Food insecurity has become so commonplace it is almost newsworthy. Almost.
With a daily bombarment of economic, political and natural disasters, the greater reality of food scarcity barely gets a mention. We hear of riots in Cairo and Tunis, but not of the rising food prices and shortages there. Not of the most basic human need to eat, being deprived.
In the United States we've had a
"safe" and available food supply for years - but that is rapidly changing. Expect inflation to continue to eat away at your market basket over the next several months. The simple facts of world population growth, corporate consolidation, and engineered agriculture guarantee it. While we've recently seen riots in Mexico over the
price of corn and in Bolivia over
corporate control of drinking water, additional repercussions will include the accelerated spread of disease among people and animals, the poisoning of the environment, and a general sickening of everything out of the natural order.
Food recalls no longer surprise us - except by their shear magnitude.
E coli contamination or
industrial malfunctions are already built-in to our crisis awareness psyche. To think - the very things that support our lives.
Awareness, of course, and self-education are the first steps to conquer any challenge. Getting an understanding on
American factory farming is not an exercise in depression, but rather a base to find a better alternative. Embracing the
local food movement is a positive in a world of negatives. Films like
Food, Inc.,
King Corn,
The Future of Food,
Blue Gold, need to be seen. There is a better way, we just have to want it.
