Let's Talk Story - Down to Earth Blog

The following is an edited version of a National Public Radio show of June 12, 2009 about Food Inc., a new movie. The new documentary Food Inc. takes aim at corporate giants behind the U.S. food supply. Director Robert Kenner and food advocate and author Michael Pollan made the film to raise Americans' awareness about where their food really comes from. Pollan says he wanted to address "the pastoral illusion we're spinning in the way we market food... You would think it comes from farms and that ranchers with big hats are producing the meat."

In the news is another outbreak of E coli 0157:H7 that has resulted in the recall of Nestle’s refrigerated cookie dough.

E coli 157 lives in the intestines of cattle. It is often found that the cause of E coli contamination in vegetables, as in the case of the spinach contamination of a few years ago, is due to contamination from cattle feces. E coli does not occur naturally in vegetables, it only gets on them due to contamination either in the fields, in processing, or distribution.

According to the Honolulu Advertiser today (June 20, 2009) the woman accused of killing a "squawking peacock" plead not guilty to the charge of second-degree misdemeanor cruelty to animals and demanded a jury trial. The woman admitted that she killed the peacock in remarks to a TV crew and to police.

Honolulu Prosecutor Peter Carlisle, who, according to news reports is considering making a run for mayor, stated "Clearly, taking a baseball bat to a peacock is not something that is tolerated by the law."

In the Honolulu Advertiser today (June 19, 2009) there is an article about a ceremony held yesterday in Kauai to remember two slain monk seals who were recently killed (murdered) over the past two months. Jeff Walters of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources said "We're here to show respect for the seals that were lost, and for all seals and all wildlife." Approx. 100 people attended the ceremony. The two monk seals, members of an endangered and protected species, had been shot.

There is a startling new book called “The China Study” written by Dr. Colin Campbell that contains the answers to the nation’s health care crisis. And what is that answer? It is not compulsory health care, it is not the spending of billions of dollars on hospitals.

In the news today is an article about the Obama administration issuing warnings on climate change in what was called the "grimmest, most urgent language on climate change ever to come out of any White House." The scientists softened the message by saying "it's not too late to prevent some of the worst consequences by acting aggressively to reduce emissions of heat trapping gases, principally carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels."

Check out our latest e-newletter that has several great stories and news about upcoming events. Visit www.downtoearth.org to read it.

The e-newsletter tells of our July 2nd "30% Off Guiltless Grilling Sale – Love Life, Save Money", with 30% off on more than 100 items that you can use for your Independence Day celebration. The e-newsletter also includes the following great quote:

"We all love animals. Why do we call some 'pets' and others 'dinner?'"
K.D. Lang
(Canadian pop and country singer-songwriter)

There was a great comic in the Honolulu Advertiser today, June 16, 2009, with the caption "The original predatory lender" with a picture of the earth with a big sign on it saying "Fine Print: failure to curb emissions in time may result in draconian climatological adjustments", and an inhabitant of the earth looking at the sign in puzzlement thinking "what the?".

A Wall Street journal article "Fortified Foods: How Healthy Are They?" published yesterday (June 16, 2009) stated the following:

Another interesting article today is that a Senate committee considers soda tax to combat obesity. The Senate Finance Committee is looking to add a tax to all sugar-filled drinks and alcohol. Opponents of this tax say sugary sodas and juices are not the main culprits in America's obesity battle, and supporters believe that the taxes could reduce consumption while offsetting some health care costs.