FEE-OFF FOUNDATION.
>> Bonnie: THIS WEEK ON TO THE CONTRARY: FEM-VERTISING.
IT WORKS FOR COMPANIES.
IS IT INFIRING A NEW WAVE FEMINISM THEN THE SMEAR CAMPAIGN AGAINST A WOMAN WHO CARRIED A MATTRESS TO BRING ATTENTION TO HER CHARGE OF RAPE.
BEHIND THE HEADLINES: FOOD SECURITY, PART TWO.
HELLO, I'’’M BONNIE ERBE.
WELCOME TO "TO THE CONTRARY," A DISCUSSION OF NEWS AND SOCIAL TRENDS FROM DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.
UP FIRST, FEM-VERTISING.
THE TERM FEM-VERTISING REFERS TO A TREND IN ADVERTISING THAT'’’S GAINING TRACTION.
THINK DOVE'’’S REAL BEAUTY BISCAYNE, NOW MORE THAN A DECADE OLD.
IT WAS DESIGNED TO CHALLENGE GENDER NORMS AND HONOR AND REFLECT REAL WOMEN.
COMPANIES SUCH AS WALMART, CELINE AND UNDER ARMOUR ARE ALSO NOW SPORTING PRO-FEMALE ADS, SELLING WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT ALONG WITH THEY ARE PRODUCTS.
FOR EXAMPLE, CELINE USES 80-YEAR-OLD WRITER JOAN DIDION AS ONE OF ITS MODELS.
A 2014 SHEKNOWS FEM-VERTISING SURVEY FOUND MORE THAN HALF OF WOMEN SAID THEY BOUGHT A PRODUCT BECAUSE THEY LIKED HOW THE MARKETER AND ITS ADS PRESENTED WOMEN.
43% SAID IT MADE THEM FEEL GOOD ABOUT SUPPORTING THE BRAND.
>> SO IF IT'S WORKING, ERIN MAT ZOPF, FOR MARKETING PURPOSES AND WOMEN BUYING THIS STUFF, HOW IS IT WORKING FOR FEMALE EQUALITY?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
WHAT I WOULD SAY IS IT'S A GOOD STEP FOR THE ADVERTISING BUT WE HAVE THE GET REAL IF WE THINK THAT THE FEMINIST REVOLUTION IS GOING TO BE LED BY MADISON AVENUE.
>> BONE, I THINK IT'S FABULOUS.
AGAIN IT'S SYNTHESIZING THE NOTION THAT WOMEN ARE BECOMING A POWERHOUSE IN TERMS OF THE CONSUMER.
THEY ARE NOW 58% OF ONLINE RETAIL BIERS AND WEALTH CREATORS.
>> WELL, I'LL TELL YOU, TREND MARKETING TO WOMEN'S EQUALITY MAY BE SMART, BUT HIGHJACKING FEMINISM FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES ISN'T, AND THERE'S A DIFFERENCE.
>> AND THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW HOW MARKET WORK.
IF WOMEN WANT MORE EMPOWEREDDIST ADVERTISEMENT, THEY WILL BUY THESE PRODUCTS AND I THINK WE COULD SEE A TREND AND SEE MORE ADS LIKE THIS, SO IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THAT DEMAND.
>> I'M CURIOUS WHY YOU THINK IT ISN'T GOOD FOR EQUALITY.
I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT THESE GOOD OLD BOYS NETWORKS FINALLY, YOU KNOW, BUDGET AN 80-YEAR-OLD WOMAN AS THEIR MODEL FOR HIGH END LUXURY RETAIL ADVERTISEMENTS.
>> IF YOU ALIGN, IF YOU ALIGN THE MARKETING TO YOUR BRAND INSTEAD OF JUST STICKING ON A FEMINIST STICKER IN THE HOPE OF ATTRACTING WOMEN, IF YOU THINK IT THROUGH, I'D BE ALL FOR IT.
BUT I THINK THERE'S A REAL AND NOT SO SUBTLE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO, AND WE OUGHT TO LOOK CAREFULLY AT WHAT'S HAPPENING, YOU KNOW, THE DOVE IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM SOMEBODY SAYING LOOK, THERE ARE WOMEN OUT HERE THAT ARE GOING TO FIND A WITH A TO INSERT THEM INTO THIS AD.
>> RIGHT.
BUT FORGET ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING INTERNAL NET COMPANY.
