The Joslyn Museum in Omaha is a wonderful place! Kora takes art lessons there and I love getting there a little early, having lunch and peaking at what is new. The Lorax exhibit is on loan to the museum right now and we got to go through and look at all the original line art and colored pencil renderings for the book.
As I walked through and enjoyed the work of the artist, I thought about Dr. Seuss taking on that awesome responsiblity of warning us of what might happen if we weren’t responsible with our resources. Conservation was the main issue as I grew up. Now, for Kora (in 4th grade) it is renew, recycle and reuse. Her children are going to be dealing with an even larger problem. That problem is going to be how to deal with tainted food, air and water.
There are times you need to look for yourself, get to know the circumstances, motivations (both sides) and list out the pros and cons. Then come up with a new solution.
Good intentions, combined with lack of information, responsibility and greed is a dangerous thing – on both sides.
There needs to be less of this and more working together to find solutions to problems. If we all work together – we are stronger. There is strength in numbers.
There are times that it is important to talk about what is happening. In the case of Monsanto -there was a bill in congress to protect them from Congress. Thankfully it was removed on 9/30/13.
Monsanto is trying to feed the world’s poor. That is a noble gesture. (Just for this conversation, we will forget about the fact that their noble gesture is feeding their pockets too). There is a hunger problem in the world- sadly, there is a hunger problem right here in the United States- country of abundance. It needs to be addressed. Someone needs to address it. Health Coaches are in a good position to do that.
To solve the problem, Monsanto, and other companies and farms, changed our food. They made it more hearty with a longer shelf life.
The genetically modified products are also causing real serious health problems for many children and grownups in our country. Other countries have strict regulations and ways to deal with GMO’s. Our country does not. Labeling and distribution controls are voluntary.
Many people in the US are asking for GMO’s to be marked. Maybe not removed from the marketplace but – marked. In Omaha, NE – they are being fed to sick people in hospitals, children in schools and people in restaurants. We buy them in grocery stores…and most people do not know what they are. Kind of scary.
There are a lot of problems, and I don’t mean to simplify them. Pesticides, cross-pollination with pharmaceutical crops, gmo’s not intented for human consumption getting into our groceries.
These are problems that our parent’s didn’t have. The general population isn’t even aware. It is a new problem because it is a new situation. There haven’t been enough studies, testing or controls. These are the problems that our children and grandchildren are going to be suffering from.
The Health Coach Group has decided to take a positive approach. I think we could establish that we all want to end world hunger. We all want to live long healthy lives and we want the same for our children and their children. We are going to contribute 3% of our future earnings toward the following:
- work for gmo identification and labeling
- work to feed the hungry
The problem you run into, is how to feed the hungry. The Foodbank has their way, Monsanto has theirs. It is really important to thoroughly investigate the organization and know that the money is going to be used productively and not in a harmful way.
What are some of the organizations you feel confident in and why?
Photo Credit: http://www.monsanto.com/Pages/default.aspx
Way to go Cathy. Sorry to hear about the Whole VA thing, but we all need to be aware of the issues the GMO’s are causing. I have been recently diagnosed with leaky gut and in a lot my research it shows that after years of consuming GMO’s could have contributed to this. Any thoughts on this? So yes we all need to be aware of what is going on in our food supply. The search for real and healthy food is challenging. Take care
That is a great suggestion Gina. Local churches would definitely be able to allocate the money well. We have always donated to the Food Bank. I sure wish there was a way to do more real food and less canned.
It really is difficult to ferret out the companies and foundations whose missions and actions have a positive impact on our nations health.
I like the ‘start at home’ approach as well. Even in affluent neighborhoods and cities, children are hungry.
I believe that private charities are able to affect change in their sphere, and that cooperation with larger foundations will increase their effectiveness. Also, as we foster a team mentality, one common goal, and everyone has their position to play in support of the goal real change can take place.
I think there is an uprising in awareness about this subject. It may seem like we are losing a battle at times, but the more that we speak, write and educate the more the word gets out and circulated in the public. So lets keep linking arms and not give up on this fight!
So right on Cathy! Thank you!
I like what Ghandi said, “Be the kind of change you want to see in the world.”
Awareness and walking your own walk is all you can do.
I agree with you about Ghandi Hayley. Sometimes we need to do more than walk our own walk. We have a responsibility to do for others what they can not do for themselves…and to share what we know for the benefit of others.
Great post Cathy! It’s sad that we live in a very backwards world. As a health coach I’m committed to sharing everything that I know because there are so many people out there who have no clue about what’s going on with the food supply. The world is getting sicker and sicker while these companies bank accounts are getting bigger and bigger. What a shame.