The industrialization of the U.S. food system is multiplying rates of obesity and preventable illness. Our planet is suffering as well: the massive amounts of oil, coal and natural gas needed to produce, distribute and refrigerate our food is putting further strain on the planet's limited resources. I recently heard that a grocery chain that touts themselves as "green" flies their salmon to Japan to be filleted, then flies it back to the U.S. for sale in their stores! Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food, says: "When we eat from the modern industrial food system," Pollan says, "we are eating fossil fuel and spewing greenhouse gas."

Though this situation seems abysmal, Pollan offers real alternatives to our current system; alternatives and solutions for a healthier, safer and more environmentally-friendly food supply. Watch the premiere of Michael Pollan: Deep Agriculture tonight at 9PM Eastern/6PM Pacific: click here for more information.

You might have noticed the cool new "Beat Gasoline" banner on our homepage. So what's that all about?

It's becoming clear that relying on fossil fuels - oil, coal, gas - to power our increasingly industrialized world is no longer sustainable. Looking to promote alternative solutions to our sedentary car and gas-oriented society, Beat Gasoline is a cool new project from our partners at YouthNoise, a great engagement and activation organization working to create lasting change around the world by boosting the capacities of young leaders.

Beat Gasoline is looking for your videos and pictures showing how you are leaving the comfort of your couch behind to make a difference in the fight against climate change. So get out there and start filming!

Today, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko continues to press his government's case that the blame for this month's gas dispute with Russia's Gazprom lies firmly beyond Ukraine's borders. Yushchenko accuses Russia of trying to foster a "sense of insecurity" in the EU regarding Ukraine's gas transport industry, and that Russia has previously employed similar tactics against fellow former Soviet republics Belarus and Moldova. The interview can be seen here and the transcript read here.

Meanwhile, Gazprom announced today a deal with Kuwaiti firm Noor Financial Investment to form a joint venture for gas and oil production in Russia and Kuwait. In their news release, the AP reports that the move comes in the wake of a 70% drop in Gazprom's share price over the past year.

Russia and Ukraine are once again fighting over gas pipelines to Europe. Is this dispute based on Russia exerting its political power over Eastern Europe, or just Ukraine not wanting to pay its bills?

SOURCES: BBC, U.K; ABC News, U.S; FOX News, U.S; TV5, France; Deutsche Welle, Germany; RT, Russia; Channel 5 News, Ukraine; Al Jazeera English, Qatar.

- Global Pulse -