Fresh Produce Discussion Blog

Created by The Packer's National Editor Tom Karst

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Worldwatch: Nine Population Strategies to Stop Short of 9 Billion

On World Population Day, Worldwatch explores nine polices to help stabilize population growth Washington, D.C.----Although most analysts assume that the world's population will rise from today's 7 billion to 9 billion by 2050, it is quite possible that humanity will never reach this population size, Worldwatch Institute President Robert Engelman argues in the book State of the World 2012: Moving Toward Sustainable Prosperity. In the chapter "Nine Population Strategies to Stop Short of 9 Billion," Engelman outlines a series of steps and initiatives that would all but guarantee declines in birthrates-based purely on the intention of women around the world to have small families or no children at all-that would end population growth before mid-century at fewer than 9 billion people. "Unsustainable population growth can only be effectively and ethically addressed by empowering women to become pregnant only when they themselves choose to do so," Engelman writes. Examples from around the world demonstrate effective policies that not only reduce birth rates, but also respect the reproductive aspirations of parents and support an educated and economically active society that promotes the health of women and girls. Most of these reproduction policies are relatively inexpensive to implement, yet in many places they are opposed on the basis of cultural resistance and political infeasibility. Eschewing the language and approaches of "population control" or the idea that anyone should pressure women and their partner on reproduction, Engelman outlines nine strategies that could put human population on an environmentally sustainable path: • Provide universal access to safe and effective contraceptive options for both sexes. With nearly two in five pregnancies reported as mistimed or never wanted, lack of access to good family planning services is among the biggest gaps in assuring that each baby will be wanted and welcomed in advance by its parents. • Guarantee education through secondary school for all, especially girls. In every culture surveyed to date, women who have completed at least some secondary school have fewer children on average, and have children later in life, than do women who have less education. • Eradicate gender bias from law, economic opportunity, health, and culture. Women who can own, inherit, and manage property; divorce; obtain credit; and participate in civic and political affairs on equal terms with men are more likely to postpone childbearing and to have fewer children compared to women who are deprived of these rights. • Offer age-appropriate sexuality education for all students. Data from the United States indicate that exposure to comprehensive programs that detail puberty, intercourse, options of abstinence and birth control, and respecting the sexual rights and decisions of individuals, can help prevent unwanted pregnancies and hence reduce birth rates. • End all policies that reward parents financially based on the number of children they have. Governments can preserve and even increase tax and other financial benefits aimed at helping parents by linking these not to the number of children they have, but to parenthood status itself. • Integrate lessons on population, environment, and development into school curricula at multiple levels. Refraining from advocacy or propaganda, schools should educate students to make well-informed choices about the impacts of their behavior, including childbearing, on the environment. • Put prices on environmental costs and impacts. In quantifying the cost of an additional family member by calculating taxes and increased food costs, couples may decide that the cost of having an additional child is too high, compared to the benefits of a smaller family that might receive government rebates and have a lower cost of living. Such decisions, freely made by women and couples, can decrease birth rates without any involvement by non-parents in reproduction. • Adjust to an aging population instead of boosting childbearing through government incentives and programs. Population aging must be met with the needed societal adjustments, such as increased labor participation, rather than by offering incentives to women to have more children. • Convince leaders to commit to stabilizing population growth through the exercise of human rights and human development. By educating themselves on rights-based population policies, policymakers can ethically and effectively address population-related challenges by empowering women to make their reproductive choices. If most or all of these strategies were put into effect, Engelman argues, global population likely would peak and subsequently begin a gradual decline before 2050, thereby ensuring sustainable development of natural resources and global stability into the future. By implementing policies that defend human rights, promote education, and reflect the true economic and environmental costs of childbearing, the world can halt population short of the 9 billion that so many analysts expect. Worldwatch's State of the World 2012, released in April 2012,focuses on the themes of inclusive sustainable development discussed at Rio+20, the 20-year follow-up to the historic 1992 Earth Summit, which was also held in Rio de Janeiro. The report presents a selection of innovations and constructive ideas for achieving environmental sustainability globally while meeting human needs and providing jobs and dignity for all.

Time for Congress to do something real and defund Obamacare

July 10, 2012, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government President Bill Wilson issued today the following statement in response to the upcoming vote in the House of Representatives repealing Obamacare: "It is time for the House of Representatives to get serious about Obamacare. A vote to repeal it that the Senate will reject is just theatrics. The Obama Administration is spending hundreds of millions of U.S. taxpayer dollars to implement Obamacare, and it is time for the House of Representatives to cut the purse strings. Not a single dollar can be spent on implementing Obamacare without the House of Representatives allowing it. If Republicans truly view the takeover of health care markets by the federal government as a serious threat to liberty and freedom, they can simply stop paying for it. It's time to end the shadow boxing and do something real."

