Boy, do I have some Tales to Tell...
Friday, February 08, 2008
 
My life has been all about "being green" and "sustainable agriculture." I am all for it. I believe that it is our responsibility to keep our planet healthy. As a species, humans do very little for the earth. I would not hesitate to say that we are raping our planet. We are. For every one person who does one thing to help the earth, there are at least 20 who do not give a rat's ass about it. Our world is one of convenient "dispose-ibility"... at any cost.

I think learning how to recycle and how to reuse and how to produce responsibly is a good start. But, for me, it's all a bandage to what the real problem. I think, we consume too much. Think about it: why do we use synthetic fertilizers and pesticides? To ensure a larger harvest. Why is the demand for food much higher? Not because we have a larger population. Mainly because we are a society that views abundance as prosperity. Forget quality, it's all about quantity. So, we buy more. And how much of it do we really use? Not as much as you think.

How big was that last burger you had? Do you really need a quarter of a pound of ground beef? Don't forget the bread, lettuce, tomato, cheese, bacon... and the fries. At least three potatoes worth. What? That's not how you eat? Guess what? That's how middle America eats. And where does that lead them to?

Obesity. Is it lack of exercise? Yes. But first, you have to stuff those calories down. Guess what? You can't get fat unless you eat a whole lot of food. Have you ever seen how middle America shops for food? Almost half of it is thrown away. Along with the conveniently disposable containers it all comes in. God forbid you wash a reusable fork or plate. God forbid that you carry a reusable plastic container for your food. And god forbid you have to put that reusable plastic container in your reusable bag. Because that would mean you would have to carry around some extra weight forcing you to expend more calories. God forbid. That would be like... I don't know... exercise.

So, should we continue to support the industry of conventional farming? You decide. Do you like your planet being flushed with synthetic substances that draw the life out of it? Just so that you can enjoy that extra helping? It's not for me to say. But most of America is fat. The skinny models that walk down the runway are not the issue. Turn around. There are more obese people than anorexic ones. Those obese people are eating much more than they should. You can't get fat by eating a proper portion. Stop consuming so much.

But, I suppose that I am fighting a futile fight. Our lives are dependent on over-consuming. We do it because we are told to. Industry is considered failing if they just meet their goals. We only look positive upon industry if it is busting at the seams. And how does it bust at the seams? Well, we have to place more funds into it. And that is done by consuming more. Which means more packaging for more of that food. Which means more synthetic chemicals for more food to grow. Which means more food to buy. Which means more prosperity. Which means more money to buy with. Which means more demand for more.

I hope it stops. We don't really need more. We have plenty. Plenty to share. Because if we eat right, we eat less than what we are told to eat. Which means less needs to be grown. Which means we don't need to use synthetic ways of producing. Which means that less is produced. Which means that less packaging is needed. Which means we don't have to pollute our earth. Which means we stop harming the planet. Which means we stop harming ourselves.

I think it makes sense. I hope the rest of our planet makes sense of it too. Later.
 
Comments:
I just ate two Chinese eggplants. Broiled. With hoisin sauce. Now I feel like such a pig! :P
 
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Eating up the City before it eats me up. I'm a freelance cook who spends his free time working out, cooking for "my man", and wondering why the Right is so concerned about my bedroom.

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