Recently, Our Global Ethics class watched movie called "Enron". Last class, We started read One of the chapter from a book called " The Omnivore's Dilemma". Which talks about Organic foods.
The following chapter talks about the principles of organic farming in modern America.
Michael Pollan the author of this book shows that, while organic food has grown in popularity, It's producers have adopted many of the methods of industrial agriculture. While i reading, I found interesting quote.
"How to grow this stuff (Organic foods) without chemicals was a challenge, Especially to city kids coming to the farm or garden with a head hull of pastoral ideals and precisely no horticultural experience."
I just felt that even if we're buying organic foods, chemicals are still inside and City kids like us having chemical foods most of our daily life, which is very familiar.
One fact strike me out was that "While the economic and social distances separating the well-heeled shoppers cruising the aisles at Whole Foods from the un-heeled homeless in people's Park could not be much greater, the two neighborhood institutions are branches of the same unlikely tree."
I mentioned Wal-mart as a example on my Enron blog, But, On this moment I could get interesting points that no matter what kinds of business, It always connect with economic and social distances. Why does Enron fall down? Because of economic issues. But, the difference is Organic food business is hard to fall down unless people won't buy it. But, I just want say that this Organic food is also one of the reason for Wal-mart to survive.
In my conclusion, I felt really hard to understand this book with connections between Enron.
But, I found some interesting questions that he came up with.
"Organic food .. better for what?Taste and for my health."
"Is it also better for environment? the public health? for the tax payer?"
What do you guys think? I want hear your opinions !
2 comments:
I know it's hard to come up with any, but I would like to see more connections with Enron movie. :]
In my opinion, I think organic produces do have more nutrition in them. Although I haven't done research about it, I know there are some scientific reports on this topic.
I don't think organic 'industry' is better for the environment because it costs a lot of energy and labor once the industry is expanded. I do think small organic farms are more sustainable.
I find it very hard to make connections at first too, but then I had to go through all my notes and think really hard!
I am not sure what you mean by "I just felt that even if we're buying organic foods, chemicals are still inside and City kids like us having chemical foods most of our daily life, which is very familiar." Can you please clarify?
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