There's always hope...

We can all use a little inspiration every now and then…

Life is hard. Life is complicated, unjust and sometimes harsh. Seeing as life is sometimes so cold and cruel, we (I have to include myself, since I'm often too realistic or as it's been pointed out to me,  just plain negative) have to focus on the positives. 

So, on that note, I will like to share with you many positive changes happening in our world, these all came from people demanding change on behalf of those without a voice. Sometimes, we all need a little inspiration… here's hoping this can inspire many of you. 

Distance makes the heart grow fonder?

Distance is generally bad...

Long distance relationship = bad, long distance commute = bad, long distance rates = bad. Unless you're referring to a sport (long distance running, long distance swimming, etc), distance is generally bad. Well folks, when food and distance mix, it is also bad. 

Let's explore Food Miles.

Food Miles are a way of attempting to measure how far food has travelled before it reaches the consumer. It is the concept of looking at the environmental impact of foods and their ingredients. Globalization and free/fair trade agreements have allowed for food to travel even further than before, this means thinking of where your food comes from and considering the impact food travel has on us, you can do this by measuring the pollution the food has caused. 

Think about the distance the food has travelled to get to you. Was it by plane? Boat? Road?

You can find out the impact your food has on the environment by going to Foodmiles.com. 

What can you do to reduce the impact your food has on the environment?

• Buy local! 
• Grow your own food

These two ways not only decrease the impact food miles have on our lives but by growing your own food or buying local, you may also be decreasing the number of GMOs you consume. 

It is understandable that not every item on your grocery list has to come from a local market. Start with buying your apples from local farmers, any small act helps send a message that consumers want to reduce "food mileage".

Cruelty Free Products

Know the facts before buying that sexy red lipstick.

I'm a big believer that once reality is exposed people will make the more humane choice. Some don't realize that most products we purchase are animal tested. Unfortunately Canada has yet to catch up with European countries that have banned animal testing.

Almost every product humans use on a daily basis is first tested on innocent animals. From cleaning products to make-up products, they must all be proven safe. 

Some of the products that commonly involve animal testing are:

- Cosmetics
- Drugs
- Food Additives
- Supplements
- Household products
- Pesticides
- Industrial chemicals

To those that argue that animal testing must be done in order to ensure they are safe for humans, companies like LUSH, The Body Shop, ALBA Botanica, Burt's Bees and many more have found ways for you to still get products you enjoy, without harming any animals. 

If you are interested in becoming a conscious shopper, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have made a list of cruelty free products.  

          

The Leaping Bunny is also an easy way to find out whether the product you're interested in is cruelty free. 

Please consider how much an animal suffered before purchasing items, consider a cruelty free lifestyle. As consumers we all hold the power to make changes, it's up to us to demand change, change for those that do not have a voice.