The Discerning Brute: fashion, food & etiquette for the ethically handsome man » green sustainable

GLOBEWOOLWARMING

joshuakatcher — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 23:54:58 +0000

I designed this as the first ad in a series about the impact of animal-based textiles on the environment. It's a bit of a reality check for the eco-fashion crowd. See below for the sources on these facts. Many people understandably ask, "Ok, I get not wanting to sell fur or leather, but what’s wrong with wool? Isn’t it just a haircut? Answer: I wish! Momma nature led many animals to evolve in the perfect design when it comes to staying warm and dry in the elements, so it’s no surprise that humans who lack that body-hair want to wear it themselves. Many consider wool sustainable because it’s a ‘natural’ product. But, shockingly, wool production is one of the leading causes of greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, land erosion, and animal cruelty:

According to the United Nations, “The world’s sheep population is just over one billion – one for roughly every six people. Nearly half are in Asia and the Near and Middle East. Sheep are the species with the highest number of recorded breeds – contributing 25 percent to the global total for mammals.” (source)
The impact that livestock (including sheep) has on the environment, is by no means trivial, according to the United Nations Food & Agricultural Organization: http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2006/1000448/index.html
One study has shown that in New Zealand, which has approximately 48 million sheep, methane emissions from enteric fermentation, coming mostly from sheep, constitute almost 50% of the nation’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Most scientists acknowledge that this has a significant effect on climate change. Combine that with erosion, water pollution, resource needs like water, graze land, processing needs, etc., and wool starts to appear a lot less sustainable than we’d like to think. http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/climate/greenhouse-gas-inventory-2010-snapshot/index.html
On the Cruel Australian Live Export of Sheep: http://liveexport-indefensible.com/facts/issues.php
On Ultra-Fine Wool production: http://www.animalsaustralia.org/issues/ultra_fine_wool.php

From an ecological and ethical perspective, I hope this provides some clarity as to Brave GentleMan’s and others’ desire to avoid using any wool for any reason.

Fluffy Waffletacular Recipe!

TheDiscerningBrute — Tue, 19 May 2009 15:11:31 +0000

If you missed the BUST Craftacular on Sunday, then you missed some amazing food! I teamed up with Farm Sanctuary and did a vegan waffle-demo with Q & A, then proceeded to pump out about 300 delicious banana-flax waffles with amazing toppings, and hundreds of delicious apple sage Field Roast sausage samples sauteed in Earth Balance with a touch of maple syrup. Lots of you asked where to get that Farmyard Waffle Iron, so HERE it is. Only $30! I was so thrilled to meet some you in person for the first time! Thanks for coming out! Also, a giant super-duper thanks to my bestie Melissa for being a waffle-making-machine-in-a-pinup-dress! You rock. Ok, ok...Here's the recipe: WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • 1/2 large banana • 2 Tbsp flax based egg-replacer* • 4 Tbsp agave nectar • 1 cup rice milk • 1 tsp vanilla • 1 1/2 cups spelt flour • 1 tsp baking powder • 1/4 tsp baking soda • 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar • pinch of salt • canola baking spray (for waffle iron) • maple syrup to taste • Toppings (strawberry, blueberry, soy yogurt!) DIRECTIONS: * To make Flax Egg Replacer, simply combine Flax Seed and Water in a 1 to 2 ratio in a blender, until thick.

1. In a bowl, mash the banana until smooth. 2. Add the flax, agave nectar, and vanilla. 3. In a larger mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and baking powder. 4. Pour rice milk into the flour mixture, stirring with a fork. 5. Add the apple cider vinegar. 6. Add in the banana flax mixture from the other bowl. 7. Mix well. 8. Spray your iron lightly with the canola spray, and add the batter when hot! 9. Top with whatever you like! Try strawberry & banana, blueberry & soy whip, cinnamon & sugar, pecans & vegan butter, coconut milk-based ice cream, or chocolate sauce!

Special thanks go out to STOGO, Field Roast, Simple Food, Inc and Sweet & Sara for sponsoring me with delicious chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, and banana-berry ice creams, apple-sage veggie-sausages, decadent chocolate-soynut butter, and coconut, strawberry and plain vegan-marshmallows. Yum! Another special thanks to Brooklyn Kitchen for lending me amazing portable kitchen tools!