Final Food Assignment

What is food and Why has it become such a burden to me?

As I study and analyze industrialization in Life Doesn't Have to be Meaningless class I keep on reconsidering my habitual diet. What I have been consuming all my life in order to "survive" has contributed to the destruction of this planet. I have run projects before to help the environment thinking that I was different than most people by doing so. By contributing to make this place a better place, I was also contributing to the animal abuse in American industries. The irony of this has enforced my ideal that there is no person in this world that is entirely nice, caring, or right. And working towards achieving something like this is futile. I might be causing harm to something else as I live my life and I haven't even noticed. I haven't wanted to notice. Indeed it is more comfortable ignoring reality but at this point I cannot bring myself to do that. After this unit I have come to focus more on the angle of the abuse and damage we humans are causing to ourselves and other species.

Responding to the song "cows with guns"
I found the song and the video funny mainly because it is not real. Sadly cows cannot fight to survive like those in the song. I do think animals live afraid after experiencing pain. However, their fear is not enough to make a change. It is in hands of the people who run the industries to stop the animal abuse. And it is also in our hands to stop purchasing the meat that is coming from these animals to make a change. This video reflected the human behavior during a revolution. It was clear when Che Guevara was mentioned in the song. Human beings have the ability to revolt against an oppressive power, and because of it, the opportunity to fight for their own rights. Cows do not have that opportunity, and not because they indeed cannot grab guns and revolt but because we who have the ability of saving them we are not providing them that opportunity. This song to me is a creative introduction to the reality of industries in America. But it could be also a lesson to the public that is it sill not aware of this reality. I think that the people who created this song still appreciate the animals and seek to give them the respect they deserve. By not giving them respect we continue on developing a huge mistake that began many years ago.

As Jared said in The worst mistake in the history of the human race we do not appreciate agriculture. Destroying barns and replacing these with mass industries we have lost our ability of working for our food and respecting the domesticated animals raised in barns. I personally think that the abuse in industries is due to the lack of the same abuse on the abuser himself. Because he has not experienced what the animals have gone through, he does not consider their pain. I find it the most unjust and disgusting thing to do, take advantage of the weak because it cannot communicate its rights as living organism. However, this leads to a major argument. The fact that industries are providing the public tons of meat to satisfy their needs is not wrong to thousands of people. As soon as there is meat it does not matter how or where it came from. That is one of the greatest comforts as human beings. We do not have to concern ourselves as soon as everything is going according to what it is expected. Our society lives in the ideal of we as kings of this kingdom, planet earth, have the "right" to consume any living organism other than other human beings. After all, the world was made for us.

If the world was truly made for all human kind, then there would not be starvation in other countries. There would also not be limited food due to expensive prices. The world was not made for us equally it was made for those who came and were put in power. Not everyone lives equally and therefore not everyone has the same opportunities. I think it is in our nature not to be equal to others. It has been attempted in many ways, such as communism, and it is not enough for most people. We have the need of having more and more, because we refuse to feel satisfied. Therefore, we take advantage of the world that was not made for us, and we kill it. We dominate other species, and we dominate the terrain by building it according to our own comfort. Out of all the animals in the world, the human being is the cruelest one.
I partly agree with what Jared suggested in that article. Developed countries have lost any type of appreciation and respect to other species. These are only seen as a profit. I think that the biggest mistake human kind has ever done is a different one, without this one none of this would have ever happened.

Furthermore to how we feel about the processed meat from industries, we have grown so selfish that thinking about our own well and satisfaction is a priority. If we feel like eating meat then we can easily acquire it from a super market. Companies have conveniently set prices that would make the people buy their merchandise. As the article of Industrial food isn't cheap suggests, not even the wealthiest people could afford the real price of industrial food in the market. This is because of all the money that is invested into building industries and machinery that would keep on "producing" the meat. Without mentioning, the energy cost of these machines that reduce the amount of time to collect all the goods by harassing the animals, is far too expensive. Paying this much money, abusing and killing animals, increasing the number of overweight population in America, consuming large amounts of energy, Providing possible infected food to the public, contaminating the environment, etc, are some of the consequences that come along with industrialization. And still these are not enough to make Companies reconsider "renovating" a barn. It all comes down to the production of money. The reason of why animals and the environment is suffering is mainly because of a profit. Thinking it in this way the reason of industrialization and these consequences do not nearly balance out. How much greed must you have to ignore all these facts in order to become wealthier than your neighbor?

