Survival of the Fittest...the Organic Way

When Agatha Achindu couldn't find fresh baby food she decided to take her own stand not only for her first child, but so that other children would have the opportunity to eat fresh preservative free foods. Agatha, who is 42, listened to her calling and followed her passion to make a difference by starting her own business with her husband, and Yummy Spoonfuls Organic Baby Food was born (http://www.yummyspoonfuls.com/).

You can follow her story below. Be inspired!!!

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Lunch time Music Review: Dead Prez Pulse of the People

A couple weeks ago Checktheweather.net hit you with the exclusive interview with Dead Prez to discuss their new album and the green movement. Today we want to give you our exclusive review of the infamous hip-hop duo's latest album Pulse of the People: Turn of the Radio Vol. 3.

We caught up with one of the realest album reviewers, Snife the Free Radical. Snife is an Atlanta based artist, architect and blipster (black hipster) and we checked with him to ask the question, "Are you feeling the new Dead Prez album?"

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By Snife the Free Radical

Dead Prez is an acquired taste. They are too real for radio and due to that, I doubt they ever become mainstream. Honestly, its probably better that way. Everything ain’t for everybody. Their debut single and best known song “Hip Hop” was ahead of its time. They could rerelease that song right now and not only would it be extra relevant of today’s rap, it would still sound good.

Pulse of the People is an album you put on when you’re ready for action. If you weren’t charged up at the beginning of the day, by the time you get to the third song you ready to fight, protest, or stand for something! Simple and plain, the album starts hard. It is aggressive, while being socially and intellectually entertaining.

Dead Prez is exceptionally good at picking features that relate to their typically militant subject matter. Previous albums have seen the likes of Jay-Z and Krayzie Bone to name a few. Apparently, more folks can relate to the struggle than one would think. This time around is Bun B who lays down a stellar verse, on “Don’t Hate My Grind”. And Styles P fittingly joins forces on “Gangsta, Gangster”.

Its refreshing to hear hip hop with content and actual themes.

The album slows, as Dead Prez collaborate on lighter subjects, like living in New York, on “NYPD”, “Summer Time” and even getting some… on “My Dirty Valentine”.

Lyrically, you know what you’re going to get with Dead Prez. In the past, sometimes those lyrics have gotten lost in lackluster beats. DJ Green Lantern produced this album and makes it’s a lot better to listen to musically.

Pulse of the People is a good album. It’s probably not something you can listen to all the time. The DP’s are possibly too heavy to listen to before going out to the club. But if your boss is getting on your nerves or you just got harassed by the police, turn this up and indulge. Just don’t hurt nobody. I’m out.

- Snife the Free Radical

Check out a track from their new Album here:

AFR - DP

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Letter Writing Campaigns: They Actually Do Work!

Last week, we ran a story on Tar Sands in Canada and how people in America could stop the destruction of precious land and public health by just clicking a few buttons. Quickly, thousands of people e-mailed Hilary Clinton and told her we do not want the United states to invest in building pipes for Dirty, Nasty Tar sands. To find out more visit dirtyoilsands.org

The same happened with the campaign to get Green Jobs language into the ACES bill.Green For All reported that over 1000 calls were made the night before the house voted on the bill and tens of thousands of e-mails were sent in the weeks prior.

Overwhelmingly people around the country and the world are taking less than 60 seconds of time to sign a petition and make a difference in the world.

Checktheweather.net has made it even easier for you by adding our 60 second activism links and our Petition Du Jour widget.

If you have a cause that you think deserves someone writing a letter. Let us know and we will add it to the site. For more info email info@checktheweather.ORG
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How to Create Energy Independence for the US and Africa Too!

Today most people are out of summer school and off of work ready to celebrate the Fourth of July. Al Gore and the Alliance for Climate Protection are calling for Americans to "Declare Your Energy Independence". That means breaking the addiction to dirty forms of energy like coal and oil. All this comes at the same time that President Barack Obama prepares for his first trip to Africa as President of the United States. A group of some of the leading African Advocacy organizations, including the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS), Africa Action, Transafrica Forum, Global Aids Alliance, Africa Faith and Justice Network, Priority Africa Network, American Friends Service Committee and Association of Concerned Africa Scholars are calling for Obama to use this trip to Ghana to begin the formal creation of a new U.S. relationship with the continent of Africa; one that is based upon "mutual collaboration and respect between Africa and the United States.

