Pondering milk

I know I've been quiet for a while on here, but today I've been pondering milk - and particularly where we source ours from. We're moving to Cambridge next year, and I've been remotely exploring who we might get our milk delivered by (I know it's very early to be researching that, but I kind of enjoy it!). It's made me re-think where we get our milk here from.

The other day in the supermarket, I noticed that Coles is now stocking 'Great Ocean Road' milk, which is made by the Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory. It's far cheaper than the Parmalat Pure Organic milk we usually buy. I want to be thoughtful about how we use our money, 'voting' for a sustainable food system, without being extravagant (especially since neither of us has much of an income this year).

Here's my research about Warrnambool Cheese and Butter company and their milk:

• Their existing brand is Sungold (http://coffeesnobs.com.au/milk-froth-bubbles/32321-great-ocean-road-milk.html), but WCB and Coles are creating a new brand - but same milk (http://coffeesnobs.com.au/milk-froth-bubbles/32321-great-ocean-road-milk.html);
• They're Australian owned and local (Victorian and eastern South Australia) and 'Great Ocean Road' milk is only being delivered to Victorian supermarkets;
• Sustainability is at least on the radar of WCB - it gets a section on their website (http://www.wcbf.com.au/sustainability.aspx);
• The Ethical Consumer Guide like them because they're locally (Australian) owned, have voluntarily signed the Australian Packaging Covenant and have environmental claims on their website. They rate them as a 'light tick', 'lesser praise, no criticisms' (http://www.ethical.org.au/guide/browse/guide/?cat=172&subcat=197&type=15);
• WCB make it onto a list of alternative milk providers that are preferable to Coles/Woolworths on at least list of more 'ethical' milks (http://flavourcrusader.com/blog/2011/03/family-dairy-milk-organic/);
• "Sungold milk comes from the cleanest, greenest region of Australia and travels from the farm to the shelf in less than 24 hours, ensuring that Sungold is the freshest milk available." (http://www.premierspeedway.com.au/release.asp?NewsId=24520)
  

In contrast, regarding Parmalat's 'Pure Organic' milk:

• Ethical Consumer Guide likes the individual product because it is certified organic, but doesn't like the company because they're foreign owned, have joint ventures with Nestle, recently went bankrupt because of massive corporate financial fraud and their palm oil policy scored 1.5/9 by WWF's measurementsn (although they have signed the voluntary Australian Packaging Covenant). Their overall rating is a strong X, 'criticisms' (http://www.ethical.org.au/company/?company=504);
• They're certified organic by NASAA (National Association for Sustainable Agriculture Australia), which means that they need to care very well for their animals and are definitely passing on excellent paddocks and soil to future generations;
• Frustratingly they don't seem to think it's relevant on their website to talk about where the milk comes from, or any of the environmental issues associated with its production and transportation;
• Local Harvest say they discovered that "the True Organic coop in Victoria provide the milk for Parmalat’s ‘Pure organic’ brand. The majority of these farms are located within 200kms of Melbourne." (http://www.localharvest.org.au/take-the-challenge/food-audit/)

Anyway, they're my ponderings. I kind of enjoy musing over these things, and definitely enjoy having made a choice that I'm pleased with ethically. Anyone else want to contribute?

Update: As it turns out, I've discovered that CERES Fair Food - who we are hosts for - deliver Schultz milk, which also happens to be cheaper than the 'Pure Organic' milk. I love buying from CERES because I like their buying policy - they buy local and establish relationships with as many suppliers as they can. Although Schultz is unhomogenised, which my daughter doesn't like, so we're also buying Great Ocean Road for her.

Why should Christians care about social justice?

I'm speaking tonight at a youth group about social justice. Here's my list of 10 reasons why Christians should care about social justice. I'd be curious to hear your thoughts.

The texts that accompany them are meant to give a brief idea of where these ideas come from in Scripture - they're certainly not exhaustive! I'm planning to speak to them tonight (briefly!), so in a couple of cases the links aren't water-tight.

