Since Veggie’s Shop goes beyond vegetarianism to include environmental issues, I’m writing about a book I’ve read recently called “Alcohol Can Be a Gas” by permaculturist David Blume.
My initial interest in the book was for alternative fuel car conversions, but at six hundred pages, the text covers much more than just that. It begins with the history of alcohol in general and as an automotive fuel, the involvement of oil companies in displacing alcohol as fuel in the United States (Prohibition), and moves on to Brazil’s modern alcohol fuel market.
The text also covers feedstocks for alcohol production, sustainable ways of farming those feedstocks, building an alcohol distillery, and finally converting your own vehicle to run on either blends of alcohol and gasoline, including E85 from the pump (85% alcohol, 15% gasoline), or vaporized E100 alcohol. There is also a short section on biodiesel, both as a fuel and a lubricant.
One of the most important aspects of the book, however, is the dispelling of the countless myths about both the suitability and sustainability of alcohol as a motor fuel and the food versus fuel debate. As it turns out, ethyl alcohol is just about the perfect fuel for use in spark ignition internal combustion engines, and as for food or fuel, there is no debate. A wide variety of both food and non-food crops can be grown sustainably for ethanol production in areas not considered traditional farmland.
So put away your carbon dioxide scrubbers, pick up a copy of this book, and start growing!
We’re starting to revamp our product offerings in all of our shops to better align with our ideals. When we’re done, you’ll only find eco-friendly threads from American Apparel and Econscious clothing. A majority of the tees will be organic, and all of them will be sweatshop-free!
The transition will take some time, but it’ll be well worth the effort. We feel that our t-shirts should do more than promote our ethics – they should be made of ‘em!
Update: The make-over is complete. Enjoy!
It’s the 39th Anniversary & Celebration Earth Day! In an attempt to share some fun and easy ways to celebrate, I came up with a short little list of Earth Day activities. Hopefully, you’ll enjoy at least one of these:
» Find an Earth Day event near you!
» Calculate your Ecological Footprint!
» Go Vegan for the day!
» Buy one of our t-shirts! TeeHee! ;)
Following an idea pioneered by the Democratic senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, the first nationwide Earth Day was celebrated on 22 April 1970. (A month earlier, San Francisco had organized its own Earth Day celebration at the instigation of the social activist John McConnell.) Concerned by the dark side of economic progress and inspired by the protest movements of the 1960s, twenty million Americans took to the streets to demonstrate for a cleaner environment. In its aftermath, President Richard M. Nixon proposed the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency in July 1970 and Congress passed the Clean Air (1970), Clean Water (1972), and Endangered Species (1973) Acts. In 1990, Earth Day, held every year since 1970 on 22 April, became a worldwide celebration.
Thanks to Answers.com for that little bit of history!
I woke up this morning to find a lovely email waiting for me…
Congratulations! Your design has been selected as a Hot Design on the CafePress U.S. homepage.
Thanks for contributing such an awesome design. Keep it up!
Cheers!
What a great way to start the day!
On a recent trip around Northern Pennsylvania, we wanted to stop for a cup of joe. Remembering that there was a Wegman’s which serves organic coffee off of Route 6 we headed in that direction. When we arrived we nearly leapt out of our skins in excitement – across the parking lot from Wegman’s was a defunct Wal*Mart! Was it possible? Could Wal*Mart’s reign be coming to an end? Have people stopped supporting companies which have such an utter disregard for quality (on many levels)!?
Unfortunately, amid all of that happy chatter in our minds, we realized that there was probably a larger Wal*Mart within walking distance. Our cynicism was right. Less than a mile away, we found the mother of gluttony…the Wal*Mart Supercenter. We cannot fully express our disgust.
