Why Organic Farming Hard to Apply?

All aspects of organic farming and organic food are under debate. Environmentalists, food safety advocates, various consumer protection, social justice and labor groups, small independent farmers, and a growing number of food consumers are ranged against agribusiness and current government agricultural policies.

The controversy centers on the overall value and safety of chemical agriculture, with organic farming popularly regarded as the "opposite" of modern, large-scale, chemical-based, vertically integrated, corporate food production. As public awareness increases, there are a number of obstacles to an easy grasp of the overall situation.

In recent decades, food production has moved out of the public eye. In developed nations, where most of the world's wealth, consumption, and agricultural policy-making are centered, many are unaware of how their food is produced, or even that food, like energy, is not unlimited. If the methods used to produce food are rapidly destroying the capacity for continued production, then sustainable, organic farming is as crucial a topic as renewable energy and pollution control. This proposition is at the center of most organic farming issues.

It is useful to make a distinction between organic farming and organic food. Whether organic food is tastier, safer or more nutritious has little to do with the effects of chemical agriculture on the environment. In any case, most food dollars are spent on processed food products, the manufacture of which is beyond the scope of farming. There are separate food and farming issues and lumping the two together only confuses the discussion.

The distinction between organic farming and organic certification is also important. Defining organic farming with checklists of acceptable and prohibited inputs and practices elicits similar criticisms as those leveled at chemical farming. With rules come exceptions, whether well-intentioned or purely profit-oriented, and critics hold that this can only undermine organic principles. What is "more-or-less organic"? Certification also allows agribusiness to lobby for favorable definitions—anything that can be approved becomes "organic".

Of course, the issues, particularly the social ones, will shift if agribusiness fully adapts to and dominates organic farming, and (in early 2005) this is the current trend. Then, large-scale, certified organic farms would probably operate much more like conventional farms do today. Environmental benefits may accrue from a change in types of pesticides and fertilizer used, more crop diversity, and the like, but if the overall agribusiness philosophy remains essentially unchanged, "organic farming" could become the norm, without any great environmental or social improvements.

The following topics may be argued from both sides.

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Tips to Help Our Environtment Sustainability

We as a citizens have a responsibilty. A responsible citizens need to put in some efforts to do our bit at the grass root level. This can be easily done by inculcating some simple ways to help the environment in our day to day life. Though the efforts might look insignificant when seen individually, together they can have a strong impact on the environment. Bellow are The following tips for ways to help our Environtment :

Ways to Help the Environment at Home

What better place to initiate your efforts to save environment than at home? You can contribute your bit to save the planet by following some of the most simple steps. Reduce, reuse and recycle is by far the best motto when it comes to saving environment. Most of the things we use today, are derived from non renewable sources which are bound to get over some day. We can save them only by reducing their use, using them to their potential and recycling them, if possible. These things include fossil fuels, paper, water etc. Another important step towards helping the environment would be using less electricity. This can be done by switching off the various products, which work on electricity, when not in use. Lowering the temperature of your thermostat, replacing incandescent light bulb with a CFL, using less hot water, switching to bicycle when possible. This simple yet effective ways can yield positive results when practiced by the whole world. Read more on sustainable living ideas.

Ways to Help the Environment at School

They say that kids of today, are the future of tomorrow, and hence inculcating, at the young age, the need of working towards saving the environment is bound to make them responsible citizens of tomorrow. Though, their efforts, in the beginning, would be small, they will turn out to be helpful when taken as a whole, in the long term. Kids can help by planting trees, not wasting paper, making sure that they use water properly, not wasting electricity and spreading awareness about these simple ways to save the environment in their neighborhood. Planting trees can help in bringing about the much needed stability in the environment, while not wasting resources will make sure that we will use them efficiently. Inculcating these easy ways, in kids at a tender age, to help the environment will make them realize the seriousness of the issue more efficiently.

Ways to Help the Environment from Global Warming

One of the biggest hazard lurking for the planet Earth is that of global warming. Though the debate about global warming effects on Earth continues, we can start making some simple efforts, so that, we don't repent if the calamity finally descends on us tomorrow. Human induced global warming is basically caused due to a range of human activities, including use of fossil fuels to deforestation. Though the problems may sound to be quite devastating it doesn't necessarily mean that you as an individual can't do anything about it. The simple efforts though which you can contribute to save the environment include, walking or cycling instead of using a vehicle, taking shower for a less period, using less electricity, planting trees, switching to alternative fuels which are environment friendly etc. This will not just help in curbing global warming, but will also help in curbing several other environmental issues, including air and water pollution.

