Hello!
I just watched a report on a woman in California who's home was foreclosed recently, and she responded in the most badass way possible- by chaining herself to her house. While she knows that eventually she will be removed, this is one easy way to stand up and say that you will not leave without a fight. I urge every person facing a foreclosure to continue to live in your home or chain yourself to your home... anything to exercise the power you have and deny the power that the banks have. I urge people to make these actions in order to support each other. No one is alone in having their homes foreclosed.
What is sad and scary is the more extreme actions which have been employed by victims of foreclosure. People have been committing suicide as an extreme way of protesting the banks. The idea is "I will not leave my home alive." I am definitely not advocating this. But if people are killing themselves out of desperation, what other things can each of us do to support each other? We cannot allow a few wealthy individuals to break us down in order to make even more money. This does not need to happen, and these people do not deserve what is happening to them. So think about it... I'll think about it. I cannot stand aside while this happens just because I'm lucky enough to have a secure place to live right now.
Watch the report here: http://www.cbs8.com/ (look for "Woman Chains Herself to Foreclosed Home)
Read here: http://www.wowowow.com/post/california-woman-chains-herself-home-prevent-bank-taking-it-video-130833
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Organic Food
I want to start this off by saying that I am supportive of organic farming. It is important to reduce our use of harmful chemicals in fertilizers and pesticides, which end up causing worse problems than they solve. I would prefer these chemicals were not used as frequently or at all. Luckily, we have a market based solely on organic food. Should be perfect for me, right?
So I decided to attend a lecture at MSU entitled "Who owns organic?" presented by Phil Howard. I have often wondered who owns the companies which products are sold in places like the East Lansing Food Co-op. I learned that originally, food cooperatives were privately or employee owned and operated on their own terms. As they gained popularity, market demands shifted and many organic producers sold their companies to larger corporations. The organic food movement is continuing to be purchased and thus controlled by major corporations. Walmart, commonly thought of as one of the least socially conscious companies, started selling organic products. Other large grocery stores followed suit. At the same time, companies such as Hershey's and General Mills purchased small scale organic food farms, took these labels and started mass producing products which are organic based on the FDA requirements. Often, the ownership is hidden (did you know Kashi is owned by Kellogg?) so consumers are unaware of where these products are actually coming from. The corporations doing this are able to make a lot of money by selling products to people who are led to believe what they are buying is "more natural" and "pesticide free." I didn't know this, but apparently pesticides are completely ok according to the FDA requirements for organic food.
The term "organic" is losing its meaning as it gains momentum as a movement. Because the people profiting off of organic products are major corporations, they have more power over regulations. They have more money, which makes it much easier to be influential in our government. It is in these companies' interest to keep regulations to a minimum and manipulate consumers' interpretations of what organic means. Thus, labels and advertising are used to promote an image of a small farm and more natural products. The word natural is meaningless as far as labeling. "All natural" could be put on anything, from organic tomatoes to a box of Kraft Mac N' Cheese. Kraft won't do the second because the corporations benefit more by continuing to foster the misinterpretation consumers have. The label of organic doesn't mean much. The regulations are not strict or strictly enforced. Organic is much more effective as a marketing scheme than as a term to inform consumers about their food's production.
So anyone reading this who is about to give up on eating since it is all so corrupt, take this positive note. The major corporations are feeling and responding to demands to offer more organic products. The percentage of products being sold as organic has tripled since 1998. Maybe this is going in a good direction. And some familiar organic companies are still independently or cooperatively owned, such as Eden, Amy's Kitchen, Clif Bar, and Newman's Own Organics. These companies have stood their ground and refuse to sell to a major corporation (though they are faced with countless offers). Hopefully their protest will not be in vain.
So I decided to attend a lecture at MSU entitled "Who owns organic?" presented by Phil Howard. I have often wondered who owns the companies which products are sold in places like the East Lansing Food Co-op. I learned that originally, food cooperatives were privately or employee owned and operated on their own terms. As they gained popularity, market demands shifted and many organic producers sold their companies to larger corporations. The organic food movement is continuing to be purchased and thus controlled by major corporations. Walmart, commonly thought of as one of the least socially conscious companies, started selling organic products. Other large grocery stores followed suit. At the same time, companies such as Hershey's and General Mills purchased small scale organic food farms, took these labels and started mass producing products which are organic based on the FDA requirements. Often, the ownership is hidden (did you know Kashi is owned by Kellogg?) so consumers are unaware of where these products are actually coming from. The corporations doing this are able to make a lot of money by selling products to people who are led to believe what they are buying is "more natural" and "pesticide free." I didn't know this, but apparently pesticides are completely ok according to the FDA requirements for organic food.
The term "organic" is losing its meaning as it gains momentum as a movement. Because the people profiting off of organic products are major corporations, they have more power over regulations. They have more money, which makes it much easier to be influential in our government. It is in these companies' interest to keep regulations to a minimum and manipulate consumers' interpretations of what organic means. Thus, labels and advertising are used to promote an image of a small farm and more natural products. The word natural is meaningless as far as labeling. "All natural" could be put on anything, from organic tomatoes to a box of Kraft Mac N' Cheese. Kraft won't do the second because the corporations benefit more by continuing to foster the misinterpretation consumers have. The label of organic doesn't mean much. The regulations are not strict or strictly enforced. Organic is much more effective as a marketing scheme than as a term to inform consumers about their food's production.
So anyone reading this who is about to give up on eating since it is all so corrupt, take this positive note. The major corporations are feeling and responding to demands to offer more organic products. The percentage of products being sold as organic has tripled since 1998. Maybe this is going in a good direction. And some familiar organic companies are still independently or cooperatively owned, such as Eden, Amy's Kitchen, Clif Bar, and Newman's Own Organics. These companies have stood their ground and refuse to sell to a major corporation (though they are faced with countless offers). Hopefully their protest will not be in vain.
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