South Africa’s Largest Ecosystem

The Karoo is the largest ecosystem in South Africa and is home to a fascinating diversity of life, all having adapted to survive an unforgiving landscape. Natural gas exploration has now come to invade this magnificent land in order to exploit its natural resources. A moratorium has been placed on granting exploration licenses to major fuel companies, which allows them to use hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, as a means to extract gas from the earth. Hydraulic fracturing is a drilling technique used to extract shale gas from deep underground. It involves pumping enormous volumes of water, sand and chemicals into horizontally drilled wells under great pressure to shatter the rock layer and release trapped gas.

Jonathan Deal is the Chairman of the Treasure the Karoo Action Group (TKAG). He has led the campaign against hydraulic fracturing in the Karoo and recently won a court action requiring the Mineral Resources Minister to release the names of the task team assessing the pros and cons of fracking. Mr. Deal is also contesting claims that the Karoo would benefit from this development.

An Effort To Build Public Dialog Or False Advertisement?

Here are the court documents. Is it an “effort to build a public dialog” or false advertisement? (The court decided it was false advertisement.)

Application – Part 1 (NOM to Annexure JKFD5 of FA)

Application – Part 2 (Annexure JKFD6 of FA to CA of LH)

ASA RULING SHELL-TKAG & ANOTHER-17882

ASA SHELL-TKAG & ANOTHER-17882

COMPLAINT TO THE ASA- pages 1-12

COMPLAINT TO THE ASA -pages 13-23

Confirmation from ASA

Respondents’ Answering Affidavits

Swepi is SHELL see first para and violations

Global Alliance

The New Global Alliance!

A bridge has been built between the United States and South Africa in the global anti-fracking movement. This according to US actor Mark Ruffalo, who revealed that anti-fracking lobby group Water Defense and South African Treasure Karoo Action Group (TKAG) have formalized their relationship. Mr. Ruffalo confirmed that he had accepted a position on the board of TKAG and that TKAG chairman, Jonathan Deal would join the board of Water Defense.

Water Defense connects the dots between the movements working to stop mountain top removal, hydro fracking, tar sands mining, and other destructive practices that threaten our dwindling global supply of clean water. Founded by actor Mark Ruffalo, Water Defense engages renowned cultural figures, produces educational events, and informs the public, through traditional and social media to raise awareness, drive policy change, and end our fossil fuel addiction by demanding sustainable solutions.

The Interview

Jonathan Deal

Will the Karoo sustain environmental devastation from natural gas development? What are the risks to the water supply? Will the benefits that the industry claims be forthcoming? What about the job opportunities that this natural gas development could bring? Tune in to this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, as host, June Stoyer is joined by special guest, Jonathan Deal, Chairman of Treasure The Karoo, to learn more about the battle to protect the Karoo.

Get involved!

Please donate by clicking Help The Karoo

Join their group! TKAG on Facebook

Connect with TKAG on Facebook by following Karen Rademeyer or Jonathan Deal

According to the EPA, “sustainability” is defined as being based on a simple principle: everything that we need for our survival and well-being depends, either directly or indirectly, on our natural environment.  Sustainability creates and maintains the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, that permit fulfilling the social, economic and other requirements of present and future generations. Sustainability is important to making sure that we have and will continue to have, the water, materials, and resources to protect human health and our environment.

Sustainability is often a word that is used by clever marketers to promote an agenda to address the propaganda that the overpopulated world is running out of food due. With conventional crops devastating the environment, it appears that all we are doing is mining the land instead of farming it sustainably. In essence, in order to be truly sustainable, agriculture must be perpetuated so it can be productive year after year and generation after generation.

The privately stated policy from the agro-chemical companies is market domination through contamination, meanwhile it is translated for the public as peaceful co-existence, when in fact there is no peaceful co-existence. Is it possible for the organic producers to survive?

Michael Potter, CEO of Eden Foods

Eden Foods, Inc., (also known as Eden Organic), is the oldest family owned organic food producer in the United States and the largest supplier of organic dry grocery items. Mr. Potter has been a strong advocate of organics and has also been a big supporter of the Non-GMO Project which is pushing for GMO Labeling. Conventional food producers currently do not have to label whether or not GMO ingredients are used in foods sold in the United States.