As guilty is the one who produces as the one who buys from him. Yes companies keep on running their industries to become wealthier, but we are helping them the most. These companies would be nothing without us, the purchasers. We all are contributing to the destruction of this planet in some way. There is no such thing as the innocent one at this point. Because of our development and ambition to improve there is not stop to these industries. I find it nearly;y impossible to make companies and purchasers reconsider their actions. Yes, many people can change after becoming aware of the cruel reality in this process, but I do not think it is enough to cause a major impact that would save the little life that is left. Are we truly that blind that we cannot see our own self destruction or are we simply masochists?

To understand more our current choices and actions regarding self destruction, we have discussed human nature in Life Doesn't Have to be Meaningless class. I think It is our nature to kill. As a quote from the movie Natural Born Killers stated: "It’s just murder. All God’s creatures do it. You look in the forest and you see species killing other species, our species killing all species–including the forests. And we just call it industry, not murder" If it is indeed our nature to kill then our actions are pure. But at what point is it not pure any longer?
Killing other animals and plants to survive is in our nature. What is it that makes it so terribly impure? Another quote from the movie suggested a possible answer to this question. "You’ll never understand, Wayne. You and me, we’re not even the same species. I used to be you, then I evolved. From where you’re standing, you’re a man. From where I’m standing, you’re an ape. You’re not even an ape. You’re a media person. Media’s like weather, only it’s man-made. Murder? It’s pure. You’re the one made it impure. You’re buying and selling fear. You say “why?” I say “why bother?” Even if media is the one who communicated this right or wrong ideas to us, I still think there is no reason to murder such high number of living things. I think killing life might be pure, but over killing it is outrageous.

As a conclusion to this unit, I have stopped eating meat. I changed my usual milk to organic milk. I have came up with projects to make a possible change. And still, food to me is a burden. Meat or vegetables I cannot enjoy it. Thinking of the way it came from and who it came from makes me sick. The food I am eating is not food that was "shared" with me so that I could survive, but it is food that brings money to someone else. Someone I might never meet is providing me all this food at the supermarket not because of kindness, but because of greed. And I am helping that person become wealthier and wealthier, and therefore destroy the world I live in by ripping it apart. I am just part of the process of industrialization. The never ending chain of the modern life continues and continues, and only because I bought something from the supermarket at a good price.
I wonder how would I feel if I were to collect my own food from nature itself. I think it would be delightful.

If you cannot be saints of knowledge, then, I pray you, be at least its warriors. - Nietzsche

Food # 8 - Industrial Food

Response to Pollan vs Colbert:

After watching the video of the interview I came to the conclusion that not even Pollan is able to "escape" from the temptation of purchasing delicious artificial food. During the interview on Pollan's book "defending food" it gave me the impression that Pollan did not have enough "evidence" to support his arguments against Colbert. I think it was quite simple to defend the American way of eating rather than the food that it is being corrupted by industries. Many people would easily argue the same Colbert did, which is -Artificial food tastes good therefore we don't want to care- This origins from going to the supermarket and purchasing the habitual groceries. I think it is inevitable to live our lives without consuming artificial food in our society. Purchasing our favorite cereal once a month or our frozen corn dogs is far too easy and economic to not even consider ignoring these. As the article of Industrial food isn't cheap suggests, not even the wealthiest people could afford the real price of industrial food in the market. Companies have conveniently set prices that would make the people buy their merchandise. And as we blindly go through the corridors of the supermarket looking at the different attracting brands we ignore how this food could damage our bodies.