A LOT OF THEM ARE VERY HIP ON DIVERSITY AND WOMEN IN HIGH PLACES IN THE COMPANY, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, BUT EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT, IF THEY'RE SENDING OUT A MESSAGE OF THAT THIS IS WHAT YOU SHOULD LOOK LIKE, JOAN DIDDION, VERSUS SOME 16-YEAR-OLD BIMBO WHO LOOKS LIKE A HANGER ON THE RUNWAY, ISN'T THAT AN IMPROVEMENT?
>> SURE, IT IS.
AND IF THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF ADS WE'RE GOING TO GET, FINE.
I'M JUST SAYING THAT THE TREND COULD RUN AWAY WITH ITSELF.
THESE WERE ADS WHERE THE MARKETING MET THE PRODUCT, AND IT MADE GOOD SENSE AND WOMEN WERE RELIEVED TO SEE IT.
I'M TALKING ABOUT SEEING THIS FLUORIC.
YOU COULD SEE WOMEN HOP -- FLOURISHING.
YOU COULD SEE WOMEN HOP ONTO ADS AND WONDER WHAT THEY'RE DOING THERE.
>> I THINK IT'S GOOD.
40 YEARS AGO WE HAD BETTY CROCKER IN AN APRON IRONING.
NOW WE HAVE ALL DIFFERENT SIZES AND SHAPES WOMEN, YOUNG AND OLD, AND I THINK THE TREND WILL BE POSITIVE.
>> I SURE HOPE SO BECAUSE WHERE THINGS STAND RIGHT NOW IT'S PRETTY SICK.
EXTERNALLY YOU HAVE 50% OF VERY YOUNG KIDS AFRAID THAT THEY'RE FAT, GIRLS SPECIFICALLY, THE NUMBER OF FOURTH GRADE GIRLS WHO TRY TO FAD DIET SAT 80%, AND THERE ARE STUDIES THAT SHOW THAT WOMEN AND GIRLS FEEL WORSE ABOUT THEMSELF AFTER CONSUMING MEDIA.
SO WE'RE BOMBARDED WITH THESE TERRIBLE IMAGES AND PEOPLE ARE 6 AND TIRED OF THAT.
SO IT'S A GOOD THING TO SEE THE TIDES TURN.
BUT I DO ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT A LOT OF THE PROBLEM IS MANUFACTURED BY FACT THAT THE ADVERTISING INDUSTRY OPERATES BASICALLY LIKE A FRAT HOUSE.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE YOU'VE GOT 3% OF CREATIVE DIRECTORS ARE WOMEN, AND SO IT'S MEN THAT ARE CONTROLLING THESE MESSAGES THAT GO OUT TO WOMEN AND IT'S MAKING EVERYONE FEEL BAD.
SO IT'S GOOD TO SEE CHANGE.
>> I'M GLAD ERIN BROUGHT UP THE MEN BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT SITCOMS, YOU SEE THESE MEN, THERE ARE VERY FEW TRUE ROLE MODELS AND STRONG MEN.
SO I THINK AS WE TALK ABOUT ADVERTISING MORE ADS FOR WOMEN, I HOPE IN THE SITCOM WORLD WE SEE MEN WITH REALLY EMPOWERING CHARACTERISTICS AS WELL.
>> DO YOU THINK THAT THIS COULD LEAD TO A FOURTH WAVE OF FEMINISM?
IT WAS MENTIONED IN ONE OF THE ARTICLES THAT WAS WRITTEN ABOUT THE TREND, THAT IT'S REALLY STOKING INTEREST ON THE PART OF COLLEGE WOMEN AND MAKING THEM REALIZE, HEY, YOU KNOW, THE WHATEVER CAR IT IS, THE CHEVY, THE FORD, THE BMW THAT'S BEING SOLD TO YOU WITH A HALF-NAKED BLONDE ON THE HOOD IS NOT THE ONLY WAY ADVERTISERS CAN TRY TO REACH YOU, BUT REALLY REALIZING AS WELL THAT IT'S STILL IN THE MINORITY TO USE REAL WOMEN.
>> SO MY OPINION ON THAT IS, A, IT'S VERY EXCITING THAT FEMINISM IS BOOMING AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL RIGHT NOW.
BUT I ACTUALLY THINK ADVERTISING IS FOLLOWING THE CULTS RIGHT NOW, THAT THERE IS A DEMAND RIGHT NOW FOR MORE EMPOWERING IMAGES OF WOMEN AND GIRLS, AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT THE MARKETERS ARE TAPPING INTO.
