Burn
Since we have been on the topic of keeping our kids safe, happy, and healthy around here the last couple days, and it is obvious that we all have that in common no matter what approach we are taking, or what we are dressing our kids in, or letting them watch on television, the bottom line is we love our kids passionately and do our best at raising them. Besides the princess culture issue that has been discussed the last two days, I also wrote of my concerns about food in the same posts, and touched on my worries about eating, and so... I wanted to share this project that was sent to me last week. After one viewing of this project teaser I was really taken by the story of the farmers in Haiti.
After Haiti was devastated by earthquakes, America sent all kinds of help. How many people had heard the story of starving farmers in rural Haiti rejecting some of the aid they received from the U.S. that came in the form of 475 tons of hybrid genetically modified seeds from the corporation Monsanto? How many people followed the story of the Haitian people rising up and burning these GMO seeds in protest? What do they know that we don't? How many farmers here in America wish they had that same power to reject these seeds now?
THIS PROJECT is a great example of how quickly things can turn, how rapidly happy nostalgia from our pasts can change, the simple act of eating food has become cloudy and complicated in America. How did the consumer get in the position where they were denied the right to know what goes into a food product? What was once "just fine" for us, isn't the same for our kids any longer.
How great does this look to you? I certainly want to know more about it. This is something that I don't want to just shrug my shoulders at and assume everything is going to be totally cool with what's going on with our seeds. So if you are interested at all, I am encouraging anyone that shares that same curiosity for a closer look to visit this film makers Kickstarter page for more info and to donate to the project so this film can be made in its entirety. TAKE A LOOK HERE. It's important thoughtful work and I am really happy to see the story of these farmers in Haiti being told, people who know suffering in a way most of us will never know, but still will not just buckle to the power of Monsanto.
**To wrap up thoughts on this Princess debate that has been going on, I want to offer this up, this blog is largely my voice just trying to figure things out as they come up, as life unfolds. If I read a book that stirs me up like Cinderella Ate My Daughter and I start thinking heavy on a subject that I might not have ever worried about before, and then write about it, I'm not telling anyone that I am right and they are wrong, I am sharing my experiences as they unfold. If like minded people read here, it might be something that they enjoy reading and doing their own digging around on the subject. If I make mistakes, I blog about it, if I feel like the wool is being pulled over my eyes, I blog about it. If I feel like I drank too much Kool-Aid, I blog about it. The same goes for this GMO project that I featured here today, I don't know very much at all about it, but I really want to. I am intrigued. I am hungry for answers and theory and absolutely want to know what I am really buying at the grocery store. Undoubtedly there will be people that read here that know a lot about it, some that think it is safe and we are silly to fret, others that think it is the devil, and both sides will insist they are right. This is the internet, the second you give an opinion or take a stance, someone is there to tell you that you're wrong, and in the worst cases tell you that you're an idiot. I made a choice to give an opinion about something, and explore a touchy subject, we are not all going to agree, but I do thank you for being polite during the discussion.
Just like the Princess debate, this food topic is a serious and important one to me, and over the months and years of raising kids, I will be learning what i can and making the best decisions I can along the way. Do our best. That is what we do.
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51 comments:
Thanks for this post,it is something I'd like to know more about too.
what an amazing video! I try to make dinners at home more then we eat out. I try to not take my kids to fast food restuarants or other places very often. I make a weekly menu and usually stick to it. I think this helps a little but I know that some of what I buy and cook is probably a GMO product. And it really does worry me. I watched Food Inc recently and that was pretty eye-opening as well. Thanks for another great post Ryan. And thanks for your opinions on so many subjects.
That film looks gorgeous and heartbreaking and so hopeful. Cheers to the Haitian farmers for standing up for their land, their heritage, and their future. National Geographic did a piece on seed diversity (http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/07/food-ark/siebert-text) which is another side to the GMO debate. If 80% of US fields are planted with the same variety of GMO seed, what happens when conditions exceed what those plants can tolerate? I really hope this film is completed and distributed. I can't wait to watch it.
