Besides killing a variety of species, introducing diseases into our food system and creating seed monopolies, what else do genetically modified organisms do?
Genetically modified organism or seeds owned and sold to American farmers by companies such as Monsanto, are our food system. Farmers buy the seeds annually, plant the crops, harvest and sell the produce, grain, whatever to food manufactures. There is nothing farm fresh about the tomatoes you pick up at the local super market. That tomato has more than likely been bought and sold more than 4 or 5 times, between many middle people/companies and has traveled on average 3000 miles from farm to your table or better yet food chain restaurant. Mom and pop restaurants that purchase food from distributors are no exception to this rule.
I left the house this morning early, without packing my lunch. I had no idea that I would be gone until 2 pm. By noon, I was starving, having not had breakfast. I pulled over a national chain restaurant and ordered a veggie wrap and cheddar broccoli soup. The wrap was packed full of veggies. Tomatoes, olives, lettuce, peppers, etc.
It's January and I live in New England. No local tomatoes. What was I thinking? Tomatoes in January?
Thanks to GMO's and cheap fossil fuels, America (I) has become accustomed to having tomatoes year round. But at what cost? It's not just the waste of said fossil fuels, the loss of biodiversity or health risk. What about taste?
We are becoming more and more accustomed to bland food. Maybe that's why super markets, restaurants and drive thrus stock so many tasty dipping sauces and spreads. Manufactured flavors. No wonder kids prefer chips and candy to fresh fruits and vegetables. They taste better.
So what to do during the winter in New England? Eat flavorful (as local as possible) winter veggies. Boiling up some super tasty rutabagas now.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
I am an Oilaholic
Hi! My name is Calyb and I am an alcoholic. Yup a meeting makers make it, 12 stepper.
Step 1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol and our lives had become unmanageable.
Easily, I can replace alcohol with oil. I am addicted to oil and am completely powerless over it. The way I transport myself, heat and cool my home, cook my food, purchase my food, write this blog post, flush my toilet, shower, brush my teeth. Actually, in what way am I not using oil? About the only thing we as humans do with out oil, is breath. Maybe I should say Americans, but more and more the earth is developing and people are becoming more and more oil dependent.
What's most interesting to me is how something much larger than I (the government and big business...ssshhh), have allowed us all to believe that being oil dependent is progress and best for our economy. Similar to how the alcohol branders like you to believe that the best way to relax and have fun is to drink and that everyone has the ability to choose to drink in safety.
I know how to treat my alcoholism. I go to meetings, work the steps with my sponsor, talk to another alcoholic, but how do I recover from my oilism? Is there a big book the lays out the twelves steps of recovery? Are there support groups where I can talk about the way oil impacted my life and what I am doing today to recover from my addiction? Should I consider reaching out and asking my fellow oilaholics for help or even a sponsor?
In Alcoholics Anonymous, the 12 steps are not 12 distinct changes I make and then are therefor recovered. The 12 steps are a new way of life. In most cases, you go through them in order the first go around (however long that takes)and then they become principles that become a part of your daily life.
When I think about my oilism, I think about very absolute changes I need to make in my life. But I wonder if I would be a bit more successful by applying the principles of AA to this aspect of my life as well. What would that look like?
1. Accept the fact that I am addicted to oil and it's a part of everything I do
2. Come to believe that I can not do it alone
3. Make a decision to turn my will and life over to the care of my higher power
4. Make a searching and fearless moral inventory of my oil eating habits
5. Admit to my higher power, to myself, and to another human being the exact nature
of my wrongs
6. Be ready and willing to have my HP remove these short comings.
7. Humbly asked HP to remove our shortcomings.
8. Make a list of all natural things I had harmed, and became willing to make
amends to them all.
9. Make direct amends (changes)to above said wherever possible, except when to do
so would injure them or others.
10. Continue to take personal inventory and when I am wrong, promptly admit it.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with
HP praying only for knowledge of good will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to
carry this message to oilaholics, and to practice these principles in all our
affairs.
