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I have no desire whatsoever to become a pol . Despite all of the writing that I do about food and ag politics , I do n’t really enjoy government of any sort . I do n’t like that one person or one small percentage of the population acquire to decide things for everyone else . I do n’t like that these people get to control the topics of conversation for our communities , states and nation . Alas , political relation are what they are , and if we have to have a political discussion , let ’s make it one in favour of practiced food .
This is where I revalue organizations like Food Policy Action , the Food Policy Action Education Fund , the Union of Concerned Scientists and the HEAL Food Alliance , who are launching the Plate of the Union run . They ’ve started a orison to “ take bold activeness to reform our Carry Amelia Moore Nation ’s food organization ” and get the next president to start verbalize about solid food .
FPA co - laminitis Tom Colicchio writes :
“ one thousand thousand of Americans agree that it ’s time for our drawing card to part talk about food . Our next president has a huge opportunity to ensure that the current broken system , where the political science reward unsustainable , corporate factory farm , is exchange by one that promote workers ’ rights , sustainable farming practice and increased access to fresh , healthy foods . ”
Why Now?
In face you have n’t been reading “ The News Hog ” and have pretty much not eat on , produce or tune into any other newsworthiness reservoir , I hate to tell you that our food system is fairly broken : The upcomingDietary guideline for Americans are questionable , unsustainable farming pattern aredamaging our environmentand likely our health , the government istrying to conceal what ’s in our food , and I could go on for hours with more way out .
But the Plate of the Union campaign ascertains it does n’t have to be this way , and they ’re asking presidential candidate to make fixing the food system of rules a priority . “ The next president can and should go with a design to verify every American has access to sizeable , affordable food that is fair to food workers , adept for the surroundings and ameliorate farmers ’ support , ” it says .
Michael Pollan Says
In a late piece forMedium , food militant and authors Michael Pollan and Mark Bittman , UCS music director and senior scientist Ricardo Salvador , and UN Committee on Economic , Social and Cultural Rights member Olivier De Schutter write a memo to the next president that outlines their wishing for a National Food Policy . “ Such a insurance policy , if properly conceived and implemented , will result in a healthier population , a reduction in thirst , palliation of ( and adaptation to ) climate change , decreases in energy consumption , improved environmental conservation , rural and inner city economical evolution , a reduction in socioeconomic inequality , a dependable and more secure nutrient scheme , and saving to the federal budget , specially in disbursal on health care , ” they say .
A National Food Policy is like the DGA that I wrote about a duo of weeks ago , but it can actually be useful , going beyond caloric consumption and instead develop a sustainable framework for food production , commerce , pedagogy and more . This memo also calls for a restructuring of the USDA , which , incidentally , was recommended in a written report by theNational Academy of Public Administrationearlier this month .
Your Vote
We have the pleasure of grapple with the political relation - a - go - go of a presidential election for the next year . This is long time to hear about someone ’s improperly conducted emails , who said something offensive while their mic was accidentally left on and what ’s up with that one guy ’s hair .
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