Wednesday, July 9, 2008

LET'S GROW CROPS BY OURSELVES, NOT TO TAKE FOOD FROM STARVING PEOPLE

The price of gasoline is increasing terribly, and it is causing a price increase of other things. The price of crops is also increasing all over the world, and as a result, the poor and starving people are suffering. I've heard that the reason for this is the speculation of crops and oil. This "speculation" is difficult to understand, but it means some companies and individuals are getting a lot of money through the starvation and suffering of poor people, doesn't it? Isn't it evil? Capitalism can do this. There are no rules. People do anything to get money.

The world is worrying about this situation, but they can find no effective ways to change it. Our government seems to have no visions about this problem and is not doing anything to help its people. There seems to be no way to stop this movement or protest it.

My family has a small vegetable garden around our house. When I came to live here, I didn't care about the garden and its crops, but while I was raising my children, I learned about food and farm chemicals. I wanted safe food for my children. Later, I learned that this is a problem not only for our health but also for the environment… for all living things.

Now, my husband grows almost all the crops my family needs, except rice. He uses no farm chemicals, so our crops have to live with weeds and worms. Growing vegetables is hard work, but it's also a lot of fun and joy. He goes to the garden and takes care of the crops almost everyday. When they grow well he seems happy, and when the weather is bad, he worries. In the afternoon before dinner, I walk around our garden and pick some crops while thinking about the dishes for our dinner. I think it's very natural to eat what we can get from our own garden, or from local products. Why do we need to bring food all the way from the other side of the Earth? Why should we have tomatoes in winter? The season's vegetables taste the best. We buy rice from our friend's paddies and get some fish and meat through COOP.

We can live like this because we have a garden and enough time now, fortunately. But it's not enough that only we can get good food. Most of the people have to get food at the stores, and the healthy foods and foods that don't use so much energy and don't pollute the environment should be served to them. Is growing crops for the family a selfish way to live?

No. A few days ago I found the words, "Let's grow crops by ourselves, not to take the food from starving people, not to submit to the countries that have food." I'd like to add one more thing: "not to submit to the evil that makes people starve for money." Why don't you grow vegetables on your verandas and buy local foods?

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Thanks for your insight, Iwashita Sensei! Could you tell us the best places to buy locally-grown fuits and vegetables in and around Saku? I often buy vegetables when I'm at a local onsen, but do you have any other suggestions? Thanks again!

Hudson D. Spivey said...

Nice Blog! I think it's rare that people see the connection between the way they eat and the impact it has on the environment and on other countries. Do you know about Peak Oil? You might be interested in reading about that, I think.

Pete Carter said...

先生、どうも有難うございます。ブログは面白いだと思います。もうすぐニュージーランドに帰国します。日本に泊った間、皆から色々学びました。特に日本で戦後派は凄い手まめだと思います。野菜畑は素晴しいです。けれども、多い若い人は自前主義はわかりません。また、多い人は買い物がもっと楽しいアクテビティです。ニュージーランドの次世代は似ています。問題です。そして、教育が一番大切な物だと思います。