I DON'T THINK THEY'RE LEADING THE CHARGE.
I THINK THEY'RE FOLLOWING THE HORSE.
>> WILL IT STOKE MORE YOUNG PEOPLE WOMEN TO GET INVOLVED IN WORKING FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS?
>> I DON'T THINK FEMINISM IS HAVING A REBIRTH ON THESE COLLEGE CAMPUSES.
A NATIONAL POLL FOUND 23% OF AMERICANS SELF-IDENTIFY AS FEMINISTS.
I THINK MANY ARE FINDING THAT IT'S GONE TOO FAR ON SOME ISSUES AND DOESN'T RELATE TO THE TRUE EXPERIENCE THAT THEY HAVE, TOO MUCH OF A VICTIM MENTALITY THAT WE'RE SEEING IN FEMINISM AND NOT ADVERTISING GREAT OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTRY.
>> WOMEN HAVE INCORPORATED FEMINISM INTO WHO THEY ARE SO FEMINISM IS NOT A LANE AS IT WAS FOR MY GENERATING, BUT YOU ARE VERY MUCH MISTAKEN IF YOU THINK THAT THIS GENERATION OF MILLENNIALS ARE ARE NOT NATURAL BORN FEMINISTS, AND I DO THINK THEY WILL LEAD THE WAY TO A DIFFERENT WAY TO THINKING ABOUT WOMEN IF NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY SEE RAPE AND OTHER ISSUES AS -- >> I'M JUST HOPING THEY FIND THEIR WAY INTO THE BOARDROOM AS CEOs, AS LEADERS.
I'M DELIGHTED THAT THE HEAD OF GM IS A WOMAN WALK CEO, THAT'S TAKING A VERY PUBLIC PROFILE, AND THAT'S WHERE 12:00 TAKE TAKE LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN POLITICS, BUSINESS AND IN OTHER AREAS.
>> LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.
PLEASE FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @BONNIEERBE.
FROM FEM-VERTISING TO A CAMPAIGN CALLED FAKE RAPE.
AFTER A YEAR OF CARRYING AROUND A MATTRESS TO PROTEST COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY'’’S HANDLING OF HER SEXUAL ASSAULT COMPLAINT, EMMA SULKOWICZ NOW FACES VERY PUBLIC CHARGES THAT LEASE LYING BUT ATTACK.
USING AN ANONYMOUS TWITTER ACCOUNT, CALLED FAKERAPE, TWEETS CHASTISE SULKOWICZ FOR "““TORTURING AN INNOCENT MAN.
"”” PICTURES OF HER WITH THE MATTRESS STAMPED #RAPEHOAX ARE TWEETED AS WELL.
POSTERS CALLING HER A "““PRETTY LITTLE LIAR"”” SHOWED UP ON AND AROUND COLUMBIA'’’S CAMPUS JUST HOURS AFTER SULKOWICZ CARRIED THE MATTRESS ON STAGE DURING HER GRADUATION CEREMONY.
PAUL NUNGESSER, THE STUDENT ACCUSED OF THE RAPE, FILED A DISCRIMINATION SUIT AGAINST THE SCHOOL DESPITE BEING CLEARED OF THE CHARGE.
SO CONGRESSWOMAN NORTON, AS SOON AS WE LEARNED ABOUT THIS STORY, THE FIRST THOUGHT WAS IS THE UVA CASE, WHICH WAS SUCH A DEBACLE IN THE ROLLING STONE ARTICLE WHERE THE WOMAN MAKING THE ALLEGATIONS WAS FOUND TO BE FABRICATE A LOT OF STUFF, DOES THAT HELP EMMA SULKOWICZ?
>> WELL, ISN'T IT INTERESTING THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO RELATE THIS CASE TO THE UVA CASE.
AND, OF COURSE, IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT I THINK IN THE LONG RUN IT HASN'T HURT.
THE RAPE NOTION, THE SEXUAL ASSAULT NOTION ON CAMPUS FRANKLY IS SO PERVASIVE THAT IT HAS SURVIVED THAT, AND IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT THESE ANTI-RAPE, ANTI-SULKOWICZ RESPONSES HAVE COME OUT LATE, AND THEY'VE COME FROM ANONYMOUS SOURCES, WHERE SHE HAS BEEN ENTIRELY VISIBLE AND PAINFULLY SO IN MAKING HER CASE AND HAVING AN ENORMOUS EFFECT, PARTICULARLY ON YOUNG WOMEN.
