History Shall Be Witnessed by the Ignorant---> ME!

It’s Wednesday evening here in India, and tomorrow is an exciting day.  For a few weeks now, we’ve been hearing rumors about “curfews”.  Now… hear me out.  One thing you must take into account is that when we hear things here, they are usually in broken English, we don’t watch the news, and it seems like none of the staff really feels like informing us about things…ever.  So anyway, the idea of a curfew sounded like it meant several possibilities: it could mean simply that classes are cancelled and we have the day off :), or it could mean that if we go outside we’ll be shot by the police :(.  That was a literal rumor, but not true.  Anyway, there was a possibility of one of these curfews last Friday, and when Friday finally rolled around…nothing happened. 

Today, we heard more news of a curfew tomorrow, but finally…FINALLY…we found out why.  And it’s a good reason too!  So I found out only today, that for the past 60 years, Hindus and Muslims in India have been fighting over a small area of land, called Ayodhya, in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.  This land was where Rama, a Hindu god and hero of the Ramayana, was allegedly born.  Later, Muslims built the Babri Mosque on this land and then in 1992 it was attacked and destroyed by a group of Hindus.  The debate has lasted for decades over who the rightful owner of the land is.  It seems that Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, and Jains all have religious connections to the land. 

Tomorrow, September 30, the Allahabad High Court will decide who owns the land.  It’s an exciting time to be in India!  People have predicted violence no matter what the outcome.  My afternoon classes have been cancelled, and we’ve been advised not to leave the building after the verdict is announced, which is at 3 o’clock I believe.  I am excited to hear the verdict, and see what the effect is.  There may not be much commotion in Mysore, given we’re so far south, but you never know!  I’ll do a follow-up post soon.

Love,

Julia

A Sad Day for my Beauty Routine

Today, in my Science and Technology class, we watched The Corporation.  Scratch that... we are currently watching The Corporation while I am writing this blog post.  It's a three hour long movie about the evils of corporations.  While I am appalled my most of the information I am getting, this blog post is not about that, per se.  

An hour or so into the film, my friend Sara whispered to me, "Did you know Naked juice is owned by Pepsi?"  WAAAHHH???  There go my do-gooder feelings when I pop open one of those 4 dollar, pre-bottled concoctions.  So that spurred us to whip out our computers and look up other "organic" companies that are in fact owned by corporations. We found some great info here:

http://simplifymyfoodchoices.com/organic-natural-brands.html.

Here are the highlights of what I found:

Naked juice and Quaker Oats are owned by Pepsi

Odwalla juice and Glaceau bottled water are owned by Coca Cola

Burt’s Bees is owned by Clorox (whhhyyyyyy)

Tom’s of Maine is owned by Colgate

Stonyfield Farms is owned by Dannon

Horizon is owned by Dean’s Milk (kill me now)

Kashi and Morningstar Farms are owned by Kellogg’s

Back to Nature and Boca are owned by Kraft

Cascadian Farms and Larabar are owned by General Mills

Green and Black’s is owned by Schweppes

Dagoba is owned by Hershey

The Body Shop is owned by L’Oreal/Nestle (seriously, what am I going to buy now?)

This information makes me feel several things, including: deceived, dumb, misinformed, and naive.  My parents instilled in me an appreciation for wholesome foods and products, and they specifically (and graciously) give me extra money so that I can have enough money to buy organic foods and shop at co-ops and other stores that supposedly support healthful food and have the same ideals that I do.  This extra money was seen as a preventative investment in my health, as I will always look at healthy food choices.  Along with trying to make conscious decisions regarding nutrition, I also try to support businesses that are fair-trade, local, and make products with quality ingredients and without chemicals.  

