In November, the USDA released its proposal for label claims related to “naturally raised” livestock and meat. Perhaps no word in the English language has been more used and abused than “natural.” It’s been applied to everything from pain medication to certain products sold by Internet spammers that “enhance” the human condition. Well, during the next 30 days, we have a good chance to put some real meaning behind this word when it comes to meat products. It’s time to pull “natural” out of the clutches of truth-stretching advertising copy writers. (more…)

by Elena Velkov, media relations coordinator, Fresh Energy

On December 7, Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty and New Mexico governor Bill Richardson announced the Governors Windpower Coalition, issuing a letter of invitation to the rest of the nation’s governors. Their objectives: to discuss interstate collaboration, exchange information on wind technology and policy, commission research on critical wind policy issues, and seek recommendations on federal and regional policy. (more…)

Today’s Topics: Agriculture & Food, Development, Energy, Global Warming, Great Lakes, Great Outdoors & Heritage Amendment, Green Business, Green Holidays, Health, Parks & Trails, People, Solid Waste, Toxics, Transportation, Water (more…)

On Friday, the U.S. Senate finished floor consideration of the Food and Energy Security Act of 2007, more commonly known as the 2007 Farm Bill. The Land Stewardship Project sees the Senate’s version of the Farm Bill as a mixed bag: it contains many windfalls for corporate agriculture interests, but also offers glimmers of hope towards developing a more environmentally sound and economically just food and agriculture system. (more…)

Today’s Topics: Agriculture & Food, Clean Cars, Energy, Global Warming, Land Conservation, Mining, OHV’s, Sustainability, Toxins, Transportation, Water, Wildlife (more…)

by Timothy Rose, media relations director, Fresh Energy

An often overused phrase in politics and business (but hopefully not childcare or CIA interrogations): “keep their feet to the fire.” Star Tribune reporter Pat Lopez took an interesting look at Governor Tim Pawlenty’s record of big ideas. (more…)

Today’s Topics: Agriculture, Energy, Great Lakes, Green Holidays, Global Warming, Health, Parks & Trails,Pesticides,Sustainable Building,Transportation,Water, Wildlife

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How are we going to create a new environmentally-aware generation? The answer is complex and multi-faceted. But one extremely effective avenue is to stop assuming our kids will only eat high-fat, highly-processed foods with refrigerator-sized carbon footprints. Consuming local, sustainably-produced food is one way kids can learn the basics of personal stewardship at least three times a day. Granted, as Andrew Martin writes in today’s New York Times, eating local is not automatically more sustainable. But given the right circumstances, children who appreciate local food can be a powerful force for good. But how do we help our kids make good food choices? I recently talked to Uli Koester, executive director of the Midwest Food Connection, about how his organization goes into Twin Cities schools and helps kids (and adults) appreciate the culinary, environmental and even cultural roots of good food. At the basis of the Food Connection’s educational program is the idea that we do not need to “dumb-down” our kids’ food choices in order to fill their bellies. You can listen to what Koester has to say on episode 44 of LSP’s Ear to the Ground podcast. Smart food for smart kids. Sounds like a good recipe for sustainable consumerism.

by Carin Skoog, global warming solutions coordinator, Fresh Energy

Just as the piles of snow and chilly winter temps have arrived, policy discussions on climate legislation are heating up literally all over the globe. The international negotiations in Bali are host to 190 countries, all gathered to begin framing climate policy that matches the urgency of the IPCC’s recommendations. Here in the U.S., Congress is hot and heavy in discussions on both the energy bill and a bipartisan global warming bill sponsored by Senators Warner and Lieberman (America’s Climate Security Act) that would place a cap on emissions nation-wide. Even the Minnesota Climate Change Advisory Group is meeting this week and feeling the heat, with their February 1, 2008 deadline for approving recommendations to reduce Minnesota’s global warming pollution fast approaching. (more…)

Again, courtesy of Angelina Lopez, Transit for Livable Communities’ Communications/Media Relations intern.  

A month ago, Fresh Energy’s Elena Velkov advocated increasing bus use for universities.  As a complement, I would like to share the work of some of my classmates at Macalester College to use transportation demand management principles to reduce parking requirements and demand at universities, colleges, and seminaries. (more…)