Furthermore, as Pollan discussed, our bodies cannot handle the different artificial ingredients or chemicals in the contained food we might daily consume. However, as Colbert said "but it is delicious!" In other words it does not matter how much damage the food is causing to out bodies as long as it tastes good. Not only in America but in other countries people have became too focused on their own lives that the only reason why they would not buy that bag of Cheetos is because it has too many calories and it would ruin their diet.
Speaking of diet, in this video Pollan recommended that what a person should eat in order to be healthy is food with less than 5 ingredients and of course home made. Knowing that people would easily fall into the temptation of buying junk food in the supermarket he said it was "O.K" to consume these once a week. I do not think Colbert agreed with Pollan's argument because he kept on debating that the food he was bias against is delicious and fun. Colbert gave himself an image of the standard American who doesn't have the slightly idea of what he is consuming and he is not interested in finding out because he enjoys eating it.


Response to Animal Cruelty:
I have always been against animal cruelty, but it has never been beyond puppy mills. After watching this video more than realizing something I reconsidered my diet. I have always known that industries did not treat domesticated animals in the most comfortable way. I was not aware that there was this type of abuse included into raising the food I consume. I am feeling rather guilty for purchasing meat at the supermarket. I could easily say "the chicken or the pig is already dead, why not eat it anyways?", but I'd feel disgusted about myself, specially after watching this video. Even if the speaker in the video was clearly bias, the images were enough to
make me reconsider.


Furthermore, me not purchasing meat might not make any difference at all in these industries, but at least I am not contributing to it. By saying this I could easily release myself from guilt. However, I do not think it is enough. I am planning on making a project that would do something about this animal abuse. Many people cannot bear to watch the reality of where the food is coming from, but only because we are not watching or hearing it it does not mean its not happening. As for reconsidering my diet, before i argued being too young to become a vegetarian but now I do not really care about that any longer. I have already damaged my body enough by consuming industrialized food to even argue that becoming a vegetarian would conflict my development.


In conclusion, It is as discussed in Life doesn’t have to be Meaningless class, America cannot be stopped from industrializing at this point. America is a juggernaut and avoiding crucial consequences cannot be avoided. As seen in the videos Meatrix, not only the massive destruction of barns is occurring but also animal abuse and bacterial development due to lack of hygiene. These problems eventually will have a great impact on us consumers of meat. In the most predictable future, it is highly possible that there will be no more pigs or chicken to kill and process. If not a disease could begin originating from these places and stop the production of meat. As a solution to help the ecology, industrialization can slow down in production and give some time to recovery. However many companies would not even consider this alternative solution. This is because these are too focused on producing money that they ignore the damage they are causing. I do not think it is time to point fingers at one another, in other words blame those who are producing. Ultimately we all are at fault, because we consume what they produce.

Comments

To Bao Lin:

I agree with you on how supermarkets might ""push" certain food/products to the consumers." I think that it is a method of commercialism and very effective too. Offering sales actually benefits the company to a certain point, until the costumer becomes a common costumer of that brand then they will withdraw the sale. Of course the price has to remain lower than the competition.

To Yu Xi:

I agree with you about people not being contsant with their habitual way of eating. It might be because they are not comminted to eating healthy or because they are too influenced by the fast food that tastes very good and it is also economic to a certain point. I think that this book might discuss the cultural way of our diet, however it also provides an example on the drastic differences from culture to culture.

To Maggie:

I can relate to you based on your understanding of this quote. I also do not follow specific ideas on what to eat and what not to eat. Ulimately the one who decides what is healthy for myself is myself.

To Quinn:

Like you I was not aware of this holidy until it was mentioned in class. I knew about it but it was under a different name and my family never celebrated it before. I do not think it is a good or bad holiday it is just there to symbolize some idea that some group of people made up.

To John L.:

Indeed the American and the Chinese food culture might be very different in some ways but it does not matter if we live in America. This is because we do what majority does and lose our cultural ways of eating in some way.

Food Assignment 7

Cooking Oyako-Don! (Japanese meal)

This meal is really easy to make and the ingredients are easy to find.

