Wal-Mart recently announced that they would begin to offer organic products such as food and clothing at retail outlets across Canada and the U.S. According to the cited article, the move was the result of “a broader green policy launched last year to meet consumer demand, cut costs for things like energy and packaging and burnish a battered reputation”.

Although I’m not a huge fan of Wal-Mart I think that this is a positive move for several reasons. By stocking their shelves with organic products they will make these products more accessible to the average Wal-Mart shopper who normally would not take the time to go to a specialty grocer for organic fare. Manufacturers will need to change their behavior and their offerings to meet the new demand posed by Wal-Mart which will have a positive impact on the overall supply chain as well as to competing retailers who tap into that chain meaning that the supply of organic products will increase overall.

What struck me most though about this move is that Wal-Mart is listening. Consumers have begun to purchase organic products and Wal-Mart has taken notice of this trend and has adjusted its supply accordingly. A consultant quoted in the article said, “"Like many big companies, they (Wal-Mart) have figured out it is just good marketing and good reputation building to be in favor of things that Americans are increasingly interested in". This is a great example of how small changes at the level of the consumer can make a difference. Many consumers choose to purchase organic products and once this group reached a critical mass Wal-Mart took notice and has begun to stock its shelves accordingly. This decision will have a wide reaching impact in the retail market and is representative of a big change in practices started by a small group of pro-active consumers.

(Originally published as "Organic Products at Wal-Mart " at Millimeters of Change)

The Meatrix 2: Revolting is a humorous spoof of The Matrix about the not so funny side of factory farming. The first Meatrix movie warned of the dangers of factory farming to produce meat and the much anticipated follow-up looks at the problems associated with factory farming to produce dairy products.

Thanks to Global Youth Fund for the heads up on the premiere.

(Originally posted as "The Meatrix 2: Revolting" at Millimeters of Change)

During  a discussion about the future impact of global warming, a friend commented (half-jokingly) that he wasn't concerned about the long-term impact of climate change since he likely wouldn't still be alive then experience the catastrophic consequences. The following commercial from the Fight Global Warming campaign helps to shed some light on what's wrong with this line of thinking.

Global warming is a problem that should concern everyone who is alive on the planet today – it is everyone’s problem and a problem for everyone – and the first step to solving it is the acknowledgement of this fact.  The next step is to reduce the way that we use fossil fuels at home and on the road and this booklet provides some accessible tips on how to get started.   Whether it’s using energy-efficient light bulbs or driving less aggressively, these small changes can help to reduce energy consumption and the resulting pollutants.  Reduction alone won’t solve the problem of global warming but it’s the best place to begin if we want to make a difference for both present and future generations.

Thanks to Sarah Pullman for the link to the Fight Global Warming Campaign Commercial.

(Originally posted as "Fighting Global Warming" at Millimeters of Change)

I haven't quite decided what I'm going to post in this space yet but in the meantime I'll be posting over at my personal blog and at Millimeters of Change.