Getting people on opposite sides of the political spectrum to agree on anything is about as close to impossible as it gets. If it wasn’t obvious before, it certainly has been made so in the ubiquitous news reports and social media banter that we just can’t seem to escape. But I am hoping that for a few moments, we can take an open mind and reasonable approach to a dangerous problem that has not gotten nearly the attention that the election, our new President or police involved shootings have garnered; the serious health risks that are prevalent in the food and drinking water supply in the United States. Our very own back yard.
I’d like to think that we can find agreement on one simple thing; as parents and decent human beings, we want a bright, healthy future for our children. We can see it differently on social and fiscal issues. There, we can agree to disagree. We cannot afford to see it differently when it comes to the safety of our food, water and environment.
Since I became a parent five years ago, my world has changed in so many wonderful ways. One of which is the way I view the world; the planet, the wondrous natural resources and the people that inhabit it. I never paid much attention to the countless number of landscapers spraying toxic chemicals on grass and trees. Or spreading fertilizer and weed killer across long stretches of green. It was just people doing their job, people wanting their lawn to look nice, just as we all do. With my dad hat on, I now see the hazardous, toxic chemicals– poison, leeching its way down into our drinking water, harming anything it comes into contact with along the way. Then I think of the thousands of homes in my area alone that do the same. Every. Single. Week. I know it’s not only my town that does this. I can drive into any town in any state and see the same.
… this went from something that I used to see on television commercials soliciting charitable donations, a problem “third world countries” dealt with, to something that knocked right at my front door.
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And it scares the crap out of me, to be honest. How many millions of lawns are guzzling up how many millions of gallons of this poison? Year after year after year. And where does it go when it seeps into the earth? You guessed it. Our public water supply. Multiple studies have proven this and there is unequivocally a link between high nitrate levels from the fertilizer and risks of various forms of cancer including stomach and bladder, as well as thyroid abnormalities. Yes, there are also studies that have different findings. I personally am not taking the chance when it comes to the health of my children. Are you? There are other safe, organic options such as a vinegar and salt mixture that I use to kill annoying weeds and growths in my yard. It works just as well as pricey poisons found on the shelves of home improvement stores.
After hearing about unsafe drinking water in many cities in the US, including in schools in my town and neighboring towns, this went from something that I used to see on television commercials soliciting charitable donations, a problem “third world countries” dealt with, to something that knocked right at my front door. Right here in the USA. This is a serious public health problem that we have to deal with. Right here. Right now.
And if tainted drinking water isn’t enough, add to it the ever growing practice of food fraud. Maybe it’s just me but I am starting to get frightened about anything I ingest because I really don’t know if the people handling it cared about safety in the slightest. Things imported from China are particularly worthy of a searing second look. Let’s put aside the lead found in children’s toys that were made in China and sold here in the US, to smugglers in China trying to sell meat that was decades old, and once again I find myself afraid. Very afraid. While that meat was not sold in the US, we import many products from them, some of which have been unhealthy and unsafe.
While different countries have different safety standards, it happens at US based businesses as well. A former executive of a large Peanut processing corporation was sentenced to 28 years in prison. His crime? He knowingly and willingly shipped peanut butter contaminated with salmonella to customers, knowing full well it could make them sick. Or worse. Unfortunately, “or worse” happened. Nine times. Email trails uncovered the awareness of the contamination. And his concerns that the delays were costing the business “huge $$$$”. My kids eat peanut butter all the time. So do I. I’m sickened to think that another human being made this decision solely for financial reasons. I’m frightened that the system didn’t catch it. Because with money on the line and greed in the blood, chances are there will be additional criminal occurrences in the future. What if it happens to you? Or your kids?
It’s estimated that 90% of the honey sold in America by one of our biggest suppliers, is fraudulent. Documents were falsified and lies told to change the country of origin. It’s estimated that 75% of the honey sold in the US has had its pollen removed. In other words, it’s not really honey, rather a stripped down version. Conveniently, removing the pollen also means the source of origin (the country it came from), cannot bet traced. How convenient. The criminals can’t even leave honey alone. Honey is not just in the cute little bears that line the supermarket shelves, it is in cereal, bread, granola bars, lotions and beauty products, among other things. It’s all over. And it may not even be real, but you sure are paying for it as if it is. What are we really eating? And drinking? There is danger in food. Water. Toys. Enough is enough.
I’ll do better because I care. I’ll lead by example because children are watching.
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We, as a society, can’t seem to find middle ground on politics or equal rights or religion. But one thing intelligent beings should be able to agree on is that we want to make this world a better place. For the sake of our children. Because as parents, that is our goal. For our children to have better and do better than us. Right? That includes food and water and environment. So why do we accept the current standard?
I can’t say that I know for sure how to change the world but I do know that if I want to try, I need to change myself first. To lead by example. And that is exactly what I shall do. Because nothing matters to me more than my kids. And nothing scares me more than the reality of a United States that is not at all united. And a food and water supply that are no longer up to civilized standards. Then the questions that arise each and every time I take a bite or a sip. I don’t want that for my kids. Do you? I’ll do better because I care. I’ll lead by example because children are watching. And learning. I’ll treat this planet and the people that inhabit it with respect and kindness because that’s what I want them to do. I’ll go organic and natural as often as I can. Because it’s better, healthier for my children and the earth. I’ll do everything I possibly can to make a positive impact on this world. To leave it a little better. For my children. And yours.
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Photo: iStockPhoto
After reading this post only one words comes out from my mouth that is “WoW”. This post has helps me to acquire some new knowledge. So thanks for sharing your valuable ideas with us.