Adventures in Gluten (and Sugar) Freedom from a southern blogger chick!

Sunday, March 18, 2012

COOKING UP A STORM FOR @EARTHHOUR2012

A thought to share for the upcoming Earth Hour.

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With two weeks to go until Earth Hour, the world’s largest voluntary action for the environment, top celebrity chefs from around the globe are lending their support to the campaign to inspire better food choices for a better planet.

Earth Hour food ambassadors from around the world are encouraging consumers to make three direct changes that will result in a positive impact on the environment – eating less meat, sourcing sustainable seafood and using more local produce.

Celebrity chef Bill Granger has been announced as an Earth Hour Australia ambassador for 2012, saying, “WWF's Earth Hour is a unique event that celebrates the wonder of the natural world and getting involved should be a must for all those who love food." 

This year WWF–UK has been working on tackling the challenge of eating in a way that’s good for us and good for the planet. The Livewell 2020 report found that 30% of the UK’s CO2 emissions come from food production alone.  As a result, a host of Britain’s best celebrity chefs have slaved over a hot stove to put the Livewell principles into practice. BBC presenter Ching-He Huang has put together a range of films for WWF-UK, showcasing a range of delicious but simple Chinese recipes to cook up for Earth Hour. 

Huang says, “I'm passionate about showing people how easy it is to cook Chinese food, so I was delighted to be asked to take part in WWF’s Earth Hour this year to help showcase food that is good for you and good for the planet too. It’s amazing to think that people all over the world will be switching off their lights together – everyone should do it.”

With even more Earth Hour recipes ideas from the likes of Rick Stein, Bryn Williams, Niall McKenna, Rachel De Thample, Ken Hom and Valentine Warner, there are plenty of sustainable food ideas on offer to celebrate this year’s event. 

German sustainable cuisine chef Sarah Wiener is using her own three course recipe in ‘The Earth Hour Dinner’ publication to inspire people to make their own creations from locally sourced produce.

Wiener says, “It is better to use seasonal produce that doesn't have to be flown in from distant countries or have to be cultivated in a greenhouse with a high amount of energy input.”

Executive Director and Co-Founder of Earth Hour, Andy Ridley says there is a deep connection between what we eat and how we treat the planet we live on. “Sustainability is not about eating cold beans - but it is about retaining sustainable food practices and reducing our consumption of carbon intensive food sources.  These world class chefs are showing how great food can be good for the planet.” 

More chefs from across the world are also using Earth Hour’s global I Will If You Will campaign for some food friendly challenges to the public.
Food and Wine writer for TreeHugger, Jerry James Stone has pledged to eat vegan for a month if 5000 of his fans do it for a week.

Stone says, “As a vegetarian of twenty-some years, I have always been a little vegan-curious. I mean, who isn't these days. But the thought of giving up Gouda cheese or honey has always made me act out violently. But our food system is in peril. It's undeniable. So if 1,000 people are willing to give up Gouda for a spell, so should I.”

With 53% of the world’s fisheries fully exploited, and 32% are overexploited, depleted, or recovering from depletion *, sustainable fishing is what’s hot on the menu for Earth Hour’s I Will If You Will challenges.

South African filmmaker, celebrity cook, and author Justin Bonello has pledged to recycle his rain, bath & dish water for use in his garden if 1000 people choose WWFSASSI green listed fish.

"Most people know that I'm passionate about encouraging people to make ethical and sustainable food choices, but that same conscious consumption mind-set should also extend to our homes,” says Bonello.

Earth Hour has grown from a one-city initiative in 2007, to a 5,251 city strong global movement, last year reaching 1.8 billion people in 135 countries across all seven continents.

Earth Hour 2012 will take place at 8.30pm – 9.30pm on Saturday 31 March

*According to State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA) - SOFIA 2010
Watch the 2012 Earth Hour video
Images: http://www.flickr.com/photos/earthhour_global/sets/
Official Website:  EarthHour.org


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