As much as I can say I wanted to do these things, the truth of the matter is that I have been paying higher prices to buy products that support Clorox, Colgate, Kraft, and L'Oreal.  That makes me feel sick.  I make myself feel special for trying to make conscious decisions, but I feel like the corporate market manipulates people into supporting what they don't believe in.  I admit, when I need pizza rolls at 3 am, I make the trek to Wal-mart.  I am a college student, not God.  I feel small twinges of guilt for these purchases, but I also have certain beliefs that I stick to, and I am passionate about.  I will not buy Clorox products because of the chemicals they use.  In fact, two years ago I got in a fight with my friend about her use of Clorox wipes (shout out to Katie D. xoxo).  And yet when I go shopping, I feel good about myself and my choices when I buy Burt's Bees products.  I encourage people to use them.  I am pleased when I look at the ingredients in their lip balm.  Not only do I feel deceived, I feel like a fool for any positive feelings I might have had for buying what I thought were wholesome products.   I believe Clorox does not want people to know that they own Burt's Bees because so many people love to use their products!

Today has been a personal lesson that people need to continuously educated themselves about what they are putting on and in their body.  There is no end to this education.  You can't eventually know all the good products and all the bad, because corporations are constantly changing, evolving, and educating themselves on what I want, and how to get me to buy it.  The market is always changing.  Corporations are born, consolidated, and dispersed all the time.  I want to make educated purchases, and I want to directly and indirectly support companies that make quality products and do positive things in our communities.  I think I need to officially re-commit to that.  

Unfortunately, it genuinely seems like any product that is popular, or mass-produced, is most likely owned by a big corporation.  I don't think all corporations are bad.  For example, it seems like Newman's Own, which is relatively main stream, still does positive things for charities.  Please tell me if you've heard otherwise!  And just because, for example, Burt's Bees is owned by Clorox, it doesn't mean that all of a sudden there is bleach in our chapstick.  But for me, it means that spending the $1.99 on my chapstick is donating that money to a corporation that produces other products with dangerous chemicals that put people and the environment in danger.  Thus, that's what I'm supporting.  Even if Horizon dairy farms don't use hormones in their cows, buying their milk invests in Dean's Dairy Company, which does use hormones in their cows.  If I buy Horizon, I support Dean.  And that's wrong.  People should know who they are supporting.  

I need to remind myself that every purchase is like a small donation to a cause.  And there are many causes that I do not, and will not support. 

To end, I want to use this blog post to reach out to my friends and family and ask you all to please tell me and anyone else who might be interested if there are any other "natural" companies owned by corporations!  Also, given that I now have nowhere to shop and can officially buy none of the products that I loved, please tell me about brands that sell quality beauty products and wholesome snacks.  Help me out!!!

Love,
Julia

PS Does anyone have any information about Hain Celestial?  It's a corporation that owns a lot of beauty product companies that I like: Alba, Jason, Avalon, etc...

Lissen to How Smart I Am (Peeple With Big Branes are Smart)

Lately I have been feeling sick of my classes.  Every day from 9-1:30, I sit in the same classroom with some combination of the same ten people, and I am reiterated that the social, political, and economic climates of the United States, India, and the world is, in general, dismal.  Besides feeling antsy and like I need to stretch, I start feeling like I want to scream.  My classmates and I have exhausted our minds and our voices complaining that we are tired of hearing about problems and ready to hear about solutions. 

Today we had an unexpectedly refreshing answer to our complaints.  During our normal class time for Science and Technology, our professor, Dr. Vombatkere and another man, Mr. U.N. Ravikumar held a panel discussion about the social effects of global climate change.  Our discussion began with the idea of small countries paying for the environmental neglect of countries like the US and the idea of taking responsibility for climate change.  From the beginning, the discussion was one of the most exciting I have ever had regarding the environment.  We briefly listed some effects: rising sea levels, lower food production, population migration, changing health patterns and diseases, fresh water availability, and loss of biodiversity.  But quickly we moved onto larger social ideas and the mindsets of, particularly US, citizens.  My friend Sara made a strong point about the interconnectivity between all life forms, and how humans are unaware of being just another species on the planet.  I always love Sara’s comments because she is never afraid to show the heart and emotions she has invested in environmental issues.  You can hear the emotional impact that environmental discussions have on her, and I have no doubt in my mind that she practices what she preaches, and recognizes how connected she is to her environment.  This type of connection is missing from so many people.  I brought up a point in the discussion that one main difference I notice between India and the United States (I think I brought this up in a previous blog post) is that in India there isn’t such a thing as an “environmentalist” really.  In the US, we designate the responsibility of saving Earth to a certain sub-sect of people, that many people also make fun of and love to stereotype.  But in India, a computer software programmer is as much an environmentalist as a farmer.  Each person here feels the effects of human environmental impact with the constant reminders of saving water and food.  The innate scarcity of survival tools like food and water in India makes its citizens much more aware of human impact.  This is missing in the US.

