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I'm sorry that I've ended up coming in so late in the game today! Kaitlin, thank you so much for organizing this. I bought Food, Inc and watched the video this morning - and was looking forward to discussing it with you all. I have to say my first response - as someone who thought herself to be relatively in the know on food security issues - is that I'm actually quite ignorant.
@alex definitely. I think having information is key as well as pragmatic steps.
I was bummed when I read that quote from the filmmaker -- it was so uninspired... Why create this radical, "gotcha"-style movie and have no other initiatives? Maybe because they were outlined in the manual, but it felt like it was presented (in the film) like "look at this massive problem, talk to people about it and discuss, use the information"... then what.
I feel like when people become inspired and motivated from awareness they want to rally around the cause, and there didn't seem to be an outlet to call a representative, or sign a petition or march (random examples, which may not do anything either).
I think this Kony2012 thing has got me aggravated.
I have been vegetarian for 19 years the last 2.5 vegan. (so is my husband) I am Vegan for environmental and animal welfare reasons. I am also horrified at factory farming practices such as the feeding cows to cows etc. http://m.motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2012/04/mad-cow-california http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-greger-md/california-mad-cow-disease_b_1450984.html
Veganism is not with out harm but for me it is one way to reduce harm. More vegetation (animal feed crops) and water are used in a meat based diet plus more pollution is generated (which is why the UN is urging folks to slow meat consumption). http://m.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/sep/07/food.foodanddrink?cat=environment&type=article
Eating vegan can be super cheap. Whole food Vegan protein sources are generally way cheaper than meat. Lentils, legumes, grains are very affordable when bought in bulk etc. (there are thousand of recipes free online or at the library) For those curious about vegetarianism and veganism and the reasons why people do it check out the movie Forks Over Knives. As well the movie Vegucated might be a good intro for some. http://www.forksoverknives.com/
http://www.getvegucated.com/
Hi @veggiegirl nice to have you here!
Thanks for sharing these resources...I did find I was forced to be more creative in finding meat alternatives. There is a lot of education involved. That said, if you have the time, why not invest in learning more? With dangers of e-coli and other health scares due to cuts to agricultural regulation bodies, I would prefer not to take my chances with cheap, processed meats -- just because it's easier...
BTW, I forgot to add I just finished rabble's Vegan Challenge for Earth Week.
More info here: http://rabble.ca/multimedia/2012/04/join-rabblecas-vegan-challenge-earth...
thanks @veggiegirl for joining us and bringing useful links! @kimelliott was talking about forks over knives earlier on during our vegan challenge and it is nice to see it resurface again!
Again, thanks for links especially the diversity for which they could be useful. Sometimes I feel like when I ask about alternative eating there are a litany of reasons to not eat meat/dairy, but no pragmatic steps to go by. I might have been asking the wrong people, so I appreciate your tips and transparency with the fact that no eating can be perfect as such. :)
And thanks all for another excellent Babble Book Club! I'm going straight to my garden to get planting...newly inspired! :)
@Alex, well done! We'll have to recipe share! (as I failed miserably as previously discussed
)
@alex i agree it takes education but I think that's true of anything that is a change.
Kaitlin thanks for your kind response. The issue arouses passions.
@veggiegirl feel free to unload those passions here :)
Also, a friend of mine tweeted to say
"I think awareness as an end goal is pointless -- awareness as a catalyst for action/behaviour change is important. Also "awareness" meaning accessible, comprehensible public education and conversations not just snappy slogans and oversimplified arguements. Or questionable fundraising, but that's another issue..."
Thanks for hosting and organizing, Kaitlin!
Our babble thread is trending according to my bit ly computer app! Seems we have quite a few phantom readers!
Thanks again to everyone for participating in the conversation (whether phantom or present!) and providing your thoughts, opinions and interest.
I might take off soon, another work calls, as always feel free to keep the conversation going!
And for those interested in our next selection, we are still deciding on the next read and you can help weigh in as well, check out the thread.
@jrose thanks for joining again, always nice to "see your face" on the babble thread!