Why Are We Eating Less Meat?

Posted on January 13, 2012 by zoeweil
Mark Bittman, opinion columnist at the New York Times who writes about food, begins 2012 with a piece titled, “We’re Eating Less Meat. Why?” According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, meat consumption is declining and is predicted to continue its decline. While the livestock industry blames, among other things, the federal government’s supposed “war on meat protein consumption,” which is truly bizarre given that the federal government subsidizes animal agriculture with our tax dollars and buys massive quantities of meat for the school lunch program, Bittman posits that the primary decline in meat consumption is due to a growing population of educated consumers who are choosing to reduce and often eliminate animal products from their diet for three primary reasons: their health, the environment, and concerns about animals. Read his essay here.

For a humane world,

Zoe Weil, President, Institute for Humane Education
Author of Most Good, Least Harm, Above All, Be Kind, and The Power and Promise of Humane Education
My TEDx talk: “The World Becomes What You Teach“

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Filed under: consumerism, food and diet | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Embracing the Adage “To Whom Much is Given, Much is Expected”

Posted on December 28, 2011 by zoeweil

Take a look at this 4-minute video, It Only Takes a Girl:




This video is a reminder to me that I have the luxury to critique the educational system in my country and to advocate for changes in our approach to schooling largely because, despite the flaws in my own education, I was, in fact, among the most privileged to receive it.

This video is a reminder that when I complain about the food at a restaurant, I am so very fortunate to never lack food.

This video is a reminder that when I drink the tap water in a city and it tastes less good than my filtered well water, I am among the profoundly lucky who can simply turn on a faucet and have as much uncontaminated water as I could ever want.

This video is a reminder that it is not cultural imperialism to advocate for the education of girls and fight for an end to their exploitation no matter where they live in the world and no matter what the cultural norms or religious tenets that perpetuate their oppression.

This video is a reminder that I must constantly embrace the adage “to whom much is given, much is expected.”

This video is a reminder that it’s not enough to just spread this video; I must do something to make a difference.

For a just and humane world for all,

Zoe Weil, President, Institute for Humane Education
Author of Most Good, Least Harm, Above All, Be Kind, and The Power and Promise of Humane Education
My TEDx talk: “The World Becomes What You Teach“

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The Story of Stuff: Toxic Cosmetics

Posted on April 29, 2011 by zoeweil

The Story of Stuff website continues to create short, animated films about the hidden effects of our everyday purchases. This one, on cosmetics, examines the toxic ingredients in our personal care products. Take a look, and then check out the other films at storyofstuff.org:

Zoe Weil, President, Institute for Humane Education
Author of Most Good, Least Harm and The Power and Promise of Humane Education
My TEDx talk: “The World Becomes What You Teach“

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Let’s Save a Trillion Dollars: Reducing the Deficit By Improving Our Diet

Posted on April 22, 2011 by zoeweil

Mark Bittman, food columnist for The New York Times, wrote an opinion piece, “How to Save a Trillion Dollars,” that I believe we should all read and heed. Many humane educators have been urging what Bittman suggests for a couple of decades now, and finally these ideas have become a “most emailed” piece in The New York Times. It’s about time.

As politicians continue to argue in Washington over budget cuts, perhaps a bit of sanity, perspective, and solutionary thinking is in order. Thanks to Bittman, we have a great article to share with our legislators, school administrators and teachers, hospital cafeteria food purveyors, and everyone else who might be in a position to create meaningful change around what we eat.

Bon appetit,

Zoe Weil, President, Institute for Humane Education
Author of Most Good, Least Harm and Above All, Be Kind: Raising a Humane Child in Challenging Times
My TEDx talk: “The World Becomes What You Teach“

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Filed under: food and diet, food policy, humane education, politics | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Phil Zimbardo’s Secret Power of Time and What It Means for Our Kids

Posted on January 17, 2011 by zoeweil

Take a look at this RSA Animate video of Phil Zimbardo’s The Secret Power of Time.

As I watched this, I wondered what it would take for all of us to have a healthy balance of past, present, and future orientation so that we would all be able to learn from and appreciate our pasts, live fully in our presents, and be cognizant of and choose wisely based upon the goals we have for the future. Personally, I do not think that it is all that wise for most people to live predominantly in one of these categories and neglect the others. While it’s commonplace today for busy, future-oriented people (like me I’d add) to strive to live “in the present,” I think the real goal for people like me ought to be to live more in the present, and to find that elusive balance that enables us to be fully engaged right now while able and willing to reflect upon the past and eager to live in such a way to create a positive and healthy future for ourselves and others.

When Phil Zimbardo discusses the ways in which our children are now digitally rewired and fundamentally different than their parents in relation to time, and points out the ways in which traditional schooling is a disaster for so many kids – boys in particular – one wonders what the solution might be to raise a generation that is balanced in regards to time in today’s world. There are many ideas that lead to this balance for our children: time spent in nature where wonder may be cultivated; unstructured play time; and limited screen time to allow for a leisurely present that leads to joy and creativity in the early years of life that is later balanced with lessons in history (past oriented) and exploration of current conflicts and problems (in the present) that elicit creative ideas for system-changes and solutions (for a healthy future).

I believe it’s time to abandon any judgments about which orientation is “best,” as the early part of Phil Zimbardo’s talk reveals is happening in Italy, and to do away with the idea that our goal should be to “live in the present” or “wisely plan for the future” or “focus on learning from the past.” We need all of these aspects of ourselves together to lead lives that are joyful and wise, and we need to raise a generation that has the capacity to find the healthiest balance, too.

Zoe Weil, President, Institute for Humane Education
Author of The Power and Promise of Humane Education and Most Good, Least Harm: A Simple Principle for a Better World and Meaningful Life

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The Ongoing Gift of Gratitude

Posted on November 29, 2010 by zoeweil

In a recent Wall Street Journal article, “Thank You. No, Thank You,” we learn that giving thanks is good for you. Not a big surprise, but post-Thanksgiving, it’s nice to be reminded that cultivating appreciation and thankfulness is a win-win all year round. While this article reveals what most of us already know from our life experience (and common sense), it’s interesting that actual studies demonstrate that when we experience gratitude we’re healthier, happier, sleep better (and even earn more money). Cultivating gratitude is good for kids and teens, too; not exactly a surprise, but something we might want to help our adolescents, in particular, to experience. In our family, we have made it a ritual to hold hands before dinner and each say something we’re grateful for. Unfortunately, too often, the answers have became rote, but I have insisted on the ritual nonetheless. I think it’s important.

On Thanksgiving morning before anyone else in the family awoke, I spent some time reflecting upon what I was grateful for. I composed an email to the staff of the Institute for Humane Education where I work, because my gratitude to them felt so deep I had to express it. And it felt so good to compose this expression of thanks. Then I took my dogs for a walk along the ocean and continued thinking about all that I was grateful for, and I noticed that I was smiling as I walked. Indeed, gratitude feels great.

So, post-Thanksgiving, remember to reflect upon your own gratitude each day. It will help make your life, and the world, a better place.

With thanks to those of you who read my blog :)

Zoe Weil
Author of Most Good, Least Harm and Above All, Be Kind

Image courtesy of cheerytomato via Creative Commons.

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