1. Stewardship – humans are created in God’s image and given dominion over the creation. We need to express that dominion in a way that honours God and reflects his character.
Genesis 1:26

2. God’s covenant with Israel showed great concern for the poor and needy. We’re not under the OT Law anymore, but it still gives us an idea of what God is concerned about.
Deuteronomy 15:11

3. Biblical worship includes justice and compassion towards the poor. Worship is not just singing, but offering our lives to God in the way that he has directed. Acts of worship without justice aren’t pleasing to God.
Isaiah 58:6-7

4. Biblical wisdom includes a concern for the poor and needy. Foolishness and ignoring wisdom does not honour God.
Proverbs 14:31; 29:7

5. Jesus cared for the poor and outcasts of society. Jesus repeatedly favoured the company of broken, poor and needy people – even when it scandalised nice ‘religious’ people.
Luke 7:22; 15:1

6. Jesus commanded his followers to love God and love our neighbours as ourselves. He makes it very clear that ‘neighbour’ includes those who are different and uncomfortable for us.
Luke 10:25-27, 36-37

7. Jesus shows us that to be truly human is to serve. We must avoid worldliness that urges us to pursue our own interests – career, security, comfort – at a cost to others, and instead considers the interests of others.
Philippians 2:3-8

8. God has called a people to himself so that we can do good works. We are not saved by good works, but for good works. Doing good works is part of the gift of salvation.
Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 2:11-14

9. Being generous makes us more like God, helps us to trust him more and stores up real treasure for us.
2 Corinthians 8:9; 1 Tim 6:17-19

10. Justice is an important part of God’s kingdom. Although his kingdom hasn’t come in all its fullness, it has arrived in Spirit-filled believers. One day, there won’t be any more sin, oppression or injustice.
Isaiah 9:7; Revelation 22:1-2

Activism

Activism is one of the key features of urban culture, I think. There's a strong optimism about the future, about our ability to deal with the problems facing us, a confidence about voicing opinions, and engaging with large social problems. Our society constantly tells us that humans are incredibly competent, able to achieve just about everything, is hugely confident about our innate goodness, applauds self-sufficiency and sometimes sees it as taboo (sin?) not to 'believe in yourself'.

I see a strong degree of activism in myself as well - I feel a responsibility for those around me, to speak about issues of justice. I often feel competent and able to influence and change the world around me. This year, I'm struggling with this, because I'm having such a passive year (for me). It's all about watching, observing, reflecting, learning for the future.

When I think Biblically about activism, I have mixed feelings. On the one hand, humans are commanded at creation to rule over the earth – we are given responsibility for it, and expected to influence our surroundings in a way that reflects God’s character. 

Humans are called throughout both Old and New Testaments to be active in many ways: praising God, calling others to praise him, seeking justice – especially for those who are unable to speak for themselves. We are not to be passive or disengaged members of his people or of society.  

The New Testament particularly presents the church with a compelling mission – to proclaim the good news of Jesus. We are to speak about him and teach each other – all of Jesus' followers are given gifts that are to be used for the building up of the church. We're not to be lazy or selfish with our time or resources.

However - and it is a big however, sin has impacted every part of life, and we often seek things for our own sakes rather than others. Even when we think we are active on behalf of others, we often deceive ourselves and are seeking our own glory or benefit (altruism makes me feel good, fits my picture of who I want to be, brings the approval of others).  

One of the significant characteristics of Christians, and a key factor in following Jesus, is that we recognise God - revealed in Jesus - as the supreme power of the universe. Ultimately, it's God who controls the future and influences world and local events, not humans. This is a basic part of Christian teaching and the practical experience of following Jesus.

God may well have plans that are larger or just different from what we plan. He may frustrate human plans for his own purposes and glory, or bring about things that we would never have chosen. (Biblical examples include the Tower of Babel, Joseph's experience in Egypt, the Israelites being exiled to Assyria and Babylon or persecution of Christians in the New Testament - in fact, just about every page of the Bible. Examples from my own life also abound.)

Christians aren't to be shaped by the culture around us, we're to be defined by what God has revealed - although that takes on different shapes in each culture. Urban, progressive culture highly values self-sufficiency and speaks as though humans are almost limitless. We don't like to think about things like death, which speak powerfully of human limitation and inability. Human self-sufficiency and  confidence can easily become proud - unrealistic and over-inflated. 

Ultimately, it is God who will build his church, transform individual lives and societies, establish justice throughout the earth, bring healing to the countries of the world. We need to work towards these things, and doing that reflects God's character, but if we as humanity take that on as our sole responsibility, we will exhaust ourselves and distract from the one who is actually able to achieve all these things - and has promised that he will.

Household rituals - cultivating generosity

Our family has a number of rituals that reflect and cement some of our most precious values. One of those rituals is being part of the TEAR 'Gift-a-month' program. We're trying to cultivate generosity in our family, because of the amazing generosity of God:

For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. (2 Cor 8:9)

We pay $40 a month, and TEAR uses that money to buy a monthly gift for poorer people in developing countries - goats and other animals, peace building, literary and education, leadership and human rights training, tree seedlings and other food producing items, toilets and other infrastructure.

TEAR provide us with an advent-style calendar that has a little flap for each month. Behind the flap is information about how the money is being spent that month. We also receive a monthly email letting us know more information about that month's gift.

