http://www.care2.com/greenliving/where-does-your-food-come-from.html
Where Does Your Food Come From?
I had the opportunity to see Food Inc the other night and to say that I was blown away is an understatement. The trailer below says much more than I can ever say here about this important topic but suffice it to say this is a movie that everyone should see.
Few choices in our lifestyles have as much of an impact on the planet as our food choices do. What I like about this movie is that it gives you a fair amount of facts that you probably didn’t know in order to scare you a bit but educate you at the same time, and then leaves you with concrete ideas on how you can make a difference. Also, hearing folks like Michael Pollan (The Omnivore’s Dilemma) and Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation) expertly break down these hard truths into digestible pieces makes it easy to understand what is happening out there without being an expert yourself.
Have you ever considered how far your food travels to get to you and what companies must do to keep it “fresh” during that journey?
Are you aware of the amount of corn you eat (it’s in almost everything processed) and what it is doing to you and our ecosystem as a whole?
Do you know the amount of contaminants factory farms put out into our waterways?
We have been trained as a society to buy food at the supermarket, get it as cheap as possible, and not consider where it came from, who it effects, or what it is doing to us. When you think about it, the whole thing seems fairly irresponsible.
Thankfully, we all have the power to change this system. The Food inc website has some great resources to check out after you’ve seen the movie including 10 Simple Tips towards eating better which will help you start now.
Beyond just learning about the problems with industrialized food yourself, there is another reason I want you all to run out and see this movie. Since it’s a documentary, it’s in a smaller group of theaters and will not get as much exposure to the general public as it should. The more these showings sell out, the more theaters they’ll put the film in. The more theaters its in, the more people see it. Simple. So by heading out to see it, you’re not just educating yourselves, your potentially helping to bring this important message to a wider audience.
Presently you can find out where the movie is playing here, and they’ve also supplied an online listing of where they are showing the film here.
So please, if you do nothing else for the environment or your health this week, run out and see Food Inc. I’d love to hear your thoughts after you’ve seen it and a word of advice before you head in–skip the soda and popcorn, you’ll be glad you did.
Dave Chameides is a filmmaker and environmental educator. His website and newsletter are designed to inspire thought and dialogue on environmental solutions and revolve around the idea that no one can do everything, but everyone can do something. Give people the facts, and they’ll choose to do the right thing.”
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add your comment »I've seen a few of these farm factory videos, and how the animals are treated so cruelly. And it's made me want to hurl. I would love to see them put out of business. And have the barns renovated to more humane ones (where animals can feed/rest during storms) and fields/large outdoor pens constructed.
One way to get these farm factories out of business, is only buy meat from reputable farms, such as Angus. And try to persuade your grocery stores to buy their meat from humane farms; do some research if they have to.
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I have seen Food Inc twice now. the first time I went with my wife and her parents. I was so impressed that I went back with my interns and co-worker. We have even talked to the theater about taking our entire company to see it! I feel this is one of the most important films for America's youth to see and Kudos to Chipotle for offering free showings accross the country! Another good movie to supplement Food Inc is King Corn http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pr5HQrgg9mM
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I actually had the same thought. I don't pick the pics though, that's done by CARE2 so it's a bit out of my control. I sort of looked at it as this is how cows would like to live.
Dave
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Nice article, although the picture doesn't match! Perhaps if it factually depicted the life of any cow during their shortened, deeply unpleasant life, rather than the pretend-cow picture of happy cows in a pretty field. The truth, as you probably now know, is that few cows on this planet get to even see grass growing, and that their continued pregnancies, birthing and breast-milk siphoning, as well as the brutal treatment, drugs and poor diets they endure end in their uncomforatble and terrified slaughter.
ahem...but otherwise a great article, thanks you. It's something everyone should know.
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I am vegetarian and an advocate for animal/environmental protection. Follow my efforts and do your part to help at:
twitter.com/voice4change
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Just something else to consider...in Sweden, it is by Law that all McDonalds fast foods have to supply bags of fruit/vegetable pieces as well as selling only organic milk ! I know it isn't really any consulation considering the nutritional deficiency of the entire menu, but perhaps they could start to buy foods from organic growers like some KFC outlets buy organic chicken here in Australia, & McDonalds buy Rainforest Alliance coffee from fairtrade growers etc. Perhaps they can change to wholegrains instead of white & bake their fries instead of fry...I choose not to eat it because it is a low energy food as well as a spiritually devoid food & causes addiction...Also here in spiritual areas like Byron Bay - McDonalds stores are banned. No surprise there.
I really will try to see this movie. Thankyou again.
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This seems very good. Jamie Oliver, the english chef, now educates schools & school children on eating fresh wholesome foods & is constantly campaigning to end the sale of junk foods in english schools ! This is great. Junk food & highly precessed foods should be treated like cigarettes & probably will be soon enough. Eventually people will wake up & say - 'OH, look at that - our children are dying of cancer !!'. This is due to generations of eating denatured, unwholesome foods causing the human population to become more & more unhealthy & for degenerative diseases to start earlier & earlier. (Even though most degenerative diseases are not a natural part of life or ageing) - if we were to live a healthy lifestle - fresh food, fresh water, good sleep, minimise working hours, time in the sunshine, heaps of quality time in nature, healthy exercise/yoga/meditation, toxin free living, natural skin/home/clothing products, minimise exposure to electricity - minimise mobiles/laptops/tv exposure (NO MICROWAVES)etc etc.
NO JUNK FOODS !!
Thankyou for this enlightening article. It really is honing in on what we need to start focussing on.
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Also, read Michael Pollan's "In Defense of Food"...
His message: Eat food (if your grandmother wouldn't recognise it as food, it isn't). Not too much. Mostly plants.
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Since I'm rural and not likely to find it nearby, I just put it on my Netflix queue-it's not available yet, but when it is I'll be able to get it. Thank you!
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I REALLY want to see this and especially want my husband to as well. Sadly, it is not playing near us. Lets hope it gains popularity enough to be shown all over the U.S. From the cinemas to the classroom and beyond!
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