November 2003 | Editor’s Note
Super-Sized Contradictions
Item 1: Mayor Daley has proved himself a true environmental champion in working to make Chicago one of America’s premiere eco-friendly locales. Solar power, energy efficiency, habitat restoration — his "green" initiatives will be an enduring legacy.
However, in contrast to this enlightened eco approach, his vocal support of the Patriot Act in early October — that came after huddling with President Bush while he was fund raising in Chicago — is a profound disappointment. Without the Mayor’s moral support, the City Council’s intention to categorically condemn the Patriot Act essentially withered into an anemic finger wagging resolution.
The courageous proposal that Aldermen Joe Moore (49th) and Helen Shiller (46th) introduced would have made Chicago the largest city to call on Congress to repeal the Act, establishing the City as a bold leader not only in green technology but a model in fighting for our civil liberties.
What good is a "green" city if its citizens are robbed of their personal freedoms? Clean air and lush surroundings are of small consolation to those who fear that their personal liberties could be trampled at any moment. It’s a good thing that the Chicago City Council didn’t need the Mayor’s signature on their feeble ceremonial resolution. We wouldn’t have even gotten that.
Item 2: We were stunned to see renowned Chicago chef Rick Bayless, who has established himself as an activist promoting organics and family farms, starring in a Burger King commercial touting a new chicken sandwich. He says he’s taking the money made from the commercial and putting it into his foundation that supports organic agriculture and small farmers.
Certainly there are better and more consistent ways for one of our local heroes to promote and raise money for his foundation. After all, this Burger King sandwich is made from miserable factory farm chickens (pumped full of antibiotics, growth hormones, and other drugs) and fed genetically modified feed. Why embrace the devil at the same time you’re trying to banish him?
Item 3: Another contradiction to note is the passing of Joan Kroc, the billionaire widow of McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc, who got his Mcstart in Illinois. It is well documented that her ill-gotten McDonald’s fortune was a result of wholesale destructive environmental methods, exploitative labor practices, and horrific cruelty to animals.
Yet after her husband’s death, Mrs. Kroc distinguished herself as a passionate champion of peace and justice contributing tens of millions toward these causes.
In this Issue
Jane Garrison, a west suburban grade school teacher has written a powerful first person account of her experience confronting the marketing netherworld of the biotechnology industry. Genetic modification of foods is a dangerous experiment whose effects we haven’t begun to understand. And the tragedy of this massive human experiment is that — unlike defective or dangerous products that can be recalled — we can’t recall the Pandora’s box of genetically modified organisms once they’ve been released into the natural world.
As you read her story, imagine being a small dissenting voice where those around you, including some of your colleagues, acquaintances, and the organizations with which you’re familiar, glare in disapproval or make intimidating remarks. You’ll recognize the guts it took to step forward and tell her story as she recounts the insidious efforts of the biotechnology industry, including Monsanto, to "educate" teachers who we entrust to guide our children.
A special thanks to Terra Brockman for her "Cooking with the Seasons" column that comes to a close this month. For over three years Terra gave us direction on what to do with nature’s bounty once it landed on our kitchen counter. Her recipes made delicious food more delicious; we’ve committed her to encore presentations! — Rebecca Ephraim
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