The Future of Food

During my senior year at Albion, I took a course that started floating around in my thoughts as I watched The Future of Food--Great Issues in Science (which is the lame title that all Honors science classes got). The film is a documentary on the relationship between agriculture and big business, and much of the focus is on genetically modified foods. In Great Issues in Science, one of the many philosophical discussions our professor forced upon us (primarily so that he could also force his opinions upon us and browbeat any who disagreed) surrounded the proliferation of these genetically engineered foodstuffs as potential savior of humanity in our fight against hunger versus any and all detrimental effects these GE products could have on the people consuming them or the environment in which they were grown. I remember that class period being one that I left feeling very angry and disgusted because I seemed to be the lone voice of concern over the unknown effects of genetic engineering.

And that feeling came back to me tenfold during this movie.

I know that I shouldn't be surprised any longer by the way the government is so heavily influenced not by the people of the country but by the corporations of it, but I am consistently astonished at the level of that influence and the general lack of concern that is focussed on the citizens of this country.

The film gives some of the history of basic agriculture (farmers cultivating seeds from their crops and sharing them with neighbors in addition to using them for the coming season's crops) and the more recent history of genetic engineering of agricultural products (creating seeds which would grow into plants that would survive the onslaught of harsh herbicides), and then it went into a discussion of the introduction of these engineered seeds into the world of patents. Until a few decades ago, there had never been a patent on a living organism, and now, patents exist for a huge variety of seeds.

What is troubling about this is that since these seeds were patented, their proprietary company (Monsanto, in this case), has filed numerous lawsuits against farmers whose fields were contaminated with GMO seeds claiming that the farmers were in violation of the company's patents, regardless of the method by which these seeds arrived in the fields. And Monsanto won several cases or reached settlements with the farmers. Additionally, any plant that is found on any piece of land which hails from a genetically modified seed, regardless of how it arrived there, now belongs to Monsanto.

Monsanto and other companies holding these patents are trying to gain patents internationally that will allow them proprietary rights to ANY PLANT ANYWHERE, which could have serious consequences on farmers in third world countries.

While this is horrifying (nothing like sitting around watching the wolf devour a sheep), I am even more disturbed by the fact that the US government is so insistent on not labelling products which contain genetically modified food. Food that was bred by splicing plant genes with fish genes and e.coli genes and only they know what other genes. When I was in Ireland, EVERYTHING with GM ingredients was labelled because people in the EU insisted on their right to know what they were consuming. People who otherwise have no allergies to food are having toxic reactions to genetically modified corn.

Equally dispicable to me (I actually stopped the movie to look this up and make sure it was real because I couldn't even fathom that someone would allow this to happen) is the fact that Myriad Genetics has patented one of the genes that cause breast cancer. They have patented portions of the bodies of people in our own country--Myriad Genetics OWNS part of you if you contain that particular gene. Think I'm making this up? Think again.

Basically, they want to make money off the tests that they have developed to detect this gene. But in the process, they're creating this really questionable area of where proprietary ownership ends. Researchers who were trying to find a cure for breast cancer who were using this gene prior to the patent are no longer able to research the cure using that gene. And that means that one company controls any hope of a cure for breast cancer related to that gene. In whose interest is finding a cure now?

In the end, the film offered the options of organics and eating locally produced food as things we can do to help fight the good fight, but once again, I'm compelled to wonder what effect that will have on anything. How can the American people, who are by and large ignorant of the effects of genetically modified food, compete with multi-billion dollar international corporations?

If the government won't listen to our concerns about the war in Iraq or the exchange of our civil liberties for 'national security,' how can we expect them to hear that we want to know what we're eating? Oversimplification, I realize, but it's exactly how I feel at the moment. Utterly without recourse.

That said, I think that this is a worthwhile documentary to watch. Honestly, I want to invite everyone I know over to view it. It made me think, and it made me angry, and it made me want to do something about the issue.

Philly Knitters Secret Pal Thingum

This one goes out to my Secret Pal. And anyone else who feels a pressing need to know about all of my weird fiber habits/interests.

