Loren:
Thanks for your comments, they were great. Your point about supporting
organic as a way to starve some of the corporations involved in
industrailized agriculture is well-taken. I responded to one point below
that also was important:
Loren Muldowney wrote:
> I was hoping you would comment on the support of non-chemical
> agriculture as a means to starve the corporate entities which are
> driving much of the globalization and removal of local control of
> anything. I don't have any better ideas, but if I am wrong I'd like to
> know about it.
I agree that supporting non-chemical agriculture can be a way to starve
*certain* corporate entities. And yes, transnational corporations have seen
globalization as a way to escape labor and ecological constraints imposed by
states, regions and nations. This has led to an increasing lack of local
control. My point is that supporting non-local, non-chemical agriculture
through stores like Wild Oats, Whole Foods or large organic processors etc.
is that we are creating *different* corporate entities which will do more or
less the same thing to people and communities even if they are marginally
better for nature (although I agree with Steve Groff here about misuse of
organic methods etc.). But I still think the biggest hurdle/greatest
opportunity we have for creating a just, ecological food system is changing
the structure of relationships between people, place and food.
You are absolutely correct in pointing out that many people become concerned
about culture, control, rural communities, family farming etc. through a
concern about the environment. There are a multitude of ways into and for
creating a local food system that reconnects people with place and
production. It is critical that we all keep that in mind!
Thanks for the dialogue,
Mary
-- Mary Hendrickson, Ph.D. Food Circles Networking Project University of Missouri Outreach and Extension 106 Sociology Columbia, MO 65211Website: http://www.foodcircles.missouri.edu Tele: 573-882-7463 Fax: 573-882-1473
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