diet for a new america

[garden granny]

I'm in the middle of reading this book by John Robbins. I have one main question, why is this information not on the evening news, in newspapers, radio, etc. Why aren't the people being told about this everyday? I don't understand why. Even my husband, who is a total meat eater, said, after I read him a few chosen pages, well, if this was true, why haven't they been telling the public? He had no clue about any of it. I bet he will think twice now before having a piece of Oscar Mayer bologna! I just want to DO SOMETHING to stop it, but I'm only 1 person, what can I do???

[PomegranatePip]

Why? Because the food corporations are incredibly powerful. Meat and dairy producers don't want people to know (they probably don't believe it themselves, anyway) because they don't want to cut into their profits. It's all about $.

[justinesmith]

One word. Money. O.k. two words Politics. Money and politics. Remember when Oprah said she would never eat another hamburger again after having the author of Mad Cowboy on? The meat industry took her to court.... and won. It has to be a "one person effort" as we are all just one person. Look at how many people Alissa has affected and she is just "one person". We all matter. John Robbins was just one person and look at what he's done.
Unfortunatly there will always be people who don't care ~ the plight of the animals doesn't bother them, the destruction of mother earth doesn't bother them and they can't be bothered with their health. I know now that I can't save everyone (or every animal ~ I had to give up trying a long time ago to save the world). All we can do is the best we can do for us and hopefully set a good example for others. :D

[garden granny]

I know it's because of the powerful meat industry. But, I want to help stop them in some way. Help get the word out. I bet if more people knew the truth about the awful things that chickens, pigs & cows have to endur, they might stop eating meat. Granted, some don't care. But, there are many who would care, if they only knew. I just would like to know where I should start. I guess I'll research it, or maybe somewhere in the book it will tell me, I'm only half way through it.

[currious]

I know it's because of the powerful meat industry. But, I want to help stop them in some way. Help get the word out. I bet if more people knew the truth about the awful things that chickens, pigs & cows have to endur, they might stop eating meat. Granted, some don't care. But, there are many who would care, if they only knew. I just would like to know where I should start. I guess I'll research it, or maybe somewhere in the book it will tell me, I'm only half way through it.


i hear ya! there are actually alot of people who do care and often you'll find that they eat free range meat, anit-biotic and hormone free meat. I was at one time one of these people as is my sister! The local juice bar as well as the health food stores in my area always have something posted about the treatment of animals and how to help/get the word out. you could try looking there. it is truly sad how the 'need' to produce more takes over some many companies and people. I am reading about the industrial revolution at the moment and its effects on a global scale(including health and wealth gaps), its rather frustrating/sad.......but then again everyone does say I am a hippie

[EZ rider]

I have learned to use caution when I consider informing someone that their diet is killing them. People can get very defensive about sticking with their bad habits.

[PomegranatePip]

I have learned to use caution when I consider informing someone that their diet is killing them. People can get very defensive about sticking with their bad habits.

I don't know if it's so much that they want to stick with their bad habits. It's probably more likely that they just don't want to admit they're wrong.

[currious]

ezrider has a good point, its also important to remember that not everyone reacts the same way to things. some people may never see effects in their generation, but maybe in there childrens. :( so its hard for them to imagine that what they are doing is wrong for them, because to them its not, its normal

pip- it might not be so much that they don't want to be wrong, they might not have a precident. one of my friends knows her food habbits could change and they would help her, but she just doesn't have the hutspah to do it(YET!!!) she has no idea of anything other then what she is used too.

[NYbutterfly]

Have you read "The China Study"? It really goes into this topic. I'm just starting the chapter titled "Science- the dark side" which is about why this info is kept from us. All about money. The FDA is not what we think it is, the government is NOT here to protect our health. Why should they with the income that pharmacutical (sp?) sales bring in? Oh I could go on and on... read "China Study"!

[garden granny]

I have learned to use caution when I consider informing someone that their diet is killing them. People can get very defensive about sticking with their bad habits.

