What Happens When No Amount Of Money Will Buy Food?
The human race has long-infested this planet far beyond it capacities to support life over a prolonged period of time. It seems like every time we sneeze, we add a billion more hungry people to a planet, groaning for relief.With almost 7 Billion people, when will we learn anything?
We are facing a situation where our food supplies are poisoned by invention of GMO. Our Water supplies are poisoned by chemicals, never meant to be released into the environment. Our greed over power, our fear of want, our denial of the inevitable, — all these have led us to our current state of world affairs. And now, to PLAY POLITICS with it? To deny even the bare sustenance to people who, through no fault of their own, have lost their ways of life — they are pushed to the edge. Yeah, we’ve heard it before. What happens when someone starves because they cannot feed themselves because of the greed of others?
Let’s take this up a notch. What happens when all the food you want is available to you — and you are starving, for lack of nourishment?
It can never happen?
Think again. GMO foods can kill people for lack of nutrients, it’s a proven fact. What about the food from the sea?
In the 2000 movie, Castaway, Tom Hanks survives four solitary years on a deserted island by spearing fish and eating them uncooked. When he finally finds his way back to civilization, he gets thrown a party featuring sushi. In Analyze That, psychiatrist Billy Crystal and his gangster patient, played by Robert De Niro, go out for sushi after De Niro’s release from prison. Sushi references in the media have become nearly as common as Coca Cola ads, and while the impact might be great for restaurants featuring the delicacy, the global fish population has suffered.
Seafood consumption worldwide has doubled in the past 40 years, and so has consumption of sushi. And while this probably signals a healthier eating trend despite the mercury and bacteria factors — since fish is a low-fat protein source — it actually signals a big problem for the planet. As I’ve pointed out before, the world’s fisheries are “collapsing” as a result of over-fishin
Most countries require their fishing fleets to obtain licenses, and to maintain those licenses the fishermen must abide by catch limits and other regulations. Even with these regulations, though, and assuming fishermen actually followed the limits set in the regulations, the sheer numbers of fishermen in the world would threaten the world’s fish stocks. According to a May 22, 2010 article in Time, the bloated number of fishermen is an indirect result of $27 billion in annual subsidies paid to the fishing industry around the world. The subsidies make diesel cheaper and support the factory fishing vessels that plunder the seas. And when you add the large outfits to the numerous smaller fishing fleets and subsistence fisherman already in business, you get a worldwide fishing fleet of more than 20 million boats with a capacity to take 1.8 to 2.8 times more fish than the ocean can sustain. As the Time article states, “Our tax money is essentially paying fishermen to strip mine the seas.”
The United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) recently released a preview of a landmark, comprehensive report on the state of the world’s fisheries. According to that report:
75 percent of the world’s fisheries no longer have healthy supplies of fish.
30 percent of fish supplies worldwide have “collapsed,” which means, essentially, that they have become critically depleted, and the rate of decline continues to increase.
90% of large predatory fish have disappeared since mid-20th century.
In fact, the situation is so critical that some experts contend that by the middle of this century, the commercial fishing industry will have completely collapsed for lack of supply. If you think caviar is expensive now, just wait until you try to buy a simple piece of ocean caught fish to eat then. A report by a team of biologists and marine scientists released in 2006 defined “collapse” as when the current year’s fish catch is less than or equal to “10% of the highest observed in a stock’s time series.” There is controversy about this definition and a lively debate has occurred in the scientific and fishing communities about whether fish catch accurately represents supply. But there does seem to be little doubt that, overall, the world’s fish population is in extreme danger. At present, over 60 percent of the fish stocks assessed by the UN group were found to need rebuilding. And in fact, Pavan Sukhdev of the UN team said, “If the various estimates we have received … come true, then we are in the situation where 40 years down the line we, effectively, are out of fish.”
One of the sources of this collapse is illegal fishing. What is especially insidious about the pirate fishing trade is that it is so difficult to police. The United Nations has a program called the Port State Measurement Agreement (PSMA), which requires port cities to close their harbors to fishing vessels involved in unregulated activities. But the program is spottily enforced. Illegal fishing boats easily find a harbor that will accept them if they encounter a port that will not allow them to anchor.
The UN report claims that the damage still may be curtailed if governments invest about eight billion dollars a year to re-employ fishermen in other industries, rebuild stocks of fish, establish fishing quotas and create protected marine areas. Of course taking such steps is essential to protecting biodiversity and ecological systems on the planet. To wipe out entire species in such massive sweeps seems unthinkable.
