Topic of the week

[Кикимора]

[Alishka]

Oh dear God how much I love these comments "For Americans money is first and everything second." Especially how it fails to differentiate individuals from corporate entities and how it, in one swift stroke, separates Americans from the rest of the world. Well it’s certainly hard to argue with absolutisms like that and yet I would like to contribute to the discussion:
Yes, corporations are concerned with profit-making. And I believe they should be concerned with profit-making! In the true spirit of free market economists I believe it is the duty of the firm to maximize the return to its shareholders (investors). And it is the duty of the Government to impose regulations of social/environmental issues. It is also the duty of the Public to encourage/demand that corporations undertake social/environmental initiatives. And guess what? It’s happening. In different countries this movement is propelled by different sources – in some European countries and in Canada it is mainly government driven – for which I offer my great respect to the governments. In US until recently it has been Public-driven – lawsuits, boycotts, shareholder pressure (many of those very successful). But even in US it has increasingly become government-driven as well. The questions of environment have historically failed to be adequately addressed at the federal level but only recently did the states receive the power (and have begun to use it) to draft their own environmental requirements. So while California may still debate their plans many states and cities already put initiatives in place. For example, the city of New York (historically one of the dirtiest air cities in US) has made drastic improvements. By regulation, all heavy manufacturing have been removed from the city, it now has the largest diesel-hybrid bus fleet in the country, and the tap water is actually safe to drink. All this was done by state and city officials (and public pressure) and local corporations have adjusted accordingly. So is all environmental talk, just talk? We are left to see and to act (and some of us to generalize).

[Кикимора]

[Galochka]

Кикимора
I agree! Democracy can not be completely driven by government by definition.

[meteliza]

Back to environment, what is your opinion on genetically modified food?
In France we have only corn authorized to be genetically modified.
In the US, do you have much GMO food?

[Кикимора]

This is my choice of the food
and all genetically modified food - is not for me

[meteliza]

[Кикимора]

From you PF i was unable to understand where are you living now? I am living in Moscow and was born in Baku - this was provided me with some experience about fruits and vegetable (how they look, smell, size and color)
Something unusual that that or not suppose to be, or too good to be true things - is GMO (GoMnO) but it is good for Moscow and Baku- nothing can say about USA and ets...

[meteliza]

Кикимора
I live in Toulouse, France and I was born in Sverdlovsk

I think were are all concerned by GM food as companies sell their products all over the globe. And even non-modified plants may be "contaminated" 'cause pollen is blown with winds and affects other plants.

[Кикимора]

Only thing that I can tell you in this case - try to find real small or middle size farmer and by from him or her - or on farmer market -in this case produce will be fresher and less genetic - Pay attention on absence of smell, unusual big or small size - unreal shape, and again - I know well how normal food suppose to bee as I remember it from my past experience - and I can not describe it - this is special skill, that you can learn only being a custom to real farmers market.....

[Galochka]

Well, I think in Russia it is easier to determine by smell and color what fruit and vegetables are grown in a natural way and those which are modified.But actually here in the USA,I suppose,you can rely on supermarkets and go to the section which sells organic foods or go to the local farmers' market. I personally don't have any secrets of choosing the right produce!

[Кикимора]

Galochka
Impossible!
You simply never pay attentions how you really make your choices - because you are doing it automatically.
Think about it for the moment....

[meteliza]

Кикимора
thank you for your advice
In fact, I buy vegetables at a bio market, where products are garanteed organic.

[meteliza]

up

[Кикимора]