Sorry for the lack of posts recently, I was on vacation. While on the (long) plane rides, I had a chance to read a few books, one of which got me thinking.
You: Well, what were you thinking?
Me: Why are we feeding our food to our cars?
In 2006, responding to pressures from multiple sides, congress passed an act mandating the use of corn ethanol (and biodiesel) in the fuel mix. Once the requirement for corn was passed, obviously the demand for corn rose, and so did the prices. Once the demand (and price) of corn went up farmers rushed to plant corn, and the supply of other goods went down (including a favorite of mine, barley). According to the Congressional Research Service, a food spike in 2008 was blamed on 2 things, one: increased grain demand for meat, and increased grain demand for the biofuels mandates.
Does this sound right to anyone? I am not here to advocate becoming a vegetarian or anything like that, and I am well aware of the fact that with an increased standard of living comes an increase in consumption of cars and of meat products. However, we are taking perfectly good food, and feeding it to our food and our cars, instead of taking the raw grains and eating them to fuel our bodies and transport ourselves.
We as humans have been eating grain, and transporting ourselves for quite some time, and only recently has it become ok to feed our food to our cars and our food. Cattle, chickens and other animals commonly used for food ate grass and grazed before, why cant they now?
Why do people drive everywhere? Driving seems to anger people (road rage) and cause lots of trouble in the form of time and fuel wasted while idle at stoplights, signs and in traffic. Walking or riding a bike will get you there just the same, and in the town that I live in, there is an excellent network of bike paths, both on road and off. Doing so can contribute to your health, personal enjoyment, and can help the earth.
Eating less meat can also make you healthier, reduce your monthly food bill, and help you engage more in the meals you make. This can be beneficial if you have grown tired of cooking, making the same meals and eating them. Adding a new dimension to your culinary repertoire can prove challenging and great fun.
Questions for the Readers?
1) How often do you eat Meat products? Do you buy grass fed or organic?
2) How often do you use human powered transport? Does your city or town make it easy to do so?
3) How willing are you to change your habits if it meant a healthier and longer life?
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