The blog here on Responsible Food has focused on some really fascinating issues surrounding our food consumption habits and how they impact the environment. While making these decisions on an individual basis is one of the best ways to make an impact one person at a time, for the big impacts to occur, it's going to require systemic changes in thinking and approach.
All of this came to mind while watching the recent primaries unfold accross the country. While global warming is brought up as an issue, it's definitely secondary to any other number of issues.
I was thinking yesterday that I'd love for a candidate to come forward with a real commitment to the environment and the health of our earth and food chain.
I imagine the creation of a cabinet level position for environmental affairs, and the creation of a department that acted as a watchdog group and advisor to making our government and all its functions as green as possible. Sure, we have the EPA, but it seems like they are more concerned with cleaning up past messes then looking forward towards a sustainable future.
This organization could do things like change all governmental facilities over to using LED light bulbs that use less energy, and would not only be green but also economically sound by saving the government millions of dollars in electricity bills.
I would love to see a candidate take that kind of bold, forward thinking stance that shows more than lip service to environmental issues. The US government is in a unique position to make a huge impact on the entire earth, given our consumption habits and patterns, and take a real leadership role.
Hey, a man can dream, can't he?
