Food Inc. - Where does your food come?

This has to be, by far, the best and the worst movie I have ever watched. I have watched it twice, and will watch again. It made me angry, and sad. More angry than sad.

It starts with a simple question. Do you know where your food is coming from? Enough to make you stop and think.

I grew up in a small town in India. In a valley, underneath the mountains, beside a river. If my plate had the major food groups on it, I knew I was eating healthy. I still follow the same principle. Carbs, proteins, vitamins. Apparently, if I was in living in America and ate the same things, I might still not necessarily be eating healthy.

Food inc, as a brilliant piece of investigative journalism, raises the veil behind food in America (and technologically advanced countries?) What you see, is not what you get, is it’s gist. It effectively brings out the monopoly of the mega giants in the food industry. As fast food becomes the new religion, and Mc Donalds and KFCs the new Mecca, they don’t just control what they feed you, but also how all of that food is produced. In America, MD is the largest purchaser of ground beef, potatoes, tomatoes, and even apples. For instance, 4 beef packers control more than 80% of the meat packing industry in America. Who do you they owe their allegiance to?

We like our chicken breasts. So what does Tyson do? It raises chickens to double their sizes, in half the time. What does it mean for the chickens though? They are so heavy that they can barely walk. Some die of internal complications. Doesn’t help that these chicken farms factories dark tunnel ventilated houses. There is no natural light or air. Farmers have no autonomy and are often controlled by these corporates.

Forget the chicken, the story is the same for beef and pork. Bred and killed in their own manure. And we wonder why the E Coli breakout occurred? The largest slaughterhouse in America, and the world, is in N. Carolina. It slaughters 2000 hogs an hour. That’s 34 a minute…. Let that sink in. 34 hogs slaughtered every 60 seconds. Do you want me to guess what that means in terms of animal cruelty. (I should probably mention at this point, there are parts of the movie that is not for the animal lovers. I couldn’t close my eyes, but my jaws dropped and I wished I could. Enough evidence to set any animal rights organization into furore. Surprisingly, that hasn’t happened yet.... Can only guess why.)

And it just isn’t the animals who are exploited and abused. Think of the workers in these industries. The assembly line mentality was first introduced by Mc Donalds to reduce costs. Treat humans like machines. Teach them to do one task, and one task alone to obtain maximum efficiency. Of course, it then doesn’t qualify as ‘skilled labour’ and you can get away with low wages. Do not forget it was Mc Donalds again, in the States that argued in the Congress to allow the use of 16-17 year olds in their restaurants at a cheaper wage. Pay them a $1.28/hour instead of the generous $1.60. (And if you haven’t read it yet, highly recommend ‘Fast Food Nation’ by Eric Schosser. Wait, make that *highly* recommend. )

And then there is corn. Genetically modified corn is the base for over 90% of the products in the super markets. You will find high fructose corn syrup in everything from ketchup to peanut butter. Salad dressing to diapers. And batteries too. It’s a cheap crop and the ‘waste’ can be fed to cattle. More corn in our bodies.

The problem is multi layered. It just isn’t that fast food companies are lowering prices to feed the consumers bad calories. Not just that chips are subsidized, but not carrots. It isn’t just that the food regulatory bodies are headed by people who are powerful in the Congress. Or that when systemic failures occur (like the E Coli breakout) not much is done to actually fix the system. Rather a quick fix is derived – drenching all meat with ammonia. Because it kills all bacteria.

It simply is a powerful industry, run by a few honchos, who are averse to relinquishing control.

And yes, the solution is simple. Buy organic. Buy at farmers markets. If you can afford it, pay a little more. The ‘Meal deals’ come at a price. Buy fair trade.

A lot of my American friends dislike paying more for food here in Australia. I hope you know now.

Uluru, Australia

I recently realised that most of my posts are conceived by my mind going into thinking over drive, or a something touching me enough to make me want to write. Guess I will change the pattern here a little, and do a quick travelblog post, though I am sure there will be elements from the past pattern you will notice.

Last month, I travelled to the famous Outback of Australia, and as a friend pointed out, the geographic center of the country. Ok, let me say this out loud, whilst I was excited to see Uluru (or as most people call it, the Ayers Rock) a part of me did go like, ‘It’s only a big rock in the middle of the desert, how great can *that* be?’ But checked myself soon enough, because I realized I had thought the same about the Great Barrier Reef (mind you, I grew up on the NatGeo channel). I had stood corrected then, and the diving/snorkeling trip had blown my mind, so decided to give Uluru a chance to impress me.

