Upcycling Food Waste Can Make a Difference—And These 12 Organizations Prove It #FoodTank

September 24, 2020 by 2 Comments

To begin this newsletter, I want to make sure that everyone reading this in the United States has information about how to register to vote and how to request a mail-in ballot. No matter your political affiliation, voting is not just a right, but a responsibility. For more information, you can visit vote.gov and vote.org. For resources on voting by mail, visit the U.S. Vote Foundation or the Election Management Resources from the U.S. Election Assistance Committee.

The upcoming U.S. election is critical because the urgency of the issues we face is greater than ever before. More than two dozen scientists agree that “climate disruption is now locked in.” The wildfires on the West Coast, stronger slow-moving hurricanes along the Gulf, and record heatwaves are a harbinger of what’s to come.

Our food production and consumption practices need to change in response. In the U.S. alone, emissions from food waste are equivalent to 37 million cars’ worth of greenhouse gases, according to the World Wildlife Fund. Instead of continuing this cycle of production and destruction, we have to think about wasting less and using our food resources more efficiently to help keep our planet healthy.

This is the idea behind upcycling food—taking quality ingredients that would otherwise be wasted and turning them into nutritious and ecologically friendly snacks, beverages, and meals. The food wasted in a year contains enough calories to feed every undernourished person on Earth, according to the WWF. Upcycling is a realistic way to help bridge that gap, which is why the recently formed Upcycled Food Association has brought together over 90 upcycling brands to advocate for standards and policies that can help reduce food waste.

In honor of International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste next Tuesday, Sept. 29, Food Tank is spotlighting 12 companies and nonprofits giving a second life to wasted food through upcycling: Aqua Botanical, Australia; KROMKOMMER, The Netherlands; Matriark Foods, United States; NETZRO, United States; Pure Plus+, United States; RISE + WIN Brewing Co., Japan; Rubies in the Rubble, United Kingdom; Sweet Benin, West Africa; Toast Ale, United Kingdom; Treasure8, United States; Upcycled Grain Project, New Zealand; and Wize Monkey, Canada.

Learn more about each of these organizations—and where you can find their products—by CLICKING HERE.
Over the past week, I’ve been watching with horror as farmworkers on the U.S. West Coast face a seemingly impossible choice: go to work during a global pandemic with wildfires raging perilously close, or stay home safe without pay. The wildfires are just one more threat to workers’ well-being—and like this particularly devastating Atlantic hurricane season and the Australian bush fires late last year and into 2020, they are made worse by climate change.

I am sharing this article via FoodTank.com, and it was written by Danielle Nierenberg.

Filed Under: charity/notforprofit, evergreen, food, lifestyle Tagged With: , , , ,

PBS KIDS Talk About: Race and Racism

September 24, 2020 by Leave a Comment
“PBS KIDS Talk About: Race and Racism,” premieres on October 9. The half-hour program will feature candid and authentic conversations between kids and their parents about race and racial justice-related topics in an age-appropriate way and offer viewers ideas to build on as they continue these important conversations at home. The special will be hosted by Amanda Gorman, the writer, activist and first-ever Youth Poet Laureate of the U.S. 

As Gorman shares in the show, when something is confusing or uncomfortable, she likes to talk about it. Growing up, she would participate in daily family meetings, where the kids got to pick any topic they wanted to discuss, whatever was on their minds. It is that same spirit that moved Gorman, whose poetry often discusses race, to become involved in the timely production.

In addition to the frank, up-to-the-minute conversations on the subject, “PBS KIDS Talk About: Race and Racism” will include relevant content from the popular PBS KIDS series Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Arthur and Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum. Just following the special will be the premiere of a brand-new episode of the animated PBS KIDS series, Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum, featuring Harriet Tubman as well as an Arthur short created “in memory of civil rights legend John Lewis,” as noted on-screen.

PBS KIDS announced a new special, “PBS KIDS Talk About: Race and Racism,” premiering October 9. The half-hour program will feature authentic conversations between real children and their parents, and will include content from PBS KIDS series DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD, ARTHUR and XAVIER RIDDLE AND THE SECRET MUSEUM. The show will feature kids and their parents talking about race and racial justice-related topics in an age-appropriate way, such as noticing differences in race, understanding what racism can look like, and embracing the role we all have to play in standing up for ourselves and each other — offering viewers ideas to build on as they continue these important conversations at home.

The special will debut as part of PBS KIDS Family Night on the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel, and will also be available on PBS stations nationwide (check local listings), and streaming on pbskids.org, the PBS KIDS Video app and on PBS KIDS’ Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.

