I recently read some articles about the imperative for businesses to become green. It still seems that being green is still a fad among most people and that short term benefits and cost is a major factor – despite the potential savings over the long term.
Being green has been always been a focus for a small segment of the population because of the inherent desire to consume only when necessary, not be wasteful and ultimately save money. If all consumers had these ideals in mind when consuming, we likely would not be in the predicament we find our planet in today.
Lack of Awareness – people claim they do not have enough information
Negative Perceptions – green products are less effective
Distrust – people do not trust the message of government and business
High Prices – people do not understand the long-term benefits
Low Availability – business do not really want to sell these products
It is a bit of a chicken-and-egg game. However, the Internet is a wealth of knowledge and consumers can find the information with some effort. Consumers must also decide on their own what is right for them rather than wait for the market to decide what is right for them. Otherwise consumers will be at the whim of marketers – the very ones that help put us in the position we find ourselves.
Businesses that take a leadership role in such areas will be rewarded by loyal customers and not have to catch up when the mainstream realizes that being green is better (and essential). Whole Foods Market did this in the 1990s by stocking organic and local produce as well as other environmentally-friendly products. They are now a leader in the grocery business with strong growth by attracting informed customers.
I’ve worked in the retail business for more than 15 years (almost all of my working life) and I’ve seen what attracts customers. In North America, consumers are addicted to cheap stuff – period. We are intent on obtaining the best deal and not necessarily the best value or product. That’s why Wal-Mart is so popular.
Europeans are more concerned with obtaining the best value or product and not necessarily the lowest price. The North American strategy does not retain customers as they will flee once prices are not the lowest. However, the European method retains customers because of the value delivered through a superior product.
Unfortunately, marketers have created this problem because of the short-term pressures. Hopefully they can dig us out of this problem without more consumption. The actual answer is through reduced consumption.
A McKinsey & Company chart that illustrates that perception is very different that what is effective in reality. A surprising point at the first position is driving a more fuel-efficient car; driving less is at the fourth position. However, the biggest and most surprising gap is with eating beef – consuming less is the third most effective action people can take – vegetarians have know this all along.
I always like to try new things. Tonight it was some natto. I actually have had it in my freezer for several months, but I finally made the time to try it.
The first thing that I noticed when I unpacked it from its single portion container was the gooey stuff on the beans that resembled cheese. When I dug the fork into the natto – the gooey stuff was very stringy – like cheese. It actually was fun to eat. I didn’t eat it with anything. Apparently, it’s eaten with rice, soy sauce, mustard or even a raw quail egg.
Afterward, I discovered that it is high in nutrients and vitamins. It’s also supposed to have a strong smell. However, I didn’t notice the smell – because I like most fermented foods or perhaps I was eating it too fast. It was gooey but good!
For World Vegetarian Day, the Toronto Vegetarian Association held a baking contest – the Totally Fabulous Vegan Bake-off in Grange park in downtown Toronto.
Some of my friends suggested that I enter one of my chocolate cakes or pies in the contest. However, I’m not big on contests or being judged so I didn’t really think about it much at first. However, when I thought more about it, I thought that a pumpkin pie would be good for the time of year. And so I decided to enter a raw pumpkin pie into the contest. I still had my doubts about the contest though. I didn’t decide to go through with it until three days before the event.
I’m still not sure why I entered it – maybe I just wanted strangers to try my creations to see if they liked it – and find out if my friends were telling the truth or just being polite.
The contest was judged by some vegan cooks from Toronto. They were judging on taste, texture, creativity and presentation. When I showed up at the event, I was pretty sure I was going to fail miserably. All of the other desserts looked – fabulous. My pie looks very plain. There was but five pumpkin seeds on top of the pie. I was left with taste, texture and creativity.
Miraculously, my pie was the first runner-up in the pie category. Here’s a slice of a pumpkin pie – but not the pie I entered into the contest. I actually did not take a picture of my pie – but they all look the same.
Here is a selection of the desserts at the Totally Fabulous Vegan Bake-off from my flickr. Click on the large image to advance to the next one.
