better way.

Nicolette discusses the similar and significant problems of other factory farms, from chickens to dairy cows. Much of that information may disturb you yet these are issues most of us rarely consider. We simply go to the market and buy a plastic wrapped piece of meat, ignorant of its source. We don't understand what we might be missing, or how our meat might be better from different sources. Nicolette advises against being a "supermarket zombie." You can view this book as a wake-up call, as a cautionary tale of the serious problems we and our environment face.

Fortunately, Nicolette is not just a doom sayer or an extremist. She discusses alternatives to these factory farm, as well as providing advice for locating better foods. This includes both supermarkets and even fast food restaurants. She also discusses how small, local farms can be more efficient and cost effective than huge factory farms.

This is an excellent book, well written and compelling. It deals with very important issues which we all should know more about. It not only points out problems, but also offers alternatives and solutions. This may be a good introductory book to understand these issues yet even those familiar with the issues will find value within its pages.

As I previously stated in my Itadakimasu post, "Let us step back and think more about the sources of our food." And the Righteous Porkchop is a great first step.

What is Your Virtual Water Footprint?

There is much discussion lately about carbon footprints and how we can help to try to reduce climate change. This is also a topic of some controversy, especially over the amount of potential harm that will occur in the near future. Yet much of that harm remains potential. We don't have millions of people currently dying because of climate change. But are we concentrating more on trying to prevent potential harms and ignoring actual harms that are occurring now?

Do you know what is a virtual water footprint? Have you seen much discussion on this topic? Before a few days ago, I was unfamiliar with the term and don't recall seeing any prior discussions on this matter. Yet it may be just as important, if not more, than carbon footprints and far less controversial.

Discover magazine (June 2008) has an article titled “Virtual Water-A Smarter Way to Think About How Much H2O You Use” by Thomas M. Kostigen. It raises some compelling questions about water use.

Let us start with a disturbing fact. Up to 5 million people die each year from lack of water or water-related illness. That is a clear and immediate harm that should be addressed. Fresh water is a limited resource and there are many countries with significant water shortages. If we waste water, that impacts the rest of the world.

So what is a virtual water footprint? “Virtual water is a calculation of the water needed for the production of any product from start to finish.” (p.22) So let us consider some examples. A 5 ounce glass of wine has a virtual water footprint of 38 gallons. A banana is 27 gallons, a slice of bread is 10 gallons, and a 12 ounce glass of beer is 28 gallons. This applies to non-food products as well. For example, a pair of leather shows has a footprint of 4400 gallons. Agriculture though accounts for about 70% of all water use in the world.

The average person has a total virtual water footprint of about 328,140 gallons each year. But, the average for the United States is 656,012 gallons, the largest on the planet. You can go to Water Footprint and estimate your own virtual water footprint. They also have more reading material concerning these issues.

Scientists estimate that we must increase our water supply by 14-17% by 2030 just to meet dietary needs. The only way to do that is to conserve our virtual water footprint. Did you know that we currently lose 30-50% of the food we grow and all the virtual water in it, by the time it is ready for consumption. These losses occur in harvesting, production, processing, transportation, and storage. Plus we must consider all those leftovers that get tossed out.

We can all take steps to reduce wasteful water use and reduce our virtual water footprint. Just consider how much food and drink you may throw away. The Water Footprint website has many other suggestions.

But there are larger questions as well. Why is your carbon footprint so prevalent in the news yet the virtual water footprint gets so little press? Is climate change just more fashionable a cause, allowing us to ignore a problem that leads to almost 5 million deaths a year? Are we asking wine makers about their water conservation methods? Are we asking our farmers about it? If you want to be carbon neutral, do you also want to be water neutral?

I recommend you read the Discover article as well as check out Water Footprint. It will raise your awareness of this issue.