I can't thank you enough for sharing this amazing project! The food we put in our bodies (which literally becomes us) is the most important decision we make every day. And we're putting huge decisions about it in the hands of other people. Hope you'll continue to share what you learn along the way, and how it affects your family. Can't wait to see this as a feature film!
love this, feeding my family organic non gmo was my 2010 res. and we're never going back to processed! i can honestly say eating this way reversed a disease and keeps my family strong and healthy. now for the rest of the country. thanks for sharing. it's amazing how we can be so blind sometimes.
Goose bumps. And the woman dancing at the end made me tear up. I hope this documentary is made to completion.
good morning Ryan - I have been reading your posts and b/c I am not yet a parent I have kept my parenting views/comments to myself. but you are exactly right - parent or not - we are all (or should be) doing the best we can.
thank you for sharing the link on the project today - I will be donating, and have sent to my hubs to discuss if he wants to add to my donation as well.
again - thanks for sharing. as in, thanks for sharing ALL OF IT,
you really put it out there, man, and it's encouraging and refreshing to know some other people around this place are putting some thought and effort in to LIFE
The whole Monsanto thing is terribly sad...and what they are doing to American farmers is even more sad.
This is a topic I'm passionate about. I've been learning as much as I can in preparation for my baby due in a few weeks and making drastic changes to my own eating habits for the past year or two. We all need to be more educated and better informed about what we're eating and how it's affecting us. I believe there is so much more than meets the eye, and that our food culture is contributing to all sorts of other issues that we're facing.
I love to see popular bloggers (yes, I mean you!) address this topic because it raises awareness and that's where it all begins. I haven't watched it yet, but plan to see Forks Over Knives. You might want to check it out too. And if you haven't already, read everything by Michael Pollan. You won't regret it.
Thanks for posting this!
Thanks for posting this. What a great video. I read a great book in college regarding this topic. I think you might find it interesting. It's called "Stolen Harvest: The Hijacking of the Global Food Supply". It's written by Vandana Shiva. Great book. http://www.amazon.com/Stolen-Harvest-Hijacking-Global-Supply/dp/0896086070
The GMO subject is one that's near and dear to me. I'm so glad to see some publicity building around it, and so glad you shared the link to that trailer! I hope this will prompt a lot more people to ask a lot more questions.
The FDA's failure to actually regulate and enforce disclosure to the public about what they are eating is a national shame. And where is the mainstream media? Following politicians blowing hot air and BS about the debt ceiling (YOu spent the money when you made a budget! Stop the grandstanding and raise the effing ceiling before our credit gets downgraded, you jack-asses!), and providing 24/7 coverage of the Casey Anthony trial. ARGH!!!
Thank goodness for independent, critical thinkers and artists with the vision and skills to get information out on topics of real importance.
Thanks so much for sharing this- this is really inspiring, I'm going to donate!
Ryan, normally I'm nodding my head along with you, but this one stopped me short. Could you please cite A SINGLE peer-reviewed study showing ANY harm that has resulted from the consumption of GMOs? Monsanto certainly isn't my favorite company, and the GMOs they create just to be harmonious with their own pesticides are awful, but the most I can find about the harm of GMOs comes from people with no scientific background acting on a hunch, not unlike the vaccine/autism folks.
And much like with the vaccine/autism folks, espousing a GMO-free existence can actively cause harm to others. Up to 60% of the world's population is desperate to rely on GMOs that produce high crop yields and are impervious to certain weather conditions. GMOs could likely be the savior of many in Africa and other regions affected by famine due to the weather conditions present. When you consider that there is nothing more than internet conjecture to support a claim that GMOs cause harm to humans, that is a cruel thing to do. Just because farmers in Haiti burned Monsanto seeds doesn't make them RIGHT, no matter how much we find it appealingly supportive of our personal politics.
