Jordan Birnbaum

Host

STEALING NOURISHMENT - THE CORRUPTION OF FOOD

Jul 12, 2013·47 visitors

Rebecca Westbrook Toker

Cohost

Stage· 204 messages

Jul 12, 2013

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:00 AM

Mrs. Westbrook-Toker I presume?

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:00 AM

Indeed. Glad to be here.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:00 AM

Hi, I am so exscited about this Tawk for many reasons, not the least of which is that, appropriate to the title, this is the nmost organic Tawk I've ever done

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:01 AM

More organic than you know - I make my own deodorant!

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:01 AM

LOL. In that you and I actually met here on Tawkers, so there is evidence of a budding community!

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:02 AM

That being said, I would like to learn how to make my own deoderant, but that's a topic for another day.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:02 AM

Just PM me on that one. :D

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:03 AM

You got it. OK -before we begin the substance of our discussion, I first want to address the psychological factors involved in talking about our food. Do you think psychology plays a role in the degree to which we are comfortable talking about this t

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:03 AM

this topic?

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:03 AM

Without a doubt.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:04 AM

Food is central to many things in our lives - our culture, feelings of comfort (and sometimes aversion)...quite literally, food is who we ARE.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:04 AM

So do you think that makes changing our eating habits far more daunting, because we associate with other areas of our lives?

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:05 AM

audience - does talking about food make people you know uncomfortable?

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:06 AM

Yes. Not least of which is biological. Food can be associated with happiness because foods that we LOVE of that are associated with strong, positive memories give us a happy hormonal boost in the form of oxytocin.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:06 AM

so food plays the same type of role as drugs?

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:06 AM

There is also a considerable amount of guilt and neurosis associated with food in modern society, particularly for women because of the whole body image thing.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:07 AM

★ Spotlighted from Rick Rosner

“Drugs. Finally, something I'm an expert”

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:07 AM

Yes, food can play the same role as drugs. In fact, some foods hit the opiate receptors in the brain. Chocolate is a common binge food.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:08 AM

right -doesn't it evoke the same chemical reaction as love?

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:08 AM

As in, a release of oxytocin? Yes. That's the love hormone.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:08 AM

I gotta get me some....

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:09 AM

But any food that we FEEL we LOVE can cause that.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:09 AM

Mashed potatoes can do that, too!

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:09 AM

only with the correct amount of butter, though

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:09 AM

Some foods hit opiate receptors, though, and that's a different kind of high.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:09 AM

★ Spotlighted from Rachel McDonnell

“and now we are going organic as well because we SEE more things now about the bad things in our food.. I think opening your eyes to one of the issues of food health today opens the door to viewing all food in that light”

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:09 AM

Mmmmm, butter.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:10 AM

So Rachel's point seems to be that the organic food movement is the result of increased awareness and access to information. Do you think that is a fair statement?

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:10 AM

Congratulations, Rachel. It's hard. Especially when people like Dr. Oz say it's just an effite affectation.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:11 AM

I think that it is. People go organic for different reasons, be they health or environmental, but the thing is, we can research now and get more opinions than just that of Dr. Oz. (Booo, hissssss)

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:12 AM

OK -that's a good segway then to start spreading some more information.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:12 AM

I think the organic food movement is also coming from farmers, BTW. And it's the pushback against the feudalism of corporate farming.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:13 AM

Couldn't be a better way to introduce the topic of agri-business.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:13 AM

Again, boo, hiss!

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:13 AM

Let's start with government subsidies. What is the rationale and impact of these long-standing tax-funded payments to farming corporations?

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:14 AM

Oooh, now that's a can of worms!

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:14 AM

are worms subsidized too?

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:14 AM

★ Spotlighted from Lucy Dyer

“monsanto has ALOT to answer for getting people to go organic”

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:14 AM

★ Spotlighted from Rick Rosner

“Our money, to them. Once again.”

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:14 AM

Lucy - Monsanto is on the agenda!

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:15 AM

you're spot-on as usual

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:16 AM

The history of government crop subsidies in America is ugly. It is full of intrigue and political maneuvering. It's also something that's had a very shiny public face put on it for the last 100 years. It's hard to pick apart & get past propaganda.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:16 AM

We fund wheat, corn, and soy most intensively in the US.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:16 AM

Of course, that's my favorite thing to do!

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:17 AM

AT LEAST 80% of each of those crops is GMO, and so, bought from Monsants.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:17 AM

MONSANTO

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:17 AM

But isn't soy a good thing? And wheat?

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:17 AM

About 70% of each of those crops is siphoned off for animal feed.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:18 AM

Is any grain soaked in glyphospahte a good thing?

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:18 AM

I'm assuming not, but won't pretend I know

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:19 AM

Well, the benefit of "Roundup Ready" GMO crops is that they withstand the application of Monsanto's week killer, Roundup.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:19 AM

★ Spotlighted from Rachel McDonnell

“anything soaked in something you can't pronounce... mmm not gonna trust it.”