To make it you need the following:

- Eggs (For three pleople 6 eggs)

- Chicken (quantity of your choice)

- Onion (quantity of your choice)

- Mentsuyu (This sauce can be found in 89st and first av.)
Contained ingredients: Fish extract (water dried bonito, dried sardine), soy sauce (water, soybeans, wheat, salt), Water, Hight fructose corn syrup, sugar, salt, monosodium glutamate, alcohol, mirin (glucose syrup, water, rice, alcohol), Kelp extract (water, dried kelpt, salt, alcohol(, Disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate.

- Water

- White rice

For 3/4 of mentsuyu poured add 2 parts of water. While cooking, constantly try it and if you want add more mentsuyu or water depending on your taste.
It takes less than 25 minutes to cook and it is very simple.

Instructions:


Step 1: If you do not have a rice cooker then you can make the rice differently. I will make the rice this way to demonstrate how to do it. For 1 cup of rice use 2 cups of water. In this case I will make 2 cups of rice therefore I will need 4 cups of waster. In a pot fry the rice for 4 minues with a a little bit of oil. Then pour the 4 cups of water and cover the pot. After 25 minutes cooking at minimum the rice will be done.



Step 2: Meanwhile the rice is cooking cut the chicken into small pieces. I recommend boneless chicken to make it faster. In a pan fry the chicken until it is ready to eat. Add little oil so that the chicken doesn't stick to the pan. Spread the chicken out so that it cooks evenly.


Step 3: In a bowl put the quantity of yolks you wish for this meal and mix these.

Step 4: Chop the onion depending on how much you would like to use.


Step 5: Once the chicken is ready add the eggs and the onions to the pan.


Wait until the eggs are 3/4 cooked, then add the mentsuyu and water. In this case I will use 6 eggs, 3/4 of mentsuyu, and 2 parts of water.

Keep mixing until the eggs are done and constantly try it to find out its taste. You are free to add more mentsuyu or water. You can also add any other vegetable you would like, along with the onion. Or to replace the onion.


Once it is done in a bowl put the amount of rice you would like to eat and on top put the Oyako-Don! Enjoy and itadakimasu!

My own experience
I really like how it tastes. My sister does not like onions so she took them off to eat it. She really liked it too. My father enjoys eating Oyako-Don every time, and this time it was the same. I will bring this to my class tomorrow and give it to my classmates. I hope they like it too.

What my Classmates thought about my Oyako-Don:

Because it was after lunch many of them were satisfied and did not want to eat anymore. But some of them however decided to try it. The first one was Bao Lin, and she liked it very much. She wanted to take some home, but she couldn't because there was basically nothing left at the end. Dylan liked it and he finished it very fast. He complimented my cooking. Then I gave one to Mara and she finished it after class, she also liked it. I did not bring enough for everyone therefore I didn't give much to classmates. Next time I will bring more.

Response to Pollan 1

Michael Pollan and his book, The Omnivore's Dilemma, reflect a respectable point of view on our relationship with food. It deeply analysis and responds to the answer of "What should we have for dinner?" Although I have only read the introduction of this book I can tell that it suggests a different perspective on food from what we have seen. This involves of course other cultures and what these have done through time regarding their diet. This book is mainly known because the author "examines the ethical, political, and ecological factors that are intertwined in the industrial, large-scale organic, local, and personal (hunted-gathered) food chains, while describing the environmental and health consequences that result from food choices within these chains". I personally think that this book is rather interesting for discussing such matter. In a day to day bases I do not think much about food. This might be because I do not have to worry on obtaining food. Although I am thankful for the food I get everyday I do not analyze how this is affecting my life. According to this book and other philosophers My physical body has a lot to do with what I consume. As Pollan stated "we are not only what we eat, but how we eat." I have never considered this statement before until i read about this. Even though i have heard "you are what you eat" I did not take it into consideration. Where does this idea come from?
Who decides what to eat and what not to eat?