“PBS KIDS believes kids are capable of understanding and talking through tough, but important issues with the adults in their lives – something that has been core to our mission for the last 50 years,” said Lesli Rotenberg, Chief Programming Executive and General Manager, Children’s Media and Education, PBS. “Through the PBS KIDS Talk About: Race and Racism special, our goal is to support parents in talking with their children about race, anti-Black racism in our country, and how to be actively anti-racist. Parents have increasingly asked us for these resources, and we hope that this special will provide a helpful starting point in whatever way they choose to have these conversations with their children.”

“PBS KIDS Talk About,” previously an online-only video series, models authentic and practical parent-child conversations that reflect PBS KIDS’ core values of kindness and curiosity, and has included real families addressing topics such as feelings and emotions, relationships and family, curiosity and wonder, bravery and courage, and self-confidence and determination.

To support this new offering, PBS KIDS provides a variety of resources to help parents talk to young children about race and racism. This resource hub on PBS KIDS for Parents includes articles, a webinar, booklists, links to programming, and more tips and resources to help parents have meaningful conversations with young children about race, racism, and being anti-racist.

Produced by Crossroads Productions for PBS, the special was developed in consultation with Dr. Aisha White (Director, The P.R.I.D.E Program (Positive Racial Identity Development in Early Education)), Dr. Renée Wilson-Simmons (Executive Director, ACE (Adverse Childhood Experience) Awareness Foundation), and Dr. Dana Winters (Director of Simple Interactions and Academic Programs; Assistant Professor of Child and Family Studies, Fred Rogers Center). The “PBS KIDS Talk About” series and the “PBS KIDS Talk About: Race and Racism” special were created with major funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Filed Under: charity/notforprofit, entertainment, evergreen, kids Tagged With: , , ,

Happy World Gorilla Day

September 24, 2020 by Leave a Comment

I wanted to share this information and link from explore.org since today is World Gorilla Day.

Celebrate gorillas today with the rescuers at GRACE! At 2 pm PT, GRACE hosts a virtual gorilla party so you can hear the staff’s favorite gorilla stories and the latest conservation news. Sign up for the event at this link.

The Grauer’s gorillas are viewable live on the Forest Corridor Cam until 7 am PT, so be sure to check in there too, and don’t forget to add some snapshots to your gallery.

Filed Under: charity/notforprofit

Best tools to overcome COVID anxiety, help you sleep #SleepBetter #LessStress

September 23, 2020 by Leave a Comment

sleep well

Are you more stressed out then ever? The current pandemic is giving people anxiety at high rates, and so are the added stresses of quarantine, at home learning, working from home, loss of jobs, evictions, fear of getting covid or losing a loved one, having someone stay at home with the kids, fear of losing your job, home, insurance, etc. It’s no joke.

Even in normal times, approximately 30 percent to 35 percent of the population experiences acute, or short-term, insomnia. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, experts say interrupted schedules, stress and anxiety due to the virus has caused more people to not be able to fall asleep at night and get a good night’s rest.

A former Silicon Valley executive who worked at Tesla and FitBit, has created a way to help anyone get to sleep and stay asleep even during the pandemic. He launched The Happy Labs, a CBDsupplement company that uses only organic hemp and guarantees quality control and ingredients with a trackable seed to shelf process. On nights when sleep seems like it will never come, The Happy Labs Goodnight Pills, which are a blend of 10mg of melatonin, chamomile and 30mg of CBD, should help the body relax, the eyes get heavy and usher in a peaceful sleep.

If you are having a hard time getting to sleep, try these. So much more then just the basic melatonin, Happy Labs Goodnight Pills are a blend of 10mg of melatonin, chamomile and 30mg of CBD that should help the body relax, the eyes get heavy and usher in a peaceful night’s rest. 

No reason to lay in bed awake and letting your thoughts drive you crazy all night long. Try these all natural tablets, and see if they work for you. Thanks for reading, and have a good night!

 

Filed Under: evergreen, health Tagged With: , ,

PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE LAUNCHES “THE CONVERSATION” TO SUSTAIN ANTIRACIST ENGAGEMENT, COLLABORATION, AND ACTION

September 22, 2020 by Leave a Comment

“The Conversation” Goes Beyond the Books with Next Steps Toward a More Equitable Future

Penguin Random House today announced the launch of a new website to support families, educators, communities, organizations, and readers who are working to combat racism and end racial inequities in our daily lives. Named “The Conversation,” this website brings together a curated array of resources and programming for readers, including discussion guides, title lists, and special content for all age groups. With a strong focus on family reading and community engagement, The Conversation was designed as a resource to support multiple constituencies, including educators, librarians, booksellers, activists and allies, as well as Penguin Random House employees. The site is designed to be a dynamic resource, and will be updated in real time as authors and allies create and share relevant content.

