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As you might have noticed, posts here lately have been fewer and further between. I don’t mean to abandon my readers, its just that I’ve been writing up a storm on the Slow Food Nation blog in the past few weeks. Here is the beginning of today’s post on the movie FLOW, a film about the politics of water:

Water is a vital part of life, but should it be a commodity? This is the question FLOW explores, not just in developing countries where the issue seems paramount, but in the United States as well. Water is currently a $400 billion industry, the third largest behind oil and electricity. Because of pollution, scarcity and corporate control, it is the largest issue facing humanity in this century.

Of the 6 billion people on Earth, 1.1 billion do not have access to safe drinking water. In addition, contaminated drinking water kills more humans than AIDS or war. A lack of infrastructure or aging infrastructure that a government can’t afford to upgrade are the leading reasons private companies are invited in to make water distribution deals. But when a private industry, which is beholden to shareholders, gets control of a local water supply, a basic human need, the result is that the community using the water is at risk.

Keep reading…

As readers know, I spent labor day weekend hanging around at Slow Food Nation in San Francisco, taking in the talks, as well as the blackberry mint coolers and masa cakes of change for an improved future food system in America. It was a celebration of food but also a virtual manifesto that brought out 60,000 like-minded and/or curious, hungry folks to partake in the various events, from music, to tastings, to idea-sharing.

Food for Thought got down and dirty with the food policy discussion, featuring the biggest names in food, notably Wendall Berry, Carlo Petrini, Vandana Shiva, Michael Pollan, and Raj Patel. I confess, I’m a wonk. So I took it in like a succulent meal, taking furious notes and even writing a breakdown for the Slow Food Nation blog for day 1 and day 2.

Above is the video for the panel on the world food crisis, which was the opening star-studded talk at Food for Thought. Keep an eye on the Slow Food Nation site in the coming weeks for all of the panel videos, free for all to view. One of the biggest takeaways from the conference was that we can’t think about the environment, oil dependency, education, health, or most anything else without dealing with the issues surrounding food. All of the panels were enlightening, but I highly recommend the panel on climate change and food, and the Slow Food Nation panel featuring Wendall Berry, who if you couldn’t tell by now is my food warrior hero. I even waited in an hour-long line to have him sign my copy of The Unsettling of America (a prescient book of essays about our culture and agricultural policies, published in 1977). Berry was humble, but everyone sharing the stage with him had taken inspiration from his writing. He said he felt a change coming, alas. When I met him I shook his hand and let him know that our generation was taking him up on that. I hope to be proven correct.

I’m happy to announce that the videos of the Food for Thought talks at Slow Food Nation are now up on the Slow Food Nation site. Now you can enjoy them for free, and not miss out on the conversation that there about the state of food policy in America, from global warming, to farm worker justice, to education and more. Enjoy!

Are you as sick of the food system we’ve gotten stuck with as I am? I know there are at least a few of you out there, so here is something empowering that every individual (and those on their email lists) can do to demand change from Washington: Sign the Food Declaration!

On Thursday, at the rotunda inside City Hall in San Francisco, the Food Declaration was read aloud for a crowd of 200 people to hear. Framers of the document, including Dan Imhoff, Alice Waters, Michael Pollan and many other food and agriculture policy thinkers have been working on creating a concise document that clearly states the kind of policy that is needed right now. It gives policymakers distinct guidelines, and endorsements from professionals in different fields who can act as advisers.

The petition has been getting tons of signatures at Slow Food Nation, where it is visible for all to see and sign, and afterward it will travel around the country to Slow Food convivia and NGOs who will host signing parties of their own. Meanwhile, endorsements and comments can be posted on the Food Declaration website, so that everyone can get in on the conversation. Roots of Change, Slow Food USA and other like-minded groups hope that by Spring 2009, the petition will be in Washington, D.C. for a final signing event, and then will be presented to Congress.

As readers know, I spent labor day weekend hanging around at Slow Food Nation in San Francisco, taking in the talks, as well as the blackberry mint coolers and masa cakes of change for an improved future food system in America. It was a celebration of food but also a virtual manifesto that brought out 60,000 like-minded and/or curious, hungry folks to partake in the various events, from music, to tastings, to idea-sharing.