But keeping the fishing industry alive for generations to come doesn’t necessarily ensure healthy eating for the world’s populations. As you know, fish contaminated by toxins and heavy metals, particularly mercury, too often end up on the dinner table. In fact, much of the splash about disappearing fish stocks seems almost frivolous given the fact that the oceans are becoming so polluted that those fish that remain are unfit for eating. Controlling the fishing industry is only a small part of the equation. The other part involves controlling industrial pollution of the oceans by companies like BP so that whatever fish do remain are healthy.
Again, as I said two years ago: “Much of the debate on fish as food is moot. As a viable protein source for the human race, it will most likely be pushed beyond its limits within the next one to two decades. After that, it will be a “special treat” for those who can afford it…and who don’t mind becoming living thermometers in the process.” Unfortunately, that prediction seems even more inevitable now than when I first made it.
***********
Jon Barron is a researcher, author, lecturer and founder of Baseline of Health Foundation. He has wrapped his mind around every natural therapy known to man and brought it together in a whole body package–delivering a whole body “system” program, a line of nutraceutical products, and cutting-edge functional foods and drinks for consumers to enjoy. Jon Barron’s high-end line of health supplements for natural colon cleansing, immune system support, digestive health, and anti aging nutrition can be found at http://www.baselinenutritionals.com
We appreciate to no end, your wonderful comments and remarks at how we have grown our baby blog. The Rev, Sam, Rolf and everyone love you to death!
We do ask that if you are seeking pingback, that the comments, questions or remarks be relevant to the article that you are responding; otherwise Janice has a hissy and marks them as SPAM. Once that’s done, there’s NO RETRIEVING them.
Also, even though 3 of us speak and write in Spanish, we must demand that you comments be written in English. We are not the only ones that read what you write.
Gamers; unless you are commenting on an article, you will be treated as SPAM. Almost no one among our Loyal Readers is interested or cares about your systems, or how you pirate games. You are welcome to overlook this site for comments. We are here to teach and to learn what keeps us above the turf. If gaming does it for you, bully. Please take this in context, that you are a tiny minority, and most of us do not make our living by gaming.
It is sometimes very difficult to deny simple pleasures. However, when my simple pleasures interfere with your sense of happiness and well-being, then I must take steps to insure your happiness. What I receive in return is your gratitude; that’s worth the “price of admission!”
All of us: Janice, The Rev., Kermit, Rolf, Sam, and our new intern Gonzo, wish for you a joyous holiday, safety, good food, better company, and May You Be Blessed By Your Days!
We Love our Loyal Readers beyond belief! REALLY we do. but we have been railroaded a couple of times.
Once Bitten, twice shy! We are now sending Brutus to check out each and every site that asks for pingback. We seek requests, relevant to the post. We regret having to take this step. We want the site to be educational, informing, humorous, and thought-provoking. Unrelated or SPAMMED commentary is not tolerated. It violates the Divine Law of Sharing.
Thanks for your understanding!
We think it goes without saying that we post answers to your questions time after time. So far last month poor Janice did it multiple times, and others have kicked in as well.
YES! You are allowed to re-publish, by blanket permission as long as there’s a pingback.
Our Platform is WORDPRESS, which we use as part of our business model, http://david5372.gogvo.com. WE DO NOT OUTSOURCE — anything! We make our own mistakes, we all speak English, and we all love to fight about everything; this means we get to kiss and make up afterward,
We re-publish the majority of our posts. Why? Because what interests, is interesting. You seem to agree. We have over 50 sources which are checked every day. You don’t have time for that!
We publish comments that are relevant to the article commented. So, if you didn’t see your comment posted, then it had nothing to do with the posting. Don’t look for a pingback on an unrelated site; it won’t happen.
We love our Loyal Readers. We encourage them to submit postings. Do this directly to Rev. David; he will post it for you and you will get full credit and a linkback you the address of your choice. We screen for spelling, content, and for REFERENCES. Unless something is labeled opinion, gearing to the Common Good, and presenting a fresh point of view means we will publish. Opinions will be well-reasoned, thought-provoking and will require full disclosure, please. It’s only fair to our Loyal Readers. The Rev’s Address can be found in the Right Column, by the way.
What Happens When No Amount Of Money Will Buy Food?