It's become a fun thing in our family at the start of the month. Everyone has to try to guess what the gift will be - someone always guesses that it's a toilet, others vary our guesses based on what areas have been chosen lately.

It achieves a few things:

• it encourages us in generosity as we see monthly that it's not so hard to give money away;
• it grows us to continue becoming like God as we reflect his generosity and concern for the less advantaged in our world;
• it's visible - the larger part of our giving is done through direct debit and 'invisible' to P, so it's good for some of it to be done in a way that she can appreciate;
• it grows in us a concern for those who are poorer than us - realising that our gift is primary schooling, seedlings or some chickens makes us realise that some people don't have them;
• it helps us realise how rich we are - because we do have all of these things;
• it's a fun family thing to do together - we enjoy guessing and having a sense that it's one of the things that makes our family what it is.

It's an good thing to think about what family/household rituals you have or want to have - and what values they reflect. I'd be interested to hear about other family/household rituals that cultivate an awareness of how rich we are as Westerners, and how to encourage generosity towards others.

The end is not the end

A postcard I found in a cafe today.

So many things that we use everyday will have a long life after we get rid of them. All our old clothes, mobile phones, other gadgets, toothbrushes, plastic containers, computers, papers, bags, couches, TVs, kitchenware, etc - and even ovens (as this picture points out).

Lots of them will end up in landfill, some will end up in the ocean, a few will be re-used or re-cycled.

We have been given responsibility for this earth, and responsible stewardship calls for us to consider the whole life-cycle of the items we use, and especially what happens to them after we decide they are obsolete.

Sustainable Table: What you can do

I posted last week about The Sustainable Table.

Here's their top 10 'What you can do' points:

1. Change the way you shop
2. Instigate household meat free days
3. Buy local, seasonal, certified organic produce
4. Reduce waste and buy a compost bin
5. Ethical and sustainable meat and seafood
6. Eat whole foods, not processed foods
7. Grow your own food
8. Avoid packaging
9. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
10. Ask questions

It can be hard to know what steps would make a difference, and which are the most significant ones. So I really appreciate lists like this, because it's really hard to find time to do all the reading and research myself. I like the look of what these guys are doing, and how they are thinking - lots of their arguments are backed up with stats and quotes from relevant organisations.

However #1: It's never productive to feel overwhelmed and like that long list of things would take too much effort to ever implement in your shopping choices. Much better - and more gracious - to choose one new step at a time, implement those changes, and then come back when you're ready for another step. In the long-run, you're likely to make more progress than if you try to do them all at once and get exhausted.

However #2: I always feel slightly nervous taking any organisation's recommendations as true, and not looking into them for myself. My preference is to read a bit more broadly, listen to different views, and try to come to my own conclusion. I've said above why I think I like these guys, but I might not agree with everything they say. Taking one step at a time is good also because it allows you to research and become more informed about those issues. Organics and food ethics is an area where there is a lot of hype, and not always a lot of critical thinking - so I'd suggest that enthusiasm and careful evaluation of what actually makes a difference should go hand-in-hand.

That being said, I think these are really important issues and a significant way that our generation is responsible for stewarding this earth and loving future generations. So please let me encourage you to pick one of the areas above, become more informed, and implement some changes!

Sustainable Table

I'm really excited about this excellent new resource for thinking about food ethics:

http://www.sustainabletable.org.au/

There's a blog, book and website. I saw this book in a cafe over summer, and it's a recipe book with a summary of different food ethics issues at the back. I've already reserved the book at the library, and really looking forward to reading it.

The website has a wonderful section called 'Hungry for info'. They have information on the problems in our food system ('The coming famine), seasonal produce guide, info about meat, fish, eggs and chicken, as well as a section for sceptics.

The best bit, I think, is that this is an Australian resource. Praise God! So much of the information is designed for a UK/US audience, and our food system has different particularities. The issues and statistics used by these guys are all Australian.

Activism fatigue

Sometimes I feel like it's just too much effort thinking about how all my choices impact others. Or there is so little understanding from others and so little attention given to these matters that I wonder if it really is as big a problem as I'd thought - and whether it is deserving of as many of my resources (time, money, energy, etc). 

Recently, I watched this video, and it was so refreshing for me. It was a resounding "YES, these issues are significant". I found it sobering, but also really motivating and renewed my enthusiasm for carefully considering my family's food choices particularly.


The global food crisis from SustainTable on Vimeo.

