The film is about the conspiracy between government and the food and chemical industries to keep us fat, unhealthy,and ignorant. The film shows what large industrial scale farming really looks like in this country.
I don't believe in conspiracy theories. In fact, most of them are total nonsense. But I do believe in the food conspiracy. As this film shows:
- Government policy encourages the over production of corn, and the underproduction of more useful crops. In effect, the government subsidizes unhealthy food.
- Huge factory farms are wrecking the environment, not to mention how badly the animals and workers are treated. Modern agriculture is the leading cause of global warming.
- Farm subsidies in both the USA and Europe make it difficult for small farms, and impossible for third world farmers, to compete.
- Government policy artificially inflates the price of some basic crops. The policy makes food so expensive that in some poor countries, famine and food riots are the result. Meanwhile, Americans are getting fatter and fatter. Gee, what's wrong with this picture?
Put it all together: A few large agribusinesses are getting rich at the expense of our planet and us. And the USDA (the Department of Agriculture) protects these huge businesses by implementing policies which make it almost impossible for sustainable, small farms to compete. There is the conspiracy.
I went to a special screening of the film with the director and Eric Schlosser, author of Fast Food Nation. In the Q and A afterward, I asked them why the film doesn't even mention the value of a vegetarian diet. I asked "are you worried that if you mentioned vegetarianism, you would scare the audience away?"
The director answered me first, saying that he didn't think you have to be a vegetarian to create sustainable food policy. Eric Schlosser then said that lots of people have told him that they became vegetarians after reading his book. However, he is not a vegetarian, and his book doesn't advocate it. It was a conclusion that many of his readers reached on their own. He thinks the film will have the same effect.
Please tell everyone to see this film!
Dave
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I was in Whole Foods the other day (the one in the Arboreteum), and they had cards for the movie at the Smoothie bar ;))
A small group of our members went to see the movie on Saturday. Good recommendation Dave! Even for those of us that feel like we've heard all this info before, there is a lot more to learn. It was a real eye-opener for me. I agree with Dave 100% -- this is a movie that everybody should see, regardless of how they feel about animal rights.
thx, david for giving us valuable info on this film. one of my co-workers saw it and was shocked by how our govt protect big agri-business at our expense and at expense of environment. this is not big news to us cause we stay informed but to general public this is big news.
Thanks for the review, particularly the insight revealed at the Q&A.
For anybody who is interested, we have been trying organize a fun outing to go see the film. Check out this forum topic if you want to join us.
I am disappointed that this film does not even mention the potential benefits of a plant-based diet. It seems disingenuous to ignore the many credible sources that say there is no sustainable way to raise animals for food.
Still, I understand that they had to pick their battles, and they wanted to focus on harmful industry practices and government policies that were relevant to both plant and animal agriculture.
As Schlosser observed, the film will likely lead many to conclude that a vegan diet is best -- that's ok with me whether the filmmakers intended it or not.
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