Listen To The Interview

In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer talks to Mr. Michael Potter, President of Eden Foods will be on the show to discuss the true meaning of organic sustainability and the impact of GMO’s on our food and the broader environment. Click here to listen to the interview!

The Organic Rawtini Recipe

The Martini is a beloved drink in Brussels, mostly indulged by the women. The Rawtini recipe is one Marie-Claire Hermans simply adores!

TOOLS

• A juicer

INGREDIENTS (FOR 4 PERSONS, DOUBLE UP FOR LARGE GLASSES)

• 3 C freshly juiced organic Granny apples
• 1 C freshly juiced organic pear
• 1/2 C freshly juiced organic red beet
• Piece of kicking organic ginger
• 4 organic cinnamon sticks (optional)
• Ice cubes made of pure water or rejuvelac
• 1 1/2 C sparkling water

Directions

1. Juice all fruits and vegetable
2. Pour everything together and stir
3. Pour the juice through a strainer to get a smooth drink without any pulp
4. Let it chill in the refrigerator until your guests arrive
5. Right before serving, pour the sparkling water on top and stir
6. Put ice in the glasses and pour the juice on top
7. Serve with the cinnamon sticks

TIP

• Very beautiful topped with mint
• To “fool” the eye of your Martini lovers, serve in Martini glasses but any pretty glass will be great!

Listen to Marie-Claire’s Interview!

Want to learn more and get more organic raw recipes? Tune in to hear organic raw enthusiast, Marie-Claire Hermans interview on The Organic View which is scheduled to air at 4pm,Eastern/ 1pm Pacific. Click here for the segment link.

Evergreen  Recipe

Evergreen Recipe

Yeild: (Makes one quart of juice)

Ingredients:

• 5 stalks of organic white celery
• 1 organic cucumber
• 4 leaves of organic kale
• Handful of organic parsley
• 1 or 2 inch piece of organic ginger (to taste)
• 1 organic lemon
• organic fennel
• 2 organic apples

Bittersweet Harmony Recipe (recipe courtesy of “Ravishing Juice Fast”)

Bittersweet Harmony Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cucumber
• 6 celery stalks
• handful chervil
• handful watercress
• 1 broccoli head
• 1 apple
• 1 pear
• 1 lime

Directions

1. Juice all fruits and vegetable
2. Pour everything together and stir
3. Pour the juice through a strainer to get a smooth drink without any pulp
4. Let it chill in the refrigerator until your guests arrive
5. Put ice in the glasses and pour the juice on top

Want More Recipes ?

If you have been thinking about try some more raw food recipes, check out Marie-Claire’s free eBook “Raw For 3 Days!” by clicking here.

Raw For 3 Days Recipe Book

Meet The Ultimate Chicken Whisperer & Oprah Henfrey!

More and more people are raising chickens due to the inhumane practice of factory farms and use of antibiotics. For folks that wish to grow food organically, locally and sustainably, raising chickens has become the most popular method.  Across America, municipalities are allowing and even encouraging residents to keep laying hens within city limits.

Chicken Whisperer, Pat Foreman with Oprah Henfrey

Expert, Patricia Foreman, author of CITY CHICKS: Keeping Micro-flocks of Chickens as Garden Helpers, Compost Makers, Bio-recyclers and Local Food Suppliers is certainly leading the way. In this book, Patricia will teach you:

• Have fresh, heart-healthy eggs, daily from your backyard home flock.
• Employ your chicken’s “skill sets” as garden workers, organic pesticides, herbiciders, fertilizers, compost creators and top soil enhancers.
• Take the best care of your flock and become a Chicken Whisperer.
• City Chicks also explores the civic side of chickens and how they can be employed as clucking city workers helping to divert food and yard waste from landfills. This can save millions of tax payer dollars.
• Be a Primary Poultry Health Care Practitioner to save on, and even avoid, vet bills.
• The Poultry’s Pharmacy shows you how to make and use effective, inexpensive home treatments.
• Draft and pass local laws allowing laying hens within your town or city.
• Avoid roosters and why you don’t want them.
• Do much, much more with chickens than you ever thought possible, including outrageous chicken tricks.