>> DO YOU AGREE?
DOES IT -- IS SHE AFFECTED BY THE UVA CASE.
>> >> YEAH, I THINK THE WHOLE NARRATIVE IS AFFECTED.
I WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA.
OUR COMMUNITY WAS DEVASTATED WHEN THAT ROLLING STONE ARTICLE CAME OUT, AND EVERY STUDENT SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO TO COLLEGE AND HAVE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
I THINK ONE LESSON WE CAN LEARN FROM ALL OF THIS IS THAT UNIVERSITIES OF ILL EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH SEXUAL EXALT THAT WE SHOULD BE USING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM MORE.
>> I LIKE TO GIVE THE TITLE IX ENFORCEMENT A CHANCE AT THIS POINT.
YES, THERE ARE CLEARLY TONS OF PROBLEMS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION AT UNIVERSITIES RIGHT NOW.
THAT SAID, WE'VE GOT TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
WE'VE GOT TO MAKE A DENT IN THIS PROBLEM.
COLLEGE CAMPUS SEXUAL ASSAULT IS SO PERVASIVE, AND I WANT TO GO BACK TO EMMA BECAUSE I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ATTACK ON HER, THIS VICIOUS ATTACK ON HER ONLINE.
I THINK IT'S AN ATTACK ON ALL WOMEN.
I THINK IT'S AN ATTEMPT TO SILENCE WOMEN, TO SILENCE WOMEN AND SAY DON'T SPEAK UP ABOUT SEXUAL ASSAULT, DON'T SPEAK UP WHEN YOU'VE BEEN VICTIMIZED, AND SO I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY REALLY NEED TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST.
I WAS ALSO HORRIFIED TO HEAR THAT WHEN SHE CARRIED HER MATTRESS ACROSS THE STAGE DURING THE GRADUATION CEREMONY, THAT THE PRESIDENT OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, LEE BOLLINGER, DID NOT SHAKE HER HOUND.
I FOUND THAT VERY DISTURBING.
>> WELL, WHAT ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE SCHOOL HAS CLEARED HIM?
WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?
DO WE GIVE MI ANY CREED TONES THAT SORRY DO WE SAY, OH, IT'S JUST ANOTHER UNIVERSITY, MY ALMA MATER, UNDERGRAD AND GRADUATE SCHOOL, JUST ANOTHER UNIVERSITY KINGS OFF SOME WOMAN'S ALLEGATIONS?
>> IT'S REALLY MORE SERIOUS THAN THAT AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT WHEN THERE'S AN ALLEGATION OF RAPE, WE REALLY HAVE A CLASSIC ONE-ON-ONE.
HE SAID/SHE SAID, AND IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET TO THE.
KNOWING THAT, AS EMMA SULKOWICZ CARRIED HER MATTRESS SHE KNEW HE SAID BEEN EXONERATED, SHE KNEW SHE DIDN'T HAVE, QUOTE, PROOF, BECAUSE THE PROOF IS IMPOSSIBLE, AND THIS IS WHY IT'S SO DIFFICULT TO GET TO WAY TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE.
GOING INTO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WON'T MAKE THE ANY EASIER.
IF ANYTHING, THE STANDARD OF PROOF GETS GRAYCE GRAZED.
YOU'VE GOT TO CHANGE THE CULTURE ONCE THESE KIDS COME INTO COLLEGE AND IT OUGHT TO BEGIN THE VERY FIRST DAY WITH THE WAY THEY'RE ACCLIMATED INTO COLLEGE WITH THE STERNEST KIND OF UNDERSTANDING THAT THESE ARE VER BOATEN ON CAMPUS, THEN TO WORK IN THE COLLEGIAL WAY WITH WOMEN AND WITH MEN TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM SO THAT WE CAN UNRAVEL THIS TOXIC CULTURE.
>> BUT YOU'RE CORRECT.
IT'S A SERIOUS ISSUE.
YOU IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT DID HAPPEN.
THERE WERE SOME JOURNALISTIC INTERVIEWS THAT TOOK PLACE THAT WERE INDECISIVE IN TERMS OF REALLY COMING TO ANY CONCLUSIONS, AND A COUPLE OF THE INTERVIEWERS WERE WOMEN SYMPATHIC TO THE ISSUE BUT AFTER THE INTERVIEW NOT DEFINITIVE OF FINDING THE ELEMENTS OF WHAT HAPPENED IN THE CASE.