In addition, I recommend that you read Guns, Germs, and Steel, by Jared Diamond. It ought to give you some perspective, as Diamond draws on the fields of archaeology, biology, anthropology and history to demonstrate that we have been genetically modifying crops of all varieties for THOUSANDS OF YEARS to better suit our purposes. To rant against all GMOs, because they achieve the same result through different means, without any scientific research to back you up is just lazy. I expected more from you.
Thank you for this information! I have been (somewhat) aware of GMO's and to be quite frank, they scare the sh*t out of me. I'm really looking forward to this film.
Thanks for this post. I want to know more!
Monsanto's "Roundup Ready" seeds do not reseed, meaning a seed which would normally form in a healthy plant is not viable, thus requiring a new seed (to be purchased) rather than harvesting a seed from the original plant.
India is one country that used Roundup Ready Rice a few years back. When the time came to collect and re plant seeds, the seeds were not viable; their crops failed; leaving a country devastated and without a crop they depend on, and also a world wide shortage of rice that year.
GMO's are fabulous for keeping bugs away and for increasing profit margins for stockholders.
7th grade econ tells us that any monopoly is dangerous, especially on a global scale. Monsanto owns 80% of the world's seed supply. Do the math folks, even if their seeds were amazingly healthy and good for us, NO ONE COMPANY should own 80% of the world's anything!
As was stated by Kissinger: "Control the food, control the people."
Hi Kate- I noticed in your profile that you mentioned that "you're too opinionated for your own good" Could this be one of those times?
Here I am again wondering if you really read my post at all, or if you saw the GMO topic (which you obviously feel passionately about) and just decided how I felt about it. I am pretty sure the entire post was about me exploring the subject and wanting to know more so I can make good decisions. I said things like eating in America have become cloudy and complicated, has it not? I am excited to see a film being made to discuss this topic. If GMO's aren't a big deal at all, then why the resistance to label our food? Why do so many other nations reject them? I am sure the people in charge never ever do anything irresponsible or put any of us in harms way when it comes to the food supply right? Never. You know what I think is lazy... Just deciding that since there isn't any proof it's bad, it must be totally fine. Remember when there was no proof that smoking was bad for us? Don't hate on me for wanting to know more about this.
You can't deny that this all kind of one giant whacky experiment that we are unwittingly involved in. NOBODY knows what the long term effects are, because it hasn't been long enough. Sorry if this all seems lazy and ignorant to you.
I'm going to ask my questions and be excited about people doing the same. I hope this film is made. I will happily read the other side of the debate. It's called figuring things out, and it is clear that you made up your mind on it. Was that something that happened instantly?
I wish you would have just sent along a suggestion and a link to explore this other side, maybe with some good perspective that you have gained. But crashing in here with this tisk tisk, I expected more from you junk is kind of the worst.
I don't want to derail the comments for Ryan's post, but I want to respond @Kate.
There's a lot more to the GMO discussion than whether products of GMO plants cause health problems for their consumers. To start, there are patent and ownership issues that seriously affect that 60% of the world's population who might want to use GMO seeds. Farming cultures around the world have survived by saving their seeds to reuse year after year. Many farmers have a bank of seed that they depend on to plant next year's crop if this year's fails. Because of patenting and profit, GMO plants often include suicide genes that sterilize the next generation of seed. This commits farmers to purchasing new seed year after year, and leaves them up a creek if this year's crop fails and yields no income. There are also issues of genetic drift and crop contamination for those who still want a choice, and reduction of sorely needed agricultural biodiversity, among other considerations. The point here is to open the conversation beyond what developers of GMOs want consumers to know, e.g. that their product is safe to eat and increases yields for farmers, to include all the stakeholders in a conversation about the ethical and agricultural implications if the whole world commits itself to farms dependent on GMO seeds.
If a person wants to avoid a particular food product, they should have the choice, regardless of what the science says at this moment. Right now, the days of consumer choice seem to be numbered.
I agree with what Erin said, and will go on to say that as someone who works in agriculture, GMO's, particularly those with patents held by Monsanto have created near enslavement among farmers and producers. Monsanto has a vice grip and more lawyers than scientists. Farmers in this country want choice, they want to return to a culture of smaller family farms and better quality and if we suppor them, they'll make the change, but because Monsanto holds a monopoly over nearly everything, they are left with little choice and often little money.