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illustration of simple cycle of biomass

Biomass, in the energy production industry, refers to the living biological material or a new die that can be used as a source of fuel or for industrial production. Generally, biomass refers to plant materials that are kept for use as biofuel, but can also include plant or animal matter used for production of fibers, chemicals, or heat. Biomass may also include biodegradable wastes that can be burned as fuel. Biomass does not include organic material that has been transformed by geological processes into substances such as coal or petroleum.Biomass is usually measured by dry weight. Read more about biomass here.

Bellow are illustration of a simple cycle of biomass :

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Bamboo Clothes, Comfort and Style the Green Way

Today, some people are looking for clothing which has traits like being hypoallergenic, soft but durable, and harmonious with the earth. But at the same time human beings still desire their clothing to look nice when they wear it. Does that sound too demanding? It isn't too much of a demand for bamboo organic clothing to meet. Furthermore, bamboo organic clothes is made of organic fabric that wicks moisture--and bacteria--away from your skin.

Since the bamboo is botanically classified as a grass, it is one of the world's most sustainable resources and good for clothing material as it can be obtained in large quantities. Harvesting the bamboo grasses for mass production of bamboo organic clothing will never harm the ecosystem as the grasses can replenish on its own each three to 5 years. This is the reason why bamboo organic clothing materials are now the most hard to beat rival of cotton clothing materials. Even now as you are reading cotton is being rivaled for market share, as more and more people are needing durable long lasting and soft clothing.

There are many benefits related to the utilization of bamboo organic clothing. The garments are very sturdy and may last for longer period of wash and wear. The bamboo fabrics are totally comfortable to wear because they're soft and smooth to the skin as if you're wearing silk. No insecticides and chemicals were used in growing the grass and in producing the bamboo clothing. Bamboo is truly the cotton for the new century.

Those who have tried the fabrics of bamboo clothing are dazzled of the quality of the clothes. The bamboo organic clothing can absorb the moisture from the skin without giving possibilities for bacteria to accumulate. Even if they're under the heat of the sun, this type of clothing stays snug to wear as the fabric has a natural breathability characteristic. When worn during high temperature seasons, the material of bamboo organic clothing will permit the perspiration to evaporate, therefore avoiding body odor and skin irritation.

Another good thing with the bamboo fabrics is that the products are really sturdy to not fray out so easily even after longer times of wash and wear. There is no need to handwash, it is sturdy enough to last through many cycles of the washer and dryer. Bamboo is simple to scrub, as the dirt in bamboo organic clothing simply loosens up when washed. When you use bamboo clothing in the sun, you'll get protection from ultraviolet rays without o irritation to the skin. Bamboo organic clothing is truly an one-of-a-kind-clothing available that is safe for everybody, even for small babies.

Compared to cotton clothes, bamboo organic clothes don't need any artificial chemicals to treat the fabrics from any pests and bacteria. Because of this it will not also cause harmful effects to the folks that wear the garments nor does it harm the environment. Now that the fashion trend has been progressing awfully fast, different types of garments made from bamboo are available in varied styles for all blokes, women and children. The nice thing with bamboo organic clothes is that despite its luxurious quality, everyone can still afford it because of its cost-efficiency.

The fashionable quality, the comfort, the softness of bamboo, as well as the sturdiness, and the cost-efficiency might be the reasons for you to make the switch to bamboo organic clothing. You will not only get to wear comfort on your skin, you also will be helping to save the environment from being exhausted by choosing clothes made from bamboo materials. 

Source : http://www.buzzle.com/

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Hand sanitizing spray using peppermint oil

Food safety constitutes a growing concern for regulatory agencies, producers and the public due to the incidence of foodborne illness caused by enteric human pathogens in various food products at retail and commercial food service facilities. In recent years,

outbreaks of illness linked to the consumption of food have been increasing. A number of these outbreaks have also been linked to packaging, pre-washing and cleanliness of workers. Employees who are in direct contact with food is a major factor in foodborne illness. Because there is a constant risk of spreading pathogens via hand contact and food surfaces, hygiene measures are important for these surfaces. Washing hands with sanitizing solutions is the only step where a reduction in spoilage microorganisms and potential pathogens can be achieved. However, limited scientific information is available on the efficacy of many disinfection methods for reducing the populations of pathogenic bacteria on hand.

