Flow

          Water is the source of life. Without it, we cannot survive. Some have lived without water for forty-eight hours, others eight days, but they all surely die. While water is not an unlimited resource, the largest factor involved in water scarcity is contamination. The film Flow discusses water contamination in full. It also discusses the privatization of water, those benefiting from that privatization, and the effects it has on developing nations.  

            In the United States, our water is contaminated by a number of sources. These range from the cosmetics we use on our faces, hair, and body to the medications we take. A large number of fish off the coast of Texas were found to have Prozac in their bloodstreams. It has also been noted that many birth control pills cause fish to change sex leading to the depletion of fish populations in certain areas. The contaminants are flushed through sewage systems, “purified,” and pumped into oceans. As was taught in elementary school science classes, water goes through a cycle which includes evaporation and precipitation. Therefore, it can be determined that this contaminated water often falls upon our soil.

            Cosmetics are not the only issue involved in water contamination. Corporations are the largest culprits. These include both agricultural corporations and other such factories. In the agricultural industry, a large amount of water is used. This water is used to grow crops, but is also used as drinking water for animals. While a large majority of clean water is being used to sustain animals on industrial agriculture farms, pure water sources are also being contaminated by this same industry. This is caused by runoff of fecal contamination that destroys estuaries, as well as slaughterhouse remnants run off. While this happens a lot in the U.S., it also happens in other countries, such as Bolivia.

            In Flow, the privatization of water in Bolivia is discussed, as well as that in Africa. The Bolivian people protested the privatization of water, but their government did not heed their retort, as they were directed by the World Bank to allow it. The poorest persons in this nation were then unable to purchase water due to a lack of funds. They were unable to pay for the thing necessary for sustaining life. They were enraged, because water had always been free.

            Large companies claim that the privatization of water ensures clean water for developing nations. However, they fail to mention that they are completely unwilling to give this resource for free. They want to make money from their investments. In Africa, specifically, many large water corporations have set up wells of clean water. Persons must pay to gather water from these sources. South Africans in poor, rural areas are advised not to drink water from streams, and are asked to pay for water from these sources. However, they do not have a choice. If you do not have money, paying for clean water is not an option. You are forced to drink the contaminated water, even if it is the source of your mother’s death.

            Large companies make themselves seem like philanthropists who are providing a solution to the problem of water scarcity. However, they are not making the providing a solution at all. They do not view clean water as a necessity, but a commodity. It is advertised to the poorest of the poor and implemented in their communities. But having access to purchasable clean water does not change a person’s financial circumstances or their ability to receive clean water.

            Other persons have created more viable options for the poor. One Indian man implemented a UV water purifying system that offered clean water to villagers for just two American dollars a year per person. There are viable alternatives. But these cannot be implemented until large corporations relinquish control and begin believing that every person, regardless of economic capability, has a right to clean water.

The Ethics of What We Eat

I just finished The Ethics of What We Eat by Peter Singer and Jim Mason. Warning: They are a bit elitist and biased. But this information is on point. It was a fantastic read, probably my favorite book we have covered in the class thus far. I sincerely recommend it for anyone who is concerned about the ethics involved in our food choices. If you are suspicious or curious, delve in.

I want to share two quotes from the book.

This comes from the World Watch Magazine:
"As environmental science has advanced, it has become apparent that the human appetite for animal flesh is a driving force behind virtually every major category of environmental damage now threatening the human future- deforestation, erosion, fresh water scarcity, air and water pollution, climate change, biodiversity loss, social injustice, the destabilization of communities and the spread of disease."

Also, they discuss Michael Pollan's beliefs in regards to ethical meat consumption, taking note of the following comment:
"If the walls of both factory farms and slaughterhouses were made of glass, industrial agriculture might be redeemed. Some people would become vegetarians, but others, forced to raise and kill animals in a place where they can be watched, would do it with more consideration for the animal, as well as for the eater. We would have poultry farms where chickens still go outside and hog farms where pigs live as they did 50 years ago- in contact with the sun, the earth and the gaze of the farmer."

To conclude, here is a picture of Paul and Linda McCartney, as well as a link to an awesome interview with Paul some time ago in regards to his vegetarianism.

Interview with Paul McCartney

Start Caring

I am tired of people not caring. I started this blog to save my facebook friends from all the horrible things I know about food and NEED to share. But I am just angry that I even have to do that. We are all affected. There is so much wrong with our system and no one is willing to change it.

For example, our mass production of animals has caused there to be more fecal matter than we know what to do with. This fecal matter causes run off into water systems, destroying estuaries, and creating dead zones. At the same time, food producers are using non-natural fertilizers for their crops (made from petroleum). Why don't we just use the excess fecal matter as fertilizer? Because fecal matter isn't a special interest group like petroleum is.

