Filed under: Organic, Organically Grown, Politics | Tags: Barack Obama, Browner, Carol Browner, Carol Browner Resign, Climate, Climate bill, Climate Change, Climate Crisis, Energy, Enivornment, Global Warming, Obama, Politics, President Obama, State of the Union
While our nation’s politicians attended last night’s, “prom night”, the other story was Carol Browner’s resignation. As Obama’s energy czar, Ms. Browner was the President’s top adviser when it came to climate change and energy matters. Sadly, no comprehensive energy and climate bill addressing the threat of global warming has been passed into law during her term over the past two years. With Ms. Browner’s departure, it seems unlikely that there will be any movement on this issue of paramount importance. Most of the world’s top scientists have been warning us about climate change for decades, and now is the time to enact real change. As they campaign for votes and fight amongst themselves, our politicians have forgotten that we belong to the earth…the Earth does not belong to us. The threat of global warming is already a crisis, and environmental issues need to be an immediate priority for all politicians, regardless of their political affiliation.
BY BOB STEIN, CO-FOUNDER OF ORGANICALLY GROWN
Filed under: Martin Luther King, Organic, Organic Cotton, Organic Cotton Farming, Organically Grown, Politics, Reasons to Buy Organic | Tags: Dr. Martin Luther King, I Have a Dream, Memphis Sanitation Workers' Strike, MLK Day, organic, organic cotton, Organic Exchange, Organic Farmers, Promise of America, Textile Exchange
In my last blog, I wrote about the “Promise of America.” Today, we honor a man who embodied the potential of how great America can be: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Appealing to the moral decency in all of us, Dr. King showed us how change can occur without violence.
Dr. King’s final speech was in support of the Memphis sanitation workers’ strike. The workers were being exposed to disease, making for very unsafe working conditions. Following King’s death, city officials resolved the strike, providing new protections to the city’s sanitation workers.
Being able to live and work in a healthy environment should be a basic human right. Just as the Memphis sanitation workers were subjected to poor working conditions, people around the world who work in conventional cotton production are subjected to hundreds of millions of pounds of pesticides each year, according to the Organic Exchange. Seven out of ten of these pesticides are on the EPA’s list of known, likely, or probable human carcinogens. By choosing organic cotton products, made without pesticides, we can make a difference in the quality of life for those farm workers.
Everyone should have the right to make healthy decisions, regardless of where they live or how much money they possess. Being able to choose organic products is an economic issue because they are generally more expensive. At Organically Grown, we try to provide our customers with fashionable organic cotton products that they can afford. We hope that as the demand for organic products grows, the price will continue to decrease – making them increasingly accessible to everyone.
Martin Luther King understood that environmental justice is social justice, and to truly celebrate his legacy, we need to listen to his words and work together towards his vision of a free, equal, and healthy America, and for that matter, the world.
BY BOB STEIN, CO-FOUNDER OF ORGANICALLY GROWN
Filed under: Cotton Articles, Cotton Industry, Organic, Organic Cotton, Organic Cotton Farming, Organically Grown | Tags: BCI, Better Cotton, Better Cotton Initiative, Genetically Modified Organisms, Genetically Modified Seeds, GMOs, organic, Organic Apparel, organic clothing, organic cotton, Organic Exchange, Textile Exchange
You may come across the Better Cotton Initiative. Reportedly, prominent companies are jumping on the Better Cotton Initiative bandwagon. According to the following link, http://assets.wwf.ch/downloads/qa_shortfacts_cotton.pdf, dated August 2009, the Better Cotton Initiative, at this time, included the use of cotton grown from genetically modified seeds. One can argue the benefits and detriments of genetically modified seeds.
At Organically Grown, we have nothing to do with the Better Cotton Initiative. When the BCI standard is organic, we will support their efforts. We are committed to providing our customers with 100% certified organic cotton, made without the use of pesticides and GMOs.
