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The concept is very simple. You are what you eat.
Economically speaking, this also means that you are what you consume.
Since consumer spending makes up over 70% of our national economy, logic dictates that the smarter, healthier and more sustainable our purchasing is as individuals, the more sustainable and strong our national economy will become.
The simple ripples in the water can have drastic effects, in the long run.
So, here's what we do.
If Americans ate less meat, less fast food and manufactured food and instead ate more locally grown fruits and vegetables, as well as whatever food you can grow yourself, we could bring about the change we need without having to wait for anyone to take the lead.
Simple changes to your daily diet, even if done in moderation, combined with enough people doing the same thing can literally change the world.
If Americans bought half of their fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, poultry and dairy products from local providers, we could
1. Directly effect the energy crisis. The less a food travels the better it is. Oil that profits America's enemies (terrorist supporting/financing nations, the Bush family, the Cheney family, etc) would not be in such high demand, which would lower the price and decrease the amount of damage being inflicted on our fragile ecosystem.
2. Supporting your local economy means a stronger and more secure future for America. Factory farmed foods often lack the nutritional value that other foods have because of pesticides used on them, as well as the GMO's and other unnatural methods used to farm these foods in a way that is most profitable. Not only does this profit come at the cost of safety, the money these corporations make go towards the status quo that keeps America unhealthy, poor and in the dark about issues that directly affect our health.
3. Preventable health issues can be avoided through proper diet. If you eat an apple instead of a McMuffin your body will thank you for it, and so will your local farmers, your doctor, the environment in which we live and anybody who may be attracted to you.
These are just a few good reasons. There are plenty of reasons to eat less meat, prepackaged foods and GM foods. It is good for your body, for our local and national economies, it is energy efficient, socially conscientious and best of all, it is easy. If America can't sit on it's fat, lazy butt and stuff our faces to save the world, what will we be willing to do?
I say this with love, of course.
Seriously, though, it is so easy a caveman could do it. I know, because the cavemen founded the first agrarian economies.
Everything that you consume that is locally grown is one less gallon of oil our nation must buy from un-democratic, terrorist supporting regimes. Every time you eat at home instead of at a Corporate owned fast food location there is one less dollar that would have gone to supporting wasteful and unsafe factory farms, frankenfoods and the parasitic corporations that thrive with them. Every time you buy locally you keep another job in America, and every time you grow your own food you reap the reward of bringing a living thing into this world.
I am not a vegetarian, but I try to do my part. I only hope that others may do the same.
Next week we will diary, grow your own pot and help save the world.
At the end of the day, much of the change our world needs is something we can do ourselves.
So, get your forks, your re-usable shopping bags and your gardening clothes, and let's change the world.
Isn't this how progress happens? One step at a time.
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