Only on this planet
Today is Earth day. Started in the 70’s to educate people about environmental issues and inspire action to make the Earth a better place to live, it has had little Outward effect. The problem is that warnings were made about human influence causing catastrophic events that never occurred. In essence, many of the steps taken actually helped. Cars used to get about 7 mpg. Now, they average in the 20’s. EPA regulations curbed a lot of the rampant pollution from corporations. The absence of catastrophe is the proof that the steps are working. But, some people claim that the aversion isn’t due to our efforts; it’s nature repairing itself. However, if we step off and look at the rest of the solar system, we find these problems Only on this planet.
For centuries people asked, “Is there life on Mars?”. Most expect little green men with laser blasters looking to conquer Earth. But, if they are on a larger planet, why would they want to conquer Earth? This stereotype is pretty presumptuous on our part. We assume that life on other planets has to be just like life on Earth. Thanks to modern achievements like the Hubble and Webb telescopes, we now know “There are more things in heaven and Earth, Horatio, / Than are dreamt of in your philosophy” (Hamlet). Our expectations of what life is goes beyond speciesism. We only accept life that conforms to anything that we find here on Earth. Well, a dive to the ocean, or even a petri dish shows there are more forms of life than our philosophy knows.
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Our form of life can be found Only on this planet
And, our knowledge of life is pretty barbaric. Every life form on this planet lives in Symbiosis. We, crudely, call it the food chain. Every living thing on Earth survives by taking the life of another living entity. From bacteria to buffalo, viruses to venison, lichen to lamb chops, it’s all about using another life form for sustenance. Humans eat anything that flies, crawls, or swims. Even vegans eat living things. Those things that we eat, in turn, eat nutrients and lower life forms. And, when the higher life forms die, they are consumed by bacteria and other microscopic life forms. So, all we know is how to be on the menu.
But, what if there were forms of life that didn’t take a recognizable form? What if there was something that was self sustaining, that doesn’t need to consume other lives? How would we even know what to look for? Even when we look at the universe, we marvel at black holes, which are giant entities eating planets and galaxies. Our obsession with creating or being on a menu is palpable. And, we think we’re the top of the food chain. Don’t forget the Kanamits on the twilight Zone.
Vegetarianism doesn’t stop the killing
We think we’re being more sympathetic by not eating meat. But, Eating plants is still a form of killing. Believe it or not, plants have their own sentience, feelings, even social order. Studies have shown trees communicate with each other, as do other plants. We get weirded out, and feel cruel when we think of killing things with a face. But, the wholesale destruction of millions of plants for a bowl of rice or a salad doesn’t faze us in the least? We “slaughter” cattle. But, when that same cow obliterates a field of clover, that’s just “grazing”? It’s all a question of perspective, isn’t it?
Unfortunately, Earth is inhabited by beings that require other entities to survive. And, despite our theory that it’s only on this planet, if we get in a spaceship and go elsewhere, we still need to kill things to survive. Our trepidation about leaving this planet is, primarily, a quest for food sources. So, coming back to Earth day, it’s important for us to maintain the symbiosis we have right here at home. That means: coming up with sustainable food sources. Luckily for us, we are omnivores. So, there are millions of life forms that can sustain us. And, as self appointed Stewards of the Earth, it is imperative that we try to preserve the diversity. For, remember, every entity on Earth needs another life form to survive.
Not the top of the food chain
Now that we’ve thoroughly depressed you, it’s time to go one step further. Have you ever opened the refrigerator to find some piece of rotting food? As George Carlin said, “could be meat; could be cake. Must be meatcake.” Then you know bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms are everywhere. And, we have no idea they are there. Even fresh produce rots in a matter of days. There are killers swarming around us constantly. If we sit still long enough, they’ll get us all. So, for those of you who think we are the top of the food chain, look around you. All that you don’t see is going to get you in the end.
So, what do we do about it? Just live the best we can. But, be aware that ours is only one perspective. We talk about things only on this planet. That not only applies to living things, but to our place in the universe. The fact that this is earth day can only happen on this planet is because our calendar derives from the earth rotating around the sun (for more on calendars, see our New Year post). If we were on mars, it would be a different day. And, what does earth day mean on Mars? Do we celebrate Mars day here? Actually, we do. But, not knowingly. Technically, Tuesday is derived from Mars, but the mars referred to is the god of war.
A problem found Only on this planet
After all of this discussion of death as a way of life, it may be hard to think of food the same way. But, maybe it will help us be more conscientious of what we eat, and what we waste. Whether it’s a cow or a cantaloupe, something lost it’s life to sustain ours. So, we owe it to that entity to utilize it. How would you like it if a Kanimit raised you for food, then left you rotting in a refrigerator drawer to eventually be thrown into a garbage heap?
