kramykram’s Neighborhood

The UN Climate Change conference is underway from Dec 7th-18th, and leaders from all over the globe have come to be a part of this historic gathering.  One particular headline from Denmark caught my attention:

Greenpeace is trying to push President Obama to sign a climate treaty which includes the following:

-Emissions cuts of 40% by 2020 by industrialized countries (at 1990 levels)
-$140 billion a year from the industrialized world for developing countries to deal with climate impacts, act on climate change and stop deforestation
-An end of tropical deforestation by 2020.
-Developing countries must reduce their projected emissions growth by 15-30% by 2020, with support from industrialized countries

I am hopeful the countries who have gathered will support this treaty ~ I do believe we are at a crossroads with the environment and ignoring the problem is not the answer.

This op-ed by Kofi Annan eloquently makes a plea for change by global collaboration.  Excerpt from Saving Ourselves From...Ourselves
"A deal that stops at rhetoric and does not actually meet the needs of the poorest and most climate vulnerable countries simply will not work. The climate cannot be 'fixed' in one continent and not another. Climate change does not respect national borders. We are all in the same boat; a hole at one end will sink us all."

Even local artists are displaying work to support the conference
The melted ice of this polar bear will reveal a copper skeleton.

Copenhagen_Ice Bear

Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

I particularly love this picture of icing drizzling on the warm rolls..Yummmmm

Icing Drizzled on Rolls

1 cup canned pumpkin or squash
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons to 1/4 cup lukewarm water*
1/4 cup soft butter
2 1/2 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
1 3/4 cups King Arthur White Whole Wheat Flour
1/4 cup Baker’s Special Dry Milk or nonfat dry milk
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves, optional
3 tablespoons brown sugar, light or dark
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons instant yeast

*Adjust the amount of water by the time of year or your climate. For summer, or in a humid environment, use the lesser amount of water. In winter, or in a dry climate, use the greater amount. It’s always best to start with the lesser amount; you can always add more, but it’s pretty hard to go back and add less 

Holidays are jam-packed with events, gifts and all sorts of merriment (desserts!).  So maybe this is a good time to take a moment and reduce our global "footprint" on the earth.  Use less material things and give more of our time, our wisdom, our companionship..

Check out this article from Planet Green on Reducing Holiday Waste..it's got some great ideas :o)

9 Tips for Reducing Holiday Waste

Newspaper wrapping

   1. Cook from Scratch - If you're not buying packaged, processed foods, you'll cut your waste by a lot. While you're at it, avoid frozen or canned foods if you can.

   2. Skip the Wrapping Paper - There are tons of great wrapping paper alternatives. Try gift bags, boxes or fabric, or if you just can't give up the wrap, upcycle old paper products such as newspapers, magazines and even maps as "wrapping paper."   3. Buy in Bulk - Individually wrapped products use excessive amounts of packaging. Look for products you can buy in bulk or in larger quantities with minimal packaging.

   4. Buy Only What Your Need - Buying in bulk is not always the best option - if you don't need 50 pounds of potatoes, you should resist the urge to save a few dollars on the giant bag, as anything you saved will probably go to waste before you can use it.

   5. Don't Eat With Your Eyes - How many of us take too much at the holidays, only to throw a lot out? Start with small portions - you can always take more!

   6. Share Leftovers - Whether you send a plate home with friends or family, invite a few friends over for some post-holiday party snacking, or take some foods to the office for co-workers to nibble on, make sure you use those leftovers up so they don't go to waste.

   7. Do DIY Gifts - This season, when families have smaller holiday budgets, DIY is a great option for reducing your environmental impact. Make gifts personal and useful. Layer ingredients for your famous cookies in a mason jar, or upcycle teacups as candles for friends. Personal touches make a big impact, and they don't have to cost much.

   8. Don't Buy Junk - Everyone has a story about small gifts that collect dust in a basement or on a shelf. If you have less money to spend this year, stretch your dollars by buying less things but investing in quality. Even most kids would rather have one great toy than a bunch of little things that they'll soon bore of.

   9. Ban Single-Use Products - Set a household ban on single-use products. No paper plates, no plastic cutlery, no aluminum foil, no plastic wrap, no paper towels, no disposable roasting pans, no ... you get the picture.