The articles have slowed down a bit this month because GreenGoPost is currently in Salvador do Bahia, Brazil.  Not wanting to deal with different keyboards during my trip, I did my best to pre-post ahead of time--in fact, most of the posts that I write are written, re-written, and proofread--I seldom post on the fly.  So, as to not distract from Carnival and the other cultural riches of this region, I thought I'd share one of the great pleasures of Brazil, the juice bar.

The debate over biofuels is often a heated one.  In Indonesia, the thirst for palm oil has led to deforestation and a rise in food crops.  Naturally we all have opinions over corn ethanol's effects here in the United States.  I've always had the view that biofuels, if sourced sustainably and does not require more energy than the finished energy product, will not only provide a good local source for regional transportation fleets, but have the potential to reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuels.  One source that has promising potential with minimal environmental impact is barley.  Remember barley?  Your grandmother probably put it in a soup, but this grain is often ignored--in fact, go to a posh restaurant and you'll see faro before you see barley.

 

Last month I had a conversation with an executive at a biofuel start-up that uses barley as its feedstock.  During our conversation, he took the time to explain barley's benefits to me:

I spent MLK weekend in Fresno visiting an old college friend.  The drive to Fresno is about four hours, and takes you to a completely different world than to which we are accustomed in Southern California or the Bay Area.  We tend to be dismissive of this part of the state, but there is much that the San Joaquin Valley offers the visitor.  For better or for worse, that bag of goodies you have snagged at Whole Foods or Trader Joe's most likely had its origins in this region, the true bread basket (or gift basket?) of America.  Fresno County is the largest agricultural county in the nation; its neighbor, Tulare County, is number two. (more...)

Happy New Year and New Decade!  From the "buzz" I've heard, 2010 will be a pivotal year for those involved in the sustainability movement.  New technologies advancing smart grid and electric vehicles may (or may not) take off, and investment and opportunities in renewable and alternative fuels may (or may not) surge.  GreenGoPost plans on also focusing on one of the world's most important nations that may (or may not) have an even greater role on the global scene:  Brazil. (more...)

The Baltic tour continues to Latvia and its capital, Riga, where local products are on display on a grand scale.  Spending time in Riga--once known as the Paris of the East--and missing the Riga Central Market would be a huge sin.  After visiting this gem, your local farmers' market would feel as exciting as buying vegetables from your supermarket's clearance bin.  Latvia's pulse is on display at the Market, which has been operation since 1909.  If you're a foodie, you'll find paradise here. (more...)

I cannot help but smirk when I hear big business wants government out of its way.  The nasty truth is that business is all for regulations when the rules are in their favor.

 

Changing the rules in favoring some industries often gives horrible results.  (more...)

I've been out of academia for a years, so I don't give much thought issues such as, for example, gender roles.  Maybe this is because my 150-plus page master's thesis from years back looked at issues in every which way, except for gender, which was a no-no in the politically correct early 1990s.  I should have told my advisory committee that I wanted to save paper.  Or, maybe not:  I needed that diploma! (more...)