Progress Project Zoranger – Goal: $7,000 Kiva Team - $150 in microloans before end of the semester Supporting Hungry Hokies with Fast-a-Thon
Coming Up DATE AUCTION Wednesday, 11/11 - Hillcrest Hall, 7:30 p.m. Fast-a-Thon Tuesday, 11/17 – GLC, 5:30 p.m.
How to help FUNDRAISING Bake & Sell Monday, 11/16 – Zoranger Well Project Meeting MARKETING T-Shirts Video A-frames, table cards & Flyers LETTERS To your Congressperson Holiday Oxfam donations
Eating and Shopping Smart “We have the illusion of consumer freedom, but we’ve sacrificed our community life for the pleasure of purchasing lots of cheap stuff. Making and moving all that stuff can be so destructive: child labor in foreign lands, acid rain in the Northeast, depleted farmland, communities where the big economic engine is crystal meth. We often have the form of liberty but not the substance.” -Barbara Kingsolver, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
Why eat responsibly? Environment Health Human Rights
Environmental Costs Water & Air Pollution Erosion Soil Depletion Deforestation
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations Produce as much meat with as little cost and in the shortest amount of time so that the most return can be gained.
“Western” diseases Exposure to chemicals Food poisoning Health
Slavery Low pay Dangerous conditions Human Rights
Chocolate Child Slavery 30% of children under age 15 in sub-Saharan Africa are child laborers. 200,000 children work in the Ivory Coast cocoa industry. Up to 12,000 are defined as victims of human trafficking and slavery West Africa provides 80% of the world’s cocoa. Ivory Coast = 46%. Cadbury, Hershey’s and Nestle all buy cocoa at commodities exchanges – Ivorian cocoa is mixed in.
Tomato Slavery in the U.S. Immokalee Florida – Tomato capital of the U.S. Up to 90% of the domestic tomatoes we eat come from Southern Florida. Immigrant workers are underpaid, forced in to debt by growers, and abused.
Genetically Modified Organisms Organisms that have been altered by combining DNA from various sources to create new genes or by splicing genetic information from one species into that of another. These organisms and their genes are patented by companies.
Organic Foods Organic crops are typically grown without synthetic pesticides, artificial fertilizers, irradiation, or biotechnology.
Steps to ethical consumption… KNOW WHAT YOU’RE BUYING! Read labels Avoid processed foods & foods from industrial farms Buy Fair Trade Eat local and in season Blacksburg Farmers Market Compromise Avoid waste: Buy what you can eat
Labels
Grocery Guidelines The most important thing is that you’re eating real food. The fewer ingredients, the better. Health: Avoid foods high in High Fructose Corn Syrup, enriched flour, partially hydrogenated oils Environment: Avoid foods containing palm oil and soy products. Choose sustainably raised meat. Look at unit prices
Certifications
Places to patron On campus Farms & Fields – Owens Dining Hall Homestead Creamery Ice Deet’s & West End Off campus EATS Farmer’s Market Kroger – Be sure to read
Places to patron Online If you can buy it locally, you should. Local = less packaging, more local community revenue
Further reading Michael Pollan The Omnivore’s Dilemma The Botany of Desire In Defense of Food Silent Spring by Rachel Carson Food Politics by Marion Nestle Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver Further watching: Food Inc. (2008)