So what would that mean in the dawning of the new Green Economy? Emira Woods, Co-director of IPS' Foreign Policy in Focus states,

"President Obama has advanced a bold vision for a global green economy, yet Africa is often not referenced in these discussions..."

The coalition of organizations is asking for your support in making sure Africa can also have energy independence. Woods goes on to say, "President Obama could bring political leverage for technology transfers and investment incentives in solar, wind, and tidal industries. Creating innovative new jobs can sustain the environment while allowing Africa to leapfrog its development in creative ways and also expanding opportunities for U.S. alternative technologies firms." The coalition hopes this trip to Africa will guide Obama and the US government in pushing for a Global Climate Fund. This fund will help support developing nations in transitioning to a green economy, remove African debt and take the foot of Dirty energy off of Africa's neck.

To read more and sign on to a letter calling for Obama to make his upcoming trip to Ghana the first step in a new and better relationship betweeen Africa and the US Click on the "Petition Du Jour" on the side bar or visit http://www.change.org/ips-dc/actions

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New York Times Columnist: Young America: Get out of Facebook and Into Somebody's Face"

Yesterday, New York Times published an op-ed by 2002 Pulitzer Prize winner and noted author Thomas Friedman. The article titled "Just Do It" calls out the flaws of the ACES bill. Friedman author of "The World is Flat: A Brief History of the World" agrees with many scientists,economists and environmental journalist, Brentin Mock, that the ACES bill is weak and cannot afford to get any weaker. Friedman goes off in this op-ed calling out Republicans, President Obama and the American public for making this bill weak.
Here's a piece of what he had to say:

Attention all young Americans: your climate future is being decided right now in the cloakrooms of the Capitol, where the coal lobby holds huge sway. You want to make a difference? Then get out of Facebook and into somebody’s face.

We hear you Friedman and we here at Checktheweather.net have been hitting the concrete talking to real people about this "ACES" Climate Bill. Yesterday we posted a story asking a Rasta about Climate Change. Last night we went out to Horace and Dickie's Chicken and Fish Carry Out in Northeast, Washington, DC and asked Dennis "Chico" Jackson what he felt about Climate Change, Michael Jackson and most importantly what he knew about the Waxman Markey ACES bill. Check out the video and let us know what you think. Oh and to Friedman, We are calling you out too. When's the last time you did a story on what People of Color in America are doing to Green our communities and fight Climate Change? Looks like we need to take this dude on a toxic tour ASAP.

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DR. OCTAGON - TREES VIDEO

Enter the twisted mind of Kool Keith aka Dr. Octagon aka Dr. Dooom.... "Trees" was one of few singles off of Kool Keith's "Return of Dr. Octagon" 2006 album that made it to video production. Also one of the many dope tracks on ChecktheWeather's The Truth Vol. 1 mixtape, "Trees" offers a clean beat of electro-synth sounds and just some real, grimey hip hop production. The message is blatantly environmental, with some dope one liners (so pay attention!).
After the album release, MTV hooked up with Kool Keith to produce this super artistic, science-fiction-steez music video to promote their environmental "Break the Addiction" campaign. I especially like how all his verses are acted out by kids - another underlying statement of who's really affected by these issues. Check it out here:



more on MTV's Break the Addicition/THINK campaign here.

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THE OBAMAS' ORGANIC GARDEN : LEADING BY EXAMPLE

I've always been impressed by the Obamas' lead-by-example demeanor, whether it was foreign affairs or family life. Their new organic vegetable garden is, perhaps, one of the most creative, blatant example yet. Since me and my boyfriend have started our own way to food self-sufficiency by planting a garden of our own, I have to admit, I think this is hella fresh of the first family (which was a big PR push by Michelle), to promote healthy eating, community involvement with gardening, and more positive food consumerism. We started our own garden for a lot of reasons, the main being that as admittedly broke-ass individuals, we figured we'd just cut the middle man out and grow our own ish. But, in the process, I've grown to love gardening - it's relaxing and theraputic, it's fun for us to show off to friends how our babies are growing (baby plants, that is), and, of course, we feel like we're being pro-active, green revolutionaries and beautifully anti-capitalist. They talk about greening the hood, but the first step is to green your own backyard/balcony/rooftop/windowsill, set the example, and save money in the process.
Green revolutionaries, stand up.

Thanks to GOOD Magazine for this dope diagram of the Obama garden. Full size here.


via GOOD Magazine.

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