I believe there has been so little global progress on environmental change because the US has refused to take responsibility for its own pollution.  As a country, we have established weak policies that put off changing our consumption habits for as long as possible.  The resources that we are scraping up are going to run out, absolutely 100% inevitably.  Probably in my lifetime.  I don’t need to worry about my children having to deal with these problems, because these problems are such that my generation won’t be alive to have children.  My professors asked us, “Are we on a sinking ship?”  My answer to that was yes, it is a sinking ship for now.  The U.N. and other organizations are tripping over their own policies and trying to avoid changes.  Huge nations are afraid of economic and social impacts of environmental change. 

To go back to Sara’s point for a minute, she was even more correct than she intended.  As much as she or I, or Lady Gaga, is connected to each ant, bee, and flower; the same holds true on a larger, theoretical scale.  The US economy, lifestyle, foreign and domestic policy, and reputation MUST change if we want to make any changes to our environmental degradation.  And we are terrified of this change!  The US needs to point the finger at itself finally, and take some responsibility for the damage it has done, and ideally it could once again be a nation that other nations would want to emulate.  Right now, we are an embarrassment.  To quote George W. Bush:

"Goodbye from the world's biggest polluter!" --punching the air as he left his final G-8 Summit. Rusutsu, Japan, July 10, 2008

…A true American hero.

My friend Justin also brought up a great point.  He thought that the basis of the environmental crisis might lie in the American mindset of constant dissatisfaction.  Perhaps consumerism on such a massive scale is the result of Americans placing high value on material objects and having no sense of value for nature.  This idea goes in hand with Sara’s previous connectivity theory, but proves that Americans feel little or no connection to nature.  We do not know where our food comes from, what seeds look like, or sometimes, even what the animal looks like whose meat is sustaining us. 

I agree wholeheartedly with Justin that Americans are dissatisfied with themselves, thus striving to find peace by consuming massive amounts of goods, and in the process using frightening amounts of resources.  The constant strive for something better sounds remarkably like, dare I say it: The American Dream.  We have chosen for 200 years to look at the good ole AD as something positive: it teaches us not to settle, that no matter who are you or where you are born, you can be anything and do anything that you want.  Empowering...in theory.  In reality, the American Dream is an ideal that can never be achieved, thus leaving America’s citizens dissatisfied and working themselves to the point of exhaustion…for what?  Probably because they feel guilty or lazy if they aren’t, since everyone else is.  The American Dream has caused citizens to neglect issues like personal health and the health of our environment in order to achieve “success”.  This brings me back to the fisherman story that I told in my New Perspectives post.  I would be ashamed of myself if I defined success as monetary wealth.  I’d be ashamed of myself if I defined it as anything but personal happiness and internal satisfaction.  I’d rather not live in the shadow of the American Dream, but thanks.

I know Americans can change.  I know eventually, they will be forced to.  If I recall correctly, a few years ago gas prices were about $5 per gallon.  Never before in my lifetime had I seen such a national shift to use less gas.  People walked, biked, and use public transportation as if cars were suddenly not cool anymore.  Everyone, not just my mom (<3), gave Hummers condescending glances.  Anyway, what this proves to me, is that Americans can quickly adapt when their money is threatened.  Without money they’d have nothing with which to buy the goods that help them achieve “satisfaction”.  I think this same reverence that Americans have for money needs to be shifted onto natural resources.  If Americans put monetary value on nature, no one would dare threaten it. 