So, here is what it boils down for me;
I was not successful staying away from a drink on my own and without a program of support and recovery. I could not just say, I am never going to drink again. Just like I can not say, I will never use oil again.
Peak Oil and Climate Change are two very scary realities for me. Overwhelming realities. I can easily get depressed, frustrated and defeated by it when I try to bite off too much at one time. A day a time. Acceptance. I am much more successful adopting new principles into my life when I take the 12 step approach. First recognizing, then asking for help and spiritual guidance, and going through the process of understanding and becoming willing to make changes, also allowing room for set backs or bumps along the road. For me it can not be a "be all, end all" proposition.
I believe it is a common frustration among people that are become acutely more aware that the state of our planet and humanity are at stake.
Relax. Don't struggle. Easy does it. First things first. Be a part of the solution, not the problem.
Step 1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol and our lives had become unmanageable.
Easily, I can replace alcohol with oil. I am addicted to oil and am completely powerless over it. The way I transport myself, heat and cool my home, cook my food, purchase my food, write this blog post, flush my toilet, shower, brush my teeth. Actually, in what way am I not using oil? About the only thing we as humans do with out oil, is breath. Maybe I should say Americans, but more and more the earth is developing and people are becoming more and more oil dependent.
What's most interesting to me is how something much larger than I (the government and big business...ssshhh), have allowed us all to believe that being oil dependent is progress and best for our economy. Similar to how the alcohol branders like you to believe that the best way to relax and have fun is to drink and that everyone has the ability to choose to drink in safety.
I know how to treat my alcoholism. I go to meetings, work the steps with my sponsor, talk to another alcoholic, but how do I recover from my oilism? Is there a big book the lays out the twelves steps of recovery? Are there support groups where I can talk about the way oil impacted my life and what I am doing today to recover from my addiction? Should I consider reaching out and asking my fellow oilaholics for help or even a sponsor?
In Alcoholics Anonymous, the 12 steps are not 12 distinct changes I make and then are therefor recovered. The 12 steps are a new way of life. In most cases, you go through them in order the first go around (however long that takes)and then they become principles that become a part of your daily life.
When I think about my oilism, I think about very absolute changes I need to make in my life. But I wonder if I would be a bit more successful by applying the principles of AA to this aspect of my life as well. What would that look like?
1. Accept the fact that I am addicted to oil and it's a part of everything I do
2. Come to believe that I can not do it alone
3. Make a decision to turn my will and life over to the care of my higher power
4. Make a searching and fearless moral inventory of my oil eating habits
5. Admit to my higher power, to myself, and to another human being the exact nature
of my wrongs
6. Be ready and willing to have my HP remove these short comings.
7. Humbly asked HP to remove our shortcomings.
8. Make a list of all natural things I had harmed, and became willing to make
amends to them all.
9. Make direct amends (changes)to above said wherever possible, except when to do
so would injure them or others.
10. Continue to take personal inventory and when I am wrong, promptly admit it.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with
HP praying only for knowledge of good will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to
carry this message to oilaholics, and to practice these principles in all our
affairs.
So, here is what it boils down for me;
I was not successful staying away from a drink on my own and without a program of support and recovery. I could not just say, I am never going to drink again. Just like I can not say, I will never use oil again.
Peak Oil and Climate Change are two very scary realities for me. Overwhelming realities. I can easily get depressed, frustrated and defeated by it when I try to bite off too much at one time. A day a time. Acceptance. I am much more successful adopting new principles into my life when I take the 12 step approach. First recognizing, then asking for help and spiritual guidance, and going through the process of understanding and becoming willing to make changes, also allowing room for set backs or bumps along the road. For me it can not be a "be all, end all" proposition.
I believe it is a common frustration among people that are become acutely more aware that the state of our planet and humanity are at stake.
Relax. Don't struggle. Easy does it. First things first. Be a part of the solution, not the problem.
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