Welcome to another edition of "8 Questions with......" an ongoing interactive series that showcases the various people and talents that I call friends here on my MySpace page. So far I have interviewed over 60 people which you can read by simply clicking on "Friends" in my blogging category. If you like what you read, please drop a comment and add the person as a friend.

My thanks again to Keith for a great interview and for the nice comments we recieved, its never too late to comment..

I first asked Organic Life Magazine for a interview a long time back. While I was told Michael (the publisher) was too busy,he said he really wanted to talk.  I understood this and  moved on..I used his page to add some pro-Earth groups to my Friends page. Working in a supermarket at the time,I was interested in what Organics really were.

Time passed when recently out of the blue,I got a email from Michael asking if my interview offer was still open. Hell yeah,it was...and especially now more then ever as Organic Life Magazine is going online 1 May 08. Its people like Michael,who not only cares about living healthy but having a healthy planet to live on,that makes a huge difference in our quality of life. 
   With the launch of his E-zine (which is FREE to subscribe to),Michael Edward's goal of educationing the American public about truly living a Green life will start to come true. I encourage you all to subscribe to OLM. I think you'll be glad you did...

And now...8 Questions with....Michael Edwards,publisher/editor of Organic Life Magazine.

1. Please introduce yourself.

My name is Michael Edwards. I am editor-in-chief of Organic Lifestyle Magazine, a free magazine available on the web at www. greenmagazines. com. Our first issue will be available on May 1st.

2. What is the difference between normal produce and organic produce?

We discuss this in depth in our first issue. There are many reasons to buy organic, but the most important thing about buying organic foods is that they are less toxic to the environment and better for our bodies. Organic foods contain more vitamins and minerals and fewer toxins.

3. Do you feel we as a society realize how important being more "green" is or will this be treated as a trend/fad?

I do not believe that this is just a trend, but I could be wrong. A couple of years ago when I was first talking about Organic Lifestyle Magazine, people seemed confused by the idea. Not only was the digital format not understood, but it seemed like no one really cared about the environment or organic foods. Now people are interested. But many are confused. There is so much misinformation. And it seems like everything you can do to "go green" or "live an organic lifestyle" costs time and money.

Ideally everyone would do all they can to protect their health and the environment. But the reality is, people will not inconvenience themselves too much. Going green for most people will be a step-by-step process. To keep green and organics from being a trend people need easy access to useful information. For example, most people who say they want to cut their power bill to save energy need to know how to achieve this goal with minimal expense and without radically changing their lifestyle—or they won't do it.

4. If organic is so much better, why is it so much more expensive to produce?

The sad truth is that growing organic is actually cheaper. The government gives massive subsidies to large agricultural companies that farm with conventional methods, but the organic farmer doesn't get these subsides. We pay for subsidies given to conventional farmers with taxes—and with our health.

5. Can we really wean ourselves off fossil fuels? What can be done to advance this?

Yes, with electric cars and solar power. I highly recommend the film, Who Killed the Electric Car? It's quite an education.
  Did you know that we could put enough solar panels in our Nevada and Arizona deserts to power the whole country with solar energy? We've had the technology for years. It's time we used it.

6. How did your E-zine come into being?

I'd been kicking around the idea of a magazine for a while. I've always been interested in holistic and natural healing and the environment. When I decided an E-zine was the way to go, everything just fell into place.

7. How can one subscribe/contribute to your zine?

Go to www. greenmagazines. com and enter your email address to subscribe. It's free and we will not share email addresses with anyone. If you wish to contribute, you can email us at contibute@organicmail.net

8. What 5 things can a normal everyday American can do to help themselves become more eco-friendly?

1. Car pool.

2. Buy locally grown organic foods whenever possible.

3. Use recycled toilet paper. It's not as nice on the bum, but it's a small price to pay.

4. Unplug all appliances and electronics when you are not using them. This will not only significantly reduce your energy consumption, it will protect your electronics from damage due to power surges and lightening strikes.

5. Don't use toxic soaps or detergents—protect our water.

I figured recycling is such a no brainer, I left it out (kinda).

9. Can global warming truly be reversed without the support of big business? Explain your position...

No. I do not believe it can be reversed without the support of big business. But, big business will not support environmental needs without consumers demanding change. Big business is always going to do what is most profitable. We, as consumers, need to make it less profitable for business to ignore our health and the health of the environment. I see this happening now.

10. What's your feeling about other radical environment groups like Greenpeace, Sierra Club...is there a place for them now that everyone seems pro-Earth?

I've never heard the Sierra Club was considered radical. Most of the organizations that are considered radical like PETA and Green Peace are not as radical as people think. These organizations do amazing work and for a long time they were the only animal rights or environmental voices speaking out. Sensational headlines or radical actions were sometimes due to individuals acting without the sanction of the organization. These organizations are great sources of information. I highly recommend checking them out. You may not agree with all they believe, but you'll learn a lot—and often learn things you really didn't want to know!


12. Who are your Top 4 Friends on your Myspace page and what makes them so special?

I cannot say that my top 4 are any more special than the next 15. All of our myspace friends listed on our "Top Friends" list simply share our views for a better planet and a healthier body. I know there are many others I should include, but we only have room for so many.

13. Who do you think will comment first on this interview?
Couldn't say.

To add Organic Life Magazine as a Friend:
myspace.com/organiclifestyle