Here’s my proposal.  Let’s do a little Michael Jackson-ing, take a look at ourselves and start the changes there.  Taking a cue from Sara, I am going to attempt to reconnect to the Earth in a way that I never have before.  There may be no better place in the world to do that than India.  Here, they say bhoomi instead of soil, which can be translated to earth, but it also implies a respect for the rich life that grows from it; and sometimes they say bhoomi deva, Mother Earth.  Already, I see changes in myself.  Being here, I am not as concerned with my art history degree or how I will translate that into a viable job because that's only a small part of who I am.  I'm becoming much more aware of the choices people make and how those define them as human beings in relation to the Earth and to one another.  I'm becoming aware that I want the choices I make to represent my love and respect for the environment and that I have no interest in being defined by the social constructs people have created for themselves.  A job, marriage, children, or money all may or may not be a part of my life, but these will never define me.  

I can’t change that I am American but if I can change my goals and work on my own internal happiness, then I can say for a fact that not every American is living in the cycle of dissatisfaction known as the American Dream.  I’d rather quit dreaming, wake up, and live in reality. 

“We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek."
-Barack Obama

India: In Numbers and Lists

Me and my roommate, Alex.  At a sweet shop for a wild Thursday night.

Here are some "statistics"...if you will... of my experiences in India since I arrived, which was exactly one month and one day ago! By the way, to celebrate the one month anniversary, I shaved my legs for the first time.  Here we go:

Most people seen riding one motorcycle: 6

Hard-boiled eggs I’ve eaten since I’ve been here: 24

Number of times I have slept past 8 am: 1

Number of times I’ve worn make-up: 2

Number of times I’ve tried meat: 2 

Hours of TV I’ve watched: 0

Books read for pleasure: 1 (it was long!)

Number of children I’ve seriously considered taking home: 2

A few Indian traditions that I’ve grown to love:

-Not wearing shoes in the classroom…Not sure how well my Iowa professors will accept this practice should I adapt it

-TEA TIME (which I have in 10 minutes, best part of the school day)

-Eating with my hands…I do it in America anyway, but here, no one gives me the side eye

-Wearing clothes as comfortable as pajamas 24/7.  Wearing the same clothes literally as pajamas, but they are pretty.  Katie D understands.

-Waving, hugging, giggling, and saying hello to all the other female students EVERY time you see one another

-Going to bed at 9 pm.  Ok, Indians don’t really do this, just me cause I’m so damn sleepy!

Time for Breakfast

I think it's about time I do a post specifically designated to food!  Don't you think?  For once in my life, breakfast is my favorite meal.  Sure, I can go for bacon and omelettes at 3 am, who can't?  And let's be real, Village Inn breakfast is always the best option.  But here in India, against all of my willpower, I am forced to eat breakfast every day at 7:30.  Honestly, I really like it.  Given yoga from 6-7 am Mon-Thurs, by 7:30 I am ready to EAT!

Breakfast is my favorite meal for many reasons.  First, it is the only breakfast that serves us coffee and tea.  Second, there are always lots of options.  Third, lunch and dinner are typically really similar.  So, I like breakfast. 

Here is my breakfast from Thursday morning (Sept. 2).  So, starting at the bottom we have toast, and going left, we have coconut chutney, a rice dosa with local honey (harvested last week!), a hard-boiled egg, and fresh papaya.  Oh and you can see my teeny cup o' coffee in the upper right hand corner.

We get hard-boiled eggs, toast, papaya, and cereal every morning.  And then the main course changes.  Sometimes it is upme, which is kind of a like cous-cous; rice noodles; masala dosa (one of my favorites); potatos; or any other number of things.  A man named Manu brings us breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day.  All of the food comes from his farm, he is the one who harvested the honey for us.  And he told us that in November and December there will be even more honey, but the bees pollinate different flowers, so the flavor will change.  Manu's wife, Lalita, cooks all of the food, and sometimes she comes in to help serve it.  He works so hard for us, and sometimes I think my group members forget it, like when they sleep through meals. 

I love cooking for myself, and sometimes I miss it.  But I figure that I'm here in Mysore for 8 weeks, and I have access to three healthy, vegetarian, local, Indian meals everyday, why not take advantage?  I mean... how lucky am I???

Love,
Julia

P.S. I fully intend to learn to make most of these dishes at home!