I get where Kate is coming from to an extent, but with better regulation and the dismantling of large monopoly organizations, I think we can find a middle ground.
When I saw this, I initially sighed and thought to myself..Here we go again..another topic people don't know enough about that they're scared of..because they haven't done their research..much like the organic craze where people are obsessed with buying organic foods because they think that they're healthier, fresher, use no pesticides, whatever..because they've been fed one sided campaigns that are often extremely misleading, or downright lying...when in fact a lot of organic produce is very similar to non-organic produce...and organic farmers can use certain pesticides, insecticides, etc...some of which are the same or even more toxic than their non-organic counterparts.. My advice above buying organic or gmo free - to find farms and get to know the farmers. Buy locally from people who you can trust - who know what they're doing...
When I went back and read your post and the comments (twice) and realised that yes, you're going to go and do research and make an educated decision..which is what I always encourage everyone to do (Random note..I'm actually a farmer..) I felt better..because I know that for you this is just the beginning of a journey to learn more..and I hope that you dig deep and learn a lot of different things and are able to draw your own conclusions about what you want and do want to feed your family..It just worries me that a lot of people will read this, or watch this video..and that will be it. They might quickly google one more thing..and then their minds will be made up...
I don't know a TON about GMO foods..but I do know that in a lot of places in the world they are necessary for entire populations to even think about surviving..and I know that a lot of farmers in North America are pressured to use these products that survive better, produce better, etc. because the agriculture industry is flailing right now. Yes, it's getting better..but it doesn't change the fact that a lot of farmers struggle to make ends meet, that getting into the farming industry is virtually impossible unless you're born into it..and that most farms aren't economically viable for much longer. We live in an era and a culture where most people are obsessed with the bottom dollar and perfection. Most people don't want products or produce unless it's perfect - so many times I have people brush over anything with a tiny bruise, a scratch or a bump or lump - because they want what they buy to look and be PERFECT - which is not really the way that produce works. As well, most people are not willing to pay the true actual market value for things...if you look at how much the cost of everything has skyrocketed (housing, land, wages, fuel, seeds, etc. etc. etc.) the prices of food have not even come close to inflating at the same levels..100ish years ago people use to pay 70-80% of their wages for food. Now...usually less than 20%. If you were to buy lunch at a local restaurant - most times your tip would be more than all of the farmers combined would make for growing the food for that meal...which begs the question..why do people continue to farm? And it worries me that if something drastic doesn't change SOON..then all of our food will be coming from parts of the world where the regulations, testing, etc. is even less than it is now.
Farmers just can't compete, and most people weren't willing to pay for food (which I think is FINALLY shifting..)..so what you see is what you get...the industry has done what it has had to do to survive...which is rather disheartening at its core.
I don't agree 100% with this video, but I don't disagree 100% with this video. As a farmer, there are issues that I have with Monsanto on various topics..but I also know that a lot of people in the world wouldn't be alive today, without their products...soo..I too need to do more research. I need to learn more. I need to educate myself more so that I can continue to educate my customers so that they feel safe with what they're eating. That's why I love what I do..because I can look them in the eye and tell them where the seeds came from, what they're eating and how to best prepare it. They can get something that we've harvested that morning, and go home and feed it to their families that night.
So my best advice? Do what you're doing. Keep your chin up. Do your research. Ask questions. Ask more questions. Talk to people. Find farmers that know what they're talking about, who want to talk to you..and then get them to teach you even more about the food you're eating. They're a wealth of information..and know more than most people give them credit for :)
PS - If you want to know more about anything I've mentioned here...I can send you articles, links, etc. up the wazoo :)
Have a great day - it's thoughtful, meaningful discussions like this that forces me to put all of myself into being the best farmer I can be :)
Erin
@Daydreaming Fool (Erin) - Thank you for that comment and your approach in leaving it. I will absolutely happily use you as a resource, so thank you for offering. Now, the important question... can we bring the kids to your farm for a tour?
