One Blood

The View From Our Farm

Russell Libby, a leader in the organic farming movement in Maine, recently took part in a study testing people’s hair, blood, and urine for 76 industrial chemicals known to cause learning disabilities, cancer, birth defects, infertility and hormone disruption. Toxic chemicals were found in every person tested. Libby, who said “I have tried to be careful about the food I eat and the products I buy for my home and family…” and who has eaten mostly organically for decades, was tied with another Mainer for the highest number of toxins.
The study (more at www.cleanandhealthyme.org ) concluded that “most chemical pollution happens in the course of our daily lives, and that most people are unaware they are being exposed.” (Quote from Growing For Market, www.growingformarket.com)
What does this mean? We’re not doing enough. Hard though we all work now, it’s not enough for us to create our own little organic edens here and there, where we can plant our gardens and raise our children as we see fit. We cannot escape the toxicity of our society. Many of us lie down and die too soon. The rest of us should be fighting for our lives.
Our hope lies in strong activism by ‘common, garden variety’ people, demanding answers to serious questions and enforcing action when we have the answers. Why, exactly, aren’t our waterways suitable for sacred bathing? Why are our children having trouble breathing? Why doesn’t the food taste good, and why is there poison in our blood?
These problems are not the result of some curse from god. They are choices, the result of human thoughts put into action, and that’s what it will take to stop and turn their course. We can choose and act for a better future, but not for ourselves alone. It’s all of us or none. We are one blood, indeed. Peace.