Those in charge of the food system are controlled by greed and an unwillingness to change. While us consumers are obsessed with cheap food. How much does that cheap food really cost? A LOT. There are so many external costs it isn't funny. At the rate we are going, in fifty years the entire ocean will be dead. It is horrific. And everyone wants to close their eyes about it. Or make fun of the vegetarian. And it's just like. It goes BEYOND meat.

In addition to these troubling things, check out the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. They are great people doing great things. But it is just another aspect of food production we choose to ignore.

Farm Workers Claim Slavery in Florida

E. Coli is not your friend.

Here's the breakdown. While cow's stomachs and our bodies were once able to conquer E. Coli, we are no longer able to. This is because the strands have mutated. Mainly because feeding cows corn, rather than grass, has changed the acidity and composition of their stomachs. (We do this because of massive corn subsidies in the U.S.) While selling E. Coli contaminated meet is forbidden, producers are urged to check for it, rather than mandated. Because of feed lot conditions, it is hard to guarantee that there will be no infected product, or that every animal can be properly checked. Despite laws against selling contaminated meat, there are outbreaks and recalls every year. These companies lose money when they recall products and would rather chance it. That isn't okay.

Link to an article and video from the NY Times which will surely horrify you.

Supposedly, Costco is one of the best at checking their meat, so if you are an avid meat eater, I say shop there. Or if you are a veg lover, share this video/article with your friends. This isn't some hoopla agenda pushing vegan source, it is they NY Times. We should be concerned.

Genetically Modified Foods

    This week we are reading Vandana Shiva's Stolen Harvest, which discusses the hijacking of the global food supply. She discusses the effects of monoagriculture, seed patenting, the American food system, and other food practices that are negatively affecting other nations, specifically India. In addition to reading this book, we are watching the documentary The Future of Food.

    In the book, Vandana discusses the company Monsanto, in specific. This company nearly owns all the world's seeds, and they are ruthless. The film highlights this same company, telling the story of many farmers who have been taken to court by Monsanto. The reason being Monsanto crops were found on their fields. Because Monsanto has patented their genetically modified seeds, it is illegal for farmers to grow them. The upsetting part is that a majority of the farmers had no idea that Monsanto's seeds were growing on their farm, as the genetically modified crops are identical to the natural crops. Perhaps Monsanto has never heard of something called the wind? Well, according to court rulings, the wind is not an excuse for growing a patented crop. Monsanto, a huge company, has taken countless farmers to court, attempting to take everything those farmers have worked for, and often times succeeding. Vandana discusses what Monsanto has done to Indian agriculture, while the film discusses what it has done to American farmers.

    The other hot topic is genetically modified foods and the effects they can have on our bodies. Some persons have experienced intense allergies. The other effects are not yet own. China has said that they will not shelve genetically modified foods until the effects are visible on American children. They are going to watch America's children for the next ten years. Doesn't that sound lovely? You have probably noticed that GMO labeling has been an extremely highlighted topic in the media as of late. If you do a quick google search, you will see that there have been a countless number of articles about them in the past months. This is because many people have been urging the government to mandate companies to label genetically modified ingredients in their products. It would basically look like this:


     Not a big deal, right? The only people who usually read all the ingredients on a product are the people who really care. Also, in the European Union, this rule already exists. Companies claim that they do not want to do this because they simply don't want to lose any customers; however, in The Future of Food, a much more interesting fear is posited. The argument is that if companies were mandated to label this and a person had a negative reaction to it, it would be much easier to locate the responsible party.

    Anyways, I am having trouble eating altogether. I am repulsed by the food system. We patent seeds and blame the farmer, rather than wind. We treat all aspects of nature as profit, producing as much as possible, with no foresight into future consequences. It is repulsive and nerve-racking. There have been many bills proposed throughout the years to ask for GMO labeling, including several this past year. I urge you and everyone you know to become informed.

Also, I have included the trailer for The Future of Food. Watch it! But keep a tissue nearby.
The Future of Food Trailer

Food Politics

So, it has been a while. I went skydiving, managed to get an ear infection in both my ears, and have been incredibly busy with school. I am also broke as a joke thanks to finally purchasing my plane ticket for Prague this summer!

Currently, in my religion class, we are reading Marion Nestle's Food Politics. It is incredibly interesting. The things that have stuck out to me thus far are paying for labels and veggie libel laws. In regards to paying for labels, TRUST NO ONE! You know that nice American Heart Association approved stamp of approval on the box of Cheerios? It was paid for. And now red meat producers have paid for this sign too. Makes sense, right? Even though it seems to be the general consensus that red meat contributes to your likelihood of having heart disease.

