(Sign Me Up)

The Ingredients for the food that I chose are as follows:

• All Natural Almondmilk (filtered water, almonds) 
• All Natural Evaporated Cane Juice[healthy alternative to Refined Sugar]
• Calcium Carbonate[Dietary Supplement to increase the amount of Calcium]
• Sea Salt[Taste Amplifier]
• Locust Bean Gum[Sweetener]
• Sunflower Lecithin[Fully Metabolizable Emulsifier(holds ingredients together)]
• Gellan Gum[Emulsifier]
• d-aplha-Tocopherol (natural Vitamin E)[Antioxidant]
• Zinc Gluconate[Dietary Supplement to prevent Zinc Deficiency]
• Vitamin A Palmitate, Riboflavin (B2), Vitamin B12, Vitamin D2.

This Particular Variation of the Food I chose is Free of Dairy, Free of Cholesterol, and Free of Soy, Provides 50% more Calcium and relatively more Vitamin D than regular processed Cow Milk, has no Saturated Fat, and comparatively fewer calories than even 1% Milk, (Sign me up).
http://www.whitewave.com/sites/default/files/article-attachments/pure-almond.pdf

**[What role this Particular Ingredient takes on]**

The Main ingredient is Almonds, which are grown in the United States.


The stubbornly minimized processing begins with Whole Natural Almonds, which are slightly roasted and ground, in effect producing a creamy almond butter. Blended with filtered water; Certain sweeteners such as, naturally Evaporated Cane Juice, Sea Salt, Locust Bean Gum; and Vitamins and Minerals such as Zinc Gluconate. No Genetically Modified Organisms, just the way I like it.
http://www.silkpurealmond.com/why/#ingredients


Most of the Ingredients here are naturally occurring, the Sea Salt was collected from the Sea, the Gellan Gum is naturally fermented by a Microorganism known as Sphingomonas elodea. Also these ingredients are often alternatives to less naturally occurring ingredients of similar features and use, one clear example of this is, is the Sunflower Lecithin which as a non-GMO alternative to the genetically engineered Soy Lecithin.
http://www.austradeinc.com/sunflower-lecithin.html


Inductively, I would conclude that most of the processing is done in California. This is because the Almond producing industry in the United States is focused in California.
http://www.agmrc.org/commodities__products/nuts/almond_profile.cfm

Much like the rest of our foods (that is, not to reduce liability) that are intended to be Consumer-friendly, the transportation and packaging of Silk Pure Almondmilk, aren't geared to being environmentally friendly. The Packaging is just as horrible as regular carton milk. It was transported using refrigerated trucks, which use refrigerants, of course. Refrigerant emission, is also so much a problem that it is to be regulated by both the Montreal Protocol and the Clean Air Act, in the United States. http://www.articlecity.com/articles/environment_and_going_green/article_474.shtml

This Product is definitely healthy, especially when compared to what society refers to as it's dairy-equivalent, "Cow Milk". Cow Milk being the unhealthy counterpart as noted by the China Study, http://www.thechinastudy.com/la-timesarticle.html

Researching this product has led me to seriously consider producing my own Almond milk; not that there's anything wrong with the already exceptionally healthy WhiteWave (manufacturer) variation of Original Almond Milk; but I thought to myself, "Why not do me one better, and do it myself?"

Blog Assignment 4

The Factors I would use to determine how Green our school campus fall into 3 categories, regulations/enforcements, physical systems, and incentives; all 3 of which would relate to the Environment. For example, in regards to regulations, the presence or absence of signs that say please recycle your trash, or please don't litter, please don't destroy the trees; regulations such as these and the methods used to enforce those rules would be of interest. Whereas Physical systems would include the presence or absence of Solar Panel systems to use completely green energy as opposed to coal-mine electricity. I would go to the computer Lab and look for signs that say, “Limit computer use to School Work ONLY!” Absence of signs such as these, would indicate that the school itself is not focusing on suggesting students to REDUCE their ecological footprint. The amount of college textbooks from the library that are available online out of all the textbooks that are available. A high number would indicate the college's success in directing towards a more paperless atmosphere. On top of that, I would expect incentives for people that ride their bicycle, walk, or use public transportation, such as increasing the price of the parking permits (statistically, this should yield less parking permits purchased, therefore less people parking on campus, which could potentially yield less miles driven), and using that money to reduce prices across campus, such as textbooks or tuition fees. Absence or Presence of Incentives that promote a more environmentally friendly college would be used to determine how green our college is.

Other colleges have focused on the waste. One method to determine paper waste; was the amount of paper purchased and utilized by the college. Marlboro college went onto including the amount of paper that was recycled. A large amount of paper recycled would be good in terms of reusing paper.

When calculating for transportation emissions in relation to their Ecological Footprint, the Students of Carleton College calculated the amount of public mass transportation miles that students were driven in relation to the amount of miles of car-driving students. In this case, a relatively high number of public mass transportation miles would suggest a more energy efficient lifestyle amongst students.

The Factor I would use to determine how green our campus is – would be to determine the incentives of people that use mass transportation, walk, or ride their bike.

1. I would interview common bike riders asking them:
   1. Do you feel there are enough areas to park your bicycle?
   2. Do you feel that your bicycle is relatively safe on campus?
   3. Do you feel that any aspect of the RCC atmosphere discourages you from riding your bike to class?
   4. Are there any practical incentives offered to you by RCC for riding your bike?
2. I would interview people that ride the RTA:
   1. Do you feel safe Riding the RTA?
   2. Do you feel that this is an efficient means of transportation with respect to time?
   3. Is there anything that the RTA is lacking that the RCC administration could potentially help with?
3. People that Walk:
   1. Do you feel that Walking to RCC is relatively safe.

**To all 3 types of people I Would ask, “Wouldn't it be convenient if there would Spacious Lockers available for students that walk, ride bike, or take the Bus?” [Given that other students have their cars to use as “lockers”]

I would go on to ask the Dean of Instruction,

Ms. Virginia McKee- Leone

And ask her if there are any practical incentives for people that find other means of getting to class other than driving themselves.

Ask her; “Are there any reasonably spacious and reasonably useful lockers available for these students as well?”

An answer of “NO” would indicate a not-so-green school.

I'd simply be measuring the amount of incentives that are geared to individuals who carry a mindset of being more environmentally sustainable. I would measure it by simple answers of yes or no. Measuring this would require very little labor. However, if it comes down to it, I would provide the labor myself, if friends or on-campus Green enthusiasts are unwilling to provide their services. I don't think I would require much permission to ask student on campus their thoughts. I would like to get cooperation by the sustainability club; to encourage them to join my cause, I'd probably have to start by joining their club.