AGAIN THE ALLEGATION OF RAPE IS JUST AS SERIOUS AS RAPE ITSELF.
I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS, BUT I THINK THIS IS WHAT MAKES THIS ISSUE A LITTLE BIT MORE COMPLEX.
>> WHEN YOU WERE AT UVA, I'M CURIOUS, KARIN, DID YOU HEAR ABOUT OTHER WOMEN WHO WERE RAPED ON CAMPUS?
>> WHEN I READ THE ROLLING STONE ARTICLE I WAS VERY SURPRISED.
I WAS THERE FOR SEVEN YEARS FOR UNDERGRAD AND LAW SCHOOL, AND HADN'T HEARD THAT SONG THAT OUTLINED THE ENTIRE ARTICLE, SO I THINK THIS REPORTER WAS LOOKING FOR A STORY, WAS ABLE TO FIND SOMEBODY AT UVA, AND THEN TRIED TO DO A TAKEDOWN OF THE UNIVERSITY.
AND IT'S BEEN VERY SERIOUS.
THE ADMINISTRATION'S TAKEN IT SERIOUSLY.
BUT I'M NOT SURE IT'S DOING A REAL SERVICE TO THE TRUE VICTIM.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> LAST WEEK WE LOOKED AT HOW A GROWING AND MORE DIVERSE POPULATION IS DEMANDING A GREATER VARIETY OF FOODS, MORE CONVENIENT FOODS AND SEASONAL FOODS YEAR ROUND, ALL OF WHICH CREATE CRACKS IN U.S. FOOD SECURITY.
TODAY WE LOOK AT THE VULNERABILITIES IN OUR FOOD TRANSPORTATION AND DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS AND THE CHALLENGES OF FEEDING A GROWING POPULATION IN A FINITE WORLD.
15 BERS OR MORE OF THE FOOD WE EAT COMES FROM OTHER COUNTRIES, AND THAT NUMBER IS RISING EVERY YEAR.
AS WE DEPEND ON OTHER COUNTRIES FOR FOOD, THE RISK OF DISRUPTION TO OUR FOOD SOURCES AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM INCREASES.
FOR EXAMPLE, EARLIER THIS YEAR THE PORT OF LOS ANGELES, THE LARGEST U.S. SEAPORT ALONG WITH 29 OTHER WEST COAST SEAPORTS WERE VIRTUALLY SHUT DOWN LIE A LABOR DISPUTE.
THE WORK STOPPAGE CREATED A LOGJAM, LINES OF HUGE CONTAINER SHIPS GOING IN AND OUT OF THE PORTS WHILE SHIPPING COMPANIES AND TRUCKERS STAT ISLAND.
THE PORT SLOW DOWN WAS DOMESTIC AND TEMPORARY BUT OTHER FOOD DISRUPTIONS COULD BE MORE COMPLICATED.
FOREIGN REGULATORY LAWS, SECURITY AND SAFETY ISSUES ALL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO CREATE LARGE DISRUPTIONS TO IMPORTS.
IT HAS HAPPENED.
IN 2003 AN ESTIMATED 1.7 MILLION HEAD OF CANADIAN BEEF WERE STOPPED FROM ENTERING THE COUNTRY BY MAD COW DISEASE.
AND IN FEBRUARY OF 2015 CANADA WAS HIT AGAIN, CONFIRMING ITS FIRST CASE OF MAD COW DISEASE SINCE 2011.
DURING THE YEARS THAT CANADIAN BEEF WAS BANNED, ANOTHER LARGE U.S. TRADING PARTNER FILLED THE EXPORT BEEF GAP, MEXICO.
BUT WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IF THE DISEASE HIT MEXICO'’’S CATTLE OR THERE WAS A SECURITY THREAT AT THE BORDER AND TRADE STOPPED, BOTH CONSIDERED HIGHLY PLAUSIBLE BY EXPERTS?
WHAT IF A COUP TOOK PLACE IN THAILAND WHENCE MUCH OF OUR SHRIMP HAILS?
>> CERTAINLY THERE ARE SOME NATIONAL SECURITY AND FOOD SECURITY ISSUES WITH RELIANCE ON FOOD FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.
IF YOU HAVE AREAS THAT USED TO EXPORT TO THE UNITED STATES BUT THEN BECOME UNSTABLE AND MAY END UP EXPORTING LESS, IF ANYTHING AT ALL, THAT WOULD REDUCE TO AVAILABILITY OF THAT FOOD.
