After reading multiple stories this week, including Radiation-Tainted Beef Spreads Through Japan’s Markets, about radiation-tainted beef in Japan's markets, I thought I would update Savory Latino Meals without the Meat, my post about meatless Latino dishes. Like many Puerto Ricans and Cubans in Miami, I grew up eating all kinds of meat from Cuban pork …

Fetuses’ and infants’ brains are especially vulnerable to methylmercury poisoning. Coal plants are the biggest emitters of mercury, which is released when coal is burned. Texas, where my first son was born, is home to seven of the worst plants in the entire country. Seven of the most polluting plants are located within fifty to …

This piece was cross-posted from Spanglish Baby In the past months, Roxana and I have been pouring over tons of information that is making our eyes open up to the dangers associated with air pollution and mercury contamination. What has us the most worried, and motivated to act and raise awareness, is the fact that Latinos …

As a proud Cuban and Puerto Rican and lover of the great outdoors, I am particularly passionate about advocacy that helps clean the air and water in our communities. You could say I was distressed by a report by the non-profit Sierra Club that mercury poisoning is disproportionately affecting Latinos. The primary culprit of this …

This piece was cross-posted at Spanglish Baby I admit I feel very weird referring to myself as an activist or advocate of any sort.  I come from a society that believes that as a woman “calladita te ves mejor” (the quieter you are the better you look). I believed it my whole life. I’ve never …

This piece was cross-posted at Econesting. Sometimes I feel like I grew up on the ledge – a ledge that was propelled into action by the signs of the times. With the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, and the Women’s Movement simmering to a boiling point–It was ALL personal…It was ALL political. Ledge-Leaning In many …

This piece by Stephen Lacey was cross-posted at Think Progress. The Center for American Progress Action Fund, a sisterorganization of CAP, is leading a campaign to curb asthma and other harmful health effects from coal-fired power plants. This campaign is already underway and it will continue until July 2, 2011. Jorge Madrid, research associate for CAP’s energy …

I grew up living close to the ocean and surrounded by mountains in El Salvador.  Houses there typically have no central AC and are built to maximize natural air circulation, especially during the hot summer months.  Life was always lived outdoors; even indoors, terrace doors and windows were always wide open. I still prefer to …

This piece was cross-posted at MomsRising and DailyKos. Whenever I tell people that I cook only vegetarian food at home, their reaction mirrors my own 15 years ago when I first met my now husband. “What kind of Latino are you?” I asked him as I gulped down a plate of shrimp. As it turns …

This piece was cross-posted at Spanglish Baby I wished I could say I live a totally green and eco life.  I can, however, say I try and try and am conscious about waste and recycling.  Anyone who knows me can tell you I did try cloth diapers, but failed, and that I am the plastic …