By guest blogger Arran Stephens, founder of Nature's Path Foods, North America's largest organic breakfast food company, and author of The Compassionate Diet: How What You Eat Can Change Your Life and Save the Planet
Genetic engineering artificially and imperfectly alters the germ of life latent in the seeds that have sustained us all for aeons and aeons on this fragile Mother Earth, with many known and yet-unknown consequences.
Allowing corporations, governments, and scientists the power to play God with our food supply on a massive scale, and then keep this huge secret hidden from the populace, is the worst form of hubris and subtle tyranny. Sooner or later, nature sends her debit, for which we all have to suffer, and wonder why.
This issue has polarized the food world.
On one side are the corporations that stand to profit monetarily, acting (knowingly or unknowingly) under the guise of common good, of ending world hunger, of reducing pesticides and advancing science (promises which genetic engineering has failed to deliver on). On the other are the too-often unheard voices demanding transparency, proof, freedom, justice, sustainability, and health.
We, the latter, having looked at both sides of the issue, have decided to take a stand for the greater common good. No, we'll keep genetically engineered foods that now have permeated up to 85 percent of supermarket shelves at bay and out of our lives.
How?
We choose the organic and regenerative way of farming, processing, and eating. Do it as locally as possible. Grow, and go, organic!
From The Compassionate Diet:
Vegetarianism, like ethical living in general, is foundational to spiritual growth and the development of universal consciousness and love. According to many of the world's wisdom traditions, meat eating is antithetical to achieving these states of expanded awareness.
In some of these ancient spiritual traditions, vegetarianism is unequivocally advocated, yet it is a sad fact that many modern-day exponents either have forgotten or deny the original teachings. Examples are the utterances of Siddhartha Gautama--the Buddha--that were written down in the Pali language by his direct disciples; several Judeo-Christian texts, written in Aramaic, that were excluded from what became the King James version of the Christian Bible; various esoteric Taoist teachings; and the writings and living guidance of spiritually realized human beings variously called masters, saints, prophets, and sages. Many diverse traditions caution that our full human/divine potential cannot be realized if we indulge in animal foods.
Related Links:
Spring Into Kindness - Maria's Farm Country Kitchen
Have the Best Memorial Day Ever - Rodale.com
Nature's Path
For more from Maria Rodale, go to www.mariasfarmcountrykitchen.com.