Veggie libel laws on the other hand are super fun. You can indeed say, "I hate oranges." But you can not say, "Eat less oranges!" Oprah had the privilege of getting sued under the libel laws for telling her audience to eat less meat. This just ticks me off!

On another note, I have been failing miserably. But my eyes have been opened. I will not trust labels any longer. Nearly everything has milk in it! I bought soy based yogurt. And it had live active cultures from milk. I am going to try shopping at the local organic market next time.

I am also still on the search for vegan chocolate chips to make an awesome recipe I find! *Coming Soon*

To conclude, here is a quote by my new found inspiration, Gene Baur. "As I learned about the consequences of my food choices and as I recognized that I didn't have to eat animals, and that eating animals caused the animals to suffer, it caused an enormous footprint on our planet, and it wasn't healthy, it made sense to go vegan. And, it's one of the best decisions I've ever made, and I think most people who've decided to go vegan share a similar experience. It's very empowering. And, when I went vegan I actually started eating a wide variety of foods I had never tried before. Different ethnic foods. You also start combining things in different ways, you start becoming more creative in the kitchen. But I went vegan just because it seemed to make sense, and it was aligned with my own values, because I didn't want to support this system that was so abusive to animals, and wasting and squandering so many scarce resources on our planet. And it was also healthier, so it was in my interest to eat food that was plant-based instead of animal-based. Living a vegan lifestyle makes a lot of sense."

Fat Tuesday

My religion professor suspects that Fat Tuesday was created as a direct response to Ash Wednesday. We do all the things we are giving up for lent on Fat Tuesday. Thus, today, I ate about seven mozzarella sticks. And let's be honest- my stomach feels like a blown up beach ball and I want to barf. But maybe those mozzarella sticks gave me the push I need.

I want to look good. And feel good.
"At last I can look at you in peace, I no longer eat you." -Franz Kafka

Oh, and P.S. I brought the vegan strawberry cupcakes into my office. All the carnivores proclaimed their glory. To which I replied: They are vegan! I trapped you!

Ordering Vegan Food at a Pizza Place

It is possible, y'all. I went to The Red Elephant today. They had a lot of great vegetarian options for sure, but being a pizza place, they were cheesin' it up. However, they did have this baby on the menu. And while my friend was bewildered at me ordering a rice bowl at a place known for pizza, it was great. It is a teriyaki veggie rice bowl. Is teriyaki vegan? The Internet is unclear! Someone said it has fish in it, but no one confirmed. Either way, I am pleased with my choice!

Vegan Strawberry Cupcakes

So, I successfully baked my first batch of vegan cupcakes! And they taste great! I read earlier this week that a majority of Duncan Hines mixes and frostings are vegan. So that's where I began. This is what you'll need. If you'd like to try these out yourself, here's what I did!

You'll need:

Today was the first day I bought flaxseed meal in my life, and it was for something completely different. But I read that you can use it as an egg replacer. I also like canola oil much more than vegetable oil so I replaced that as well.

Instructions:

1. Preheat according to instructions. Because I used nonstick cupcake liners, I set it to 325.
2. Mix one tablespoon flaxseed meal with three tablespoons water per egg required (3 in this recipe). That is 3 tablespoons of flaxseed meal and 9 tablespoons of water. Mix this up (I did it in a small cup). Let sit for 5 or more minutes until it becomes gooey like an egg (but not really that gooey, more like a less liquidy consistent substance). 
3. Mix 1/3 cup oil (vegetable or canola) and 1 & 1/3 cup water. 
4. Mix the above together and add in the cake mix. It will look no different than regular cake batter.
5. Stick those suckers in the oven for the recommended time. I had a cupcake sheet for 12 and it took 18 minutes. (I also used the excess batter to make a round cake, which took 28 minutes).
6. Let them cool, frost them, douse them with joyous sprinkles, and consume. 

Moral Food

 This is another journal entry for my religion class. The topic was moral food. These were my two favorite entries thus far, and since I am starting this blog six weeks into the semester, I thought I would make sure everyone is up to date on what I have been learning.

Values differ from person to person based on their culture, upbringing, community, religion, and many other things. In this same way, the idea of what can be regarded as “moral food” can vastly differ amongst persons. Everyone has a different definition of what this does or does not include. Many adults tell their children to finish their plate because “there are starving children in Africa.” Others strongly oppose vegetarianism, claiming that, “God created them animals for eatin’!” Those who follow the laws of Kashrut argue that in order for food to be moral, it must be slaughtered and prepared a certain way. There are also a growing number of persons who think it is unethical to eat living creatures in general.  