>> OUR MOST FOOD INSECURE STATE IS HAWAII.
THE ISLANDS IMPORT 85 TO 90 PERCENT OF THE FOOD CONSUMED THERE.
THAT MAKES IT VERY VULNERABLE TO NATURAL DISASTERS AND GLOBAL EVENTS DISRUPTING FOOD SHIPMENTS.
PREPARING FOR THESE UNCONTROLLABLE EVENTS, THE HAWAIIAN DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND OFFICE OF PLANNING CREATED A FOOD SECURITY AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY STRATEGY IN 2012.
THE STRATEGY DESCRIBED HOW THE STATE COULD INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF LOCALLY GROWN FOOD AND BECOME LESS RELIANT ON IMPORTS.
AND THIS YEAR IS STATE IS PUTTING MONEY BEHIND CONCEPTS CREATED TO BECOME MORE FOOD SECURE AND SELF-SUCH IT IS ALSO SUPPORTING THE LOCAL FISHING INDUSTRY'S EFFORTS TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABILITY AND FOOD SECURITY SECURITY.
ALTHOUGH IMPORTS POSE MANY RISKS FOR FOOD SECURITY, EVEN FOOD GROWN ON OUR OWN SOIL CAN BECOME VULNERABLE TO SHORTAGES.
>> ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AT THE PROBLEMS WITH WATER IN ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA, AND NEW MEXICO AND REALIZE THAT WE DON'T HAVE SUFFICIENT WATER TO MEET OUR GROWING FOOD DEMANDS.
>> SURE, WE CAN FEET 225 MILLION PEOPLE.
CAN FEED 525 MILLION?
BOO THE TIME MY GRANDKIDS ARE MY AGE?
AND EVEN IF WE CAN DO THAT IN THE UNITED STATES, IS IT GOOD POLICY IN TERMS OF THE GLOBE?
>> WHETHER FOOD IS IMPORTED OR DOMESTICALLY GROWN GETTING IT FROM THE POINT OF ORIGIN TO THE POINT OF CONSUMPTION REQUIRES MULTIPLE STEPS.
FROM KEEPING IT TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED TO HANDLING IT SAFELY REQUIRE A VARIETY OF TRANSPORT METHODS.
>> IN THE UNITED STATES AND GLOBALLY WE HAVE A VERY INTRICATE AND COMPLICATED NETWORK OF HOW WE SOURCE FOOD AND HOW IT MOVES ABOUT.
THAT COMPLICATED NETWORK HAS VARIOUS POINTS OF VULNERABILITY.
THOSE POINTS OF VULNERABILITY IMPACT THE SECURITY OF THE FOOD, THE SAFETY OF THE FOOD AND ITS RISKS FOR INTENTIONAL CONTAMINATION.
>> THE GOVERNMENT BELIEVES THE FOOD SUPPLY IS SO VULNERABLE THAT ITS TRANSPORT WAS LISTED AS ONE OF THE NATION'’’S 16 MOST CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURES, THAT AFTER THE TERRORIST ATTACKS ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 BY THE OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY.
THIS MEANS A DISRUPTION IS VIEWED AS HAVING DIRE CONSEQUENCES.
>> TIMES HAVE CHANGED AND WITH 325 MILLION AMERICANS IT'S TIME FOR US TO STABILIZE OUR POPULATION.
IN ORDER TO DO THAT WE'RE GOING TO TO HAVE REDUCE IMMIGRATION SUBSTANTIALLY >> IT'’’S THE JOB OF THE USDA AND THE FDA TO KEEP OUR FOOD SAFE IN TRANSIT, BUT CRITICS SAY THE SYSTEM IS FLAWED, AND RARELY IS A SHIPMENT STOPPED ONCE IT LEAVES THE PORT OF ENTRY.
>> WE HAVE HAD FOODBORNE OUTBREAKS ASSOCIATED WITH TRANSPORTED FOOD, PROCEED TEWES, CROSS-CONTAMINATION DURING TRANSPORTATION.
ANIMAL DISEASE OUTBREAKS ASSOCIATED WITH TRANSPORTATION OF INFECTED ANIMALS PAST NON-INFECTED FARMS AND DISRUPT OUR TOTAL PRODUCTION CAPACITY.
TRANSPORTATION IS NECESSARY.
IT'S ALSO A RISK.
>> THIS WAS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE.