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:19 AM

Roundup is a poison.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:19 AM

It's a slightly less-toxic version of agent orange. That is not hyperbole.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:20 AM

Agent orange didn't treat the Vietnamese very well, and it didn't just wash off.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:20 AM

So the reason for a GMO is to create a crop that is strong enough to withstand poison, which we are eventually going to eat?

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:20 AM

Yes. A poison that the seed company so helpfully provides. Er, sells.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:21 AM

I assume the poison is to protect against insects and such?

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:21 AM

And they apply it to crops very often with planes (in the US). SO there's a large fallout area that often includes watersheds.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:21 AM

No - it's an herbicide.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:21 AM

Insecticides are extra.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:21 AM

But some of Monsanto's GMOs - notably BT cotton - are engineered to be insecticidal.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:22 AM

Oh boy - have we seen an uptick in illness that correlates to the introduction of these GMOs and poisons?

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:22 AM

BTW - just in case, GMO stands for Genticially Modified O-something

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:22 AM

BT cotton has also proven to be homicidal, as over 270,000 Indian farmers have killed themselves over the past 15 years as they went bankrupt trying to afford BT cotton.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:22 AM

But I'll stick to the US.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:23 AM

Organism.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:23 AM

I thought that was it, but panicked at the end

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:23 AM

The uptick in illnesses is astounding.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:23 AM

Any types in particular or across the board?

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:23 AM

I'm a special Ed teacher, and my last public school gig was in a classroom for kids with autism.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:24 AM

★ Spotlighted from Rick Rosner

“You were going to say orgasm. We all know it, J.”

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:24 AM

That's a neuro dysregulation disorder. That means the nerves and the brain channels aren't hooked up in a way that's helpful.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:24 AM

and that might be the result of an interaction with these chemicals?

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:25 AM

Autism has gone from relatively unknown c. 1970 to 1 in FIFTY kids born in the US!!!!

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:25 AM

I personally don't believe there is a single factor, but I think that has something to do with it.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:25 AM

Wow, now that you mention it, that is kind of obvious

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:25 AM

thye correlation, at least

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:25 AM

If you'll allow me to step away from the US for a minute, I'll tell you a chilling story about what I saw in Honduras.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:26 AM

the floor is yours, and I'm a little scared

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:26 AM

P.s. - other neurodysregulation disorders are also climbing - ADD and ADHD are also that class of brain abnormailty.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:27 AM

Well, Honduras is coffee country. I lived in a small village in a valley surrounded by even smaller villages on up the mountains.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:28 AM

High-altitude coffee comes at a premium, so almost every family had a "finca" - farm, field. Most of the wealthier people lived in the valley, but still had fields on up the mountains.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:28 AM

Anyway, I'm a SPED teacher, so I got really concerned about the disabilities I was seeing.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:29 AM

One of my personal side projects was to go up into these villages and try to find the people with disabilities and get them catalogued and get them some help.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:29 AM

PS -I forgot to mention early on that Rebecca spent 2 years in Honduras with the Peace Corps, which is about the coolest thing ever

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:30 AM

Over and over, I saw the same kind of thing- and in this culture, you just hide the person in the house...no schooling, no work programs, nothing.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:30 AM

what were the disabilities?

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:31 AM

The disabilities looked the same - in-utero birth defects. A dwarfism with folded and not completely developed limbs. In most cases (but not all) mental defects.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:31 AM

that is crushing

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:32 AM

I studied and asked and looked to try to find out if it was congenital (because these people were isolated), or mining runoff, of from pesticides.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:32 AM

(Lucy I'm gonna spotlight these comments when we go corporate)

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:33 AM

Pesticide use is horrendous. Every day I would see young boys with plastic bottles strapped to their backs and only shirts over their noses, HOSING down each coffee plant with Roundup.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:33 AM

and that was the cause of the birth defects?

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:33 AM

Anyway, I couldn't get hard answers, but I ruled out mining in these villages because the runoff was on the other side of the valley. There was no intersection of waterways.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:34 AM

so at least it was the most obvious candidate?

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:34 AM

It wasn't until I got home and saw pictures later of the birth defects in Vitenam after Agent Orange that I knew.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:34 AM

The defects looked the same.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:34 AM

I almost vomit when I think about it.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:35 AM

★ Spotlighted from Lucy Dyer

“walmart is another douchbag of epic proportions”

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:35 AM

oh my god - I don't want to scroll back up, but did you say that we are still using this product today?

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:35 AM

Yup. Dropping it by the planeload.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:35 AM

Yes, Lucy, Walmart Sucks.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:35 AM

★ Spotlighted from Rachel McDonnell

“And the sick thing is, is these corporations KNOW.. they fucking KNOW this shit happens. They do test this stuff.. they just don't care as long as it doesn't happen to them...”

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:35 AM

do you think modifications have been made in the US to avoid such an obvious epidemic?

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:36 AM

It's so true, Rachel!