I am certain that these types of questions were also asked in Pollans book. While reading the introduction I encountered a few of them. For example, While referring to the American choice for food, Pollan asked: "where in the world did it come from?" In order to answer this question it is necessary to study the very beginning of alimentation. Although i have not read the answer to this question yet, I can tell that his answer relates the previous factors mentioned: ethical, political, and ecological.

The world is a competition, even regarding food. At crucial times like this when the world is losing a vast number of resources the world will eventually begin fighting for food. The natural selection will begin and human kind will "appreciate" food at once. Taking food for granted takes the value that it has. Regardless if it is cultural food is not appreciated in America. I think this is due to the availability of food at this moment. However, I do think that this will change in the near future. I wonder, if the world indeed will have to take care of the remaining food then will they come to analyze and reconsider their own actions regarding food as well?
Although this book does teach us about food and our culture I do not think many people will actually learn something from it. At this point food is available for us, therefore there is no need to reconsider anything. This is how most people think about their current life. - If it is there then no need to do anything about it- The value of this book will increase when food becomes more and more needed not wanted.

I am interested in knowing about my choices regarding food and what these bring upon others and myself. I will change my way in my part, but will it be enough?
Analysing human behavior, politics. ethics, etc. How will it change anything if the people who analyze it do not have the will of causing results. Although i am interested I think is also a waste of time. By myself I will not be able to change an entire culture. By reading this book i will not have enough motivation on changing the way people eat in America. There is too much damage done already to make a significant difference. In 10 years from now any culture's way of alimentation or diet will change. Politically speaking the problems between countries will increase and the trading market will become more greedy.

Focusing on the criticism of this book, Omnivore's Dilemma, The economist Tyler Cowen argued, "The problems with Pollan's 'self-financed' meal reflect the major shortcoming of the book: He focuses on what is before his eyes but neglects the macro perspective of the economist. He wants to make the costs of various foods transparent, but this is an unattainable ideal, given the interconnectedness of markets.In addition, some critical food theorists have claimed that the Omnivore's Dilemma is not actually a dilemma" This demonstrates the perspective this culture has on food. It is merely an economic factor rather than a gift, as it is seen in other cultures. Regarding once again the competition in America. It does matter what it is. There will be always economic competition involved. At this point it is not the polluted environment, or the lack of resources, or global warming what is driving us to an end. But the greed of human kind.

Grocery Store and Habitual Food

It is usually me who goes to the grocery store every week, therefore there is no variety of perceptions regarding the groceries in my family. Every week i purchase fruit and vegetables the most. I do not do thing because my health is priority but because i like consuming these. These are also economic so there is no reason for me not to buy these. Considering that the world is running out of resources I think that consuming organic solids would actually have a much more positive impact on the world than the actual production of other edible solids that come in wraps or cans.


Grocery stores usually have a fairly large section of fruits and vegetables, but not for other stuff such as nuts. I think that whatever is displayed the most in a supermarket or store is the one that influences the costumers more to purchase that item. I think our daily consumption has to do with the amount of publicity that food has. For most people it is more comfortable to have pork, chicken or beef for dinner rather than a tuna salad. This is because there is a high amount of publicity suggesting that the American way is actually eating these instead of anything else. I think this has to do with the amount of money that is invested into fruits and vegetables' publicity. It is communicated that it is healthy but not that it tastes good. A housewife would rather buy the ingredients that would satisfy the rest of the family rather that healthy feeding them.

When I go to the grocery store I focus on buying what i need for the seven days a week. Although I am highly tempted on buying the outstanding snacks not only in price but in color I still manage to stick up to my original plan. I assume that many people restrain due to the economy right now. Supposing that America is not in a economy crisis I think that people who eat at home would actually gain weight because families tend to buy the "extra" thing that would "balance"the rest of the food that was just bought. This would be the purchase of snacks or fats that would satisfy the taste of the rest of the family. However,there is an economy prices and it seems that it is rather cheap to buy McDonald's or White Castle for dinner rather than going to the supermarket. This economy issue is affecting many families in terms of health.
I do think that grocery store enforce some ideas into us.The way things are located or shown. The design of the wraps. The prices. It is all anticipated by a group of people who think what is best for the company rather than what is best for the costumer. This would suggest that people "in power" of our grocery choice values money more than our health.


