Had a tortilla lately? Okay, Canada is not Tortilla Central, but Mexico is. They are a staple of the diet -- billions served -- and they are made of corn. So is ethanol, the highly-touted fuel which will supposedly free us of oil dependency. Of course if we make fuel out of what we eat, chances are that what we eat will end up costing more because there is a less plentiful supply. That's what has happened in Mexico. Corn is being diverted to ethanol production and the cost tripled in the past year.
There is an interesting article in the Globe and Mail this morning about the rising costs of food around the world because of this diversion to fuel production. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070719.RINFLATION19/TPStory/?query=ethanol Pasta cost more in Italy and meat in Canada because of rising wheat markets. Palm oil prices are soaring in Indonesia. All because food is becoming fuel. What seemed like a great idea may widen the gap between rich and poor.
What is the answer? Jesus usual response was "keep it simple." When I read the gospels he never says that we should all become more prosperous in the conventional sense. He regularly encourages simplicity as the way to be closer to God and more content in this life.
Does that simplicity include being less of a consumer society, including the amount of fuel we burn in our cars? Probably.
How do we teach our children to consume less than we do?
ReplyDeleteHow do we find the time to have a bigger garden and make our own... jam, chicken nuggetts etc...
Isn't it strange that simplicity can seem so complex. It's been said that faith is caught as well as taught. I suppose we lead by our example.
ReplyDeleteWhen the children are a little older you enlist them to help with the jam, etc., they appreciate it more. (I hope) This has been my quest this summer, to enlist the help of my child so she is more appreciative. She loves picking the berries and does her fair share. It is time consuming and frustrating at times but my hope is it will all pay off. Good luck Cam.
ReplyDelete