Arrived there for a long weekend, and catching the first glimpse of Uluru from the airplane was admittedly great

… But nothing compared to witnessing it grow from a small rock in the middle of a flat horizon.. to a ginormous piece of sandstone, as we drove towards it. It overwhelms you just to look at how big that one piece of rock, and soon I found myself contemplating the fact that this rock was actually eroded over centuries (by water, believe it or not) and is only the tip of a larger, underground piece of rock that links it to the nearby Kata Tjutas (when I say nearby I mean 46kms) ..Now that is pretty cool! It is a geographical miracle in more ways than one.

Talking about miracles, have you seen the rock glow in the sunset? It is like a time lapse movie being played over quickly. The sun goes down over the unending skies, and as it almost kisses the horizon, throws its rays at the bottom end of Uluru. That’s when it starts to glow. Like an orange-red lantern. And slowly the glow spreads upwards, momentarily banishing the darkness that had engulfed the Rock. It is visual poetry. The changing hues of Uluru have been written about several times before, but nothing will prepare you for what you see. I could have stood there, staring at it for a long long time after the sun went down, and I promise you my heart was pulp... One of those experiences that you will not forget in a hurry, if at all. (This picture kind of tells you the tale of the blush starting on the Rock)

Something else that made the place magical for me was just being on Anangu’s sacred lands. I am no hippie, but there is no way I can deny the fact that the land seems to have a magical pull. It’s effect on you is like watching the waves at the sea shore, or the twinkling stars on a clear night... It stills you, and makes you ponder over the bigger questions of life. A certain calmness will pervade you and you will only be able to sense it, as it overpowers you.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t make it to, arguably the most popular ‘Valley of The Winds’ walk, but well, at least that gives me a reason to go back there one more time!

However, unbelievable as my experience was in the Grand Canyon of Australia, there were a few things that bothered me. (And I am not even including flies here)

Uluru is sacred for the local Anangu tribe who has for centuries, used it as a place to complete rituals for the men and women and initiate them into secrets preserved over eons. Then came along us, took over the land and now politely ask if we would like to donate $2 (You heard me right, 2 dollars) to help the aboriginal community, while in the same breath saying that our accommodation and food bill was $1500. Umm sure we can, how about you do something too, and donate like a 10% of your earnings to your hosts of this land?

This brings me to the overpriced monopolistic resort of Yulara. If there was anything else that annoyed me there, it was the exorbitant (and totally unexplainable costs) for the most basic things. Remember being asked to pay AUD 45 for a hot breakfast, which wasn’t even comparable to the Swedish smorgasbord in Adelaide I paid 25 bucks for! We stayed at a mid range option, but have to say was underwhelmed by the room.

Some other practical tips, rent a car. Most visitors are on tours, so having transport of your own (even if it is a tiny Yaris like ours!) will give you flexibility over your schedule, save you money and help you avoid the crowds!

Get a fly screen if you are goofy enough, or fly repellants if you are cooler than me! That’s one thing you won’t be able to avoid!

All said, highly recommend a trip to the Center. If you are in Australia especially, there is no excuse!

I love being a woman...

I love being a woman. I love how satin feels on my bare skin. I love how I can cry when I am overwhelmed. I love how I can literally feel my heart melt with tenderness.

With that said, I will say this. It is hard. It is hard being a woman. (Not necessarily because ‘it is a man’s world.’ Agreed, men and women feel differently and think differently, but that’s about all. I don’t think the world lives by the standards of either... Of course, I digress.) Whilst most people talk about the physical changes that occur in the female body (and the accompanying emotional roller coaster ride), well, trust me, that is just the start.

As challenging as it is, being dictated by your hormones, I am talking about all the other complexities that come from being a modern woman. How do you toe the fine line between being vulnerable and strong? Modern and feminine? And most importantly, yourself and what the society demands?

For me being a woman means I can enjoy chiffons and silks as much as hiking boots and camping. It means I love been pampered and cared for, and yet can nurture and nourish, in turn. It also means I can afford to be vulnerable. I can feel intensely and be totally at peace with my emotions.

However, unfortunately, as humans, we do not have a switch to turn our feminine-ness on and off. I have tried my entire life to balance the two. How do I go all out and be feminine and yet strong? How do I enjoy my tenderness and yet not turn sloppy... Or alternatively turn off my feelings and turn into someone who is unable to feel joy and happiness deeply, because she is protecting herself from future heart breaks.

