Eric Herm, author of Son of a Farmer, Child of the Earth will be a guest on Blue Planet Almanac radio on Monday, July 26th, at 11:00 am ET. Listen the show live on HealthyLive.net.

Eric will be interviewed by host, Mike Austin. The program will include two other guests. As stated on Blue Planet Almanac’s site:

“Sustainability is cross-disciplinary. From anywhere you stand you could pick up a figurative pebble or rock, toss it as lightly or hard and you like, and strike a subject which involves environmentalism, its law, policy, farming, food, water or a myriad other important things. Environmental lawyer Bruce Rich, American farmer Eric Herm, and personal development wizard Mick Quinn will explain the interactions of those things for us.”

For a more detailed description please visit the Blue Planet Almanac website. It should an interesting and very informative show.

Since recently reading one of my favorite Author’s articles on the exact same topic of Happy Cows, I thought I’d put my thoughts down on the subject as well.  Since the swindlers are advertising Milk now as well as Cheese in Happy Cow, California …. (actually those commercials are filmed in New Zealand). I am a little bit more frustrated about this entire fabrication.

Happy Cows come from California

The television commercial, “Happy Cows come from California” airs on National television at least daily, in several different scenarios. The central commercial is depicting female milk cows in a beautiful pasture scene talking about how wonderful their lives are in California, sometimes introducing a new cow from another state raving about the weather and how beautiful it is there. The ad goes on to claim “Great cheese comes from happy cows. Happy cows come from California” portrayed in big bold words on your screen.

Surveys have proven the effectiveness of the inclusion of animals into an advertisement, photo or commercial. (Think Geico/gecko or the Aflac duck).  It draws the viewers’ attention to the ad by using a subject that creates an emotional response, as most people love animals. This ad is also playing on the heartstrings of people who are concerned with animal welfare but who are unaware of the reality of the dairy business. The industry that is spending billions of dollars on these advertisements appears to be trying to influence people into believing that their production of dairy is humane and safe. This could not be further from the truth. A huge percentage of people eat cheese, so their target audience is the general consumer, i.e. anyone who shops for and consumes food. This ad is also making an effort to ease consumers’ concern for ethics in dairy production practices.

The commercial is focused on an idyllic scene of cows in a grassy green pasture with rolling hills, a few oak trees scattered around for shade, a sunny day and blue sky with white puffy clouds and a red, old-fashioned barn in the background – typical of a Norman Rockwell painting. The cows are smiling and seemingly happy. All of the cows pictured are Holstein bred cows (black and white), which are the most common milk cow used today. They are exceptionally clean and give the impression of being well fed, both physically and emotionally, and appear to be living a life of bliss.

The Milk Advisory Board paying for these commercials is obviously trying to thwart any notion of abuse or misuse of these beautiful and peaceful creatures because evidence has proven otherwise. (1) This ad also appears to be a reaction to the many lawsuits filed against the industry for inhumane treatment by the groups attempting to hold them accountable for their actions. (2) This ad also appears to be a huge endeavor to keep afloat in a seriously drowning industry. The milk industry is experiencing a downturn in business as more and more dairy farms are closing regularly. (3) It seems that keeping cows alive and well enough to produce 100 times the milk that would naturally be produced for their offspring, with added antibiotics, bovine growth hormones and all the other foreign garbage they feed them is costing them a fortune. Cows continue to die prematurely at an alarming rate as a consequence of their maltreatment and the industries profits die right along with them.

False advertising is a crime, however, considering that the bovine sensibilities and pain thresholds are difficult to prove since they cannot speak, the milk industry, since winning one arm of the lawsuit brought to them by PETA, has the OK from the legal system to continue to air these commercials. The Milk Advisory Board is trying to appeal to their viewers sense of ethics and morals by relieving consciences for the consumption of inhumane animal products in an effort to help the industry look beautiful, kind, loving and oh-so responsible. Their appeal to consumers is an attempt to provide proof – via these commercials – that their dairies and products are safe and nutritious. That most consumers cannot live without the protein or outstanding health benefits they supply. Unfortunately they have reached deep into their pockets to put out some of the most blatant lies ever aired on television.

The fact that advertisers in all facets of our lives try to ‘trick’ us into buying their products by appealing to some deeply seeded need or deceptive emotional requirement is absolutely unethical. What is even more astonishing is that a large percentage of consumers fall for the ads. We all purchase products without further research, trusting that these companies deliver what they are selling. We as consumers have to learn that not a single ad on television in newspapers or magazines can be trusted.