1. What is/are your favorite yarn(s) to knit with? Do you like solid or variegated colorways? What fibers do you absolutely NOT like? Are you allergic to any fibers? I *heart* wool and alpaca. I don't know if I have specific favorite yarns these days (Rowan Polar used to be my absolute favorite, but I've kind of gotten over the loss of it and realized I like thinner yarn). I am not a big fan of variegated yarn. For instance, I love Koigu, but most of their KPPM line is not my style. I like yarns that have one color in multiple hues for small things like socks and hats and gloves. Subtle variation pleases me much more than big color changes. As for fibers I don't like, I've determined that I do NOT like acrylic, primarily because I can achieve the same density and sproinginess with wool, and acrylic hurts my hands to knit. I'm not a big fan of cotton, but I do like some mercerized cottons. I am not allergic to anything that I'm aware of.

2. What do you use to store your hooks/needles in? We have a lovely vase for our straight and circular needles, and the dpns sit on the shelf next to them, sometimes in sets, sometimes not. The dpn organization sucks, but we've just gotten some coils to try and amend the problem.

3. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate, or advanced? I've been knitting for two years this month, and I would consider my skill level to be intermediate--I am no longer afraid of learning or trying new skills, I'm pretty adept at basic techniques in texturing (though colorwork is not in my skillset) and shaping, and I'm willing to modify things a little when I need to. I have yet to finish a sweater yet, though, so that kind of holds me back a little.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? I do.

5. What’s your favorite scent (for candles, bath products, etc.)? I'm kind of picky. I don't like strong scents for candles, and they absolutely cannot be contrived (like 'rainstorm' or 'childhood memories'). They have to be natural smelling (i.e., real vanilla, not commercial plasticky vanilla). And I really, really want to try out soy candles because they burn cleaner and aren't as intense smelling. As for bath products, I'm even pickier. I hate to seem snooty here, but I'd honestly rather not have anyone buy me anything I won't use. I do love a lot of the stuff at Duross & Langel, so if you feel it absolutely necessary to bathe me in aroma, that would be a better bet than anything else.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? What’s your favorite candy or snack? Ye gods, do I! Well, I'm a strict vegetarian (basically a vegan without the super strict restrictions...which I'll talk more about later), so that limits me a lot. I no longer crave chocolate because I don't like bittersweet chocolate, but my favorite chocolates in the whole world were real, Irish Cadbury's bars and pecan turtles...if I ever find vegan pecan turtles, I think I will weep or piss myself with glee. I don't know which is more likely. Right now, my addiction is the vegan oatmeal chocolate chunk cookies that they sell in the bakery section at Whole Foods. They're so hard to find, so I buy a whole bunch when I find them. I love cookies. I used to be a cake girl, but vegan cake so far doesn't impress me. Feh.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like? Do you spin or do other fiberwork? I'm kind of getting into sewing, but not enough to really warrant action on the world's part. I don't spin or do any other fiber-related thing.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s (in case your buddy wants to make you a CD)? I'm quite the eclectic, and I find it very hard to describe the songs that give me shivers. My favorite artists are Franz Ferdinand, Imogen Heap, the Beatles, Cake, Tori Amos (I used to be such a devotée, but I find it hard to like some of her more recent stuff...Scarlet's Walk was my favorite album), and Dar Williams. I like Sufjan Stevens, Modest Mouse, Interpol, Simon & Garfunkel, and Green Day a lot too. I know that sounds kind of narrow, but honestly, some of my favorite songs are by artists like Dvorák, Broken Social Scene, Kanye West, and David Bowie. I like a lot of stuff.

9. What’s your favorite color? What color can you not stand? My favorite color is green. Rich, verdant, luscious green that you can only truly deeply feel and understand if you've seen Irish grass. I think that's the green I keep searching for. I should mention (though this proves my lameness and fashion ineptitude), that my new neutral is brown. I'm really trying to get away from black (though I do enjoy a good gray now and then). So earthy tones and rich tones are excellent for me. Pastels, not so much.

10. Do you have any pets or children? Is there a difference between the two? I have two awesome, wonderful cats named Indy and Maddie. I heart them immensely.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens, ponchos, wrist/arm warmers, gauntlets, and/or legwarmers? Yes, yes, yes, NEVER, no/no, yes, no. I don't like bulky scarves, I like snug-fitting hats that cover the ears, I'm pretty open to mittens as long as they're not scratchity (same for gauntlets).

12. What is/are your favorite item(s) to knit? Hmm. I don't know that I have a favorite. I knit a lot more socks than anything else, and I think that's a medium I really enjoy. However, hats might be more of a favorite for me because of the ease and the more instant gratification factor.