Everyday activism - 'L is for Lifestyle'

This is the other book that I really recommend for beginning to think about how our everyday choices impact others (the first one being 'Everyday Justice'):

L is for Lifestyle: Christian living that doesn't cost the earth
by Ruth Valerio

This book goes through the alphabet, looking at 26 different areas where our daily choices have consequences for others. I remember it being quite slow-going, since each issue takes a lot of energy to get your head around and implement changes, especially if you've never thought about these things before. The first section, 'A is for Activists', concentrates on why Christians should care about activism.

This book is by a UK author, too, so some of the issues are slightly different here. (For example, B is for bananas - which are a huge Fair Trade issue in the UK, since bananas at their most popular fruit and they import them all from tropical areas - many of which are hugely dependent on bananas but have little power to negotiate trade deals. Since we grow our own bananas in Australia, it's not an 'everyday' issue for us.) The resource lists at the end of each chapter are helpful, but again - mostly related to UK organisations.

It's still an excellent introduction to a wide range of issues, though. I like to highlight these issues because the changes don't take a lot of effort to implement (changing energy suppliers, choosing FT, buying organic) but can make a difference when enough people do them.

There is also a website - L is for Lifestyle - that contains a brief snippet about each issue, plus lists of organisations, websites and books on the topic.

Gracious activism

If we're following Jesus, we need to be activists:

• Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy. Proverbs 31:9
• You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself. Jesus, Luke 10:27
• They asked only one thing, that we remember the poor, which was actually what I was eager to do. Paul, Galatians 2:10

It's a theme that runs right throughout the Bible and is clearly a chief concern of our heavenly Father. However, our activism needs to be gracious and shaped by the character of the God we serve. I think in the area of social justice/activism, that means at least three things for my thinking:

1) Being gracious in thinking about the big picture: tackling issues one at a time.
I don't need to overwhelm myself with the possibilities for acting on behalf of others. There are hundreds of good causes, and areas of injustice to explore, lots of everyday decisions that I could change that would make a difference in the lives of others (such as Fair Trade, being generous to those less materially blessed, the sex slave trade, cotton production, how sustainable our fishing industries are, how far our food is transported, how agriculture subsidies affect poorer farmers, etc, etc). However, if I look only at the ideal, it's easy to feel drained and discouraged about how unjust our world is.

I prefer to start with how I currently live - my own current system of habits - shopping, transport, cleaning, food sources, energy sources, etc - and choose one area at a time to research and change. Over a year or two, I've done a lot of educating myself and making changes to our family habits - but it's rarely felt overwhelming.

2) Being gracious within each issue: thinking about habits, not every instance.
If I change what I do 90-95% of the time, that's almost as good as all the time and a whole lot better than never. That means that I can meet a friend at a cafe that doesn't sell Fair Trade tea/coffee, or gratefully accept a gift of clothes that were made unethically or eat some bacon served by someone else when I know it was treated in a way that doesn't reflect God's stewardship of the earth. My habitual practices try to make a positive difference, but it's not a test that I need to get 100% for.

3) Being gracious towards others.
I'm conscious of the need to be gracious with others. It's very easy to be self-righteous and critical of others who either are ignorant (by choice or because they're not aware of any injustices) or know but don't act on that knowledge. However, I don't think self-righteous pride honors Jesus and so it's good to not overwhelm others with lots of accumulated knowledge (I know this from experience - oops, and sorry to those who have experienced a rant from me). Far better to consider how I'd want to hear from some one else about an area I've never thought about - with patience, a gentle introduction, the option (but not pressure!) for further conversation/information and an acknowledgement that there might be other things that are more pressing for me now.

Getting started with everyday ethics

A friend asked me a few days ago what resources I'd recommend for 'living ethically'. That's a broad topic, and I've realized that most of my thinking goes into the choices we make everyday - at the shops, what transport we use, what clothes we wear, etc, impact people's lives around the world. Even though we don't ever see these people (and corporations usually prefer that consumers don't hear about the worst production practices), collectively we have a powerful voice, since businesses care about what consumers want. The common expression is that we vote with our dollars.

I've got heaps of ideas about where to start, but one favourite is this book:

Everyday Justice, by Julie Clawson

I like this book for a few reasons:

• It starts with the message 'Don't panic' - which is so helpful in an area that can be overwhelming. In other words, it's a gracious approach.
• It also begins with a discussion of what justice is biblically. I read it a while ago, and wasn't reading it critically, but this is a good place to start a book like this.
• It chooses a manageable number (8) of everyday ethical issues, and explores each from the perspective of someone who has never thought about it.

The main drawback is that it's written by a US author for a US audience. Our situation is somewhat different, but it's still worth it for an introduction to everyday ethical choices - I'd just recommend doing some local research as well.