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:36 AM

You know what's sicker? The US ships products it can no longer sell here due to regulation right across the border to Central America.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:36 AM

Oh my god

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:36 AM

That's the free market at its best.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:37 AM

All right guys - how can we possibly explain the human nature at work that would this sociopathic behavior on such a grand scale?

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:37 AM

No, Jordan, modifications HAVEN'T been made. More and more kids have brains that don't work! More and more women and men are infertile. It IS epidemic.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:37 AM

allow

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:38 AM

what happens at these companies that allow them to make these decisions?

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:38 AM

Capitalism. I'm sure we've all seen zeitgeist. If the corporation is a person, that person is a psycopath.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:38 AM

★ Spotlighted from Rick Rosner

“But don't forget - "Corporations are people."”

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:38 AM

★ Spotlighted from Lucy Dyer

“yeah they get you ill using THEIR pesticides, then you buy THEIR drugs to get better. a total f**k up!”

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:38 AM

yes - zeitgeist is a MUST. (Spoiler alert - Jesus is a constellation.)

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:39 AM

Which brings us around to the industrial model.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:40 AM

It seems that the Industrial Model is scripture still for most Americans - for any capitalist, really.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:40 AM

I look around and I see the misapplication of this model to social institutions and I can't see a single example of it working out for us.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:41 AM

Not in healthcare, not in education, and not with our food.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:41 AM

the intellectually honest assessment involves understanding where and where NOT to employ these free-market practices

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:41 AM

★ Spotlighted from Lucy Dyer

“mother nature is gonna spit back one day and by then it'll be too late”

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:41 AM

★ Spotlighted from Lucy Dyer

“the people who do this have no soul,no grasps of the humanity and no love in their hearts.”

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:41 AM

Lucy, it is spitting back.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:42 AM

The people who do this largely live in a bubble. They don't see.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:42 AM

Their wealth and status keep them from understanding the impact that they have on the planet and on other humans.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:43 AM

Yeah - unfortunately I think it's an indictment of human nature in circumstance rather than just some rotten apples at the extremes. It's too pervasive.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:43 AM

That's what allows the corporation to BE soulless.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:43 AM

★ Spotlighted from Rachel McDonnell

“they have taken capitalism to the extreme and anything in its extreme is usually not a good thing there needs to be balance between money and the health of a society”

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:43 AM

That's true, Rachel.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:43 AM

I think we have our priorities wrong.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:44 AM

I guess we can take some solace in the fact that the right path for society is not hard to identify. It's just hard to get there.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:44 AM

In terms of food, we aren't focused on nourishment of people, on the health of earth systems and human systems.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:44 AM

Which leads to my next question, which I'm almost afraid to ask.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:45 AM

Honestly, I don't know how to achieve that kind of paradigm shift, Jordan. That's the missing piece for me.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:45 AM

So what has the agribusiness model done to our soil, and in turn, our future?

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:45 AM

★ Spotlighted from Lucy Dyer

“yeah ,here we have gm crops but the politicians wont have it on their dinner menu! double standards”

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:46 AM

★ Spotlighted from Rachel McDonnell

“the clean water act too lucy... I mean but it's not like we NEED clean water or air to surviv- oh wait.”

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:46 AM

Agribusiness has ruined our soil. We have desertification happening worldwide where monoculture model has been employed.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:47 AM

★ Spotlighted from Seth Hochman

“Just think how many jobs can be created by polluting our air, food, and water :)”

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:47 AM

Monoculture leaches nutrients from the soil. It also requires the clearing of trees and native flora that hold down the topsoil.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:47 AM

You know what else is good about trees? They turn CO2 to oxygen. Apparently we kind of need that right now.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:48 AM

In the US we have rapid topsoil loss; what took thousands of years to accumulate is being washed away by drought, flooding and overirrigation every year.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:48 AM

This requires farmers to chemically fertilize every year.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:49 AM

The fertilizers and the glyphosphate wash into water - watersheds, streams and lakes, rivers...it's killing fish and pollution drinking water.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:49 AM

And the fertilizer is straight NPK - 3 nutrients.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:49 AM

★ Spotlighted from Rachel McDonnell

“I love how little to NO good science was employed during making these models.. if there had been a worthy scientific process we wouldn't have desertification happening. wow.”

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:49 AM

★ Spotlighted from Seth Hochman

“Rachel the scientist who favor these things are all on the payroll of Monsanto or Big Ag”

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:50 AM

NPK is industrial wake from bomb fabrication during WWII, BTW. Intersting factoid there.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:50 AM

So Seth and Rachel -I think the buying of academia is A Tawk that needs to happen - it is pervasive aand evil

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:51 AM

Anyway, in short, our magic "high-yield" crops are actually far less nutritious. If the soli lacks selenium, copper, manganese, how do we expect it to get into the plants and then into out bodies?

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:51 AM

★ Spotlighted from Rick Rosner

“I've got maybe 25 years left; i think things will hold that long. But I feel for my sons and their children.”