13. What are you knitting right now? What am I not knitting would be a better question. On my needles are: the Heelless Sleeping Socks from Knitting Vintage Socks, four pairs of toe-up socks, the landscape shawl (which is currently a little in limbo because Indy sort of removed part of it from the needles, and I can't seem to get it back on right, so I keep setting it aside), and Leo from Knitty (for my skinny-as-a-mongoose younger brother). That's what I would consider in potentially active knitting...semi-UFOs are a whole other issue...

14. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, or plastic? I love circs. I find that I knit better on them, too. I'm not as averse to using bamboo as I once was because my Crystal Palace bamboo dpns are pretty great, but it's not my favorite. And plain aluminum I am not much of a fan of anymore. Plastic used to hold a special place in my heart, but I have since moved on. My new needle love is the Inox/Prym line. They're my absolute favorite, and without fail, I will choose them over any other brand unless the size/type isn't available.

15. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? We own a half-assed ball winder. We do not have a swift, though I want one someday (part of me is also a little scared of them...dork!).

16. How did you learn to knit? Mac taught me one fall afternoon in 2004.

17. What is your favorite holiday? I honestly don't know anymore. I have lots of things I love about different holidays, but I don't love the days so much anymore. I do love seasons, however, and my favorites are fall, followed by spring which is tied with winter, followed very, very distantly by the behemoth heat-monger that is summer. I love everything about fall though. I'm from Michigan, so the crispness in the air and the cool breeze is invigorating to me. I love the leaves changing color and the culinary change into heartier fare. I feel like autumn holds so much promise. And winter I don't love here so much because people are such freakin' pansies about it. And there's hardly any snow to make dealing with the cold feel worthwhile.

18. Is there anything that you collect? Technically, yarn, but that is simply by virtue of the fact that I have so, so much of it.

19. Are there any books, yarns, needles, or patterns out there that you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? If you don’t have any subscriptions, which knitting magazines do you read regularly? I'm interested in books about stitch patterns, primarily. I have several pattern books, and I find them inspiring, but I would love some good stitch sources. Yarns, well, I am always interested in trying interesting animal fibers. I'd like to try some soy-based yarn, too. No needles or patterns, though. I subscribe to Interweave, and I'm not really interested in other magazines. If I knew of another really consistently good one, I might be inclined, but Vogue Knitting and Knitters and the other ones I've found don't pique my interest. I like new takes on classics much more than trendy things, which is probably why I prefer Interweave.

20. Are there any new techniques you’d like to learn? Continental style knitting for sure. I'm just not able to get my tension right. Someday, I will delve into fair isle, but I'm not interested right now. I'd like to know some more methods of casting on (I know the thumb cast-on, which I love, but I'd like to have the knowledge of other methods).

21. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? What are your hat measurements (the measurement around your head)? Yes, I am. I knit more socks than anything else. Though I am so damned slow. I wear a size 10 shoe, and my foot is about 10 inches long with a circumference of between 8 and 9 inches. And my head is 22 inches around.

22. When is your birthday? 8 December 1981. Squee!

23. Are you a vegetarian, vegan, or have other dietary restrictions? I'm a strict vegetarian. No meat, no eggs, no dairy. I'm not super super obsessed about things like where vitamins or food coloring are derived from. I eat honey, but not gelatin. If the allergy information says it contains milk or egg ingredients I don't buy it, but if there's no allergy information and I'm not sure what the source of the stearyl lactylate is, I will likely buy it. I choose to eat this way mostly for my health, but also because of the environmental effects of commercial animal production. I don't believe eating meat is wrong, but I do want to lessen my environmental footprint. Global warming and ecological sustainability are becoming very important to me.

24. Do you have any blogs (personal or knitblogs) other than your LiveJournal where you regularly post? I don't actually post much (ahem, ever) at my livejournal, but I do post at http://www.monochromaticgirl.com, which is my blog. I'm not a great poster these days, but I'll make more of an effort because you're reading.

25. Do you have any blogs (knitblogs or otherwise) or websites that you visit often (besides LiveJournal)? This piece of info is to help your Secret Pal learn more about the things that interest you. I read the standard knitblogs--Yarn Harlot, Wendy Knits, Grumperina, and See Eunny Knit. My main haunts outside of the blogosphere are metafilter (particularly AskMetafilter), Flickr, Netflix, Google (ahem...), Nabisco's free Mah Jongg...because I like the sounds and the ease..., Vegweb, the site for the Ritz theatres, and lately, random Indian cooking websites (ohmigod, am I obsessed with Indian food of late).