Despite all these intention I have managed to believe this ideal therefore I decided to focus more on my own judgement of what to buy and what to ignore. My habitual patters of eating as previously mentioned contains a lot of greens and also wheat and fish. Although i buy a large amount of these I still rather purchasing g these than any other product of the store.It might be a trust issue but I am careful on always reading the amount of sodium and the condition of the container when I am buying frozen food. I personally do not like buying these, however I too think about what will taste better. Although it might be a variety of meals each day it is not a variety of meals each week. My family tends to get tired of eating homemade food time to time. Therefore, they decide to go out and eat somewhere else. Their first option is usually the one seen in T.V. commercials the most.

May Day draft

International Workers' Day, the day to fight for worker's rights for a more comfortable life. It is now known as is a "celebration of the social and economic achievements of the international labor movement" (wikipedia). In this day thousands of workers around the world gather and walk fighting for their rights as workers. As usual these worker are mere followers of an ideal that was proposed by someone who dared to do something about the working oppression. Thanks to the protesters in Chicago the society is able to live a much more comfortable life today.

Currently, I do not have enough working experience to state if the working hours or activities are in some way unfair. Also based on what I know about other countries where this event is carried on, I do not think workers should continue fighting for more comfort, unless the salary is rather insufficient. I do think however, that those who died fighting for these rights should continue to be honored and the working hours and habits should not be altered if these fulfill the requirements of a "fair job". Thanks to these people, workers can now have a reasonable laboral working day.

I was not aware that this holiday was not celebrated in America. This is because I chose not to pay attention to it and those around me do not really become part of it. They never had. Also I am not emotionally attached to this date or the results brought upon. This might be because I am currently not working, therefore I can say that this celebration is a hypocritical in most countries like any other holiday.


In America this date might not be celebrated due to this reason. workers have enough rights and other than salary they should not complain. I personally think that working eight hours a day is insignificant compared to the amount of time invested into watching TV, or socializing for some, a day. I think that workers in other countries that also have to work eight hours a day and still strike over it are just taking advantage of a memorial. Most people do not even know the history explaining why this holiday exist. They just feel comfortable knowing that their rather comfortable but insufficient lives could improve.

Due to the difficult times many years ago, workers had the reasonable right to fight for their own rights as workers. It is clear that they were seeking for some sense of balance. However today, I think this is just a holiday on which workers take advantage of. For example, in Spain. Most stores except for the ones in Madrid close at five to have free time. It is usually known as nap time. Then an hour later they open their business once again for the remaining two hours of eight they have to work. It is also commonly known in Spain, that for every four workers one works and the remaining three watch. In my time living there I experienced how these people still celebrated May 1st and fought against working oppression.

In Japan, for example, people do not really celebrate May 1st because it is not even an official holiday. It just happens to be in Golden week where most workers have vacations and do not have to work. Some of them might protest as a part of fulfilling the traditions of this foreigner holiday, however there has not been any mayor change due to this movement.


I personally do not plan on celebrating this date in any way. Although I will not be living in America when I have an opportunity to work, I still would think of May 1st as a mere day in the month of May rather than an opportunity to foment my sloth rather than a day to honor those who died for these rights. I am against this type of celebrations because I am usually active. However, for the environment a working time reduction would actually have a positive impact. Described this way, I would certainly support this holiday with this purpose. Considering that companies will not let such thing happen due to keeping an stabilized economy I have just chosen not to become part of this holiday. If sloth develops and people learn not to work or take responsibility then there is no chance for us to save what remains in the world. I am not bias against it because I dislike people who take advantage of it, but because it might negatively affect the way of thinking of the civilization even more. Living a good life might include having sufficient free time for most. But this cannot be achieved if a person does not even know how to work to achieve his own happiness.