Want to learn more? Read the book!

Listen To The Show

Tune in to this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, as host, June Stoyer is joined by special guest, Patricia Foreman to discuss how to raise chickens in you’re an urban environment. To hear the interview, click here.

Oprah Henfrey Star Of City Chicks

What is Aquaponics?
With the growing demand for organic food production, more and more people are looking at sustainable models that will produce a high yield without necessarily having to farm a large acreage. One of the most popular methods is called aquaponics. Aquaponics is the cultivation of fish and plants together in a constructed, re-circulating ecosystem utilizing natural bacterial cycles to convert fish wastes to plant nutrients. What does aquaponics gardening entail and how exactly does it work?

The Aquaponics Cycle

Listen To The Aquaponics Expert, Sylvia Bernstein

Tune in to this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, as host, June Stoyer is joined by special guest Sylvia Bernstein, President and Founder of The Aquaponic Source, Inc. To listen to the interview, click here.

Sylvia Bernstein will be featured on The Organic View Radio Show

Bio: Sylvia Bernstein is the President and Founder of The Aquaponic Source and the author of “Aquaponic Gardening: A Step by Step Guide to Growing Fish and Vegetables Together”.

She also runs the Aquaponic Gardening Community, the largest online community site dedicated to aquaponic gardening in North America, and is the U.S. Chapter Chairman of the Aquaponics Association. She teaches and speaks extensively about aquaponics and its exciting potential.

Sylvia was the VP of Marketing and Product Development for AeroGrow International, the makers of the AeroGarden. She was one of the company’s original founders and was instrumental in developing the plant growth technology. Sylvia has a degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of California, Davis and an MBA from the University of Chicago. She currently lives in Boulder, Colorado with her husband, Alan, and their son (their daughter is attending college at the University of Washington). They have a large, thriving aquaponic setup in their backyard greenhouse in Boulder powered by tilapia, goldfish, and other creatures-that-swim.

Herbal vinegar has become a culinary staple. It is very diverse and can be made from a wide variety of herbs.

Here is a great recipe from Herbalist, Tammi Hartung, author of Homegrown Herbs- A Complete Guide To Growing, Using and Enjoying More than 100 Herbs. Make sure that you use ONLY organic vinegar. Listen to Tammi’s interview to learn why it is important to only use organic vinegars.

Herbal Vinegar Recipe

Organic herbal vinegars are becoming a culinary staple.

Materials:

• Herbs to choose from can include lemon balm, sage, thyme, basil, ginger, any mint, parsley, or rosemary. Feel free to mix and match according to your tastes.
• Sterilized jars with lids (pint sized)
• Labels
• Strainer
• Organic apple cider vinegar or you may use organic wine vinegar, organic rice vinegar or organic balsamic vinegar

Directions:

1. In a perfectly clean pint size canning jar add fresh herbs, coarsely chopped.  Herbs to choose from can include lemon balm, sage, thyme, basil, ginger, any mint, parsley, or rosemary. Feel free to mix and match according to your tastes.
2. Next fill the jar with a vinegar of your choice.  I use organic apple cider vinegar, but wine vinegar, rice vinegar or balsamic vinegar will all work equally well.
3. Cap tightly with a clean lid and label completely with all of the ingredients and the date.
4. Allow to sit on the windowsill or counter top for 10-14 days.
5. After 10-14 days, strain the vinegar through a tea strainer and reserve the liquid.  Compost the used herbs.
6. Pour the herbal vinegar liquid back into a clean bottle or jar and again label completely, this time adding a 1 year expiration date.  Best stored in the refrigerator.
7. To use: add 1 Tablespoon over the top of salad, steamed vegetables and grains, or add to the cooking pot of dried beans.

Listen to the interview:

To learn more about Tammi’s book, listen to her interview on The Organic View by either clicking this link or using the podcast player below.

