PressEthic

An article in yesterdays New York Times touches on the recent ban imposed by the British government of junk food being offerred in schools. As a note of comparison to the ubiquitous Mcbreakfast sandwich often besmirched in the United States, an eleventh grader being interviewed for the piece was grabbing a local sandwich on his way to school called a chip butty. Instead of egg, cheese and sausage on a croissant this wholesome meal consisted of French fries and butter dripping with vinegar.

Another article from the Times' front page caught my eye last month - mostly because of the picture of two Indian women, mouths open, eating sweets in a pastry shop - highlighted the growing incidences of diabetes in India and China related to weight gain.

Perhaps there is a relationship between the globalization of culture, goods and services which has facilitated obesity becoming an issue for many societies and governments. Also, increased trade has brought greater disparity between those able to participate in the global economy and many who are economically marginalized. For those who can afford it, life indeed tastes sweet.

There is a disconnect for many between the products we buy and consume and the labor required to bring that product to store shelves. An increase in expendable income can bring a concomitant increase in waste size.

Many, many problems face the United States and the world, I am not going to say here that obesity is paramount among them. Certainly the prevalence of junk food is minimized next to the pervasity of war and terror. However, this is a problem. Moreover, this is a problem, a war, that can be won. It is not so simple as just putting down the burger and backing away slowly, this must be addressed where it hurts the most -- in the money that is made selling those burgers.