It is a wonder when someone who occupies the news everyday all of a sudden is gone.
As I explore the soul of Nature in my own way I am in awe of the beauty and complexity of Nature and have respect for the ability to crush life without seemingly a second thought. I do hold that we have eternal souls that enter and leave our bodies with a purpose and so if someone dies early, the soul had achieved its purpose for this round.
But not wishing to tempt fate, I would rather eat and live healthy. Western Civilization has taken a wrong turn in its quest for cheap and plentiful food. Yes its important that everyone have enough calories to exist, but we should examine the consequences of a narrow focus.
At least one third of babies born since 2000 are likely to suffer diabetes 2. It will be the first generation whose life span is not longer than their parents. We spend less on food per capita as a nation and more on medicine than any other population.
What’s wrong with this picture? Netflix has a great documentary called “Ingredients” about buying food local. There are a lot of reasons to encourage farmers who are now less than 1% of the population. It is no longer listed as an occupation.
Half the seed production for the globe is controlled by three companies. That creates concerns for biodiversity. Food production is only profitable in large scale but 20% of our oil consumption is engaged in the production, packaging and transporting of this food.
We do place more emphasis on the “hot” electronics than we do on spending more money on more nutritious food. Saving money on food often becomes the priority after we struggle through the rest our obligations.
It does not cost a lot to eat right. Exercise can be free. Sickness is very expensive.
We are eliminating farm land with suburban growth. Population is increasing and farmland is decreasing. The emphasis to make food production more efficient rather than more nutritious is having dire consequences. Local food saves energy and is more healthy. At a point, food production doesn’t feed the population, but maybe sickness kills off the excess population and people don’t live as long; Efficiency vs Value.
We can influence the choices government, food consortiums, and we as a population are making.