Re: Life
Transformation includes examining the habits of life and developing the positive ones that bring compound wisdom, compassion and joy.
The foundation of any transformation requires listening to receive knowledge/instruction on how to change and what to change.
Which brings me to food. Food. Food. Food. New Year’s is all about “transformation” in the form of resolutions. Marketers have deemed late December and January the time of year to push fitness and overall healthy lifestyles. This approach is sadly very stale, and you can bet this tradition will happen like clock work every year (most likely because it’s a profitable approach). But one month out of the year isn’t going to cure the epidemic and systemic obesity and chronic health problems in our nation and culture.
One of the historical cornerstones of Chicagoland intimately includes the industrialization of food in the US. Armor, Swift, Pullman and McCormick all played big roles in the 1800s — systematically forming a marriage of food and capitalistic pursuits. Refrigerated rail cars, the establishment of the stock yards, McCormick’s reaper – these inventions have influenced our country’s systematic development on so many levels.
The following is a video talk from TED by Mark Bittman on the history and future of food. It’s a very informative and well thought out talk, and it’s worth the 20 minutes! Bittman calls out the food elitists and makes simple, realistic suggestions for transformation for a return to wholeness in our systems. Enjoy!
April, 
miller, 
Mark 9:47 am on January 4, 2009 Permalink
Thanks for the crazy, world-bending video! It’s amazing how things we assume have always been got their start less than 100 years ago. Crazier still is that even when those in authority discover how suicidal our food process here in America is, they push on. The most disappointing appointment to Obama’s cabinet was Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture. That guy seems to push more of the Agri-business we’ve seen in years past.
Mark 9:56 am on January 4, 2009 Permalink
You and I have become what I’d call “mostly-vegetarian” simply out of budget needs. Meats just don’t get into our home-cooked meals. (Which I really appreciate!)
The only obstacles I have are (1) When we’re traveling or (2) It has become the “chic” thing to do. Eating organic, local, and “healthy” foods are simply not something the working poor have the kind of resources to do. Advertising is aimed at different socioeconomic groups (commercials on the Golf Channel or Home&Garden Network are filled with the foods Bittman talks about, but Jerry Springer and NASCAR get their sponsors from fast food joints and worse).
I want a revolution – I love urban gardens. I love guerrilla gardening. I love free cooking classes in poor neighborhoods. I want to write a post on subsidizing farmers to set up markets in poorer parts of town. Do you think that would work?
miller 10:32 am on January 4, 2009 Permalink
Good video… mostly.
if it weren’t for the plethora of bad information, faulty statistics, and poorly drawn conclusions…
“we don’t need animals…”
really, is this the place or time to assume an audience “knows what you mean?”
he says that thirty percent of the earth’s surface if directly devoted to raising livestock. how is that possible if only thirty percent is above sea level?
some of his info is good and i applaud his presentation of it. but he gets a lot of stuff wrong and in the process shoots himself in the foot.
(granted, most of the stuff in the first part that bugs me is the oversimplification of the problem and the solution.)
finally, he doesn’t really even address the issues of big corn or soy. he mentions these products are in everything but never explains how they are devastating the planet. nor does he talk about the gross human rights violations being meted out by the vegetable produce industry.
this presentation was put together by a guy who has been struck by the seriousness of our situation… but hasn’t had the time to really research the facts or all of the implications of his recommendations.
katrina 9:38 am on January 5, 2009 Permalink
Hi Miller -
Good to hear from you. I’m glad you have a sensitivity to the research and the statistics. I’m not a statistician.
I will say that I’m really glad that there is someone making strides toward sustainable, baby-step changes. In his video, Mark Bittman is making a suggestion that is key: change is possible, and here is how you do it.
We can pick his presentation skills apart all day long, but I think you’d agree with me that our food system is broken, and it’s going to stay broken and continue to break even more until we start talking more about it.
So, in sum, his video isn’t perfect, but at least he’s making a stab at a very important subject. I’m glad that your family places such a high priority on eating good food together and setting a good example for all of us. And you’ve described your family as a good kind of “weird”. What you are teaching your kids isn’t being taught around the nation, so if you have another video or some additional content that would give us some more information on how to make positive & realistic changes, then I would love to know about it!
—
Mark — I think that the conversation of bringing good food and good eating rituals to those in our county “with-out” is a big plus. We have so many people here who are untouchable, and they don’t understand how to break out of the systems. Good thoughts.
miller 10:55 am on January 5, 2009 Permalink
Katrina,
sorry, i shouldn’t have picked it apart as i did. it just frustrates me when a guy who is as respected as he must be speaks in front of such a large group of “teddies” and shanks it with such simplistic solutions.
true, he has been thinking about it and, again, i applaud his heart on this… i just wish he’d been a little more prepared. when an inaccurate picture is painted, people find out it doesn’t work and tend to quit trying…
we just can’t afford that!
i can’t give you a video that wraps it all up nicely because i haven’t seen it. i’ve been cobbling an understanding of the issue from many perspectives for many years. however, you can link to this video on towardsimplicity.net and get a much more balanced proposal. in this video, Dan Barber suggests there is a very good, sustainable, humane way to enjoy the food we love… even animal food.
i agree change is possible, i just don’t think Mr. Bittman has presented viable paths, or at least the paths he presents aren’t nuanced enough. it’s nothing against him… i think he’s on a great track. he just needs to do a little more research.
let me know what you think of the Barber video…
peace
April 3:04 pm on January 5, 2009 Permalink
Thanks for this reminder. Transformation touches every aspect of our lives–I agree. If we are aiming for spiritual transformation we can’t ignore our diet, its all connected. Lately, we have been trying to eat more raw foods. We are also currently consulting w/ a naturalist for more wholistic advice on planning our meals.