Moral food involves much more than the eating of animals. Our dietary choices affect other nations, the environment, as well as our personal health. These ideas were displayed in Whitebread Protestants. Many leading activists of the time advocated for a vegetarian diet. Dr. Kellogg (of Kellogg’s cereal) advocated one by creating the cornflake, a meat-free breakfast option. Others, such as Dr. Graham (the maker of graham crackers) thought that we should eat a natural diet. These leaders argued these changes for the health of men, while others, such as Lappe, argued for these changes in light of world hunger issues. All these persons, however, advocated for “moral food,” believing that humans had an obligation to display their values in their dietary choices.

While some find it difficult to purchase a product without much research, many prefer to live happily in oblivion. Many would “rather not know” about the effects the food they eat have on the animals themselves, the environment, the laborers involved in the production, and their personal health. The “rather not know” remark has been made to me a hundred and one times. Then, there are those of us who through curiosity and a sense of injustice cannot help but research the effects and learn more.

Being one of those curious persons has led me to a point where I feel guilty about eating anything at all. However, I understand and value the communal aspect of food. I am left perplexed, wanting to make moral food choices, but not wanting to separate myself from society, or its norms. While I refuse to buy animal milk, I will not say no to a friend making me a dinner of homemade alfredo sauce and pasta. I will wholeheartedly thank that friend and enjoy every bite. I eat the foods others share with me without protest because I desire to strengthen my relationship with them, as well as to please them. However, I feel somewhat guilty doing so, not desiring to live a “wishy-washy” life. I can please myself and offend others or I can continue being informed, yet inconsistent.

While claiming that a certain diet “offends others” can sound harsh, I have found that this is the case. Whenever anyone makes a dietary change to vegetarianism, veganism, or even pescatarianism, the response from meat eaters is always a brute one. People cannot help being offended when one poses a stance that is vastly different from their own. It is difficult for people to separate the opposition of a stance from a personal attack. No one wants to feel as if someone else is judging their dietary choices. But do they feel this way because they too feel that there is injustice?

As the lent season approaches, I hope to fulfill forty days of ethically eating. I am sure there will be shortcomings, as our society makes it somewhat difficult to follow through with this (due to false labeling, as well as other things). Yet, I look forward to eating a significant amount of graham crackers, as my friend Dr. Graham’s treat is still considered a vegan delight.

Raised on the Eucharist

The following is a journal post I had to write for my Ethics and Food Class last week. The topic was "Holy Meals." 

    The question of whether food is sacred makes one think of the symbolism behind the food, rather than the food itself. While religion may be nourishment to the soul for some, food is indeed nourishment to the body.
    I have been raised on the holy Eucharist. My mother’s side of the family came from Chile, a country that proclaims Catholicism in every crack, like most Latin American countries. While our family did not attend church frequently, every child and grandchild was baptized as a baby and had their first holy communion.
    While Catholicism proclaims transfiguration, my mother has never been in agreement with it, nor did she ever tell me that the stale cracker I was consuming, but not chewing, was the flesh of Jesus Christ. Nor do I remember them teaching it this way in CCD classes, probably because they didn’t want us to think cannibalism was okay. I also remember having to practice consuming the Eucharist, only to be yelled at by my CCD teacher each time my eight-year-old lips pursed in disgust.
    I can still remember when I partook in my first holy communion. We did indeed have to attend our first confession before this. You may wonder what an eight-year-old has to confess, and I would say not much. At my first Holy Communion ceremony, the priest called me to the front of the church and asked that I proclaim Catholicism as my religion of choice. I did so with an expression of horrified confusion. I had neither expected to be singled out, nor did I have any clue what was going on. (I was a child who would lose spelling bees on purpose in order to avoid public attention). My parents were unaware of this facet of the ceremony as well, not realizing that telling the priest I was baptized in a Baptist church warranted this kind of action. Catholics do not believe that the Eucharist is for all, and this is something that has always troubled me.
    As a college sophomore I began attending a Methodist church on campus. Here, they took weekly communion, open to all. I loved this aspect of the church because I had always thought that the body and blood were not just for proclaimed Catholics. At this church, the body was pita bread and the blood grape juice. While this was a tastier Eucharist, I craved Greek food after every service. One friend of mine complained, having been taught by her mother not to “chew Jesus.” In retrospect, I can see why this troubled her. Perhaps we should not find the body of Christ “tasty,” perhaps we should not “chew Jesus,” and perhaps pita bread is not sacred. But what makes an item of food sacred? The symbolism? The tradition? The taste?
    There is one communion moment that has stood out to me in my life. Last year, I attended a retreat with the Methodist church on campus. During one evening of this retreat, about two-hundred students gathered around a fire in the chilly mountains of Mentone, Alabama. We were instructed to offer and serve our neighbors communion. While we did this, some began to sing. There were no instruments, just voices. I remember that when I served my neighbor the communion and they took it from my hands, it felt more real than it ever had. I may have shed a tear or two. Perhaps this tearful was response was due to an overwhelming sense of community, which may be the true meaning of the holy Eucharist.
    While pita bread may make me crave feta cheese and spanakopita, I believe it is the action, intention, and emotion behind it that truly matters. The food itself cannot be sacred, without the aspects of what it stands for, but more than the symbolism behind it, it cannot be sacred, unless it is communal.