Welcome To The Bee-utiful World of Beekeeping!

Beekeeping can be one of the most rewarding experiences. Whether you are an avid gardener, a honey connoisseur or just want to do your part to help the bees, one of the best ways to learn about bees is to have your own hives. In areas such as New York City where they have lifted the ban on beekeeping, it has become a very popular hobby and for some, a new business venture.

Marina Marchese handling a frame from her hives.

However, beekeeping is not something that one simply signs up for like a spin class at the gym or can be done in a leisurely manner like a crossword puzzle. It is a big responsibility and is also something that requires a basic understanding of bees. It can also be quite costly if you do not know what you are doing or have good guidance.

In this special segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer will be joined by Marina Marchese, author of Honeybee: Lessons from an Accidental Beekeeper and Kim Flottum, editor of Bee Culture Magazine to talk about how you can learn to become a beekeeper. We will talk about options for purchasing equipment, kinds of bees, where to locate your hive, how to find a mentor and so much more! Click here to listen to the show or use the podcast player.

More About Marina and Kim:
Marina Marchese, who wrote the book Honeybee: Lessons from an Accidental Beekeeper is a true renaissance woman and is also an entrepreneur. From her love of honeybees, she discovered the medicinal benefits created by her beloved honeybees. She decided that this was something that needed to be shared with the world and launched Red Bee ® Artisanal Honey. Marina has created an entire line of skin care products that are derived from the honeybee. As a true lover and defender of honeybees, she also educates people about the many misconceptions about bees and why people need to embrace the power that these special beings offer.

Click here to buy Honeybee: Lessons from an Accidental Beekeeper:

Kim Flottum is the editor of Bee Culture magazine, the author of The Backyard Beekeeper (Quarry Books, 2005), and an editor of the ABC & XYZ of Bee Culture, 41st Edition (A.R. Root Company, 2006).

Kim Flottum, Editor of Bee Culture Magazine

Click here to pick up Kim Flottum’s book, The Backyard Beekeeper:

Want to find a local bee club? Check out Bee Culture’s list:
Beekeepers and Bee Clubs

Interested in top bar hives? Connect with our friend and top bar hive expert, Phil Chandler at Biobees to learn more:

The Barefoot Beekeeper

Free Plans for building top bar hives

Beekeeping Forum

The people of Boulder County, Colorado have been working very diligently to promote what is referred to as “The Boulder Brand” in an effort to promote organic, good health and sustainable agriculture. After the December 20^th deliberations in which the Boulder County Commissioners spoke to endorse genetically modified crops and systemic pesticides, it has been made very clear that there is a set agenda to approve the planting of GM crops on public land.

Although, there are many Boulder County residents who are outraged about this, the County Commissioners failed to step up to their responsibilities to protect the people, to protect the farmers, and to protect the land.

Just how do the people feel about it? The commissioners, otherwise referred to as the “Gang of Three” are each paid $87,000 a year. With the current state of the economy, people ARE paying attention. People are upset and are not going to cower and remain silent. Although, the mainstream media simply refuses to acknowledge any of the opposition (because it is owned by the corporate oligarchy) one disappointed citizen has renamed them the “Gang Of Three “:

The Boulder County Ommissioners

o·mis·sion

It’s Not Just About The 3 R’s

When it comes to education, people tend to think of the basics: reading, writing and arithmetic. Due to the obesity issue with kids, there has been a great deal of emphasis on the importance of sports and fitness. People think that sports can also offer children opportunities to inevitably play in major league clubs, the Olympics, etc. and therefore athletic programs should not be cut. Unfortunately, when it comes to music, not much thought is given as it is often the first to go when it comes down to budget cuts for extra-curricular programs. However, music is something that is such a critical component of our lives. It has been used as a form of communication and is also found throughout nature.

Why Exactly Do Birds Sing?

Painted Bunting (Credit: Cornell Lab of Ornithology)

Birds put a lot of effort into singing, drumming, winnowing, and otherwise displaying. They are trying to impress mates and proclaim territories.*

Rock Me Amadeus

How different would our world be if Mozart did not receive a musical education?

