Melanie Redman

Water on the Table: A film about our most wasted resource

rabble staff — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 07:21:37 +0000

A new documentary charts how water misuse flows...

Water on the Table: A film about our most wasted resource

rabble staff — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 06:19:21 +0000

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Documentary filmmaker Liz Marshall explores whether the global community defines water as a human right, available to all, or as a commodity to be bought and sold.

Will the global community define water as a human right, available to all, or as a commodity to be bought, sold, traded, and ultimately out of reach from the poorest people on this earth? Liz Marshall's documentary, Water on the Table, explores this question through a portrait of Maude Barlow and her tireless efforts to define water as a human right.

Jane Goodall celebrates 50 years of activism

alex — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 17:14:14 +0000

November 4, 2010

In some ways it's hard to imagine that 50 years have passed since Dr. Jane Goodall, scientist, animal rights activist and conservationist, first visited Gombe and began studying chimpanzees in the wild. Yet, so many things have changed since her groundbreaking observation that chimpanzees make tools and hand down the knowledge of how to do this from generation to generation -- formerly thought to be a uniquely human attribute.

As this year is the 50th anniversary of Dr. Goodall's first visit to Gombe, the Jane Goodall Institute issued Jane Goodall: 50 Years at Gombe. The book not only celebrates the amazing achievements of Dr. Goodall's life, but also provides an update on innovations related to her work, and the work of others like her.

Jane Goodall: 50 Years at Gombe, a new book celebrating Dr. Goodall's achievements, provides an update on her innovative work and activism.

Fake food cesspool

melanieredman — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 15:46:44 +0000

I grew up at least an hour and a half's drive from a fast food restaurant. I think Dairy Queen would have been the closest. I remember feeling like country was turning to city when we drove past it on our way to Grandma Wilma's place up in St. Louis. I do have one fast food memory that almost counters my recollections of the strawberry sundaes at Dairy Queen -- the McDonald's McRib -- which took about two hours to drive to get.

Childhood obesity is child abuse?

melanieredman — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 15:25:24 +0000

My Saturday morning reading revealed some disturbing public service-type videos on good ol' YouTube (via Grist). I guess there are lots of folks out there who are framing feeding kids junk food as child abuse. Excuse me?

Food resistance

melanieredman — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 19:07:00 +0000

Even in job interview settings, when folks ask me what my biggest professional challenge is, I can easily name that I am not so good with authority. I also consider this one of my greatest assets. It's why I choose leadership positions professionally, and why I love to host the dinner parties. So, naturally, resisting the food authorities resonates with me.

I should qualify this post by saying that I firmly believe in food safety regulations. However, my inner Libertarian (we've talked about her before) asserts that individuals have the right to, for example, consume raw milk products if they darn well please!

Monsanto Meets Blackwater (cringe)

melanieredman — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 16:03:38 +0000

They say corn is king

melanieredman — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:15:47 +0000

Like many of us, Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis, co-producers of the film "King Corn," wanted to understand corn. They started off their journey by getting a professional hair analysis. Turns out, the carbon in their bodies originates from corn. It seems most of us these days are made of commodity corn that must be processed before we can eat it. (Fact: An Iowa farmer can no longer feed herself by the corn on her farm.)

Where, oh where, does commodity corn go?

Eating organic on modest means

melanieredman — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 00:34:45 +0000

I'm always a little wary when someone gives me tips on how to do this or that on what they are calling "modest means." Depending on who you are and where you come from, the term can mean very different things.

I just found a little piece on WikiHow that lays out some simple tips for eating organically on modest means. I will note that they are specifying modest means as at least $1,000/month after taxes. In downtown Toronto, that does comprise modest means.

Open Data in agriculture

melanieredman — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 14:54:16 +0000

Thanks to the fabulous Mark Kuznicki, I just finished reading a piece on Food+Tech Connect about Open Data in agriculture. If you're not yet familiar with the Open Everything movement, don't feel bad. You probably understand it and agree with it inherently, as the ideas just make sense.

Save our prison farms

melanieredman — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 17:40:42 +0000

When I read about folks engaged in peaceful, direct action, I am filled with so much admiration. My girl Shana sent me the link to the Canadian Save Our Prison Farms website earlier this week. Neither of us had any idea that 1. there are prison farms in Canada or 2. they are in danger of being closed.

Who are 'foodies'?

alex — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:11:48 +0000

July 23, 2010

I have a confession. I don't consider myself a "foodie." In my blog, Folks Gotta Eat, I curate and filter a lot of information related to food, but I'm more concerned with the politics and policies of food security than I am with the latest hip eatery, or even reports of undeniably good pie at some truck stop out on the 401. I do not know the names of acclaimed chefs -- unless they are food security activists -- and I never watch the Food Network (I don't even own a television). I was talking with a food security activist the other day, and she revealed that she wears a button on her clothes, usually tucked out of sight, that says, "F@#K Foodies!"

Foodies: Democracy and Distinction in the Gourmet Foodscape explores the ongoing tension between the two stories about food: good food as democratic and food as a source of status.

Serving up knowledge

melanieredman — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 16:49:09 +0000

The world is pretty darn messed up. I think it probably always was -- it's just a question of scale these days. What gets me by (other than massive amounts of exercise and a bit of vino to take the edge off)? I love learning about really cool projects that are trying to educate and break down some of these global barriers we erect. My latest find comes via AlterNet -- the Conflict Kitchen.

Oh Nestle, why are you so f#$%ed?

melanieredman — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 14:22:06 +0000

Ever feel like some things are just inherently f#$%ed? That's how I feel about Nestlé. I used to find it appalling and tragic that Nestlé convinced women around the world that baby formula was better than breast feeding. Later, as I traveled through South and Central America, I was disgusted that the only coffee available in coffee-producing regions was Nescafé. I can't even talk about their bottled water. And now? Folks, Nestlé has raised the bar on predatory practices.

National Round Table on the Environment releases water report

melanieredman — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 03:28:46 +0000

The National Round Table on the Environment and Economy (NRTEE) released a report in conjunction with the Canadian Water Summit. The report, "Changing Currents: Water Sustainability and The Future of Canada's Natural Resource Sectors," is the culmination of the first of a two-phase, cross-sectoral research and engagement process concerning the future of Canadian water. Folks, this stuff is important.