Vegucated: Review

This is NOT a movie review: people who post movie reviews are self-entitled and narcissistic. However, I did watch Vegucated (2010) last night and want to tell you all about it.

Although I had work at 8AM this morning, my good friend recommended this film, and I thought, "There is no better time to watch an interesting documentary than when I should be cleaning my room/sleeping." When I was a little less than halfway through the film, my roommate knocked on my door. I had just seen the part of the film where they show common practices in the food industry. Needless to say, she found me crying my eyes out. She decided to watch the rest of the film with me, which led to awesome discussion and increased knowledge.

This documentary was written and directed by Marisa Miller Wolfson. Marisa, a vegan, found three people on craigslist to participate in a six week vegan challenge. She taught them everything they needed to know, and in turn, taught all those who have chosen to watch.

At the beginning of the film, each participant had their blood pressure and cholesterol taken, as well as their weight. The doctor explained to them the healthy way to become vegan and the many benefits. Marisa took the participants to a health food store, where she introduced them to many different dairy replacements. She also took them to an everyday market, where she pointed out other vegan food items. Some of these others include family favorites like oreos (which my roommate and I ate while watching the film) and teddy grahams.

Each participant documented their struggles. One of the participants, Tesla Lobo, had an especially hard time. Her mother was from Honduras, and her father was from Peru. Her dietary change made her unable to participate in family meals, which was very troublesome to her. This is something I relate to a lot because I strongly believe that food is communal. Changing your diet to something outside the norm can have a large impact on your social system.

Besides introducing them to these things and the common practices of the industry, they attended Vegetarian Summerfest, a conference in which many different committed vegans/vegetarians speak. (This would be so interesting to attend!) One organization, which attended, was the Christian Vegetarian Association, which I thought was totally interesting as a Christian wannabe vegetarian/vegan/ethical human. 

They also visited a family-owned farm, an animal sanctuary, and an old slaughterhouse (which was eery as fudge). And they may or may not have snuck onto the property of a factory farm, where they saw horrible sights. You could see that they were becoming enraged by the practices and treatment of the animals.

Although they were enraged by their "vegucation," only one participant remained strictly vegan. Tesla became a vegetarian, and the other participant lived a "mostly vegan" life. The film has the potential to make a large impact because it shows the transition from a normal meat-loving adult to a passionate animal-loving wannabe vegan. For example, Tesla went from smelling her dog's food to suffice her craving for meat to living a vegetarian lifestyle. Although you see firsthand their passionate rage, you also see how this does not make the struggle any easier in light of community. The film is powerful because it shows one how to be vegan without minimizing the struggles involved in such a dietary change.

Oh, and did I mention that all the participants lost weight, had lower cholesterol, and lower blood pressure by the end of the challenge. So, the health benefits are great!

First things first-

I will tell you a little bit about myself. I am twenty-years old. I am a junior in college, studying social work. Towards the end of last school year, I was struggling with the idea of vegetarianism. Over the summer, I had an insane dream, adopted a kitten, read Skinny Bitch and Jonathan Safran Foer's Eating Animals, and needless to say, I made a change.

I decided to try out pescatarianism, which is actually not a word. This has worked out quite well for me... but then I realized that humanity has almost depleted the codfish population, forcing me to again reevaluate my life.

This semester I am taking a class called Ethics and Food in the religion department. We discuss the communal, traditional, and religious aspects of food, as well as the politics behind its production. It has caused me to view food in a different and more contemplative way.

Lent begins next Wednesday, and I have decided to attempt ethical eating/living, which may or may not include a lot of veganism... and maybe self-doubt, but I am excited for the challenge. I wanted a place to share my thoughts, ideas, and discoveries. So, here I am.

I may also post some of my previous journal postings for the class, just some philosophical mumbo jumbo about the religious aspects of food and other such things.