Comments on: Some More Food In The News

By: Dr. Biggles

Dr. Biggles — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 22:34:23 +0000

Aw criminy. We’ve got a tv and we use it. While we don’t visit fast food restaurants, we do have ‘some’ crap in the cupboards. We keep an even keel with these things and no one item gets abused. I’d like to think if we lived in a rural community where we could hide away our children from society that I would lead a less bothersome lifestyle. But we live in a large metropolitan area. We have trucks for crissakes that drive down the center of the freeway with moving billboards on them!
My two boys are 6 and 11 years old. They’re smart, bright, and in excellent health (not 1 pound over weight). The 11 year old is on his 3rd year of Latin and enjoys his guitar lessons. The little guy has a memory like a steel trap and loves money. They’re kind to to others and help younger children without being asked.
And we all watch TV and enjoy it. Personally, I love it.

Biggles

By: Kristi

Kristi — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 21:48:24 +0000

Well, I probably should have read the entire article on the seed vault before I commented, or I would have known that there are several storage facilities distributed throughout the world, even if they’re not “vaults” as in Svalbard. Very interesting information, thanks to you and Zak for the link!

By: Christopher Gordon

Christopher Gordon — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 19:28:15 +0000

I wholeheartedly agree with you on the prevalence of an embedded culinary cultural imperialism and racism. A gnarled issue for sure. I’ve learned to laugh-off a certain relatives’ jokes regarding the Chinese and dog-eating(I could be marinating chicken thighs, say, in an “Asian” marinade and a “kidding” dog-eating reference will suddenly appear). I used to try to elucidate or charmingly challenge..and I know said relative doesn’t really mean it so terribly…but the onus remains.

By: Barbara

Barbara — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 18:22:46 +0000

Rose–your testimony on the issue of inhumane practices when it comes to eating cats and dogs in China, I will believe. I -do- want to know how it is done, because I cannot make an informed opinion otherwise, but I am not always as trusting of what some Westerners will say about Chinese eating practices than I might otherwise be, because often thier opinions are colored by racism.

(I ran across a racist high school teacher at Morganna’s high school when it came to Chinese food, and this has strengthened my already basic tendency to suspect many Westerners of being anti-Chinese when it comes to talking about what the Chinese eat and don’t eat and how they eat it.)

That said–I cannot support making any animal suffer needlessly–whether or not making them suffer is culturally acceptable where it is happening. Suffering is suffering, and if you, Rose, whom I know and trust, tell me that the methods of slaughter in Guangdong really are as horrific as I have heard, then I stand with you and applaud the evolution of Chinese sensitivity to the issue.

That said, I am still happy that the protest was created and led by Chinese people themselves, and not by Westerners–such change, coming from within, is more likely to stick with the Chinese people, as they will not feel like it is culture imposed from the outside by outsiders.

Everyone left great comments–I will respond later today–I have errands now!

By: Kristi

Kristi — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 18:16:38 +0000

So Svalbard may be the world’s next Fertile Crescent? I love the idea of the seed bank, but in the event of a catastrophe, I’d like to know how the seeds would the be delivered to, shall we say, more agricultural parts of the planet?

Like I say, I love the idea, but I think a vault for each continent will be the next wise move.