During the time of Mozart as well as other Masters, one’s ability to sing or play a musical instrument also determined not only how one would be received into society but for women, how well they could marry.

Indeed, it is a critical component to well being and can literally change the course of one’s life. Such is the case with newly discovered artists such as Susan Boyle, Kelly Clarkson, etc.

Rock Legends React

Little Kids Rock provides music instruction for public school students who have been left behind due to budget cuts.

There is a non-profit organization that is on a mission to change this called Little Kids Rock. It was founded by some of the greatest names in the music world. LKR currently reaches over 74,000 kids across America! When it comes to making sure every kid gets a first-rate education, music matters! LKR believes that learning to play a musical instrument can be a transformative experience in students’ lives, with the power to inspire the creativity and confidence that are critical to success in school and beyond. They are devoted to restoring and revitalizing music education in U.S. public schools. They bring free musical instruments and music instruction to underserved schools across the country. If you would like to find out about how you can get involved, visit LittleKidsRock.org and donate today!

The Interview

In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer will be joined by the legendary rock drummer, Liberty Devitto (known for his tenure with Billy Joel) to discuss his work with Little Kids Rock! Click here to listen to the LIVE interview.

American Legend, Liberty Devitto

A Little More For Liberty Devitto Fans:

Liberty Devitto is legendary American Rock Drummer from Brooklyn, New York and loved by all New Yorkers, especially the folks from Long Island, where he grew up. Although he is best known for his work as the drummer for Billy Joel’s band, he has played with the biggest names in the music industry such as Stevie Nicks, Phoebe Snow, Richie Supa, Felix Caveliere’s Rascals, Mitch Ryder, Billy Joel/Elton John, Paul McCartney, Billy J. Kramer, Ronnie Spector, Joan Jett, Jeff Carlisi, Rob Auther, Peter Frampton, Will Lee, Mitch Ryder, Tone Loc, Denise Williams, Wild Cherry, Sam the Sham, Patty Smyth , Louis Prima  Jr, Doctor Hook, Shelia E and so many other talented performers.

He continues to play with the NYC Hit Squad and has been a session drummer on recordings of other artists. He is a Drummer, Clinician, Lecturer, Songwriter, Producer and clearly a man of many talents. His latest project is called Camp Jam, which is America’s most comprehensive rock camp. Guitar players, bass players, keyboard players, drummers and vocalists can unleash their inner rock star at Camp Jam. This isn’t just limited to kids either! They have programs available for all ages and ability levels! Here is a video of Liberty Devitto’s song, Money In A Card©. Now doesn’t this song put you in the Christmas spirit?

Money In A Card

What’s red and orange and absolutely the BEST way to have a little cheer this Christmas and New Year’s Eve? It’s an organic “Mar-Tea-nee” of course! This featured recipe also includes products from The Organic View Radio Show’s “Best of 2011” nominations! I personally love my martini’s stirred, NOT shaken. Just a little gentle stirring is all that is needed to allow the flavors to incorporate. Evidently, James Bond didn’t appreciate organics the way my organic good food friends and I do.

The Mar-TEA-nee!

by

CHARTREUSE Organic Teas

- A Chicago HIT -

Photo credit: June Stoyer, The Organic View Radio Show©

Ingredients:

• 4oz Chartreuse Organic ‘Tucson Bold’ Herbal Tea
• Bainbridge Distillers Organic ‘Legacy’ Vodka
• 2 cubes of Native Forest Organic Pineapple
• 1 Uncle Matt’s Organic Orange

Directions:

1. In a well-chilled Martini glass, add 4oz of chilled, strong brewed Chartreuse Organic ‘Tucson Bold’ Herbal Tea, add 1oz of chilled Bainbridge Distillers Organic ‘Legacy’ Vodka, two cubes of Native Forest Organic Pineapple on a little pick in the glass (instead of an olive) and a slice of an Uncle Matt’s Organic Orange on the rim of the glass.
2. Stir, serve and enjoy!