Food, Inc. has left me very, very angry!

I finally got off my duff to go see Food, Inc. at the fantastic Landmark Cinema in Cambridge.

Man, am I PISSED!

I read constantly about the evil that is agribusiness but this film crystalizes a number of issues that no one book, article or research paper can. Through exploitation of workers and human health - to unspeakable abuse of animals and complete disregard for the environment - agribusiness rules our lives and controls our government. And who pays the price? Farmers. Animals. The environment. And us.

The behavior of several "Big Ag" companies - most notably Monsanto - is featured in the film and it will leave your jaw dropping.

Not surprisingly these companies declined to be interviewed for the movie, and but for the brave action of one Smithfield-contracted farmer, the camera crews would not have been led inside a chicken-rearing shed, filled with thousands of disease-ridden, genetically modified chickens (her contract with Smithfield was not renewed after she refused to switch to windowless sheds).

We must take down big agriculture for the benefit of farmers, animals and ourselves. What can we do? We can vote with our DOLLARS. My pledge is to forever ban from my home all genetically modified and processed foods that contain high fructose corn syrup. With no end in sight for government subsidies of corn - which Big Ag needs in order to survive - we must take our health and the well-being of our planet in our own hands. It's the only way to stop these hateful companies.

The film also reaffirms that veganism is the most compassionate and ethical choice one can make and motivates me to do more in the fight to return to a sustainable food future.

What can you do to fight back? The first step is to have a command of the macro issues driving agribusiness in the U.S. I highly recommend these two books, both of which have taught me so much about how our food system works and why it's essential that we find more sustainable alternatives before it's too late:

• The Omnivore's Dilemma, by Michael Pollan
  
• Diet for a New American, by John Robbins