The illegal ad practice known as  “failure to inform” is what is being used in the “Happy Cow” commercials; however, there are probably a few others not identified. False advertising has become big business and a consumer nightmare.

The point is that it is shameful that this type of deceit exists at all.  Most people like myself are easily fooled when it comes to merchandise that promises to make us look and feel younger, thinner, grow more hair, even have better sex.  Most of these things tempt customers to purchase based on the premise that these products will work.  Why?  Because the advertisement stated that it would. I think as consumers, we have to realize that there is a heck of a lot of deception going on out there in the marketing and advertising industry.

What the Happy Cow commercials are selling is good clean dairy food, namely cheese. Dairy is a food that is very detrimental to the human body.  The Milk Advisory Board knows this; they have all seen the reports, statistics and the evidence of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, obesity and a host of other ailments that their products cause. (4) But ethics and responsibility fly out the window when the bottom line is money. How much money can they make with these contemptible commercials? How many more people can they fool into purchasing their products? Plenty. Their ads are effective and their tactics are working. In researching some comments on this ad from Happy Cow websites, most people who comment state they “just love” these commercials. Some even believe that this is the life cows lead in dairy farms. Most don’t even get up or change the television channel when the ad airs. They think the cows and the scenarios are adorable and the ad is appealing to the audiences’ pathos and in many cases logos.

I think we must become smarter and wiser than succumbing to these deceptive advertisements. That is the bottom line in fighting this trickery, not buying the products that do not project truth, which fuels their pockets to do more of the same.

1.            Advocacy for Animals;

2007 The big Business of Dairy Farming; Big trouble for cows

http://advocacy.britannica.com/blog/advocacy/2007/06/dairy-farming/

Unhappy cows come from California:

(http://tinyurl.com/yaj854o) or (http://www.unhappycows.com/)

2        UnhappyCows.com: 2010 PETA Takes “Happy Cows” Lawsuit to Higher                                                             Court. www.peta.org/feat/caldairy/index.html

3      Burnett, John – NPR

2009 Independent Farmers feel Squeezed by Milk Cartel

http://tinyurl.com/ncnalq

4.            Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM)

2010 Health Concerns about Dairy Products

http://www.pcrm.org/health/veginfo/dairy.html

Thelma and Beauty

The animals I am lucky enough to share my life with – never cease to amaze me with the kindness they show to one another.  Of course there is the occasional misunderstanding, or pecking order disagreement, but generally the chickens, turkeys, ducks, peacocks and all of the others are simply amazing in the love and kindness, even empathy – shown to one another.

The photo that is attached shows Thelma, one of the turkey’s I have adopted, and Beauty, an older Rhode Island Red chicken who has been with me her entire life…

Beauty is getting old by chicken standards, and it shows it in her walk -  a slight limp and a very slow methodical manner of getting around is what can be seen from the outside.  She is very trusting and sweet, and comes to humans for pets on occasion.  She sometimes gets picked on by the younger chickens.  But, Thelma is having none of that.  She actually sits next to Beauty, sometimes covering her with a wing in a protective pose and when anyone comes around to touch Beauty’s food or thinks about picking on her, Thelma puts herself between Beauty and the other animal.   When I see this, it displays love in a fashion that I wish I knew more of in this world.

Thelma passes up some of the treats I throw outside, something that most fowl will never do, in order to stay close to Beauty.  It is astonishing how kind and gentle turkeys are, it took me awhile to realize they were such loving, kind and gentle beings.  They have always been aloof, even to me, who raised them as babies,  but to take on an older chicken to protect is beyond any kindness or empathy I would’ve imagined from a turkey.  One of the “labeled”  creatures for being the least intelligent.  There is no stupidity in any turkey I have ever known. In fact, I’ve known more unintelligent human beings.

I am continually amazed at turkeys.  They move in a slow and steady manner, never getting ruffled or excited, unless threatened by a peacock or an aggressive rooster, and even then, they perk up their feathers, show a little strength, and go on their merry way.  Not ever have I seen a turkey actually attack or try to harm another animal who lives on this farm.

In the mornings when I open the pen to allow them their freedom, they are graceful and excited to be free and enthusiastically run toward the feeding area making excited cooing sounds…they usually spend their days dust bathing, picking at plants and grass and are peaceful and quiet creatures.

I cannot imagine ever doing any harm to any of these loving birds.  I rescue them, but I would never consider eating them.  I imagine what their brothers and sisters, OUR brothers and sisters for that matter are enduring in factory farms and slaughterhouses.  These gentle birds constantly suffering makes me very sad.  That someone could do harm to another creature who by nature protects older chickens – sickens me.  I wish I could save them all.