The human race has long-infested this planet far beyond it capacities to support life over a prolonged period of time. It seems like every time we sneeze, we add a billion more hungry people to a planet, groaning for relief.With almost 7 Billion people, when will we learn anything?
We are facing a situation where our food supplies are poisoned by invention of GMO. Our Water supplies are poisoned by chemicals, never meant to be released into the environment. Our greed over power, our fear of want, our denial of the inevitable, — all these have led us to our current state of world affairs. And now, to PLAY POLITICS with it? To deny even the bare sustenance to people who, through no fault of their own, have lost their ways of life — they are pushed to the edge. Yeah, we’ve heard it before. What happens when someone starves because they cannot feed themselves because of the greed of others?
Let’s take this up a notch. What happens when all the food you want is available to you — and you are starving, for lack of nourishment?
It can never happen?
Think again. GMO foods can kill people for lack of nutrients, it’s a proven fact. What about the food from the sea?
Read this; then weep:
Not Enough Fish in the Sea
By Jon Barron on 07/10/2010
In the 2000 movie, Castaway, Tom Hanks survives four solitary years on a deserted island by spearing fish and eating them uncooked. When he finally finds his way back to civilization, he gets thrown a party featuring sushi. In Analyze That, psychiatrist Billy Crystal and his gangster patient, played by Robert De Niro, go out for sushi after De Niro’s release from prison. Sushi references in the media have become nearly as common as Coca Cola ads, and while the impact might be great for restaurants featuring the delicacy, the global fish population has suffered.
Seafood consumption worldwide has doubled in the past 40 years, and so has consumption of sushi. And while this probably signals a healthier eating trend despite the mercury and bacteria factors — since fish is a low-fat protein source — it actually signals a big problem for the planet. As I’ve pointed out before, the world’s fisheries are “collapsing” as a result of over-fishin
Most countries require their fishing fleets to obtain licenses, and to maintain those licenses the fishermen must abide by catch limits and other regulations. Even with these regulations, though, and assuming fishermen actually followed the limits set in the regulations, the sheer numbers of fishermen in the world would threaten the world’s fish stocks. According to a May 22, 2010 article in Time, the bloated number of fishermen is an indirect result of $27 billion in annual subsidies paid to the fishing industry around the world. The subsidies make diesel cheaper and support the factory fishing vessels that plunder the seas. And when you add the large outfits to the numerous smaller fishing fleets and subsistence fisherman already in business, you get a worldwide fishing fleet of more than 20 million boats with a capacity to take 1.8 to 2.8 times more fish than the ocean can sustain. As the Time article states, “Our tax money is essentially paying fishermen to strip mine the seas.”
The United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) recently released a preview of a landmark, comprehensive report on the state of the world’s fisheries. According to that report:
In fact, the situation is so critical that some experts contend that by the middle of this century, the commercial fishing industry will have completely collapsed for lack of supply. If you think caviar is expensive now, just wait until you try to buy a simple piece of ocean caught fish to eat then. A report by a team of biologists and marine scientists released in 2006 defined “collapse” as when the current year’s fish catch is less than or equal to “10% of the highest observed in a stock’s time series.” There is controversy about this definition and a lively debate has occurred in the scientific and fishing communities about whether fish catch accurately represents supply. But there does seem to be little doubt that, overall, the world’s fish population is in extreme danger. At present, over 60 percent of the fish stocks assessed by the UN group were found to need rebuilding. And in fact, Pavan Sukhdev of the UN team said, “If the various estimates we have received … come true, then we are in the situation where 40 years down the line we, effectively, are out of fish.”
One of the sources of this collapse is illegal fishing. What is especially insidious about the pirate fishing trade is that it is so difficult to police. The United Nations has a program called the Port State Measurement Agreement (PSMA), which requires port cities to close their harbors to fishing vessels involved in unregulated activities. But the program is spottily enforced. Illegal fishing boats easily find a harbor that will accept them if they encounter a port that will not allow them to anchor.
The UN report claims that the damage still may be curtailed if governments invest about eight billion dollars a year to re-employ fishermen in other industries, rebuild stocks of fish, establish fishing quotas and create protected marine areas. Of course taking such steps is essential to protecting biodiversity and ecological systems on the planet. To wipe out entire species in such massive sweeps seems unthinkable.