Cheesecake War – Round II

‘CESCA New York, NY Slugs it Out Again with Davio’s Philadelphia, PA to Determine Which City Has the Best Cheesecake! WHAT: “You know what they call cheesecake in Italy? ‘Philadelphia!’ It’s time to finally decide which cheesecake takes the cake- Philadelphia or New York,” said Ettore Ceraso, General Manager of Davio’s Philadelphia about an upcoming challenge between New York and Philadelphia to see which city has the best cheesecake in celebration of national cheesecake day on July 30th, 2012. The Northern Italian Steakhouse is known for their classic and creative desserts including their signature Oreo Cookie Crunch and alcohol infused “Ice Pops” created by Pastry Chef Thomas Heck. In seeking a fair competitor, Davio’s did their research last year throwing the gauntlet down to ‘CESCA an upscale Italian eatery on Manhattan’s upper west side who has been noted as one of the best places to get cheesecake at a restaurant in New York City. Since the results were a tie last year, Davio's will be pitting their new “Orange Creamsicle” cheesecake against 'CECA's classic "Mascarpone cheesecake with orange cream and orange brittle." According to ‘CESCA General Manager Todd Whiteman “There is no dessert more universal than the cheesecake, it offers something for everyone. We are proud of our cheesecake and are willing go up against some of the best.” Each restaurant will ship their cheesecake desserts to the others’ restaurants with serving instructions. From Thursday, July 26th, 2012 to Saturday, July 28th, 2012, guests that order the ‘Cheesecake War Dessert’ will be served 1/2 portions of both the Philly-favorite and ‘CESCA’s acclaimed New York dessert on a plate along with a comment cards. With the honor system at work, each restaurant will tally their numbers and announce the winner live on each other’s Twitter and Facebook pages along with a photograph of the losing restaurants general manager wearing the other cities baseball jersey and eating a little humble pie. The Cheesecake War Dessert special is $10.00 and is available July 23rd, 2012 – July 27th, 2012 during dinner service only at ‘CESCA located at 164 West 75th Street, New York, NY. Phone: 212-787-6300 Web: http://cescanyc.com/ and at Davio's Philadelphia located at 111 South 17th Street, Philadelphia, PA. Phone: 215-563-4810 Web: www.davios.com. The winner will be announced on National Cheesecake Day, July 30th, 2012 via social media by both restaurants! WHERE: Davio's Philadelphia | 111 South 17th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103 | 215-563-4810 | www.davios.com / ‘CESCA located at 164 West 75th Street, New York, NY | http://cescanyc.com. WHEN: From Monday, July 23rd, 2012 to Friday, July 27th, 2012 COST: $10.00. For more information or reservations, please call 215-563-4810. ### About Davio's: In 1985, at the young and ambitious age of 24, Steve DiFillippo purchased a locally-owned family restaurant called Davio’s on Newbury Street in Boston’s trendy Back Bay. As Boston’s culinary tastes evolved, he transformed the location into a destination, retooling the menu, the space and wine list. The new Davio’s soon garnered rave reviews. The concept behind Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse is simple. Regional Italian food with a focus on the grill. Everything is prepared by hand from the best ingredients. Davio's serves everything from aged steaks to simple-yet-unique pasta creations. Davio's takes great pride in serving guests with an expertkitchen and attentive staff in the dining room, seeing to every customer's enjoyment of their meal. About Cesca: At the heart of the Upper West Side’s transformation into a premiere dining destination, ‘Cesca serves equal portions of elegance and relaxed ambiance. Borrowing from New York Magazine restaurant critic Adam Platt, it is “very fine, though unrelentingly rustic”… an authentic dining experience borne of its founders’ Italian heritage and the pedigreed experience of its executive chef. Chef Kevin Garcia presents simple yet extraordinary fare, offering a highly personal menu he describes as “interpretive Southern regional Italian cuisine”. Garcia’s insistence upon using the finest ingredients in his classical preparation continues to earn rave reviews from customers and critics alike. Owner and Italian-wine expert Anthony Mazzola has created an incomparable list of Italian wines to complement your world-class meal. Through annual trips Mazzola continues to explore all the regions of Italy, keeping ‘Cesca’s menu fresh and exciting with new wine and food discoveries.