Escherichia coli, coliform and Staphylococcus aureus are living on human skin and in food. E. coli especially is used as reliable indicator of fecal contamination and as a possible presence of enteropathogenic and/or toxigenic microorganisms which constitute a public health hazard. E. coli is one of the main inhabitants of the intestinal tract of most mammalian species, including humans and birds. Moreover, the presence of fecal coliforms in food indicates post-sanitization or post-process contamination, often caused by a lack of hand hygiene on the part of food handlers. S. aureus is also among the most common causes of foodborne illnesses.

Foodborne disease caused by S. aureus is typically due to enterotoxin ingestion preformed in food by the enterotoxigenic strain.

A conventional method of hand sanitizing procedures is washed with plain water or water containing a sanitizer, such as chlorine. Chlorine has however, a minimal effect in killing bacteria on these surfaces. In recent years, essential oils as a natural compound have been studied for potential uses in hand protection. Over the past few years, increasing consumer demand for more natural, “synthetic preservative-free” products, has led the food industry to consider the incorporation of natural preservatives in a range of products. The use of natural antimicrobial compounds has the advantage of being more

acceptable to the consumers as these are considered as “non chemical”.

The effect of peppermint oil on Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and coliform species. Both Escherichia coli and coliform were inhibited on hands. The spray hand sanitizer of peppermint oil appears to have good preventive treatment with regard to pathogens on hands and would have wider
application in food safety.
Source:Asian Journal of Food & Agro-Industry

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Recycling unused Plastic for better Environtment

The confusion over what we can and cannot recycle continues to confound consumers. Plastics are especially troublesome, as different types of plastic require different processing to be reformulated and re-used as raw material. Some municipalities accept all types of plastic for recycling, while others only accept jugs, containers and bottles with certain numbers stamped on their bottoms.

Recycling by the Numbers

The symbol code we’re familiar with—a single digit ranging from 1 to 7 and surrounded by a triangle of arrows—was designed by The Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) in 1988 to allow consumers and recyclers to differentiate types of plastics while providing a uniform coding system for manufacturers.

Easy Plastics to Recycle

The easiest and most common plastics to recycle are made of polyethylene terephthalate (PETE) and are assigned the number 1. Examples include soda and water bottles, medicine containers, and many other common consumer product containers. Once it has been processed by a recycling facility, PETE can become fiberfill for winter coats, sleeping bags and life jackets. It can also be used to make bean bags, rope, car bumpers, tennis ball felt, combs, cassette tapes, sails for boats, furniture and, of course, other plastic bottles.

Number 2 is reserved for high-density polyethylene plastics. These include heavier containers that hold laundry detergents and bleaches as well as milk, shampoo and motor oil. Plastic labeled with the number 2 is often recycled into toys, piping, plastic lumber and rope. Like plastic designated number 1, it is widely accepted at recycling centers.

Plastics Less Commonly Recycled

Polyvinyl chloride, commonly used in plastic pipes, shower curtains, medical tubing, vinyl dashboards, and even some baby bottle nipples, gets number 3. Like numbers 4 (wrapping films, grocery and sandwich bags, and other containers made of low-density polyethylene) and 5 (polypropylene containers used in Tupperware, among other products), few municipal recycling centers will accept it due to its very low rate of recyclability.

Another Useful Plastic to Recycle

Number 6 goes on polystyrene (Styrofoam) items such as coffee cups, disposable cutlery, meat trays, packing “peanuts” and insulation. It is widely accepted because it can be reprocessed into many items, including cassette tapes and rigid foam insulation.

Hardest Plastics to Recycle

Last, but far from least, are items crafted from various combinations of the aforementioned plastics or from unique plastic formulations not commonly used. Usually imprinted with a number 7 or nothing at all, these plastics are the most difficult to recycle and, as such, are seldom collected or recycled. More ambitious consumers can feel free to return such items to the product manufacturers to avoid contributing to the local waste stream, and instead put the burden on the makers to recycle or dispose of the items properly. But in these day using a bioplastic is more effective for keeping environtment clean.
Source.

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