Families always welcome!!! We actually do educational tours in the spring and fall (our shoulder seasons) and I love doing it because I actually went to school for teaching! We also hold festivals throughout the year..people can come out and learn more about farming, our farm, how we grow and harvest things, etc. I've spoken at various conferences about farming, the value of farming..how to make family farms work and those sorts of things :)
We have around 300 acres of fresh fruits and vegetables that our customers can come and see any time throughout the summer..as well as pick their own produce with their families if they want to..so long story short..you're welcome to visit anytime ;)
What's unsettling is that those people asked to define GMOs could probably tell you more about what's happening on American Idol. This is a crazy idea to me that we don't know what we're eating. We must eat to live. We want to be happy and pain free and healthy, but we are clueless about the stuff we're putting into our bodies. There's a break in that loop of logic.
I am torn on the GMO issue. I am a scientist and I understand the science behind what's happening. But I disagree with ownership and patents. You can't own a gene, well at least I say you can't. Just like with everything, there is a balance and a fine line to walk. Right now, I don't think that's happening. I think it has more to do with dollar signs than what's best for humanity. This is where we should worry.
If you want to learn some more from the 'other side' here is a link to an article about some organic farming myths:
http://coupons2.smartsource.com/smartsource/index.jsp?Link=TKE34V4MRSTMW
It's published on Scientific American's website, and at the end you'll find sources from peer-reviewed national scientific journals.
I can't watch the preview for the film thanks to my dinosaur computer, but I did read your post and the summary at the project website. I am glad that people are questioning the practices of giant corporations like Montasano. I am sad that though, that GMO technology is consistently villified as a whole instead of being praised for its potential in the hands of those who do good.
Norman Borlaug is one of my personal heroes. His efforts to pioneer and further GMO technology have been credited for saving an estimated 1 Billion people worldwide from starvation. You can read more about him and his years of research all over the place.
Erin said a lot that echoes how I feel about this topic. I'm not a farmer, but an environmental scientist. I see the effects of the fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticieds (organic and non) on our water and land. This is part why I long for better-regulated GMO technology.
We can't have it all. We need to find some way to compromise the technology available to us with the attitudes towards this technology and the regulations for the businesses that seek to utilize it.
Hi Everyone,
I am the producer of this film, and must say that I love this post and ALL of the comments. I was randomly forwarded your blog today, by someone who came across it online and have been following the conversation.
To get to the heart of the matter, this is why we are making the film. There are so many questions around GMOs. Most people have no idea that we eat them every day. Despite the fact there is a missing link in the science and serious questions as to whether or not they pose health risks, everyone should still have a choice. And right now, that choice has been taken away from us. As someone pointed out, there isn't as much science as we would like. But, isn't that part of the problem... We are then the experiment! As more and more research is being done, and new science is showing potential health risks, we should all at the very least be aware of what we are eating, what we are feeding our children, and who is making our food. Many of these same chemical companies have actually provided all of us with some great inventions over the years... But do you want chemical companies feeding you?
People at the very least deserve the right to know what they are eating and who is feeding them. From there, everyone can then make their own choice as to what they eat and decide whether or not GMOs are good or bad.
Josh
Hi, Great post! I am a long time fan of your blog and I would like to send you and Cole an email -- but I cannot find an email address anywhere?!
@Sophie - Hi, it's right up there in the top tool bar in the about me section. Which is just my blogger profile. But the link is in that left column. I will look for your email :)
@ Josh - How cool to hear your thoughts, and I wish you loads of luck on completing this film. I am in the pre production phase of a project myself, and so I know how crazy difficult this part of the production can be. Thank you for asking the questions and doing the digging around that you are doing.
I suggest that everyone also research the links between the power of and at the FDA and Monsanto.
Thank you for bringing up tough topics. If these things aren't explored learning and changing will not happen.