Instead, I plea to others who do not have the opportunity to know turkeys the way that I do, to take my word – and to please help them too.  Start by not eating them.  Our food industry is consumer driven.  The more of us that refrain from purchasing these beloved animals in those plastic wrapped packages, the more our voices will ring out that we don’t agree with the lives these animals lead.

A few days ago we received copies of Dreamriver Press’s latest title, Son of a Farmer, Child of the Earth. The book looks great! As with most of Dreamriver Press’s titles, it was printed on 100% recycled paper. George, our designer, did an amazing job with the cover design, the inner layout and choice of fonts. But, most importantly, we feel this book has a powerful and timely message. Hope you enjoy reading it, and help spread the word!

This video-animation is based on the metaphor of the frog as found in the book Invaluable Lessons from a Frog by Olivier Clerc.

Animation by Westley Barcliff -- Sound by musicrollercoaster
(youtube.com link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_SinwzKhhg)

I’m numb right now. Not sure what to think at this hour. How far down should I allow my mind to drill into the reality of our situation, fearing what might spew and spill until its revealing has been exhausted?

Our unconscious lifestyles depend on vast amounts of oil, bleeding the Earth dry and drowning her in her own blood. Whether it’s running all over town in a Hummer, SUV, or hybrid vehicle, whether it is gobbling up the horizon in a 200 horsepower John Deere tractor, V8 diesel pickup truck, or 18-wheeler, we are just as much a part of the problem as these money-entranced oil corporations. Whether we’re picking up a load of wind turbines and solar panels for a cross-country delivery or taking little Johnny and Susie to soccer practice, piano lessons, and a personal dietician, our dependence on black gold has officially bitten us on the ass.

As many of us ponder the consequences of Deepwater Horizon’s crash and burn spill into the Gulf of Mexico, it is easy to blame corporate oil companies. It is easy to blame greedy CEOs, board members, and stock holders. It’s easy to blame BP,  or Haliburton. Truth is, we’re all to blame on this one.

We are the junkies. They’re just the dealers.

Our addiction has turned the oceans into dim-lit street corners and its waters into sewer-filled alleyways. If this isn’t time for an intervention, than perhaps this over-dose of reality can scare us straight all on our own. The easy oil is long gone. We’re running out of smack. We’ve got to start pawning our possessions now. But an entire ocean’s ecosystem isn’t as easily replaced as our grandmother’s microwave or 24″ color television set.

Will we quit cold-turkey? Not possible. We’d go into meltdown. But we must withdraw, minimizing our dependence on fossil fuels any and every which way…including loose.

But how?

Like any junkie or addict. One step at a time. One day at a time.

Less trips across town or into town. Carpooling. Minimizing distances between Point A and Point B. Making our houses and businesses more energy efficient. Growing our own food.

Weaning ourselves off this stuff won’t be easy. But it beats the pants off checking ourselves into a hospital with no exiting doors.

Author and farmer Eric Herm is building a house from compressed dirt found on his land. It is energy efficient, eco-friendly and costs much less to build. Local TV station, NewsWest 9, did a short video report.

http://www.kwes.com/global/story.asp?s=12426603

Eric Helm’s book Son of a Farmer, Child of the Earth, is coming out soon from Dreamriver Press.

The Nautilus Book Awards, whose mission is, “Changing the World One Book at a Time”, has named The Missing Peace: The Hidden Power of our Kinship with Animals as a 2010 Silver Award winner.

The Missing Peace shines a light on something we, as individuals and as a society, often neglect to see: the missing piece—our relationship with animals. Part I of the book is full of true, life-altering stories, guaranteed to prompt us to take a deeper look at our own dietary and lifestyle choices. Part II examines the spiritual, scientific and historical reasons for changing our views towards animals.

The Nautilus Book Awards was established in the year 2000 to honor and celebrate print and audio books of exceptional merit that make a literary and heartfelt contribution to spiritual growth, conscious living, high-level wellness, green values, responsible leadership and positive social change, as well as to the worlds of art, creativity and inspiration. The Silver and Gold winners are carefully selected in a three- tier judging process by an experienced team of book reviewers, librarians, authors, editors, bookstore owners, and leaders in the publishing industry.

Winning authors reflect the Nautilus Awards mission and include such distinguished authors and teachers as Deepak Chopra, Thich Nhat Hanh, Barbara Kingsolver, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Joel Olsteen, Caroline Myss, and Marianne Williamson. Founder, Marilyn McGuire, has created the “Nautilus Library of Imagination & Possibility” where all Nautilus Award winners are featured.