Friday, January 30, 2009

Food and Water Watch

This is the mission statement of Food & Water Watch:

"Food & Water Watch is a nonprofit consumer organization that works to ensure clean water and safe food. We challenge the corporate control and abuse of our food and water resources by empowering people to take action and by transforming the public consciousness about what we eat and drink.

Food & Water Watch works with grassroots organizations around the world to create an economically and environmentally viable future. Through research, public and policymaker education, media, and lobbying, we advocate policies that guarantee safe, wholesome food produced in a humane and sustainable manner and public, rather than private, control of water resources including oceans, rivers, and groundwater."


I really think that the mission statement says it all. Everyone wants clean water and safe food, but did you know that it is up to you to get it? Yes, you. You are in control. You need to be informed so that you can make decisions about the water you drink and the food you eat.

There is so much great information on this website. The food section alone is worth a visit. Food safety is a huge concern these days with the peanut recall, but did you know that there are food safety issues that occur everyday? It is a wonder you don't sick everyday from the food that you eat.

Don't even get me started on factory farming. This is THE worst thing for the planet. From methane to polluted rivers and streams to the mistreatment of animals, this is one operation that must be stopped. There is a very interesting factory farm map that lets you see the number of animals and number of farms per state. This is a great way to see where the damage is being done.

Another big issue these days is seafood. The health benefits are continuously touted but you never hear about how bad overfishing and farm fishing is for the environment. If something is bad for the environment then it is bad for you - period. There are other foods you can eat to get the same health benefits that you supposedly get from seafood. Please leave my little ocean friends where they belong - in the ocean.

The water crisis is being compared to the fuel crisis. Water is a far more precious commodity than fuel in most parts of the world and that is just pure fact. Most of the world's population does not have access to fresh water. Isn't that awful? This is a basic human right and most people cannot even realize it. Moving forward, we must do all we can to ensure that everyone, rich or poor, has access to clean water.

Water conservation is another hot issue. There are many places in the U.S. that faced severe drought last summer. These places simply did not have water. We always see the good in face of the bad, so the one good thing that came out of that horrible situation is that people in these areas no longer take water for granted and neither should you.

Okay, enough already. Check out the facts, watch the videos, and take action at http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/. Please share this information with your family and friends so that everyone is in the loop. We can make a difference and we will. We are all in this together.

2 comments:

Henry the Dog said...

Thanks for that Stubby - will go and check that out. Mum and me have learned a lot from visiting your website. Mum says that it amazes her how so many folk don't seem to care about the devastating consequences that their actions are having on this planet:(

Stubby said...

Henry - I agree with your Mum that so many people don't care - isn't that awful? I try to do all I can to get the messages out, so thanks for the nice compliment. xoxo