We are a wasteful society. We go shopping, fill our fridges, and leave things half consumed. At some point, pretty much, all of us are guilty of doing this. You get a dozen apples. But, you only eat 6 before they start to turn. We end up throwing that, last weeks leftovers, and those expired tuna cans in the pantry. Food waste is a major problem in the world. And, it costs us a lot more than you think. Recent studies estimate that, In America, we throw out around 150 billion dollars worth of food every year. It happens in every home, restaurants, and food manufacturing facilities. And, this causes even bigger problems.
More than money
So, not only are we wasting money, we are destroying the environment. Worldwide, about 20% of food is wasted. But, here in the US, we are closer to about 35%. From a financial perspective, that is devastating to most families. Think of it, how much is a third of your food bill? We are talking thousands of dollars per family per year. . Think of what you could do with an extra 2, 3, 4 or more THOUSAND Dollars per year. So, right there, you have plenty of economic incentive to stop food waste.
But, it gets worse. What do you think happens to that wasted food? It ends up in landfills. And, as it breaks down, it creates methane gas. And, that methane gas gets into the atmosphere. It is one of the major greenhouse gasses environmentalists have been warning us about. While everyone is trying to switch to greener fuels to stem greenhouse gasses, this source of methane is now the 3rd largest contributor. You were so concerned about getting a plug in Hybrid, you missed the lettuce rotting in your produce drawer. Now, what good is that new plug in EV?
What can we do? Not only only this planet?
We all have to eat. So, we can’t change the physics. But, we can change our observation habits. First thing, don’t buy as much. We live in a society where we can get pretty much anything we want whenever we want it. And, we have advertisers selling us things we probably don’t need as well. So, first step, never shop for food when you are hungry. That’s when you see that Triple chocolate truffle torte with cheesecake frosting and think it’s the best thing ever. Not only will you save money, you will eat healthier, waste less food, and maybe even lose a few pounds.
So, just buy what you need, and maintain a properly stocked fridge and pantry. We have articles about basics to keep on hand. As long as you rotate stock and don’t overbuy, you can cut down on waste. And, if you can keep your fridge and pantry organized and neat, that will go a long way in preventing waste. Don’t just stack stuff in. That’s when you ended up with those fuzzy kumquats in the back of a drawer.
Additionally, don’t be afraid of leftovers. There are a lot of things you can do with leftovers. And, less than perfect produce also has a second life. Those extra apples we talked about earlier? They can be made into apple sauce. Last night’s chicken? Cut it up, and cut up those vegetables that are about to go bad, and make a soup. There are plenty of options before the compost bin.
So, what’s on the menu?
Ralph Fiennes may like S’mores. But, we may take a slightly more humane approach today. Since we want to take a more conscientious approach, today we want you to open your fridge and see what’s in there. That’s the best earth day menu you can come up with. Eliminate waste. Save money. And, save the planet.
I just opened my fridge, and found a big bag of sweet potatoes that have seen better days. And, there are onions, garlic, and a few other pieces of fresh produce that have been in there too long. It’s time to make a lovely vegetable hash. We have a recipe here. But, don’t feel you have to follow it to a tee. Feel free to substitute with whatever you have on hand. Remember, we are omnivores. That means we can eat a wide variety of meats, fruits, and vegetables. And, more things go together than you may initially think. So, open that fridge, and play with your food.
Sweet Potato and Date Hash (Vegan)
Ingredients
- 4 Cups Sweet Potatoes, Cut into 1/2 inch Cubes
- 1 Cup Sweet Onion, Diced
- 2 Cups Brussel Sprouts, cut in 1/2
- 1 Cup Fresh Grilled Corn, cut off the Cob
- 1/2 Cup Medjul Dates, cut into 1/4 inch cubes
- 1 Cup Orange Juice
- 2 Tbsp Chopped Fresh Basil
- 1/4 Cup Coconut Oil
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Spray fresh ears of corn with pan Spray. Grille over high heat until cooked (about 5 to 10 minutes). Allow to cool. Then cut the kernels off the cob.
- Heat Coconut oil in a large saute pan over high heat. Add the onions and stir. Add the sweet potato. Cook until the potatoes begin to get some color. Stir, then continue cooking. When they begin to soften, add the brussels. Allow them to get a little color. Stir as needed. Then, add the orange juice and cook until half the liquid is gone. Add the Corn and dates and continue cooking until the liquid is mostly absorbed. Season with salt and pepper. Fold in the basil. Serve hot.