If you think about it, the reason people go hungry isn't because there
isn't enough food, it is because we have a screwed up system of
distribution. People go hungry because the "fat" human being that "thinks"
he's/she's hungry sets the price and buys the food, only for it to rot away
in the refrigerator. Yet, the poor are blamed for their own starvation
because they over populate the world.
However, the poor not at all to blame. In fact, overpopulation exists
because of technological advancements in things such as mechanics (air
conditioners, heaters, automobiles, etc.), medicine (vaccinations,
treatments, antibiotics, etc.) and biotechnologies (genetic engineering).
Isn't it strange that the very thing that Monsanto is claiming will bring
an end to world hunger is something that adds to the very classism that
caused it?
Genetic engineering might add to the food supply, but only to that portion
of it that will be consumed by those who can afford to be fed.
(Keep in mind that I am just using genetic engineering as an example, there
are dozens more examples out there. They are easy to spot. Also, I'm not
against modern medicine and technological advancement. I am just attempting
to point out the paradox of the whole thing.)
Another problem is that people claim that genetically engineered
technologies will reduce agricultural runoff and eventually lead to a
cleaner water supply. Thus, this technology is credited with cleaning our
environment. I would argue, however, that since the large farmer is the
most likely individual to adopt this technology and since, according to
Monsanto, these products are what the public are going to seek out, the
smaller farmer will be driven out of business. But, who cares, as long as
the environment is cleaner, right? I don't know, but if you asked me, I
wouldn't know what to say was worse... someone dumping chemicals in my well
or losing generations of small farm tradition. To me, both are equally as
polluting.
I guess when it comes down to it, our whole society needs a full body
overhaul. It seems that everyone is looking for the easy way out and most
have forgotten how to stop and not only smell the flowers, but appreciate
their beauty, as well. I don't know what led us to this point, but we are
all guilty of it, you, me, everyone. I wish it weren't so and the sad
thing is, we might be too screwed up to ever change it.
The situation seems to be that we are on a quest for knowledge and that
knowledge instills a sense of power into the knower. The knower may mean
well, but even though we may be the most knowledgable race ever to live on
this planet, we are not at all the smartest. While we are seeking to solve
the problems of the world with revolutionary biotechnologies, we seem to be
forgetting that some of these very same technolgies are what put us in our
current predicament to begin with. I think that we forget that the answer
may be right in our own back yard, literally. This system we call Earth
worked fine until we started messing around trying to make things better.
While we are trying to insure the survival of our race, we seem to only be
insuring its doom. We have forgotton who we are -- only a piece of this
complex system. No one ever gave us the authority to go around changing
things and be the boss.
Somehow, our society needs to forget about the SUV's and the home shopping
network and the cloned mice, and start to appreciate eachother for the
beauty that the human race was created for/with. Call me whatever you
wish... pesimistic, idealist, etc, but like I said, the answer to this
world's problems with the environment, hunger, poverty, over population,
lie within our own souls. It is that simple.
Did someone mention Ocham's razor?
-megan
Megan Terebus
Farm Program Developer
Agricultural Conservation Innovation Center
2234 South Hobson Avenue
Charleston, SC 29418
Ph. (843) 740-1326
Fx. (843) 740-1331
email: megan.terebus@agconserv.com
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