I normally don't comment on anyone's blog because I don't like getting dragged into this, but a few more things:
1. Yes, I have done a lot of research on this. I was an international relations major in college, so I am well-versed in world food crises and the various approaches to it. I have lived and studied (at both a collegiate and law school level) in both the US and western Europe, so I am quite aware of the differences in both food labeling and food regulation.
2. A personal dig based on an internet profile I dashed off years ago doesn't strengthen your argument, it makes you look petty.
3. It is not my job to do your homework for you. I did tell you to read Guns, Germs, and Steel in my last comment. Here's another recommendation: Denialism, by Michael Specter. He extensively covers the distrust of science as it relates to GMOs, and has done research, complete with bibliography. I don't think this is an issue that can be fully summarized on a website dedicated to "the other side," so I'm not going to link one.
4. You claim in your original post that you just want to find out more. That's great! I encourage you! However, I did read the entire post, and I did watch the entire included video. I did not, at any point, see anything in either your post or the video referencing any actual opposing arguments, and if you expect that documentary to be completely objective, I'm dubious. (For example, using an MSNBC poll to show that the public overwhelmingly supports labeling of GMOs is neither a scientific poll nor a representation of the entire general population.) Even though you do say you're interested in "learning more" on the topic, the majority of the comments before mine patted you on the back for a particular stance, so I don't think I completely misread the tone of the post - just because you say you want to learn more doesn't mean there are no thinly-veiled opinions you tacitly endorse in your writing. It seems you are "being a lawyer, rather than a scientist" in that you're looking for every piece of evidence to support an opinion you already started with instead of evaluating all available evidence from neutral sources and making a conclusion from that. I greatly dislike lazy scholarship.
5. I've noticed that the comments have lately turned to vilifying Monsanto. That is something with which I have no quarrel, hence why I referenced in my last that I find their Roundup Ready seeds awful. Obviously the answer is not to trust Monsanto, and particularly their method of doing business worldwide. I hate that they have a monopoly, and I hate that the US's antitrust laws are so neutered as to be practically useless against them. But one cannot paint all GMOs with the same brush one uses for Monsanto's. In the meantime, I have a share in a CSA, I shop at the farmer's market, and I buy organic/local where possible. I don't need labeling to tell me whether or not a farmer uses GMOs when I make sure to ask the farmer to his or her face before buying. Some people do not find this to be as important, and I suspect the many people in the video who don't know what GMOs are do not have the same interest in making sure their food is safe. You have to be an active consumer these days - especially when it comes to food. It is an unfortunate truth, a point on which I believe you and I agree.
I saw the movie FOOD inc. a couple of years ago and it mentions monsanto among many other cooperations in the US food industry. It's scary and intriguing and definitely worth a view.
Here's a link: http://www.foodincmovie.com/about-the-film.php
Ps: I'm from Denmark and luckily all GMO is prohibited here. I hope it stays that way ;-)
I've read all about Monsanto and the damage they're doing here. It's scary and infuriating and it MUST be stopped. THEY must be stopped. There is a push to not allow us, the American people, to grow food in our own backyards AND THEN SHARE IT. We can grow it and cook it and eat it but sharing? Nope. Not if they get their way. I figured you'd be one on board with standing up for our rights - and for the future - in this area, what with your attention to detail and ... I don't know: the garden in your backyard. ;) Thank you for posting this video and thank you for sharing what you know with all your readers. You are moving mountains, you just don't know it. (Or maybe you do.)
You should watch Food Inc. and King Corn. A really good book about a father on the search for the source of food that his kids are eating is called Eating Animals. http://www.eatinganimals.com/
Again Ryan, thank you for expressing your thoughts and curiosities here. I have been on the sidelines silently reading and seriously thinking about everything you have expressed over the past few days. You've certainly stimulated my curiosity with this post and I am keen to know more. Thankyou.
@S'mee...Yeah, I think a lot of people would be suprised at the links bwtn Monsanto and the FDA.
