Earth in Earnest

Welcome to the June edition of the New Community Project’s environmental e-newsletter, Earth in Earnest

‎"However fragmented the world, however intense the national rivalries, it is an inexorable fact that we become more interdependent every day. I believe that national sovereignties will shrink in the face of universal interdependence. The sea, the great unifier, is man's only hope. Now, as never before, the old phrase has a literal meaning: We are all in the same boat." ~Jacques Cousteau

In this edition:
World Environment -What's going on out there?
Facts to Act on -What can we do?
What’s to eat? –Dietary choices as an act of faith

The ocean covers 71 percent of the earth's surface and contains nearly 50 percent of its species.  We are connected as humans by the sea, and we all have a vested interest in protecting this vast and vital part of our planet. We have seen how quickly oil spills at sea can travel and threaten waters far away, and we also witness global effects on the ecosystems of the ocean from climate change. And yet we are facing the threat of mass extinction of marine life if we do not take action now to reverse it. Wherever we live in the world, our actions impact ocean life and then other inhabitants of the world. The question is, what will be the nature of that impact?

"For Jesus is our peace, who has made us one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility."
~Ephesians 2:14

World Environment -I have recently seen a disturbing number of articles that warn of imminent danger for life in the seas if we, as humans, don't take immediate action. We could see mass extinction of ocean species and entire ecosystems within a single generation. One threat is the acidification of the waters which happens as the ocean absorbs carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas caused by human use of fossil fuels. Another significant problem is overfishing, which accounts for over 60 percent of local and global extinction of marine fish. Further, both acidification and overfishing have been blamed for a huge spike in the jellyfish population, which, among other things, has thoroughly disrupted the ocean food cycle.

.To get a closer look, check out Oceana by Ted Danson. It is a comprehensive, photogenic and impassioned look at the state of the world's oceans, compiled by the Cheers actor-turned-ocean activist.

"I believe in God, only I spell it Nature."   ~Frank Lloyd Wright

Facts to Act on -One of the easiest issues to fix may be over-fishing which could be handled via stringent government regulation. Additionally, we as consumers can make greener seafood choices. Check out Greenpeace's Carting Away the Oceans, a guide to the ocean-friendliness of our major supermarkets. Also, find Seas and Trees, New Community Project's guide to green seafood selection here.

.Further, there are multiple resources available at Ocean for Life, a unique program aimed a building cultural understanding among peoples through ocean science and conservation. Get up close and personal with whales, orcas and sea otters on the Seward, AK part of next summer's Denali/Kenai Fjords Learning Tour

You forget that the fruits belong to all and that the land belongs to no one.  ~Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Discours sur l'origine et les fondements de l'inégalité parmi les hommes, 1755

What's to eat?

No need to feel left out at the cookout. This delicious burger can be vegetarian or vegan and can be made with whatever beans you like.

Vegetarian (or vegan) Bean Burger

Ingredients
1 14 oz can beans (kidney, lentil, garbanzo, cannellini, black or pinto)
1/2 cup walnuts
1 carrot diced
1/4 onion diced
1 handful spinach
1 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp Dijon or brown mustard
1 egg (substitute 1/2 cup vegan mashed potatoes to make it vegan)
1 cup dry ingredients (fresh bread crumbs, bulgur, brown rice, oatmeal or couscous)
Salt and pepper to taste (taste before you put in the egg)
Olive or vegetable oil for frying

Directions
Combine dry ingredients.
Dump the beans, onions, walnuts, carrots, spinach, soy sauce and mustard into your food processor and pulse 6 times.
Taste mixture and add salt and pepper (and any other seasonings you want) to taste.
Add in the egg and pulse another one or two times, making sure not to over puree, and then place everything in a big bowl.
Mix in your dry ingredients and then carefully shape into patties using wet hands (so the mixture doesn't stick to your fingers). Refrigerate for 10 minutes if you have time.
Heat your pan  to medium high and then add in enough oil to coat the bottom of the entire pan. Set your burgers into the pan and cook uncovered until the bottom is nicely browned. Lower the heat to medium and then gently flip your burgers. Cover the pan and cook for about five minutes.
Check your burgers to see if they're done. Flip again (gently or else they'll fall apart) if they need to cook further. If you're adding cheese, this is the time to do it.
Remove burgers, set on a bun, add whatever toppings you like and dig in.

Find all past recipes at http://www.newcommunityproject.org/recipes.shtml.

To submit a vegetarian, vegan or otherwise environmentally friendly recipe, email kchaffin@newcommunityproject.org with "recipe" in the subject line.

NCP main office: 718 Wilder St. , Elgin , IL 60123 ; 888-800-2985 toll free; ncp@newcommunityproject.org