This organic employee initiative grew out of an internal company brainstorm about how to assist those learning about anti-racism take the next actionable steps. It also reflects discussions held by PRH employees throughout the company, including members of the Penguin Random House Diversity & Inclusion Council.

“In virtual classrooms and virtual conference rooms, and within our company, people are grappling with how to discuss our world, and how to create real and lasting change,” said Jaci Updike, President, Sales, Penguin Random House, U.S. “We want to amplify the work of our authors, engage with readers, listen carefully to what is being asked of us, and share resources that fuel conversation and spark collective action.”

The Conversation includes resources to facilitate dialogue about books by Toni Morrison, James Baldwin, and other iconic writers. It will also provide toolkits, inspired by the works of Ibram X. Kendi and Jennifer L. Eberhardt, for creating anti-racist workplaces. The website will feature books and content from all of Penguin Random House’s publishing divisions, and the company is creating book bundles and materials for independent bookstores to help these businesses with their outreach to local schools and libraries.

A primary focus will be our youngest readers, with toolkits for raising anti-racist children, centering on books by Jacqueline Woodson and Nic Stone, among others. Additionally, a Family Reads initiative will be launched via The Conversation later this fall, which will include family reading guides for the adult and young-reader editions of Bryan Stevenson’s Just Mercy and Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime, along with video content and other resources to facilitate meaningful family conversations.

“We want to maintain momentum in our communities, and provide resources for our collective journey ahead,” continued Updike. “All of PRH is committed to the ongoing development of The Conversation – to creating new material and responding to current events as close to real-time as we can.”

To participate in The Conversation, visit www.penguinrandomhouse.com/theconversation.

Filed Under: book review, education, evergreen Tagged With: , ,

Natural Products from The Happy Labs Put Moods in the Right Groove

September 22, 2020 by 1 Comment

less stress

Organically grown, non-GMO, fully traceable CBD pills crafted for energy, rest and relaxation.

Humans have relied on the healing properties, mood impacts and other benefits of plants for centuries. Coffee beans and green tea are known for boosting energy, while chamomile and lavender can help relax and unwind a stressed mind for better sleep. The Happy Labs has created a product line up crafted to harness the power of plants, including Cannabidiol (CBD), to help adjust moods and feelings. 

The Happy Labs products are unique because each hemp plant is traced from seed to shelf and each product features a QR code giving consumers access to certified lab tests results specific to their product batch. All CBD used by The Happy Labs is derived from organically grown U.S. hemp. The seed is certified by the state’s agriculture department, and The Happy Labs CBD products are made with either CBD isolate that has 0% THC or full-spectrum CBD oil with < 0.3% THC.

“As with any industry, the CBD industry has its bad seeds,” said The Happy Labs CEO Chris Gross. “Companies have been found to have higher levels of THC than they are claiming on their labels, questionable chemical additives and in some cases less CBD than advertised. We wanted to have full transparency so that our consumers know exactly what is in the products they are consuming and have full confidence that what is printed on the label is what is inside the packaging.”

The Happy Labs product line currently includes:

Pick Me Up Pills – Designed to add pep and vigor, each pill contains 60mg of caffeine (equivalent to one shot of espresso) in addition to vitamins B6 and B12, vitamin C and 30mg of CBD. 

Chill Pill – When a meditation or yoga session is not possible, the Chill Pill is crafted using herbal supplements passionflower and valerian root as well as 30mg of CBD to help create a sense of calm relaxation. 

Good Night Pills – On nights when sleep seems like it will never come, this blend of 10mg of melatonin, chamomile and 30mg of CBD should help the body relax, the eyes get heavy and usher in a peaceful night’s rest. 

For people interested in the potential health benefits of CBD on its own, The Happy Labs also offers Full Spectrum Gel Capsules with 30mg CBD in each capsule and Pure CBD, a 0% THC CBD oil that contains approximately 30mg of CBD per 1ml dropper. 

The Happy Labs Pick Me Up Pills, Chill Pills and Good Night Pills are available now. Each tin contains 25 pills for $60. The Full Spectrum Gel Capsules (30 capsules) and Pure CBD (30 ml) are available for $75 each. Shop now at www.thehappylabs.com. 

Filed Under: health, review Tagged With: , , , ,

Stressed out? Can’t sleep? Having trouble focusing? Your troubles are almost over!

