Blog #5

The consumer freedom video has an interesting take on what it is they are doing. They were created in 1996 to counter activist groups who are telling us how to live our lives. These different groups vary from PETA to HSUS to the Center for Science in the Public Interest. He points out these groups “extreme agendas” and their “misdirection,” although some of his points I do see I feel as if he is doing the same thing all the other groups are doing. He is telling us how to think and how to feel when he’s talking about these groups.

**PETA Photo- Ink not Mink, a little ironic because “black tattoo ink is made from burnt animal bones.” (Although not all ink is made from animal bones, unless you know to ask your tattoo artist odds are it probably was made from animal bones) “Also, animal rights activists and vegans who don’t want any animal products in their ink can only use Starbrite inks, as all other brands use animal glycerin’s instead of vegetable ones.” 

With that being said I do see some of his points and how that can relate to the topics we have been talking about in class. He states that although the Center for Consumer Freedom believes individuals should be healthy and active, he doesn’t think the government should be able to control it. By placing bans on salted food and raising the tax price for unhealthy items like soda pop. In class we have talked about the control the government has on the supermarket, with all the fruits and vegetables we see. We discuss apples a lot and how even though there are a bundle of different types of apples we are only shown and able to choose from the best looking apples around. This shows a lack of consumer freedom.

In the book, Stuffed and Starved, Raj Patel talks about how unless you are a corporate food executive; the food system isn’t working for you. He also goes in to explain that 6 billion fall into the category of rural poor who depend on agriculture for their own livelihood – these would be the starved. While affluent individuals – the stuffed, may be stuffed but still starving from lack of actual nutrition. This correlates with the CCF video because in the video he is trying to make a point that the groups don’t really care about you as a person, yes they may want your money but really they are out there for supporting themselves and their own hidden agendas.

Consumption is capable of shaping the market; it has shaped how the market is today. We buy what’s in front of us, what’s convenient. Although there are other options like the Farmers Market, which has fresh food typically that came straight from the garden. If more people shopped at Farmers Markets and stopped going to the supermarkets, the stores would feel a hurt from it but in order for that to work more people than less would have to take a stroll to the Farmers Market maybe 20 miles away rather than the store which is only maybe 5 miles.

Here is a video link of Raj Patel discussing his book Stuffed and Starved, it’s a little long but it gives a good oversight of the book. This video is really enticing to watch because at least for myself, it made me feel more connected to the book.

http://fora.tv/2008/05/16/Raj_Patel_Discusses_Stuffed_and_Starved

The first main point he talks about is soy and how global soy really is. He talks about the slaves used to help push the price of soy down. He ask “who wins from how we grow food today,” who’s making the money. Not the workers, not the store suppliers but four or five major corporations. Although this video is long, it is worth watching.