But keeping the fishing industry alive for generations to come doesn’t necessarily ensure healthy eating for the world’s populations. As you know, fish contaminated by toxins and heavy metals, particularly mercury, too often end up on the dinner table. In fact, much of the splash about disappearing fish stocks seems almost frivolous given the fact that the oceans are becoming so polluted that those fish that remain are unfit for eating. Controlling the fishing industry is only a small part of the equation. The other part involves controlling industrial pollution of the oceans by companies like BP so that whatever fish do remain are healthy.
Again, as I said two years ago: “Much of the debate on fish as food is moot. As a viable protein source for the human race, it will most likely be pushed beyond its limits within the next one to two decades. After that, it will be a “special treat” for those who can afford it…and who don’t mind becoming living thermometers in the process.” Unfortunately, that prediction seems even more inevitable now than when I first made it.
***********
Jon Barron is a researcher, author, lecturer and founder of Baseline of Health Foundation. He has wrapped his mind around every natural therapy known to man and brought it together in a whole body package–delivering a whole body “system” program, a line of nutraceutical products, and cutting-edge functional foods and drinks for consumers to enjoy. Jon Barron’s high-end line of health supplements for natural colon cleansing, immune system support, digestive health, and anti aging nutrition can be found at http://www.baselinenutritionals.com
Also Of Interest:
We appreciate to no end, your wonderful comments and remarks at how we have grown our baby blog. The Rev, Sam, Rolf and everyone love you to death!
We do ask that if you are seeking pingback, that the comments, questions or remarks be relevant to the article that you are responding; otherwise Janice has a hissy and marks them as SPAM. Once that’s done, there’s NO RETRIEVING them.
Also, even though 3 of us speak and write in Spanish, we must demand that you comments be written in English. We are not the only ones that read what you write.
Gamers; unless you are commenting on an article, you will be treated as SPAM. Almost no one among our Loyal Readers is interested or cares about your systems, or how you pirate games. You are welcome to overlook this site for comments. We are here to teach and to learn what keeps us above the turf. If gaming does it for you, bully. Please take this in context, that you are a tiny minority, and most of us do not make our living by gaming.
It is sometimes very difficult to deny simple pleasures. However, when my simple pleasures interfere with your sense of happiness and well-being, then I must take steps to insure your happiness. What I receive in return is your gratitude; that’s worth the “price of admission!”
All of us: Janice, The Rev., Kermit, Rolf, Sam, and our new intern Gonzo, wish for you a joyous holiday, safety, good food, better company, and May You Be Blessed By Your Days!
“IT’S BETTER NOW”, the Team
Also Of Interest:
We Love our Loyal Readers beyond belief! REALLY we do. but we have been railroaded a couple of times.
Once Bitten, twice shy! We are now sending Brutus to check out each and every site that asks for pingback. We seek requests, relevant to the post. We regret having to take this step. We want the site to be educational, informing, humorous, and thought-provoking. Unrelated or SPAMMED commentary is not tolerated. It violates the Divine Law of Sharing.
Thanks for your understanding!
Also Of Interest:
We think it goes without saying that we post answers to your questions time after time. So far last month poor Janice did it multiple times, and others have kicked in as well.
We love our Loyal Readers. We encourage them to submit postings. Do this directly to Rev. David; he will post it for you and you will get full credit and a linkback you the address of your choice. We screen for spelling, content, and for REFERENCES. Unless something is labeled opinion, gearing to the Common Good, and presenting a fresh point of view means we will publish. Opinions will be well-reasoned, thought-provoking and will require full disclosure, please. It’s only fair to our Loyal Readers. The Rev’s Address can be found in the Right Column, by the way.
Kisses and HUGS!
Rolf and Janice
Also Of Interest:
RSS feeds are now available through GOOGLE Reader.
Read are now available for articles, as well as commentary.
For those who requested them, KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF!!
Thanks for your time….
Kermit, for The Rev.
Also Of Interest:
Many of you have had questions directed to me personally, which you
did not want to publish. I understand this; however when I have tried to
reply, the server will always bounce my reply back at me. This makes me
look Like I really don’t care about my loyal readers. Not True!
SO in order to remedy this minor vicissitude, questions may be directed
to my address and I will answer them the same day. Thank you for your time!*
* (the address was scrambled — you know why…!)
Also Of Interest:
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Tags: Business, Education, News, Wisdom
This entry was posted on Thursday, September 2nd, 2010 at 10:35 and is filed under Bulletin Board, Business Venture, Greed, Remedy, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.