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:51 AM

★ Spotlighted from Rachel McDonnell

“@rick it really does break your heart doesn't it? I look at my nephews and my heart breaks for the world they are in. and I don't even want to think of having my own really because what a fucking mess!”

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:51 AM

Industrial waste, I mean.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:52 AM

Rick and Rachel - Oh, man, do I hear you. My kiddo is 2. I'm trying to move to Europe ASAP.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:52 AM

All right -we have about 10 minutes left, which means it is time to start focusing on solutions and reasons for optimism. I have a VERY good one.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:52 AM

Yay!

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:52 AM

So to kick things off, research is well under way that will allow us to GROW all of our meat from stem cells.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:53 AM

It will turn the entire system upside down.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:53 AM

Ewwww! LOL. That creeps me the crap out. But that's because I'm not used to it. But getting rid of CAFO farming is the biggest step we can take.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:54 AM

omg - no more feeding crops, no more slaughterhouses? This is VERY good. (And very Star Trek, I might add)

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:54 AM

In the meantime, may i suggest eating LESS meat? CAFO farming is the second largest source of methane production globally.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:54 AM

I agree, Jordan.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:55 AM

I take a different tack, though. I take the notion of stewardship very seriously (it's the only thing I really got out of Christianity, no offense).

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:56 AM

Me -are you kidding? My last name might as well be Jew-baum

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:56 AM

Let's be GOOD STEWARDS. Be HUMANE. I eat meat, but I know where it comes from. I don't eat meat when I can't get a good source.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:56 AM

★ Spotlighted from Rachel McDonnell

“and as always TEACH THE CHILDREN. Far too many people let kids live in this "”

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:56 AM

That's also a big one, Rachel! I teach gardening at any opportunity.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:57 AM

Why not give a kid a garden plot to tend instead of a gerbil to learn about life???

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:57 AM

http://www.ted.com/talks/ron_finley_a_guerilla_gardener_in_south_central_la.html

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:57 AM

DO THIS!!!

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:58 AM

Here's something else to feel good about - people are talking about this alot.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:58 AM

(Ahem, "Plant some shit!")

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:58 AM

★ Spotlighted from Rachel McDonnell

“I've been trying to cut back on my meat and thinking about even getting some chickens etc.. I think it's important for people to remember what it means for that animal to give its life too now I'm just showing my native side lol”

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:59 AM

Rachel - to me "naive" means having a clear sense of right and wrong, and expecting the same in others. So you stay naive, and I will with you.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:59 AM

It HAS to change. There is no other option. What most people eat is NOT FOOD. It is a processed FOOD PRODUCT.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:59 AM

Eat REAL FOOD.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:59 AM

Look your food - and your farmer - in the face.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:59 AM

oops - lol - I just noticed you said native, not naive - what a dumbass!

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:00 AM

★ Spotlighted from Rick Rosner

“If only this passion would breed real action . . .”

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 2:00 AM

Plant food, not lawns.

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:00 AM

Rick - we're on our way.

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:00 AM

Keep the faith.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 2:00 AM

Lead by example, Rick. Do it. Do it because it matters, and tell people about it.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 2:01 AM

Moms Across America March Against Monsanto is increasingly active. Rallies are fun.

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:01 AM

I take solace that there are people like Rebecca, and people like you who have raised and are raising children who will live with empathy and compassion.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 2:01 AM

And almost every state has a seed savers group. Tap in.

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:02 AM

Rebecca - I cannot overstate my respect for and appreciation of you.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 2:02 AM

And READ. Read Michael Pollan. Read Derrick Jensen. Read Joel Salatin.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 2:02 AM

Thanks, Jordan. It's mutual. :)

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:03 AM

Rachel, Rick, Seth, Lucy, and everyone watching (the numbers above are wring, btw) - you are the solution yourselves. I love you guys.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 2:03 AM

Go to navdanya.org. It's the anti-GMO movement page in India. Dr. Vandana SHiva writes there often.

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:03 AM

Rebecca -I told you it was fun! So can we do this again and focus on the Peace Corps years?

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 2:04 AM

Yes! Let's!

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:04 AM

OK -I'm looking forward to it! Good night everyone. Remember you're not alone.

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 2:04 AM

Shalom, y'all!

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:05 AM

And for those of you arriving after the fact, click the "top" button above to pick this up from the beginning.

Jordan Birnbaum · 5:43 PM

★ Spotlighted from d Kaminsky

“That seems like a great and hopeful idea--growing meat from stemcells. (I am tawking to no one...)”

Jordan Birnbaum · 5:48 PM

No Dana! You are now Tawking to everyone! (PS - you have to "listen" to audience members so they listen back...)

Jordan Birnbaum · 5:48 PM

★ Spotlighted from Rachel McDonnell

“Thanks for the Tawk you both are awesome! <3”

Jordan Birnbaum · 5:49 PM

Thanks Rachel - feeling is mutual!

