Most of us have heard about hormones given to cows to produce more milk. Do you also know that cows, chicken, goats, any animal whose meat we consume are fed corn? What is wrong with corn, you'd probably ask. Well, corn is not something you have in every meal. An overdose of corn shuts down kidneys and the liver in the long term. And with all cattle, goats, chicken and what-have-you being fed corn .... when we consume their meat, we eat corn too... and way in excess of what we need to. Corn derivative in the form of HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP IS PRESENT IN ALMOST EVERY CANNED FOOD and most infamously, in soft drinks. (High fructose corn syrup is one of the reasons for type 2 diabetes) So next time you buy your food, take the time to READ the labels. Even the vegetables aren't left untouched. A lot of us have heard about Monsanto and what a great job they are doing by producing genetically modified seeds! After all, Monsanto 'helps' poor farmers, right? Wrong! Here are some eye-openers:
* Before we get into any kind of discussion - I am sure many of us realize a difference in the taste of vegetables we grew up eating and the vegetables we eat now. We also have noticed that tomatoes, onions, potates look IDENTICAL in color and shape to each other in regular grocery stores. Now compare that, with an organic store or a store which doesn't sell Genetically Modified (GMO)products. Spend some money and check out the vegetables there. You will be surprised, I guarantee you. Not only do the veggies look more 'real', they also taste so much better. They don't taste like fertilizer and take much less time (and oil) to get cooked. And.... most importantly, in the long run, you will save on medicine costs.
* A lot of us have heard about farmer suicides in India. Cotton farmer suicides to be specific. How many of us know that the cause of that is BT Cotton, a genetically modified cotton? Take a look at this link for more details. I won't try to explain anything here, you have to take a look at things yourself ..... Here's the link: http://www.i-sis.org.uk/IBTCF.php
* Monsanto , their offshoots, their allies and other companies like them are creating plants that won't reproduce by themselves. They also mention in their contracts, that if any farmer uses their seeds and the seeds of the resulting plant go and fall in some other area, that area also has to buy their seeds for farming. So what? Well, plenty. This way, Monsanto and its cronies get to decide who gets to eat and who doesn't. And remember, ANYONE WHO CONTROLS FOOD, CONTROLS THE WORLD.
* There are more than 30 countries in the world that have either banned completely or placed severe restrictions on GMO products. And those countries include countries like Japan, Australia and all the EU countries. Why? Because they consider GMO products unsafe and unfit for consumption. US on the other hand, is forcing GMO products down our throats. Here's some food for thought (pun intended) : http://www.nongmoproject.org/about/gmo-faqs/
And before we Indians try putting ourselves on a high pedestal, take a look at this link: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/bt-brinjal-is-almost-on-your-table-tes...
* Here, on Hawaii, there is a facility that is a 'lab' for GMO products. Their own employees are sent inside in protective clothing - in accordance with HazMat requirements. But the waste from the lab flows out into the open ocean. And there is increased anti-biotic resistant staph infections on this part of the world. Anti-biotic resistance Tb and antibiotic resistant pneumonia too. How does that sound? How long is it going to be, before the ocean waters carry the hazardous stuff all across the world?
If you are still unsure of what you should do, it is not simple, or easy or inexpensive.... but it is NECESSARY.
- Please avoid eating vegetables and meat which are genetically modified.
- Make internet searches which will give you stores that don't sell GMO products. When you buy vegetables, meat, milk (even milk products like Ice Cream), please look for signs that say, no artificial hormones added, not genetically modified(non-GMO), not irradiated (yes, fruits and vegetables are passed through radiation, so that they retain their freshness!).
- Wherever possible, please grow your own vegetables. A lot of us, have backyards. Let's grow our own kitchen garden there. This is not just a suggestion.... We have tried it very successfully in India and now in the US. It is inexpensive and not hard at all. Even if you grow 2 vegetables (tomato, brinjal, okra, bell peppers, chillies grow very easily in pots) and some herbs like Cilantro, Mint, Fenugreek, its worth it. This step will not just keep you healthier, it will also cut costs tremendously.
Take a look at what we are consuming and what percentage of crops are affected:
http://www.seedsofdeception.com/Public/BuyingNon-GMO/index.cfm
As I said earlier, I am aware that it is not easy or inexpensive to follow this route, but it is the only way, if we want to give our little ones the healthy life that they deserve. If you are interested in contributing (not financially, but helping spread the word), do look up the internet, there are hundreds of NGOs working vociferously and efficiently, to stop the poison of GMO products from spreading any further. Here is one great option I know of -NAVDANYA, headed by the renowned scientist, Dr.Vandana Shiva. They are doing excellent work back in India and we should support them in every which way, we can. Also, do watch "The world according to Monsanto" - a documentary film. Its not easily available. It was on youtube, but people from the governments and Monsanto forced them to take it off. But search enough, and you will find it. You can watch it online. It is very scary, but it also gives you an idea of what to do.
Like most of my articles, this too is passionate, maybe overly so. But trust me, I can't think of a more important issue to write about. This one concerns our LIVES, our HEALTH. And I think, we owe it to ourselves to read stuff about what our corporates and our governments are doing to us. Please put down your experiences and your thoughts on this write up. It will be invaluable to all us!
