Stephen Scheider: Science and Distortion
earthpure
Posted On December 14, 2011
What Is Our Legacy For Future Generations?
Watching this video featuring Stephen Schneider, who spent a lifetime trying to awaken policy makers about climate change, I became aware of the enormity of the task of creating a sustainable food system. There are strong systems in place that act in harmony with our habits to maintain the status quo. Changing our behavior is actually easy once we decide it is necessary but the inertia of our behaviors and habits can keep us from acting. Despite the difficulties that lay ahead I was inspired by Stephen Schneider's integrity and perseverance. The truth eventually emerges.
We are often unconscious of the impacts created by the food we eat, the waste we create and the everyday impacts our actions have on the planet. In recent years climate change has been an enormous issue raised by scientists and debated amongst law makers and industries with vested interests. Academic scientists have sounded the alarm and industry has fought back with their own scientists in an effort to create confusion and misinformation. It is easy to cast doubt with complex systems science because it is difficult to prove specific cause and effect and who wants to give up cheap energy bills and affordable individual transportation when authoritative doubt has been cast.
Our health crisis and food system is faced with similar circumstances. We have independent scientists sounding the alarm and we have the food, drug and chemical industries denying their contributions, creating misinformation and buying political support. At the same time we can watch the meteoric rise in obesity, heart disease and cancer despite a fortune spent on drugs and medical procedures to treat these chronic diseases. No one wants to admit the obvious which is that prevention via organic whole foods and control of toxins in our environment will prevent most of our chronic health problems.
Sustainability in all aspects of our life is imperative if future generations are going to survive on this planet and it means being conscious of our actions and the impacts of those actions. If we open up to our true values it is easy to amend what and how we consume.
Climbing Everest seems daunting when looking up from base camp but by putting thousands of small steps together it can be climbed. We just need to take that first step to get started and as more and more of us keep adding our steps together we can make a big difference. We can be the change that will provide future generations with a healthy ecosystem and healthy vibrant lives.
Organic Plant Based Foods
The simple act of consuming organic plant-based foods can greatly impact health and the environment. The old cliche "we are what we eat" is true. Unhealthy eating leads to unhealthy lifestyles due to the negative impacts on our internal ecosystems. Eating a plant-based diet will improve mental and physical health. People often associate vegetarian or vegan lifestyles with being deprived. Nothing could be further from the truth. You will end up feeling energized and blessed. It is best to start by adding not subtracting from your current diet. Add a delicious fresh salad with extra veggies and a scoop of almond hummus to your weekly lunch plan and pay attention to how you feel afterwards. Small steps are by far the biggest steps a person can take in starting a healthier lifestyle.
Take small incremental steps and over time you will become accustomed to the healthy choices. I noticed I could eat a plant based lunch packed with nutrients, healthy fats and protein and go right out and do vigorous exercise and feel great. How amazing for someone who used to wait hours after a meal before considering exercise. If I tried that after eating a burger and fries, the results were very unpleasant.
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What Dr. Stephen Schneider experienced trying to educate people about climate change, the sustainable food movement is facing promoting organic plant based foods. There is ample evidence that the epidemic of poor health in America is largely a result of the food we eat. The food we eat contributes to massive environmental degradation. The food we eat even plays an important role in climate change. The food we eat is more important than what car you drive when it comes to lowering your carbon footprint. The food we eat can solve our water shortage problems. We can all be part of the solution every day simply by choosing plant based foods. If you are interested in living sustainably, improving your health, improving the environment and reducing global warming the easiest and most effective thing you can do is to eat more organic plant based foods. If we want to pass on a healthy vibrant planet to future generations one of the most effective and simplest things we can do is to change how we eat. The bonus? You will become more energetic and vibrant. There is a hut high in the mountains above the town where I live that is located just below a pass and painted on the roof it says, "The Higher you get, the higher you get". It has always seemed perfect for that spot as you look out on the high peaks beyond. There is a similar saying about eating healthy food which is "The healthier you get, the healthier you get".
The Truth About Climate Change A year in the making, this video pays tribute to an important scientific and academic figure in postmodern history: Climatologist and Stanford Professor Stephen Schneider Uploaded by Plomomedia on Dec 7, 2011
Originally Posted by: Earthpure, December 9, 2011 Thank You For Joining Our Table™ |