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 7:03 PM

★ Spotlighted from Rachael Workman

“interesting article that pertains to this discussion: http://www.upworthy.com/that-awkward-moment-when-you-realize-it-takes-almost-nothing-to-fix-food-in-america?c=upw1”

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 4:17 AM

Reading over this, I noticed a mistake: The chemical in Roundup is GLYPHOSATE. I don't know anything about glyphosphate.

Forum · 170

Forum· 170 comments

47 visitors

Rachael WorkmanJul 9, 2013, 2:29 AM

i'm into this.

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:01 AM

its grass roots tawk (that organic enough for you,JB?)

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:04 AM

but what about muffin tops?

Rick RosnerJul 12, 2013, 1:05 AM

I am what I've eaten. Oh, Oh.

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:05 AM

anybody else here or am i tawking to myself again?

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:06 AM

Psychologically speaking people are always uncomfortable with any change.. food is no different I guess. never thought of it that way but interesting.

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:06 AM

ahhh there they are!!

Seth HochmanJul 12, 2013, 1:06 AM

it's actually making me hungry right about now

Rick RosnerJul 12, 2013, 1:06 AM

You're talking to yourself, Lucy. As usual.

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:06 AM

at least i get the answer i want,and the right one,Rick

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:06 AM

hm. I guess. my family has gone gluten free in the last few years.. so it has become more and more health conscious

Rick RosnerJul 12, 2013, 1:07 AM★ Spotlighted

Drugs. Finally, something I'm an expert

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:07 AM★ Spotlighted

and now we are going organic as well because we SEE more things now about the bad things in our food.. I think opening your eyes to one of the issues of food health today opens the door to viewing all food in that light

Seth HochmanJul 12, 2013, 1:08 AM

Did somebody mention drugs...getting interesting early in the Tawk

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:08 AM

food is a drug - and one that no-one can stop

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:09 AM

get dark chocolate JB - thats the best kind ! :-)

Rick RosnerJul 12, 2013, 1:09 AM

Not to be confused with Oxycontin.

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:09 AM

yep because your brain associated that connection between the food and happy memories psychologically fascinating! btw going gluten free I've noticed even when I cheat it never tastes as good as I remember it is more of a memory now

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:09 AM

or oxymoron

Rick RosnerJul 12, 2013, 1:09 AM

Hit my opiate receptor, Baby.

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:10 AM

which one.rick?

Rick RosnerJul 12, 2013, 1:10 AM

Your choice.

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:10 AM

the bottom one

Rick RosnerJul 12, 2013, 1:10 AM

OOOOO

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:10 AM

i would go for the middle one but i cant reach that far

Rick RosnerJul 12, 2013, 1:10 AM

Keep going . . .

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:11 AM

but theres no where left

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:11 AM

we started the gluten free diet actually because my nephew had major aggression issues and my sis read that gluten can affect it.. the difference on him was AMAZING! Then we began to see how scary these foods can be in a way..

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:11 AM

not to make this about gluten lol

Rick RosnerJul 12, 2013, 1:11 AM

It's hard to find inorganic food.

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:13 AM

i gave up milk,cheese and most chocolate,cos of my migraines. so yeah food does have a big part to play in everyday life. trouble is one side effect i have found of giving up milk is i now have a calcium deficiency .

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:13 AM

yeah well going organic and going your own.. I mean financially it could be huge for people! think of the money people would save just growing more of their own food..

Seth HochmanJul 12, 2013, 1:13 AM

People go for organic because the food companies own congress and most food is basically a science experiment these days

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:13 AM

lucy - supplements work.. or almond milk has like triple the calcium than reg milk :)

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:14 AM★ Spotlighted

monsanto has ALOT to answer for getting people to go organic

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:14 AM

the trouble I see with these things is that they want to make big bucks for the least effort which is where pesticides and chemicals come into play

Rick RosnerJul 12, 2013, 1:14 AM★ Spotlighted

Our money, to them. Once again.

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:14 AM

rachel,i cant take ANY kind of milk lol which is a bummer. but i do take calcium tabs

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:15 AM

oh bummer.. lucy :(

Seth HochmanJul 12, 2013, 1:15 AM

Interesting how the Tea Party gave over $20 billion to big ag business yet cut the money for food stamps from starving families. Seems like socialism is just fine with them as long as it's going to billion dollars companies or billionaires

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:16 AM

ive got the brains,you've got the..erm...looks? hehehe

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:16 AM

I have noticed a lot of people recently who have had to give p dairy for various reasons.. I guess that's another question all together is the food we are "trained" to love really the best for us like why is wheat the biggest part of the food pyramid

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:17 AM

we learn that in school.. come to find it isn't very good for you at all.. and veggies are always best.. and who puts processed sugar IN the food pyramid.. WHAT??

Rick RosnerJul 12, 2013, 1:17 AM

Ashkenazic Jews have a genetic predispoition to lactose intolerance.