WHEN THE UNITED STATES HAD A POPULATION OF 170 MILLION IN THE EARLY 1950S VERSUS 320 UNTIL MILLION TODAY, MANY MORE PEOPLE RELIED ON THE MORE RELIABLE SUPPLY OF LOCALLY GROWN FOODS.
TO PROTECT THEMSELVES TODAY FROM EATING SPOILED OR DISEASED FOOD RUINED DURING TRANSPORT, MANY AMERICAN CONSUMERS ARE TRYING TO RETURN TO THAT SYSTEM.
THEY HAVE JOINED THE LOCAVORE BANDWAGON.
THAT MEANS THEY ONLY EAT FOOD THAT IS LOCALLY PRODUCED.
HOWEVER, WITH EACH AMERICAN CONSUMING SOME 2200 POUNDS OF FOOD PER YEAR AND THE POPULATION CONTINUING TO GROW, THE U.S.'S OWN FOOD PRODUCTION CAPACITY IS QUESTIONABLE >> AN INCREASING LEVEL OF IMMIGRATION CERTAINLY WOULD AFFECT THE NET IMPORTS OF FOODS, BUT WHEN THE POPULATION GOES UP AND WE DON'T HAVE MUCH MORE ARABLE LAND AND WE HAVE REACHED THE PEAK OF PRODUCTIVE IN THE LAND WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK MEANS THAT EITHER WE'RE GOING TO BE EXPORTING LESS FOOD OR IMPORTING MORE FOOD >> IF WE WANT TO STABILIZE POPULATION, WE WILL HAVE TO LIMIT IMMIGRATION.
CURRENT IT'S ABOUT 1.25 MILLION ANNUALLY.
THAT GOT US ON TRACK TO ADD A COUPLE HUNDRED MILLION PEOPLE TO THE POPULATION.
>> EVEN IF THE U.S. EXPORTS LESS TO FEED MORE PEOPLE GLOBALLY SOME CRITICS SAY THAT OUR METHODS OF FACTORY FOOD FARMING -- LARGE, INDUSTRIAL OPERATIONS THAT RAISE LARGE NUMBERS OF ANIMALS -- IS LIMITING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR FARMING TECHNIQUES.
>> IF FACULTY FARMED ANIMALS DEPEND ON GROIN, THE SOILS >> ONE OF THE CRITICAL VOICES IS PHILIP LYMBERY, THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF COMPASSION IN WORLD FARMING.
HE ARGUES IN HIS BOOK, "““FARMAGEDDON,"”” THAT THE INDUSTRIAL MODEL OF FOOD PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION IS INEFFICIENT AND RISKS LONG-TERM DAMAGE TO THE PLANET AND LONG-TERM FOOD INSECURITY.
>> "FARMAGEDDON" EXPOSES THE TRUE COST OF CHEAP MEAT, FOR OUR HEALTH, THE COUNTRYSIDE AND THE PLANET.
IT TAKES US BEYOND COMPASSION'S HEARTLAND REM, THAT FARKER FARMING IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE OF ANIMAL CRUELTY ON THE PLANET AND SHOWS WHAT IT ACTUALLY DOES TO FARMLAND BIRDS, BUTTERFLIES AND BEES IN DECIMATING THEM, SHOWS WHAT IT DOES IN TERMS OF PRODUCING UNHEALTHY HIGH SATURATED FAT FOOD, AND SHOWS THAT IT SQUANDERS HUGE AMOUNTS OF THE PLANET'S RESOURCES.
>> RESEARCHERS HAVE AGREED WITH LYMBERY.
THE POTSDAM INSTITUTE FOR CLIMATE IMPACT RESEARCH STUDIED THE FOOD PRODUCTION CAPACITY OF EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.
THE STUDY INDICATES DID UNITED KINGDOM, THE NETHERLANDS AND JAPAN ARE ALREADY UNABLE TO MEET THE FOOD REQUIREMENTS OF THEIR POPULATIONS.
THE REPORT ALSO POINTS OUT AS THE POPULATION GROWS INTER-DEPENDENCY GROWS, TOO.
MORE THAN HALF THE WORLD'S POPULATION COULD DEPEND ON IMPORTED FOODS BY THE YEAR 2050.
>> THE REALITY IS THAT OUR INVESTMENT IN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH IN THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN DECLINING STEADILY OVER THE THE LAST 30 YEARS.