September 22, 2020 by Leave a Comment

If you are anything like us, someone in your house is a terrible, terrible sleeper. As for me, there are two of them. My spouse and my youngest son are both terrible sleepers. We have tried so many different remedies, medications, oils, yoga, massage, pressure points- you name it. Nothing worked, and definitely nothing worked well.

sleep better

We recently tried TOUCHPOINTS™. I know you will love this new and effective method of helping to create calm, sleep as much as we do (created by neuroscientist Dr. Amy Serin).

TOUCHPOINTS™ are new breakthrough wearable devices that use BLAST (Bi-Lateral Alternating Stimulation-Tactile) technology to help to reduce stress by over 70% in as little as 30 seconds. The devices are non-invasive, drug free and have shown great success not only for day to day anxiety and stress, for cravings, to promote restful sleep, deal with anger, and help us to focus and therefore increase performance.

What a great holiday gift. Who wouldn’t want your significant other, close friends, family members and even kids more relaxed and less stressed?  It’s great for those with PTSD as well. This is the gift that keeps on giving throughout the year as everyday pressures, workloads, social situations, and family dynamics (not to mention reading the news) create stress on an ongoing basis.

The original TOUCHPOINTS™ work with an app and have six settings; the new, basic model has three settings and does not require an app, making it easier for children with ADHD or autism to use them in school or elsewhere more easily. Parents and teachers both rave about their effectiveness. TOUCHPOINTS™ basic and original are available at www.ilovetouchpoints.com and numerous other retailers and are reasonably priced to make them accessible, one of the goals of the company’s founders, Dr. Amy Serin and Vicki Mayo.

With school beginning, and many students (and their parents) are stressed out about heading back to school–without considering that cutting-edge neuroscience offers a quick, easy solution.  TouchPoints are a non-invasive, wearable devices that are worn on either sides of the body (on the wrists, pockets, socks, etc) and use patent-pending neuroscience technology shown to reduce stress by up to 70% in just 30 seconds.

Two models are available:

  • TouchPoints Basic: Manually controlled with three settings (sleep, calm, anger). This model is perfect for elementary and junior high students. ($160)
  • TouchPoints Original: Controlled via smartphone (iOS and Android compatible) with six presettings (calm, focus, sleep, performance, anger, and cravings). High school and college students prefer this model. ($250)

Here is a case study to show how TouchPoints can be used to manage stress, hyperactivity, lack of proactivity and focus while at school. As you are curating the best back-to-school gadgets for the 2018 semester, please consider adding TouchPoints to the list.

You can visit www.thetouchpointsolution.com to learn more. You can use the code EQUALITY for $30 off your purchase.

Filed Under: health, review Tagged With: , ,

Bright Ideas for a Brighter Kids Smile

September 22, 2020 by Leave a Comment

As a parent, it can be challenging to convince your children that brushing their teeth can be fun. With your kids home from school since forever and until who knows when, now is a great time to get them motivated. Heck, you have nowhere else to be! Kidding, but…only sort of.

  1. Maintain a Good Oral Hygiene Routine: Have your child brush their teeth morning and night with Firefly’s Ready Go Power Toothbrush to teach them the dentist-recommended time for proper cleaning of two minutes.
  2. Create a “shared vision” between parents and children. Create a shared vision with children by modeling your own brush time behavior and letting the child pick out his or her toothbrush color and toothpaste flavor. It’s also important to create a shared vision between parent and pediatric dentist during the initial dental visit to help reinforce good oral hygiene habits at home.
  3. Make it Fun: Let your child choose their favorite flavor or favorite character with Firefly’s Natural Anticavity Fluoride Toothpaste. It even comes with a mystery prize.

Firefly’s NEW! Ready Go Power Toothbrush ($6.98 at Walmart and Walmart.com)

The Ready Go Power Toothbrush combines Firefly’s famous Light Up feature with a soft rotating head that brought an innovation to kids’ oral care. The stop light timer counts down from green to yellow to red, helping children brush for the dentist recommended time for proper cleaning of teeth. This toothbrush has a soft rotating head that blasts away plaque, preventing gum disease and tooth decay. It has a massaging action which effectively cleans between teeth while stimulating gums.

NEW Natural Anticavity Fluoride Toothpaste ($3.48, Walmart and Walmart.com)

Carefully crafted for kids, this toothpaste is clinically proven to strengthen a child’s enamel while reducing bacteria and plaque buildup that cause cavities. There are no “nasties” (no artificial sweeteners, artificial flavors, dyes, or SLS/sulfates) and the less mess airless pump leads to more controlled dosage and a cleaner bathroom. What’s even more fun? The new toothpaste includes a FREE mystery prize with every purchase.

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