Activism Through Collaboration: New Belgium, Ben & Jerry’s, Protect Our Winters

I love following @ClimateOfGavin on Twitter. He’s a climatologist, and I learn a lot. I’ll be honest, even with my background in science, sometimes it’s a bit tough to follow (I have no climate training), but overall it’s well worth it. Gavin is interesting and very clear.

Unfortunately, what he’s clear about is that anthropogenic climate change is happening. Like it or not, here we go.

The bad news is the phrase “locked in,” meaning we’re already guaranteed some amount of massive negative impact from climate change. But maybe there’s hope yet that we can prevent further lock-in. And that will take advocacy.

Enter Protect Our Winters to this post. An advocacy organization rooted in the snow sports (skiing, snowboarding, etc), Protect Our Winters is about raising awareness and education around climate change, as well as encouraging advocacy within and beyond its members.… Continue reading →

A Bit More on the “Wheel” and the Food “Spoke”

I spent a great deal of time and effort figuring out what to say in my last post. Originally, it was less about not attending Good Food Festival and more about the disillusionment I’ve been feeling, but as GFF approached, and as I gave a lot of thought to it and heard a great deal about it, that post crystallized some of it in my head. While I’ll likely post from time to time, more on my thoughts about the messiness that is food, both politically and in the kitchen, I realized I had a short follow-up on “the wheel.”

So, fast recap: I tend to envision social progress as effectively a wheel, and people push on spokes they care about. All that pushing, and the wheel moves.… Continue reading →

To Do and Not To Do

Last year, I didn’t go to Good Food Fest Chicago due to a very frustrating mix up with them. This year, I just… didn’t.

It’s a little odd, I have to say. Last year was easier. I was sustained in my not going by my sheer frustration with FamilyFarmed.Org, who puts on the conference. This year, I made no conscious decisions and ended up not going. And, as it arrives here in Chicago, I find myself with a few regrets. But only a few.

My main interest and passion, when it comes to Good Food Fest, is the food policy summit. And, if I’d thought about it more, I maybe would have gone to just that. But, by now, I’m scheduled to work. And that’s a better choice, I think.… Continue reading →

Beer 1Up! Awesome. Maybe Beer Gets 2Up!

As most of you know, last Saturday I spent a solid chunk of the day at Emporium Arcade for a beer event. I was hoping to spend the day with at least 30 of my nearest and dearest beer friends.

It was more like 60 to 80 of my nearest and dearest. Holy Crap. It was unexpected and unbelievable. It was fun. It was so much fun. It’s actually been hard to write up, because it was so much fun that it’s been difficult to take it all in (still) and then put it all back out there for you.

Still, I want to do a bit more of a wrap-up than just the t-shirt contest post. (Still running, by the way! If you haven’t voted yet, please do!)… Continue reading →

Beer1UP!

So, I’ve mentioned a “beer event” a couple of times on this blog. It’s this Saturday. It’s noon to 3:00 pm. It’s going to be awesome. If you just want quick details, wander over to this Facebook event page and read up. If you want some of the background, keep reading.

Jeremy over at Subeerbia, Eric over at Blah…Blah…BEER and I teamed up with Arcade Emporium to bring a fun beer event to Chicagoland for those beer geeks who didn’t manage to get tickets to wander down to Munster, Indiana and buy some very special beer. There’ll be some envy in our group, for sure, and you know we’ll be raising a glass to those making the hike, but we have a little something to console ourselves.… Continue reading →