Beef, Drought, Junk Mail

Not that beef, this beef.  No, over here.  The New York Times reports this morning about recent beef recalls, and how it's not the regulations that aren't working, but the fact that so much meat is being processed through the same facilities.  Buying from one source allows consumers to know where their beef is coming from, instead of an environment that "sometimes mixed tested and untested meat in its grinding machines."

The good news is, it's been raining for a solid day.  Also in the Times is an article about the southern drought and how the response to water shortages have been slow to materialize, despite the predictions that began early in the summer.  This should be an object lesson for anyone concerned about global warming, as it demonstrates just exactly how we will respond to that threat as well, without a change in our approach.

You mean grassfed isn't clear enough?  Bonnie over at The Ethicurean takes an in-depth look at the recent rulings on what can and cannot be labeled "grassfed" by USDA standards.  Her initial response to the new rules was positive, just as ours was, since the language was direct and clear.  On further investigation, however, it appears that there are opportunities for big business loopholes.  The fundamental question is whether or not the new ruling is a step forward. . .

Get thee out of my mailbox.  A post at Gristmill directs us to Catalog Choice, a free online service that allows individuals to "unsubscribe" from the multifarious catalogs that clog the snail-mail box.  We'll let you know how effective it is, since the More Deliberate household receives catalogs at about a 10-to-1 ratio to actual mail on a daily basis.

Farm Bill apologetics.  Dan Owens updates us on the 2007 Farm Bill with consideration of what is actually good about the new legislation at Blog for Rural America.  He's right that there is some improvement in the new version of the bill -- what has been so painful is that so many Americans have come to realize in the last few years how important the Farm Bill really is to our food system, and as a result there was a broader call for reform this year than in previous go-arounds.  The fact that reform has been short-changed, then, is just bittersweet to a new crowd.

Finally, someone who doesn't praise King Corn.  If you are a reader of local-foodie blogs, you've heard about the new film King Corn countless times at this point.  Yesterday at Edible Nation Blog chef and Slow Food member Kurt Michael Friese takes on a nay-sayer of the film, noting that big ag is full of condemnation, but short on solutions.

Vote for Peak Oil Guy.  There's an old adage that if you can't change the system from outside, step right in.  In line with that reasoning, blogger Randy White of Lawns to Gardens is running for Portland, Oregon City Council.  Apparently Randy recently visited the mall and has a few comments to share about the experience.

Comments

[Laurie Major]

Regarding King Corn and the criticism that it doesn't offer solutions, I would say that King Corn and similar films are part of the solution. The solution is consumer awareness and thoughtfulness about their consumption. The market will take care of the rest. If people become aware of the issue and make decisions affected by that knowledge, the market will respond. It's not the only way to make change, but it does speak. There was a larger demand for organic products; we now have more organic products. Let's continue to demand with our dollars by making more and more of our choices in line with what we learn.