One of the things that makes me so angry/frustrated about this whole issue is that "they" don't want us to know what we're eating. In Europe GMO's are called frankenfoods and people petitioned to have foods labeled if they contained GMO's but that hasn't passed here in the US....in a large part, I think, b/c so many Americans are apathetic about such issues (and b/c of the presence of former Monsanto employees who now work for the FDA). I have the right to know what is in my food and to make informed decisions about whether or not to put it in my body.
And I must say that after watching several docs about Monsanto I think they're the definition of evil.
Just want to add this link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rixyrCNVVGA&feature=player_embedded
The book is "The Unhealthy Truth" by Robyn O'Brien.
If I may throw my two cents in I would say this.
1) Ryan, please create/collect (at least consider) a collection of links to books of information and knowledge on this subject. I invite commenters to do this so we leave it to the readers to educate further.
2)As for the subject: I am so passionate about this and I am forever learning. I wish more people would bring this up. I wish big mommy bloggers would bring this up i.e dooce. As a new mom my life has a whole new meaning.
3) I think for all who doubt the only argument should be that we want full disclosure. If companies/government has anything to hide then show us the whole pic, label it all and let us then chose. Full freedom of choice. That is what this is about.
I was hoping someone would suggest Food Inc. Definite eye opener for me.
I’ve already contributed to the project and hope others will as well because I think it is important to ask questions and I’m happy someone has the motivation to do just that. This is why I like your blog. It isn’t life through rose-coloured glasses but real issues that spark conversation and debate.
Vivi
thanks for this!
A-Freaking-Men!!!!!!! I've been doing a lot of research on this topic lately and am to the point where I feel paralyzed when it comes to eating and what I am feeding my toddler...check out this link...it's one of many good sites out there. It would be nice if we could band together somehow and DEMAND GMO labeling! Absolutely ridiculous how Monsanto and other multi-national corporations have been allowed to buy Washington.
http://organicconsumers.org/monsanto/index.cfm
Interesting to see Guns, Germs and Steel mentioned here as I just finished the Food Production portion of the book and was thinking how relevant that seemed as I watched the trailer. For me, that portion of the book was an eye-opening, beautiful ode to our ancestors' food production knowledge and successes. I fail to see how that in any way mirrors/supports/justifies Monsanto? So I guess I concur that it is a recommended and on-topic read, but I took away something totally different to prev commenter. Thanks Ryan for posting this. Let's hope (and help) the film to be made as one can never have too much information, especially about something so vital to our beings.
I'll probably be the first and only to say that GMO isn't really that big of a deal on here. Sorry, I'm not the only educated person that doesn't think it's that bad for you.
Look at the other things that you're still buying that are not "genetically modified" (many people claim they don't eat genetically modified food - many on here do), but don't understand that it's a very selective terminology. Sure, you can shop at Whole Foods and buy non "genetically modified" foods - but you have to understand that you may still be buying food that is selectively bred, which can still contribute to genetic modifications. However, many times, it's not provided to the end consumer whether your food has been selectively bred or not.
To determine if something is "genetically modified" it has to undergo "direct human manipulation of an organisms genome using modern DNA methods." Please tell me that you're not dense enough to think that everything labeled "organic" undergoes some strict scrutiny to actually be certified. These are laws - they are abused.
Not to mention that organic foods can still be sprayed with synthetic chemicals that are on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances - remember the DDT (causes cancer, diabetes and is extremely toxic) was used on crops and recommended by the government at one time. Does that mean that there are still chemicals on this list that may be harmful to you? Yes. Does that mean that they are perhaps more harmful than genetically modified products? Perhaps... time will only tell.
Although it seems like I am siding for big corporation, I'm actually just saying that no matter if you take these out of your diet or not, you're going to be consuming things that are deadly to you. You're going to consume things that kill our earth. That is, unless you grow all of your own food and slaughter your own meat (a la Mark Zuckerberg). Is that rational for someone who doesn't own a Ted Turner size piece of land? No, and thus, you're harming yourself with what you eat.