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:17 AM

as people are getting made aware of what horrors Monsanto is doing,people are waking up to the fact that you can grow your own food,save yourself a hell of a lot of money AND your are kicking the big corporate fat ass asshats into touch!

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:18 AM

I've been reading articles bashing wheat and soy lately?

Seth HochmanJul 12, 2013, 1:18 AM

Interesting that three Supreme Court justices worked for Monsanto...talk about owning the govt

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:18 AM

yeah lucy they really just did everyone a favor if you think about it your way..

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:18 AM

and dont get me start on corn...r

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:18 AM★ Spotlighted

anything soaked in something you can't pronounce... mmm not gonna trust it.

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:19 AM

dam right,rahcel

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:20 AM

and we all see how well agent orange turned out.. and they weren't even eating it!!?! horrible!

Seth HochmanJul 12, 2013, 1:20 AM

Monsanto makes Roundup and they make the GMO crops that are "resistant" to it...talk about making your own market

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:21 AM

yep all back to the money. we will sell you these seeds, but you must spray it with this and we can sell that to you too.

Rick RosnerJul 12, 2013, 1:21 AM

"Give me spots on the apples, but leave me the birds and the bees." Big Yellow Taxi, Joni Mitchell.

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:21 AM

its a bit like when the wicked witch in snow white dips that apple into poison.....monsanto does the same kinda thing

Seth HochmanJul 12, 2013, 1:22 AM

Hard to think of a company more evil than Monsanto

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:22 AM

wouldn't we create more jobs without these mass chemical drops? like hire some people to tend to the crops.. wouldn't that be good for the economy as well as for the food??

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:23 AM

"Organism" even I know that Jordan lol! :D

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:23 AM

but wheres the fun in that,rachel? tut tut...:-/

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:23 AM

Lucy, silly me I thought we were all up in arms over the lack of jobs in this country (and yours I am assuming).. you're right silly me for thinking of it that way ;)

Rick RosnerJul 12, 2013, 1:23 AM★ Spotlighted

You were going to say orgasm. We all know it, J.

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:24 AM

yeah rachel,go back to bed..everything in fine and dandy. eat this crap corn fed chicken mcfucknut and be happy

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:24 AM

and develop cancer at a ripe old age of 35... yeah sounds good Lucy.. that does give me 6 more good years.. why am I complaining? ;)

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:25 AM

they dont want you to complain. they want you to be happy little sheep...i mean people..

Rick RosnerJul 12, 2013, 1:26 AM

Bananas?

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:26 AM

pineapple

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:26 AM

Thank you for bringing that up Rebecca! They have similar studies looking at autism and adhd and their correlation to eating gluten and wheat but I never thought it COULD BE because of these chemicals too

Rick RosnerJul 12, 2013, 1:26 AM

Hondurans.

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:27 AM

I personally don't believe in ADHD but I could be wrong. I don't see how kids being kids is really a disorder.. they weren't meant to be forced to sit still for 8 hours a day 5 days a week

Rick RosnerJul 12, 2013, 1:27 AM

No Starbucks, in other words.

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:27 AM

lol @rick

Rick RosnerJul 12, 2013, 1:27 AM

Or only a couple.

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:28 AM

hey if they can get a walmart on a mayan temple ANYTHING is possible

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:29 AM

omg Lucy isn't that just fucking sickening? who the hell thinks they can build on a fucking ANCIENT TEMPLE.. oh yeah, Wal-Mart.

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:30 AM

yup. they lost tho...lol

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:31 AM★ Spotlighted

walmart is another douchbag of epic proportions

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:31 AM

luckily.. just ridiculous they would even try.. really walmart? stain on this earth

Rick RosnerJul 12, 2013, 1:31 AM

Corporate greed. Where are the Weathermen when you need them?

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:31 AM

those poor children :(

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:33 AM

:( no fucking no :( that is heartbreaking!

Rick RosnerJul 12, 2013, 1:33 AM

Maybe I'm not kidding about the Weathermen.

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:34 AM

use pesticides,get ill,use drugs,get well.....well i say get well,more like you'll keep taking tabs for a long while. sometimes forever in some cases - like me

Rick RosnerJul 12, 2013, 1:34 AM

Perhaps I can get VC funding.

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:35 AM★ Spotlighted

And the sick thing is, is these corporations KNOW.. they fucking KNOW this shit happens. They do test this stuff.. they just don't care as long as it doesn't happen to them...

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:36 AM

I think people who sell this shit to people should be forced to breathe it in for years or bathe in it or something.. they do this on purpose!

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:36 AM★ Spotlighted

yeah they get you ill using THEIR pesticides, then you buy THEIR drugs to get better. a total f**k up!

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:36 AM

sorry i shouldnt swear,i cant help it tho

Rick RosnerJul 12, 2013, 1:36 AM★ Spotlighted

But don't forget - "Corporations are people."