IT'S A BIG PROBLEM BUT WE ARE NOT INVESTING ENOUGH TO SOLVE IT, AND NO OTHER DEVELOPING COUNTRY IS.
SO THE FARMERS ARE FACED WITH THE CHALLENGES OF MEETING THE DEMANDS FOR THE SAFE AND HEALTHFUL PRODUCTION OF FOOD, MAKING IT ECONOMIC FOR THE CONSUMERS SO THEY CAN AFFORD THAT FOOD, AND COMPETING WITH PRODUCERS AROUND THE WORLD WHO DON'T HAVE THE SAME ECONOMIC RESTRAINTS ON THEM FROM THEIR COST OF PRODUCTION.
FARMERS ARE IN VERY TOUGH BIND.
>> SO CONGRESSWOMAN NORTON JUST THIS MONTH, A NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES REPORT CAME OUT THAT SAID, AMONG OTHER THINGS, IT IS ASSESSED THE FOOD SUPPLY AVAILABLE TO MORE THAN 140 NATIONS WITH POPULATIONS GREATER THAN 1 MILLION PEOPLE AND DEMONSTRATES THAT FOOD SECURITY IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO PER TRABEATIONS IN DEMOGRAPHICS GROWTH AS HUMANITY PLACES INCREASING PRESSURE ON USE OF LIMITED LAND AND WATER RESOURCES.
ARE WE DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS AS A COUNTRY TO TRY TO MAKE OUR FOOD SUPPLY CONTINUE TO MAKE AT A ABUNDANT AND AFFORDABLE?
>> WAS YOUR SEGMENT SAID, WE'RE NOT DOINK THE KIND OF RESEARCH INTO FARMING AND AGRICULTURE THAT MADE THIS COUNTRY THE LEADING PRODUCER OF AGRICULTURE.
IT'S AMAZING THAT ONLY 15% OF OUR FOOD HAS OR IS IMPORTED.
THAT MAKES US -- >> BUT 90% OF OUR FISH -- I DON'T EAT MEAT BUT I EAT FISH -- THAT'S' SCARY FIGURE.
>> JE.
A COMBINATION OF THE COST OF TRANSPORTATION -- REMEMBER, TRANSPORTATION COSTS SO MUCH NOW THAT WE'RE BEGINNING TO DO MORE MANUFACTURING IN THIS COUNTRY -- A COMBINATION OF THE COST OF MANUFACTURING AND CLIMATE CHANGE, WHICH IS DEVASTATING, FARMING THAT COULD TAKE PLACE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD IS CALLING UPON OUR FOOD SUPPLY AND CALLING FOR CHANGES IN THE WAY IN WHICH WE DO FOOD SECURITY FOR OURSELVES AND FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD.
>> ONE ASPECT I'M INTERESTED IN ON THIS TOPIC IS THE PORT SECURITY SIDE OF IT WHICH YOU MENTION AID LITTLE BIT IN THE SEGMENT.
AND AS THE LAST REPORT THAT HE RELEASED, SENATOR COBURN RELEASED A BIG REVIEW OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY SECURITY EVALUATING THE FIVE MISSIONS, ONE OF WHICH IS PORT SECURITY, AND REALLY FOUND THAT WE ARE STRUGGLING IN THAT AREA, THAT THE DHS IS STRUGGLING IN ALL FIVE MISSIONS, AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO ROW EVALUATE AND I HOPE CONGRESS REEVALUATES.
>> WELL, ACCESS TO SAFE AND HEALTHY FOODS SHOULD BE RIGHTFULLY ASKED A HUMAN RIGHT.
WE NEED THIS TO LIVE AND SO THIS IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO TAKE SERIOUSLY.
>> BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WE DON'T SAC IT DEALERS AT ALL.
WE'RE NOT DOING -- TAKE IT SERIOUSLY AT PALM WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING POLICY-WISE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR FOOD SUPPLY IS AVAILABLE IN ABUNDANCE.
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN?
>> IT'S TERRIFYING WHEN YOU HAVE WHEN YOU HAVE CONGREGATIONS LIKE MONSANTO THAT ARE DRIVING THE BUS AND NOT FEEDING THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN A HEALTHY WAY.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED A TO.
LAR RESPONSE.
BY THAT I MEAN THIS IS AN ORGANIZING PROBLEM IN LARGE PART.
WE NEED GRASSROOTS AND PRESS TORE BUILD CHANGE.
>> THAT'S IT FOR THIS EDITION.
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