I have often chosen the former path. With a twist - Intense inside, calm outside. ..And it hasn’t been easy. Though it has meant that whilst I generally love living my life, and live it more whole heartedly, it means most people (other than the ones closest to me) don’t see it. That probably leads to a whole different discussion in itself.

The other challenge, of course, is where exactly do you draw the line between being yourself and what is expected of you. Choice vs obligation. I have almost obstinately swept aside all efforts of the society to sell me onto ‘the done thing.’ I don’t do my eyebrows, I don’t wear heels. Hell, I wear glasses to feel less glamorous on days! And yet, I have my days. Days when I wonder if I should ‘playing’ the game. Wonder if I don’t, will be left behind? Alone.

Of course I realize, these aren’t necessarily choices only women have to make. But I do have a feeling that the ‘obligation’ part is a heavier burden on women. Well, mostly, because we allow ourselves to. Trying to please everyone in our lives, is the motto of our lives.

Don’t get me wrong, I also do realize men have their own issues and own reasons to love themselves. Neither are these ramblings necessarily a sweeping generalization of our gender.

This is about me. And what I feel.... How I feel.

'The Naked Brain'

I remember reading somewhere that the normal human brain uses about 10-15% of its capability, and so I decided I would figure out a way to make that 80-90%.... Well, in my defence, I was 12.

However, that one sentence did spark a lifelong interest in the human brain and hence, psychology in me. Over the years, I did find myself reading research papers and articles, mainly out of curiosity. And with the recent purchase of my Kindle (did I not tell you about it?! ;-) ) , I have to say I did go on a spree. The one that stands out is ‘The Naked Brain’ by Richard Restak . It is by far the best neuroscience book I have ever read.

A simple book, it takes the reader on a journey through the complex neuro pathways of the brain. And just so we don’t lose our way, it clearly lays out a hypothesis, followed by some incredibly interesting experiments, and finally a conclusion of what it means in our every day lives.

What kept me hooked was the clever use of experiments to prove concepts we knew instinctively. In a powerful chapter on ‘Thinking is Doing’ Richard talks about how merely thinking about doing something increases the likelihood of our doing it. [Hence, the ‘Imagine yourself in front of the audience’ tip before a public speech, I figged.] However, taking this a step ahead, he scans the brain and through an fMRI actually detects that the exact same areas of the brain being activated when you are ‘thinking’ of doing something as while actually doing it.

However, going beyond the obvious, the book also lays out some exceedingly interesting experiments and thoughts. Consider this for a moment, “ We are continuously in the process of trying to explain ourselves to ourselves by coming up with plausible causes of our activities.” Remember how you did something stupid and then blamed it on everything from the planetary alignment to an ad you saw on your way to work! … Well, now, you can blame it on the way your brain is wired. Richard claims that the left hemisphere, that is the ‘speech’ centre, automatically rationalizes emotions that sit in the right hemisphere of the brain. He describes a bizarre experiment conducted on a patient with a rare medical condition – her brain hemispheres weren’t able to communicate with each other. In the experiment, she was shown a grisly video targeted to her right hemisphere. When later questioned, she expresses her feeling correctly (fear) but in the absence of the communication, she rationalizes it with a ‘It must be the room ‘and a ‘You make me nervous.’

I find this particular insight very fascinating. It is almost as if nature wants us to justify actions and emotions that take less than micro seconds to register within our brains. Is this a survival technique for the sensitive homo sapiens? What would we be like if our verbal system would not note our emotions and automatically assign a cause to it. Something tells me we would be able to experience emotions more fully. But would that necessarily be a good thing? Especially for me who literally lives her life by ‘Don’t judge emotions,’ this is definitely something I know my mind will keep returning to.

New Year musings

Ive always liked to spend the end of the year by myself. Whether it be walking in the woods, sitting by the water, or simply standing bythe 9th floor window and watching the traffic pass by me. Invariably, theres a calmness, a serenity that envelopes me this time of the year.

I often find myself contemplating the past year. (I do not do the 'goals' or the 'resolution' thing. My attention span is far too short, and my rich, though random conversations, with friends often makes me want to bring changes in myself, and my life, more than a particular day. ) However, I do always end up thinking about 'What affected my life this year?" 'What changes did I make?' 'Who are the people who made a difference to my life.' And increasingly, I have found 2 constant strings of thoughts dominating this pensive mood. The role of co-incidences and the perspective on past events.