Food for Thought got down and dirty with the food policy discussion, featuring the biggest names in food, notably Wendall Berry, Carlo Petrini, Vandana Shiva, Michael Pollan, and Raj Patel. I confess, I’m a wonk. So I took it in like a succulent meal, taking furious notes and even writing a breakdown for the Slow Food Nation blog for day 1 and day 2.

Above is the video for the panel on the world food crisis, which was the opening star-studded talk at Food for Thought. Keep an eye on the Slow Food Nation site in the coming weeks for all of the panel videos, free for all to view. One of the biggest takeaways from the conference was that we can’t think about the environment, oil dependency, education, health, or most anything else without dealing with the issues surrounding food. All of the panels were enlightening, but I highly recommend the panel on climate change and food, and the Slow Food Nation panel featuring Wendall Berry, who if you couldn’t tell by now is my food warrior hero. I even waited in an hour-long line to have him sign my copy of The Unsettling of America (a prescient book of essays about our culture and agricultural policies, published in 1977). Berry was humble, but everyone sharing the stage with him had taken inspiration from his writing. He said he felt a change coming, alas. When I met him I shook his hand and let him know that our generation was taking him up on that. I hope to be proven correct.

Are you as sick of the food system we’ve gotten stuck with as I am? I know there are at least a few of you out there, so here is something empowering that every individual (and those on their email lists) can do to demand change from Washington: Sign the Food Declaration!

On Thursday, at the rotunda inside City Hall in San Francisco, the Food Declaration was read aloud for a crowd of 200 people to hear. Framers of the document, including Dan Imhoff, Alice Waters, Michael Pollan and many other food and agriculture policy thinkers have been working on creating a concise document that clearly states the kind of policy that is needed right now. It gives policymakers distinct guidelines, and endorsements from professionals in different fields who can act as advisers.

The petition has been getting tons of signatures at Slow Food Nation, where it is visible for all to see and sign, and afterward it will travel around the country to Slow Food convivia and NGOs who will host signing parties of their own. Meanwhile, endorsements and comments can be posted on the Food Declaration website, so that everyone can get in on the conversation. Roots of Change, Slow Food USA and other like-minded groups hope that by Spring 2009, the petition will be in Washington, D.C. for a final signing event, and then will be presented to Congress.

Find out what others are saying about the best diet ever. Their raw food videos, stories, pictures, recipes. starting tips. Read, listen and watch these mind blowing raw food diet testimonials.

In the winter, when it’s cold, there is nothing so delicious as hot chocolate milk. Here’s the recipe of the raw version:

1 cup cashew nuts
2 cups warm water
1 table spoon raw chocolate
1 table spoon raw carob powder
1 table spoon maple syrup
Cinnamon or vanilla to taste

Heat up water to about 100 degrees F (or 40 C). (This is about the temperature you’d like to drink your chocolate milk and won’t burn your lips.)

Put all ingredients in a blender. Blend well and enjoy.

Click here for more super delicious raw recipes: recipe index

We’ve launched a new mini-site called Masala. Masala is a feed aggregator that makes it easy for you to keep up-to-date with the best raw food blogs online.

We’d like to give a shout-out to Kaia Foods for sponsoring Masala. It takes time and money to build a successful and extremely supportive health community, and we totally appreciate the fact that there are raw/vegan companies out there supporting our community building efforts.

In addition to sponsoring Masala, Kaia Foods is offering 35% off their
entire line of Raw Granola as a “thank you” to the raw food community.
So if you need to stock-up on some healthy snack food for yourself or a
loved one, now is the perfect time. Granola Flavors include: Dates
& Spices, Cocoa Bliss and Raisin Cinnamon.

Personally, I’m a Dates and Spices kinda-of-guy. Must be my Indian blood. ; )

Note: We’d like to give another shout-out to All Top and Guy Kawasaki for inspiring us to create Masala. If you enjoy Masala you’ll also enjoy All Top Organic and All Top Vegan.

Via LXTV:

“Amid the frenzy of New York Fashion Week, design icon Donna Karan shares how she maintains her calm and well-being in her native city with a combination of juicing, yoga and empowering philanthropy.”