Documentary. Excellent. Filmmaker, Morgan Spurlock, embarks on a one month diet in which he eats only food from McDonald's. The rules: He can eat only food sold at McDonalds; He must try the entire menu; He will only super size his meal if they ask.
As one might expect, the result to his health is disastrous. The effects are as severe as binge-drinking over a similar time frame. The diet resulted in severe harm to his liver, kidneys, heart and circulatory system, and mental and emotional health. What I found really astounding were the statistics regarding the increase of obesity in the U.S., particularly among children. Despite repeated efforts, no spokesperson from McDonald's agreed to be interviewed for the documentary. I don't understand why not. I'm sure they care about the health of their customers and stand behind their product.
While the experiment seems extreme, the film brings attention to two important topics: the disconnect between Americans and the origins and preparation of our food; and the influence weilded by large food corporations both in the halls of our government and through marketing. What looked like an innocent Big Mac before is now revealed to be a toxic fat bomb. The movie made me reconsider ever eating fast food again. Definitely worth watching, but plan on eating some veggies after.
Showing posts with label corporations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label corporations. Show all posts
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Corporations Are People Too
They have feelings. They really care about us, and it hurts their feelings when we pass laws to prevent them from spraying sludge (a toxic chemical sewage brew) on farm fields, building gargantuan hog processing plants in our communities, and operating limestone quarries and asphalt plants within a few hundred yards of elementary schools.
Well, OK. That's an exageration. Corporations don't really have feelings, and the only thing that matters to a corporation is profit. Anyone who says differently is selling something. However, corporations are people, according to the U.S. Constitution. Not only are they people, but they are really a "super" person with rights that can trump the will of entire communities. They have at their disposal sums of money, so vast that you and I can barely dream of, which can be used to hire the best lawyers, to lobby legislators and other public officials to alter our democratic processes, and to pay fines for breaking the law as just another cost of doing business.
What can we do in the face of such behemoths? Organize. Learn about our government and take back our rights. Here are a few resources:
http://www.celdf.org/ The Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund. More than just an environmental organization. CELDF helps communities organize and bring power back to the people. If the links below don't work just do a search for "Democracy School" on You Tube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_Nx9VxW0IA Intro to the Democracy School
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16Wwypc2Lvg Thomas Linzey of CELDF and The Democracy School Lectures in Seattle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuWf9e66K_M Richard Grossman Lectures in Seattle
Also check out the film "The Corporation." I haven't seen it yet, but apparently it addresses similar issues.
If anyone has other resources or ideas, make a post. Some people have said they've had trouble posting comments. I think all that you have to do is to set up a user account with Google (it's free). Then you will be able to log on and make a post.
Well, OK. That's an exageration. Corporations don't really have feelings, and the only thing that matters to a corporation is profit. Anyone who says differently is selling something. However, corporations are people, according to the U.S. Constitution. Not only are they people, but they are really a "super" person with rights that can trump the will of entire communities. They have at their disposal sums of money, so vast that you and I can barely dream of, which can be used to hire the best lawyers, to lobby legislators and other public officials to alter our democratic processes, and to pay fines for breaking the law as just another cost of doing business.
What can we do in the face of such behemoths? Organize. Learn about our government and take back our rights. Here are a few resources:
http://www.celdf.org/ The Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund. More than just an environmental organization. CELDF helps communities organize and bring power back to the people. If the links below don't work just do a search for "Democracy School" on You Tube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_Nx9VxW0IA Intro to the Democracy School
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16Wwypc2Lvg Thomas Linzey of CELDF and The Democracy School Lectures in Seattle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuWf9e66K_M Richard Grossman Lectures in Seattle
Also check out the film "The Corporation." I haven't seen it yet, but apparently it addresses similar issues.
If anyone has other resources or ideas, make a post. Some people have said they've had trouble posting comments. I think all that you have to do is to set up a user account with Google (it's free). Then you will be able to log on and make a post.
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