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:37 AM

then jail the asshats,rick

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:37 AM

sickening rebecca.. taking advantage of others who are too poor to refuse the bad food :(

Seth HochmanJul 12, 2013, 1:37 AM

For all these people who want no regulation, I think they should be forced to live right next to the chemical plants and waterways filled with toxic waste...let's see how long it takes before they start singing a different tune!

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:37 AM

if corporations are people then yes they should be jailed agreed.

Seth HochmanJul 12, 2013, 1:38 AM

There are about five former corporate defense attorneys on the Supreme

Seth HochmanJul 12, 2013, 1:38 AM

Court who would agree with you Rick

d KaminskyJul 12, 2013, 1:39 AM

Jordan, it's Dana. I am glad you asked that ques about the sociopathic behavior. That astonishes me, privately,constantly. My eyes bug out about that. I worry aboutt the human race! Has a human conscience become extinct. It's just unfathomable

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:39 AM★ Spotlighted

the people who do this have no soul,no grasps of the humanity and no love in their hearts.

Rick RosnerJul 12, 2013, 1:39 AM

I am losing all hope.

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:39 AM★ Spotlighted

mother nature is gonna spit back one day and by then it'll be too late

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:40 AM

because most people are good and believe that those "tending" to their food are also good. We forget about things like corporate greed or money because we wouldn't do it that way and also because it is too terrifying to think how we have beenbetrayed

Seth HochmanJul 12, 2013, 1:40 AM

I think the Supreme Court got it wrong, they meant to say parasite not person

d KaminskyJul 12, 2013, 1:40 AM

What do you mean by industrial model, exactly?

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:40 AM

parasitic person perhaps,seth?

Rick RosnerJul 12, 2013, 1:40 AM

The good news: Twinkies will be back next month!

Seth HochmanJul 12, 2013, 1:41 AM

What person constantly takes but never produces anything good

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:41 AM

oh yeah twinkies - the real reason america lost their first placing as the fattest country

Seth HochmanJul 12, 2013, 1:41 AM

Lol, nothing more natural than Twinkees

Rick RosnerJul 12, 2013, 1:42 AM

Used as suppositories, mighty fine.

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:42 AM★ Spotlighted

they have taken capitalism to the extreme and anything in its extreme is usually not a good thing there needs to be balance between money and the health of a society

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:42 AM

thats what scares the shit outta me,rebecca. unfortunately theres not alot we can do to stop it,we can only slow it down.

Seth HochmanJul 12, 2013, 1:43 AM

Exactly Rachel, don't forget we had the Clean Air Act, the EPA, and a myriad of regulations all passed by Republican

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:43 AM

clean air act - what a friggin joke

d KaminskyJul 12, 2013, 1:43 AM

i think this "tawk" app is an industrial model. Apparently comments don't get shown unless I can recruit ppl to listen?? Before taking part in this...?

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:43 AM

well I think if you are gonna sell a product you should use and ingest it yourself. red flag anyone? I just heard that the White House only serves organic food (or one of the gov. institutions)

Seth HochmanJul 12, 2013, 1:43 AM

administrations in the past. "Democracy" wasn't as easy to buy as it is now

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:44 AM★ Spotlighted

the clean water act too lucy... I mean but it's not like we NEED clean water or air to surviv- oh wait.

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:44 AM★ Spotlighted

yeah ,here we have gm crops but the politicians wont have it on their dinner menu! double standards

Rick RosnerJul 12, 2013, 1:45 AM

Without comedy and humor I'd be lost.

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:46 AM

me too,Rick,me too

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:46 AM

well like Lucy said corps like Monsanto are proving to people why growing your own and going organic and being more aware about what is in your food is so important. Hopefully, people will begin to see

d KaminskyJul 12, 2013, 1:46 AM

how about the plastics increasing dramatically the incidents of young baby boys born with urethra and penis defects--heard about this on NPR

Seth HochmanJul 12, 2013, 1:46 AM★ Spotlighted

Just think how many jobs can be created by polluting our air, food, and water :)

Rick RosnerJul 12, 2013, 1:47 AM

Not if the consumers all die.

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:47 AM★ Spotlighted

I love how little to NO good science was employed during making these models.. if there had been a worthy scientific process we wouldn't have desertification happening. wow.

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:47 AM

I love the sarcasm of this group. lol. :)

Seth HochmanJul 12, 2013, 1:47 AM

Lol, we haven't gotten their yet Rick...give them some time

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:48 AM

now if only someone with at least one brain cell in government could figure out how to slow down/stop this. but thats just a dream

Rick RosnerJul 12, 2013, 1:48 AM★ Spotlighted

I've got maybe 25 years left; i think things will hold that long. But I feel for my sons and their children.

Seth HochmanJul 12, 2013, 1:49 AM★ Spotlighted

Rachel the scientist who favor these things are all on the payroll of Monsanto or Big Ag

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:49 AM★ Spotlighted

@rick it really does break your heart doesn't it? I look at my nephews and my heart breaks for the world they are in. and I don't even want to think of having my own really because what a fucking mess!