I know what you mean there. I've had relatives look at me like I'm from another planet, and make mean jokes about my food, as they are barbecuing a patty of ground dead cow meat on their grill with toxic charcoal bricquets. But, I really don't care, cause I know in my heart, I'm doing the right thing for my body, and maybe a little bit of what I say will sink in they're hard heads. :D

[garden granny]

Have you read "The China Study"? It really goes into this topic. I'm just starting the chapter titled "Science- the dark side" which is about why this info is kept from us. All about money. The FDA is not what we think it is, the government is NOT here to protect our health. Why should they with the income that pharmacutical (sp?) sales bring in? Oh I could go on and on... read "China Study"!

Yes, I've got it checked out from the library to read next, I flipped through it the other day, and it looks amazing.

[honeydew]

::scribbles on Books to Devour list::

[Portia2012]

The basic simple fact of the matter is total control over the consumers. They make people believe it by saying this is FDA approved, so therefore it must be fine. Go ahead it tastes good. Do the animals suffer "OH No'. My aunt actually tells me that she feels animals are just dumb looking creatures, and that they are begging us to eat them. WHAT???? Someone please tell me where they get this?


~Portia~

[Anastasia Alston]

The basic simple fact of the matter is total control over the consumers. They make people believe it by saying this is FDA approved, so therefore it must be fine. Go ahead it tastes good. Do the animals suffer "OH No'. My aunt actually tells me that she feels animals are just dumb looking creatures, and that they are begging us to eat them. WHAT???? Someone please tell me where they get this?

And then we wonder why nearly every horror movie has some scary "monster" in it that wants to eat or just plain KILL people.... :rolleyes: ::snicker, snicker::

- Stasi

[Riiiya]

the population is totally being brainwashed when it comes to food.... it's a multimillion (billion) dollar business! too much at stake

however....... i really think people's "consciousness" is starting to wake up... people start seeing lies around them (not only nutrition-wise), and of course the internet is a huge source of info and is spreading it like crazy. They say, what 3% of Americans actually READ BOOKS (i have no idea how correct that number is- hopefully higher!) the TV, entertainment industry leaves no time for such activities. But hey- with youtube and forums and sites people can get access to things they couldn't have heard before!

ahh ....i'm ONLY 1 person also. and yet- some videos or articles are so shocking that i send them to a couple of friends... some of those friends forward my email- this way more people become aware! :)

[Nurse in the Raw]

The meat and dairy industry has powerful lobbyists controlling our government and the FDA, like little puppets. Read The China Study to see how deep the fox hole really goes.

You guys would be proud of me. I have been holding on to 5 lbs of organic grass fed beef that I bought before I went raw and I gave it away today. My family has decided they don't want to eat meat anymore so I said good bye to my $40.00 meat and I don't feel bad about it at all. Five months ago I would have had a list of excuses to hang on to it but now it is just taking up precious freezer space that can be used for my smoothie fruit. Funny how things change.

[KellyL]

One word. Money. O.k. two words Politics. Money and politics. Remember when Oprah said she would never eat another hamburger again after having the author of Mad Cowboy on? The meat industry took her to court.... and won. :D

As far as I know, Oprah won that lawsuit, thank goodness. ;)

[Veganforlife]

I so agree with the posters here and their comments. It IS all about money. It's sad. We are not only being fed crap, but then becoming sick and whadda 'ya know? There's the good old boys and the big pharma companies that can cure these illnesses and why yes - it all boils back down to money.

There is a poem about a boy on a beach and star fish and the difference one person can make. I'll post that in a minute.

May I suggest additional reading and a couple film documentaries:

Books:

Fast Food Nation - by Eric Schlosser
Don't Eat This Book - Morgan Spurlock

Films:

The Future of our Food
Soylent Green



THE STARFISH POEM

Once upon a time there was a wise man

who used to go to the ocean

to do his writing.

