On Tuesday Michelle Obama addressed an enthusiastic audience about health concerns facing Hispanic families in the U.S. The First Lady spoke eloquently about the importance of healthy choices in fighting debilitating lifestyle diseases, now distressingly prevalent even among our children — especially among Hispanic (and other minority) children. But framing childhood obesity as a choice-driven issue sells parents and kids way short, especially within economically marginalized communities. If we fail to address the underlying problems, we can’t begin to hope for actual progress.
Tag: Food Politics + Justice
VT House Ag Committee Passes GMO Labeling Bill
Last week Vermont leapt energetically into the GMO labeling race, launching legislation that would require labels for food products containing genetically modified ingredients. Representative Kate Webb (D) introduced the VT Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act on February 1 of 2012, and Monsanto’s response was swift and predictably litigious. Despite overwhelming voter support for the bill, VT caved to corporate threats last year. Will democracy finally triumph over corporate bullying, this time around?
Science, Sustainability, World Hunger, and GMOs: A Skeptic’s Rebuttal
Environmental activist Mark Lynas recently embraced biotechnology, as the agricultural savior of humanity. His public conversion has drawn heavy attention in mainstream media, prompting gleeful cackles from biotech profiteers. As with any science-based debate, critical thinking and skeptical inquiry offers the best path forward: are there good reasons to follow the pilgrimage of the devout, renounce organics for GMOs, and spread Monsanto’s gospel? (Spoiler alert: nope.)
Farm to Fridge: The Video The Meat Industry Doesn’t Want You To See
Agribusiness whistleblower and vegan advocacy group Mercy For Animals presents Farm to Fridge, narrated by Oscar-nominee James Cromwell.
Meet Your Food Chain: Transforming the Food Industry from the Grocery Stores to the Farmworkers
We pay attention to how our food is produced, whether organic or conventional, and where it is produced. Local? Imported? But we have few resources to discover who produces our food. A new documentary, Food Chain, looks at the plight of American farmworkers and some solutions to the problems they face.
Is the FDA Farm Antibiotics Ban Too Good To Be True?
For years, food purists, evangelists, activists, you name it, have been fighting to get the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to enforce oversight into the mega-food industry. The concern that arose thirty-five years ago pertained to the dangerous misuse of antibiotics in food, which scientists feared would lead to drug resistance.
Now, reports are saying the FDA might finally seal the deal — banning antibiotics by court mandate. The ruling, issued by Judge Theodore H. Katz of the Southern District of New York, may make antibiotic use in livestock much less prevalent.
Animal Rights Conference Lineup Announced!
Ever been to a business meeting or a seminar with a catered lunch buffet? While other patrons are excitedly piling on heaps of grilled chicken, cheesy potatoes or caesar salads topped with [ … ]
How To Take Control of Your Food
This post is my second of three entries for the World Environment Day blog competition. I am now a top ten finalist — every vote counts towards the grand prize of becoming the correspondent for WED2012 in Brazil!
Make sure to vote on the official site (the only place voting counts). Thanks to Eat Drink Better and Important Meda for the support!
Now is the Time: Show Your Support for Farmers
Farmers have not had much success in seeking protection against Monsanto’s unjust lawsuits, but this time, the growers are scheduled to have their day in court on January 31. You can show them you care.
The People’s Grocery – Healthy Food for the Oakland Community
The People’s Grocery in Oakland, California provides healthy food for the community.
Occupy Kitchen – Feeding OWS
The Occupy Kitchen at Zucotti Park feeds the protestors at OWS each night. Staffed entirely by volunteers, the kitchen prepares fresh organic produce donated by small farmers.
Food Justice on the Way!.. via Food & Freedom Riders
Food justice is a big issue in the United States. We like to think of our country as being so just, so developed, so civilized, but the truth is there’s a ton of injustice in the US, including food injustice.
13 young leaders concerned about this and wanting to make a difference are about to set out on an 8-state, 2000-mile ride to expose this and try to bring a little more justice to our country.
Teenage Farmworker Death Requires Justice & Change
I’ve covered the horrendous topic of child labor on farms in the U.S. in the past, as well as Stephen Colbert’s testimony to Congress on immigrant farmworkers in which he [ … ]