BY BOB STEIN, CO-FOUNDER OF ORGANICALLY GROWN
Filed under: Emma Watson, Fashion, Harry Potter, Organic, Organic Cotton, Organically Grown, Reasons to Buy Organic, Uncategorized | Tags: Emma Watson, Harry Potter, organic clothing
Because of the blockbuster success of the Harry Potter franchise, Emma Watson has become a worldwide superstar at a young age. Even more impressively, Emma has used her celebrity for a higher cause and has shown concern for the planet by shining a spotlight on the importance of wearing organic clothing.
Much like the Harry Potter books enticed children who were busy playing video games to pick up a book, Emma is a role model to other young people who may not otherwise know or care about organic clothing options. At Organically Grown, we admire and thank her for her extraordinary efforts.
BY BOB STEIN, CO-FOUNDER OF ORGANICALLY GROWN
Filed under: Organic, Politics | Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, California, Governator, Jerry Brown, Terminator, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
Usually, I stay out of politics with my blog. However, I would like to recognize our great state of California’s outgoing governor as well as the man who is today being sworn in and beginning the new administration in Sacramento.
I had the privilege to work with Arnold Schwarzenegger when I served as the merchandising and licensing agent for Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. Working with him gave me a glimpse of a surprisingly intelligent man: A man who had the discipline and will to become the world’s greatest bodybuilder and biggest action star. I saw him put this same work ethic into T3. There wasn’t anything he would not do to promote the film. Shortly thereafter, Arnold became California’s governor, a role that he approached with his own unique style. Arnold cares about the environment, and before the BP oil disaster, he promised Californians that there would be no further off-shore oil drilling under his watch. 
Welcome back, Jerry Brown. I moved to California in 1977, when Jerry was governor of California. Some people criticized Jerry and called him Governor Moonbeam. They made fun of the windmills and solar energy projects that he was passionate about creating. Jerry was just ahead of his time. The joke is on the critics. The oil disasters are on them. 
We must leave a better world for our children. They deserve that. To do this, we must focus on moving forward with green technologies. Whatever your political affiliation, preserving the environment should be a non-partisan concern. It doesn’t matter whether you are a Democrat or a Republican: We must do what is best for the future of our great nation and our beautiful world. This demands the courage to change, with entrepreneurship and innovation to create self-reliance. When you protect the status quo, you will always end up left in the dust.
So thank you, Arnold and Jerry, for your service. I know that with Moonbeam at the helm, California will continue to be a beacon to the rest of the world.
BY BOB STEIN, CO-FOUNDER OF ORGANICALLY GROWN
Filed under: Farmer's Market, Organic, Reasons to Buy Organic, San Francisco | Tags: Farmer's Market, Ferry Plaza, organic, Organic Food, San Francisco
In October Bobby and I went up to San Francisco to attend a friend’s birthday party. We had some time on Saturday to go up to the Farmers Market in San Francisco. From their website:
The Ferry Plaza Farmers Market is a California certified farmers market operated by the nonprofit Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture (CUESA). The market is widely acclaimed for both the quality and diversity of its fresh farm products, and artisan and prepared foods. It is renowned throughout the country as one of the top farmers markets to visit. On any day, especially Saturdays, some of San Francisco’s best known chefs, and most famous farmers, can be seen at the market. The market provides a forum for people to learn about food and agriculture. Each week nearly 25,000 shoppers visit the farmers market.
The farmers market is open three days a week—Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the smaller markets occupy the front of the building along the Embarcadero; on Saturdays, the much larger market is held both in front of the Ferry Building and on the rear plaza overlooking the Bay. The markets offer fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers, meats and eggs from small regional farmers and ranchers, many of whom are certified organic. A wealth of other products include regional artisan specialties such as breads, cheeses and jams. The Thursday market features an array of artisan street food: wood-fired pizza, grilled meats, sandwiches, and tacos, while the Saturday market also includes local restaurants serving a variety of hot, delicious meals.
I have never seen in all my travels such a collective of high quality and ORGANIC product in one place. If you have a chance to go – do so. And bring your appetite!
BY JULIA STEIN, CO-FOUNDER OF ORGANICALLY GROWN
