Blog Action Day: When eating food means taking action

In Defense of Food and The Omnivore's Dilemma author, Michael Pollan once said at a Madison, WI news conference, “I happen to believe America’s farmers hold the key to solving the national health care crisis, climate crisis and energy crisis.”

I could not agree more.

Reading Pollan's works has been eye-opening. I think many people have heard about how feedlots and other forms of mass agriculture impact the environment. Massive greenhouse gas emissions are released in the air daily, infecting nature, and ruining the ecosystem's natural balance. Climate change has been directly linked to these greenhouse gas emissions -- the very climate change that is responsible for several animals, and plants growing extinct; for the natural cycle of seasons to be disrupted; for the gargantuan environmental catastrophes that have become top threats to human population. What if, like these animals and plants, humans were to grow extinct as well due to climate change. We are responsible for what we have inflicted on the environment. Now, it's time we all take a step back and evaluate how much we care about our mountains, our trees, our oceans, and our children, and children of children. This past year, I have made a big change to my lifestyle. I only buy seasonal produce and fish that is locally sourced from an organic or close to organic farm (wild for fish). I only buy meat, which has been ethically raised, and fed its natural diet (grass/pasture for cows; all-natural grains for poultry, etc.). I try to spend a lot of time outdoors to remind myself of how beautiful nature is. Not only am I making a step towards preserving our environment, but I am feeling healthier and happier.