That all being said - I think you should eat what you want and make yourself happy. If that means no genetically modified foods, then so be it, it makes you happy. However, it doesn't necessarily mean that you'll live longer or not be poisoned by the food you purchase.
Thank you! This is something about our "great" nation that I find extremely disturbing. In order to live healthy lives we have to spend more money to buy the organic, local products rather than the overly processed and preservative loaded crap sold everywhere. Food should not be this complicated. Watching an episode of Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations the other night, he was visiting a thriving area of France where 80% of their economy is based on tourism. He and his friend went to a small restaurant where they ordered the most decadent and delicious food. The lady he was with expressed disbelief that the wealthy from America go vacationing in France to eat like the poor people of France eat, as the food served at this small restaurant is food readily available to the poor class. I don't know about you but I find this rather embarassing. At what point in time did we decide to overlook the quality of the food we are told we should buy, and leave it all up to a handful of bis corporations?
Thank you so much for posting this, Ryan. Like the guy in the sizzler said - public awareness is key. People should know what their eating, be it good or bad for you. Education and transparency are so important for our society. It's a shame that we have to fight so hard for those simple things.
Have you seen the documentary, "Food, Inc."? I think you would love it. It sheds A LOT of light on where the food system in this country is at, and it's really quite scary. But it also shows us what we can do to avoid participating in it.
I have been saving this video on my google reader until today. I am amazed that many people is the US don't know what GMOs are and are most likely eating them everyday. Just like Haiti, most countries will not accept imports containing GMOs.
I sort of feel like we as a country asked for this... we want food now and we want it cheap. Most people aren't willing to pay top dollar for locally grown, organic/sustainable corn. As a first generation farmer (my husband started a beef farm after high school)we want to provide local people with the best food we can, that's why we do no hormones/antibiotic and solely grass fed beef and free range eggs. We have a local economy that can support this but we can't raise our calves because we need money from them to farm the next year. Farming is hard and most Americans look at farmers as dumb hicks. I did a study abroad comparing US and European agriculture, the differences were amazing but the one that stuck with me the most was how much they appreciated where their food came from. They have a completely different view of farmers and food and I hope someday adopt their view on this.
My problem with GMOs is we don't know what GMO's will do not only to our bodies but the environment- what if some of the pollen cross pollinates a wild or invasive species and now that species is round up ready (resistant). That's a huge issue in my book- we don't know!
Also, people shouldn't surprised by Monsanto "buying" the government. It's exactly what oil companies have done. The government aspect of it is a huge and completely different topic.
An interesting point on social responsibility while operating a website....nothing to do with GMO, but instead with running commentary from readers. Thought of you and your constant battle against a-holes using your words to vilify.
Love what you do, love what you write. Keep it up! :)
I think transparency is definitely the key....I always read labels and find the shorter the list of ingredients the more likely I am to want to feed it to myself and my kids. I didnt perceive any 'rant' or 'laziness' in your post just a healthy dose of curiosity and desire to do the best for you and your family. Not every choice we make is driven by science sometimes before we have all the information or proof we just follow our gut feeling and I think that's a good enough way to go. Thanks for a thought provoking post:)
My biggest problem with GMOs is the danger they pose to future food security because they reduce biodiversity in our food supply.
I heard that the Irish Potato Famine could have been avoided if they planted several varieties and didn't just propagate the "best" potato until all potatoes grown in the region were the same and therefore susceptible to the same blight.
There are some financial/agricultural benefits to GMOs, but not to planting miles of the same plant with no alternatives.
Goof food for thought.
I've moved to Canada from France last year and I didn't expect the food department to be so hard to adjust to. It's not about the food choices, because I can pretty much put together the same things I did in France, it's about the products and what's in them. There's sodium added everywhere even in candies, and I'm always apprehensive buying fruits and vegetables imported from the US for the reason mentioned in the video above. When I can, I go to the farmer's market so I can talk directly with the producers or I just don't buy fresh products from the US at the groceries store.
The topic of food is so important ! It's the base of your health and it is needed to be talked about so thank you for bringing it up.
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