He had a habit of walking

on the beach

before he began his work.

One day he was walking along

the shore.

As he looked down the beach,

he saw a human

figure moving like a dancer.

He smiled to himself to think

of someone who would

dance to the day.

So he began to walk faster

to catch up.

As he got closer, he saw

that it was a young man

and the young man wasn't dancing,

but instead he was reaching

down to the shore,

picking up something

and very gently throwing it

into the ocean.

As he got closer he called out,

"Good morning! What are you doing?"

The young man paused,

looked up and replied,

"Throwing starfish in the ocean."

"I guess I should have asked,

why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?"

"The sun is up and the tide is going out.

And if I don't throw them in they'll die."

"But, young man, don't you realize that

there are miles and miles of beach

and starfish all along it.

You can't possibly make a difference!"

The young man listened politely.

Then bent down, picked up another starfish

and threw it into the sea,

past the breaking waves and said-

"It made a difference for that one."


Only sad thing about this? He threw those starfish back into the path of the big huge fishing vessell that was robbing the oceans of life! (lucy's side note)

[Stina]

It's so wonderful that we don't have to contribute to the suffering with our eating habits. It's so natural to eat like the animals closest to us- chimps, orangatans, etc. who are pretty much vegans.

[RaWonderWoman5]

I work in the PR industry, dealing mainly with the local media. There have been a dozen of articles written about my workplace and each article has been full of inaccuracies and misinformation. So, we decided that, since we can't win the media fight, we're going to go on an all-out grassroots campaign and I believe the same as it relates to eating raw.

I don’t hold back when talking about the benefits of being raw. However, I make certain I relay my message in a non-offensive way. It’s a great opportunity to help someone understand this life-changing way of eating. You may only be one person but you will educate one person and then they’ll educate one person, etc.

I married a man who grew up raising market hogs and I’m so proud of the changes he’s made in his diet. He now loves hummus and guacamole, and he’s tried a number of my raw dishes. He has significantly cut his meat intake! He even mentioned to me a few months back that I’ve really helped him look a food in a totally different way. This coming from a man who was raised on a farm! :D

[RaWonderWoman5]

Veganforlife - I was just thinking about that very poem.

[CaliRaw]

One of the best things we can do is to eat RAW and LOOK like we eat RAW. We are walking and talking advertisements for this lifestyle. I know that I am and I'm darn proud of what I've accomplished! :)

[RawHeaven]

$$$!!!, powerful conglomerates, old money/political interest invested in these powerful conglomerates. another reason is the pharmaceutical and food corps own the media and commercial advertising reaps big dividends for the major networks, money once again! if they can pay for it, you will be programmed with it until you're singing their deathly jingles in the shower :)

a dysfunctional relationship with food and diet for the majority of the general (US) population

"waiting" and "expecting" someone else to tell you what to do mentality in our culture... not judging just stating my own opinion about this

expecting to be sick and die in a hospital, not stepping up to make changes in your own life and thinking it's too late so you continue on the same destructive path of eating and other stress inducing lifestyle choices, not loving yourself enough to change your life

one person does have the power to change the masses. stealing this quote from that great baseball movie with Kevin Kostner, Field of Dreams, lol, ..."if you build it, they will come!" ;)

[RawHeaven]

One of the best things we can do is to eat RAW and LOOK like we eat RAW. We are walking and talking advertisements for this lifestyle. I know that I am and I'm darn proud of what I've accomplished! :)

Yes, exactly!

[Elle_Murphy]

Because our goverment does not want us H E A L T H Y! it wants us as sick as we can possibly be & headed for an early death because there's more money in it for them.

[solarliving]

The same reason so many people aren't aware of what is happening regarding the Government. I don't know if it's brainwashing, apathy, social conditioning, etcc.. With that said, I am on a mission towards educating people about Dennis Kucinich who is running for president. It would be nice to have a vegetarian president who at least cares about animals, and god for bid, people.