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:49 AM

yeah seth, I meant ACTUAL SCIENCE.. not funded by the same corp they are investigating

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:50 AM

that little thing called the scientific method. which protects against these disasters.

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:50 AM

its all about making money. those in "power" dont care what happens to us down here on the ground. they never did,and never will

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:50 AM

yes for sure Jordan! :)

Seth HochmanJul 12, 2013, 1:51 AM

These prostitutes, I mean scientists, are the ones who always testify that these things are "safe"

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:51 AM

I want to know the exact moment money became higher than science. like I know corruption and power has always been bad but remember that time when objective science was truly sought after? as a future "scientist" (psychologist) I worry :/

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:52 AM

well and from what you are saying rebecca, "high yield" really only means for the year, one year and then the next year they have to dump a bunch more chemicals on it to make it grow again. That is NOT sustainability

Rick RosnerJul 12, 2013, 1:53 AM

Oh boy.

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:53 AM

yes we need some positive. :)

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:54 AM

I am going to try and get an indoor green house type thing going for this Minnesota winter.. need to keep some fresh produce around. :)

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:54 AM★ Spotlighted

and as always TEACH THE CHILDREN. Far too many people let kids live in this "

Seth HochmanJul 12, 2013, 1:54 AM

Well at least hot dogs are safe to eat:)

d KaminskyJul 12, 2013, 1:54 AM★ Spotlighted

That seems like a great and hopeful idea--growing meat from stemcells. (I am tawking to no one...)

Rick RosnerJul 12, 2013, 1:54 AM

Only Hebrew National

Lucy DyerJul 12, 2013, 1:55 AM

guys i think the word you looking for is EVOLUTION. you think we are evolving?

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:55 AM

and TEACH THE CHILDREN far too many parents seem to allow their children to go on believing these myths, even when they know they are wrong! be honest with the kids and we may have a chance

d KaminskyJul 12, 2013, 1:55 AM

It also means less animal excrement, which has been a huge problem enviornmentally, and has done lots of damage with global warmning--methane too, and why we have e-coli

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:56 AM

sorry that went up three times lol oops

Seth HochmanJul 12, 2013, 1:57 AM

Time to stand up to Monsatan

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:57 AM★ Spotlighted

I've been trying to cut back on my meat and thinking about even getting some chickens etc.. I think it's important for people to remember what it means for that animal to give its life too now I'm just showing my native side lol

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:58 AM

yes! agreed rebecca! science and nature is fascinating! we just need to teach that! :)

Rick RosnerJul 12, 2013, 1:58 AM

Leave gerbils out of this.

d KaminskyJul 12, 2013, 1:58 AM

Rachel. the children are taught plentifully in schools about it. i always found that odd, because then they went home and influenced their parents --to recycle etc. But the damage is already so advanced that we can't really wait and hope the children

Seth HochmanJul 12, 2013, 1:59 AM

Not sure where that gerbil comment came from...please leave the Pet Shop Boys out of the discussion

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:59 AM

@d k - don't even get me started about public school "education" they teach you how to build a plant ONCE in 12 years and I took care of a snail one year.. not a lot of teaching going on on this subject I don't think.. or at least there could be more

Rick RosnerJul 12, 2013, 1:59 AM★ Spotlighted

If only this passion would breed real action . . .

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 1:59 AM

yay ted talk! :)

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 2:00 AM

i think it does Rick but not in a concentrated number

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 2:00 AM

@Jordan I am Naive too ;) So I agree with you anyway :)

Rick RosnerJul 12, 2013, 2:00 AM

Love to you all.

Rick RosnerJul 12, 2013, 2:00 AM

Love to you all.

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 2:01 AM

yes just showing others you don't believe we are a "lost cause" can have a ripple effect

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 2:01 AM

it's sad that that is even a question tho Jordan.. we should ALL live with compassion and empathy.. otherwise what the hell are we doing here?

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 2:03 AM

Thanks for the recommendations Rebecca! <3 This was great. Good to know that people are trying to do what they can.. we may each be ants working on this HUGE issue and many others but every step forward counts

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 2:03 AM

@Jordan you rock! Thanks for your kind words. :)

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 2:04 AM

yes I want to learn about the Peace Corp! :)

Rachel McDonnellJul 12, 2013, 2:05 AM★ Spotlighted

Thanks for the Tawk you both are awesome! <3

Rachael WorkmanJul 12, 2013, 5:39 PM★ Spotlighted

interesting article that pertains to this discussion: http://www.upworthy.com/that-awkward-moment-when-you-realize-it-takes-almost-nothing-to-fix-food-in-america?c=upw1

Johnathonfall thethirdAug 27, 2014, 12:42 AM

There must be GMO labeling and warning signs everywhere. Did you know there are 9 Monsanto offices here in the Kingdom of Thailand?

Johnathonfall thethirdSep 7, 2014, 1:21 AM

Does Monsanto control the American and Thai governments?