Paul Watson, the founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society being interviewed after a screening of the Dan Stone documentary, At the Edge of the World at the Toronto International Film Festival.
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society enforces international maritime law under the United Nations World Charter for Nature – despite having no official mandate or authorization to enforce any legislation. They target Japanese vessels that continue to hunt whales despite an international ban. The poachers exploit a loophole that allows killing for scientific research, but the whale meat usually ends up in restaurant kitchens. Sea Shepherd’s goal is to stop the slaughter, even if it requires aggressive actions against the whaling pirates.
I was rushed for time – I already missed my flight and didn’t want to miss my bus so I opted for some fast food. I had a Burger King BK veggie sandwich – which is not available in Canada. It was pretty good – I think it’s the best veggie burger that I’ve had from a fast food chain so far. It’s more of a ‘garden burger’ which I prefer over the soy ones that resemble beef. I give it a 7.5/10.
After getting psyched to try a vegan faux chicken sandwich after the Peta announcement in June, the nutrition information that I requested from KFC arrived today. It turns out that even after omitting the mayonnaise, the faux chicken sandwich is not vegan nor is it even vegetarian because it is cooked in the same oil that is used to cook the chicken. Even without chicken flesh, the sandwich is still a dirty bird sandwich. I’ll skip this meal.
Here are the nutrition facts and ingredients information that I obtained from the KFC holding company, Priszm.
Someone posted a request on the vegan couchsurfing forum for a vegan mango lassi recipe. I’ve never made one because I don’t like diary nor do I like mango lassi – well, the only one I had was in little India in the east end of Toronto about 10 years ago and I hated it.
On my way home tonight, I picked up a mango; the rest of the ingredients, almonds (already soaking), avocado and cardamon I already had at home. I threw it all into my blender and the result was very tasty. It was thicker than I remember and definitely more palatable than I remember too. A nice little experiment. I wonder if she has any more drink ideas?
I can’t recall the last time I ate at KFC – it was definitely before I became vegetarian. However, I’m contemplating going back for a visit to test out their new faux chicken sandwich that was announced after talks with PETA as part of a deal to use chickens from facilities that use controlled-atmosphere killing (CAK).
Six of us, three veg – three non-veg, are planning to go test it out because I want to know various opinions. I can’t remember what chicken tastes like so it would be good to have the opinion of someone that has eaten real chicken lately. The piece that I wrote earlier stated vegan faux chicken but the information on the link provided did not state vegan. I sent an inquiry to KFC to find out the ingredients of the sandwich. Hopefully, I get a response before I go to the restaurant. The image of the coupon appears with some white stuff which is probably mayonnaise, but that is easily omitted. Hopefully the rest is without animal products. It will be an interesting test.
Click on the image below and it will take you to the PETA page with a link to a printable coupon. I’ll post again next week after we have tried it. Perhaps you can try it and come back and let me (and curious readers) know what you thought of it.
[Update 8.7.08] This sandwich is not vegan or even vegetarian because it is cooked in the same oil that is used to cook the chickens. I wrote about it here.
Free vegetarian food on the streets of Toronto to raise awareness of the abundance of food for some and lack of it for others. This happens everywhere, from nation to nation and in communities within cities and towns. I’m surprised that we have so much that it can be given away when there are others that must use food banks or go without. The meal was put together with ingredients that would otherwise have gone to waste.
Food Not Bombs works to end hunger and has supported actions to stop the globalization of the economy, restrictions to the movements of people, end exploitation and the destruction of the earth. On this particular day, they were raising awareness about how much food is wasted around the world – yet there are still so many without.
Chocolate bars from Food Not Candy – makers of chocolate from 100% cacao, raw and organic. No preservative or additives. Probably the best chocolate I’ve ever tasted.
Advertising, Animal Rights, Blogroll, Couchsurfing, Culture, Design, Environment, Food, Toronto day by day, Travel, Uncategorized, Vegetarian | Garry October 25, 2008 | 
Comments (1) 