Co incidences fascinate me. What are they? Are they fashioned by Someone Higher Up? Or are they just that? People merely crossing our paths in their own journey of Life. Events happening with no consequence, for no reason. ...Truth is, I do not know. But I have found myself asking myself, more than ever, at this time of the year, a 'What if...?" or looking back at the past year and seeing patterns. Patterns of my opening an email, striking a conversation, choosing a seat...and the events it led to. The relationships I forged as a consequence, and why did I feel the urge to do something that is so unlike me?

Because some things are , oh-the-cliched- 'meant to happen'? And what if I had chosen not to it? Would destiny change it's course for me? I know not. I have more questions than answers...

If co incidences are intriguing, then perspective is powerful. Over the past years, adjectives for me have ranged from calm and reserved to cold and unfeeling. I offer no clarification, but I do know this. It is easier for me live my life with equanimity because I truly and deeply believe in 'This too shall pass.' I always find myself looking back in the past and seeing myself in moments of distress, remembering the pain, the fear, the joy...and a year later, managing to look at it through the glasses of time, and merely observing the events. Like an outsider. No doubt, I end up thinking, This too shall pass. The philosophies of 'Everything is transient' and 'Life offers no guarantees' are now ingrained in my outlook of life.

I do not care about most things, however, there are a few that stay with me forever. I do feel deeply in those moments. Like a river that gorges its way through the cliffs. A book, a conversation, an act, a person. And I am tied to it forever...And interestingly, I still feel the power of these things even years later, unlike my feelings which pass.

On that note, to the passing year...and the coming new one! Happy New Years all!

True love?

Our world today is obsessed with 'True love.' How true, though, IS true love. How many times have we been with somone and thought they were our soulmates, but things didn't work out and we ended up with some one else. Who is to define who your real soulmate is? And really, is eternal love dependent on circumstance, rather than emotion?

Some connections are instant, and feel just right. But there is one tiny aspect that does not make it perfect. It maybe long distance, it maybe a difference in life goals,....and we let go. Then comes along somebody else and the circumstances are just perfect. The connection might not be as strong the first time, but with time, the bond grows...and we name it our true love.

In this trial and error way of dating, while we are constantly looking for mates to be our companions for life, we meet new people everyday. A 'Serendipity' does not happen to everyone. All of us are witnesses to such incidents when we met someone, there was that spark, there was the chance..the chance of it turning into love. But, it didnt happen. And Years later, a memory comes back to us and we can only sigh and say, "If only.........."

Life is full of relationships that are waiting to happen, of relationships that could have happened. Is the only distingusihng factor between a relationship and true love, whether it worked out or not? Why has love come to be an end, and not the process, the experience, it is?

HQ

Happiness they say, is the latest to join the 'Quotient' bandwagon. That is to say, the newest parameter of judging a person, in a quantifiable form, is the Happiness Quotient or 'HQ' as it is lovingly (or lazily) called.

Of course, the usual questions have been asked. Is it possible to quantify something as qualitative as happiness. And even, if it can be, is it not relative? The sight of a decadent chocolate cake can make me happy (so totally!) , and the person in front of me in the queue taking it, can make me sad. But of course, when we think about it, these are all questions that can be answered easily, so I will not dwell on them. Anyway, I digress.

The more important thought that passed my mind was this: Is it really our choice to be happy? I've heard that it is. All motivational speakers say that at least. Fortunately, I haven't been through a major depression since I read this quotation. So, therefore, that is why, I will not be able to authenticate the authenticity this statement. But yes, I have had those 'blue days', and yes, I have managed to make myself happy on those days! True story.

There are bigger questions though. If it's true, why aren't all of us happy? If everybody realises this now, will the world become happier? (A recent survey proved that most Earthlings are happier today than they were in decades... I digress again.) These are questions I have no answers to.

What I have realised now though, is that happiness is, indeed, a choice we make. Sometimes, it is as simple as moving our focus on to something new. Something different and challenging. Sometimes, it is about spending some time with ourselves, alone. Sometimes, it is as simple as eating a bar of chocolate! So am I saying that doing all this will ensure happiness? No, I am saying that deciding you will be happy, will make you happy.

You don't believe me? Try it out yourself the next time you are low.