V October 9, 2013 ^Jorflmth (Obstruer Page 7 Opinion articles do not necessarily represent the views o f the Portland Observer. We welcome reader essays, photos and story ideas. Submit to news@portlandobserver.com. Why Are We Eating in the Dark? Shining a light on genetically engineered foods BY . I I ill I I R R ichardson If N A U IK H M by J _ ________ i papaya, and a small amount of H ave you e v er zucchini and squash. You prob- eaten a genetically ably aren t eating cotton, and engineered food? If maybe you don’t like papaya, y o u ’re lik e m ost but avoiding com and soy- Americans, you have beans while eating in America no idea. Genetic engi- . . - *s nearly im possible. And neenng ,s a controversial technol- nearly all of the com and soybeans r" W hKh, gel\es fTOm ° ne Spe~ grown here are 8ene,ical|y en8'- cies (say, bacteria) are inserted into neered. cxamrd A ° f 3 ,d 'fferen‘ SpecieS me- n e e L ha genetlcally eng1' “ T T " “ And yet, most Americans have n° idea whether genetically engi- neered foods in ° ur supemtar- haVe"'* Ch“" ^ ' d industry wants. “If you put a label on geneti- cally engineered food you might * .. . ow can I be so certain. Start by kets and pantries. That’s no acci- dent either, because the food indus- d X k aS in,entiOna" y kept US in ,he as well put a skull and crossbones on it,” Norm an Braksick an ex eCU,iVe i a Compa" y thal canola, cotton, sugar beets, alfalfa. It s not exactly a secret that 60 to it m X ' l y U d Z ' k in 7 Let me get this straight. Y ou’re New York are considering lab el­ afraid we w on’t buy your product ing bills as well. unless you slip it into our food Out west, W ashington State is secretly without a label? gearing up for a ballot m easure And because of that belief, Big requiring labeling that they will Food has made darn sure that the vote on in November. As before in governm ent didn’t require com ­ California, companies like biotech panies to m ention genetically en­ giant M onsanto are sp en d in g gineered foods on their labels. heavily to keep consum ers in the Until now. dark. W hen surveyed, consum ers It’s outrageous that the m anu­ overwhelm ingly say they want ge­ facturer of any product fights so netically engineered foods to be hard to avoid telling consumers what labeled. In 2012, a ballot measure they’re buying (and, in this case, to label these foods narrowly lost eating). Big Food needs to come in California after the food indus­ clean. If there is something wrong try poured over $45 m illion into a with genetically engineered foods, m isleading cam paign to oppose stop selling them. If not, label them it. so an educated public can decide This year, the m omentum to whether we want to eat them. It’s require labels continued on both that simple. coasts. C onnecticut was the first OtherWords colum nist Jill state to pass a labeling bill. Maine Richardson is the author o f Recipe follow ed soon thereafter, but the for America: Why Our Food System sta te ’s governor refused to sign Is Broken and What We Can Do to it. Vermont, New Ham pshire, and Fix It. When it conies to Health, Place Matters All people should have equal opportunities R V R I? I A Kl Ç i u m i by B rian S medley I a a _ i _ . • . • - _ Unfortunately, in conversations, viduals to take steps to improve The implementa­ people often reduce health issues their health. Neighborhoods with tion of the Afford­ to questions of access to health high rates of poverty are subject to able Care Act is an care or to behavior; in other words, significant health risks, from the achievem ent Am ericans can be if people only ate right, exercised, or presence of polluting industries to proud of. Making sure that all our saw a doctor regularly, health ineq­ the absence of a grocery offering brothers and sisters, children and uities could be eliminated. fresh fruits and vegetables. grandchildren, have proper health Now, to be sure, access to high- These same communities typi­ insurance makes us a stronger, more quality health care is important, par­ cally have poorer quality housing prosperous nation. ticularly for those who face health and transportation options, and are. Amid this im portant change, risks. And individuals should strive hit hardest by the home-mortgage however, we cannot ignore the work for active lifestyles and healthy diets. lending crisis, which crushed wealth that remains to be done, especially But a large and growing body of opportunities and disproportion­ in communities of color. Insurance research dem onstrates that the ately affected communities o f color. cards are not enough. spaces and places where people Many o f these neighborhoods To become a society with better live, work, study and play power­ also experience high rates of crime health - not just better health cover­ fully shape the opportunities they and violence, which affect even age - we must also look at the role have to achieve good health. those who are not directly victim­ place" plays in the lives of minority People of color - who are still ized, as a result of stress and an communities. subject to persistent social, if not inability to exercise or play outside. Where we live, work and play is legal, segregation - are dispropor­ Even healthcare providers, hospi­ surprisingly predictive of lifespan. tionately located in unhealthy tals, and clinics are harder to find in Within the city of Boston, for in­ spaces. This is a major factor that these neighborhoods. stance, people in some census tracts helps explain the poorer health of It's no wonder life-spans vary so live 33 years less than those in many minority groups. greatly among neighborhoods, even nearby tracts. In Bernalillo County, Consider the numbers: One in those close to each other. N.M., the difference is 22 years. four African Americans, one in six Some policymakers are working A new report presented at the Hispanics, and one in eight Ameri­ to address these place-based dis­ Place Matters 2013 National Health can Indians in metropolitan America parities. Equity Conference in Washington, lives in a census tract in which 30 Federal programs that stimulate D.C. last week demonstrates that percent or more of the population is investment in the nation's hardest- where you live is a powerful deter­ in poverty. hit communities are working to at­ minant for how long you'll live. But only an estimated one in 25 tract businesses, create jobs, and “Health equity” may sound like a non-Hispanic whites live in one of reduce the concentration of health jargon term, but it's really a simple these tracts. risks. and just concept: all people should Neighborhood conditions can The Healthy Food Financing Ini­ have equal opportunities for good overwhelm even the most persis­ tiative creates financial incentives health. tent and determined efforts of indi- for grocery stores or farmers' mar­ kets to open in "food deserts." And minorities - was nearly $230 billion the Obama Administration's "Prom­ between 2003 and 2006. ise Zones" initiative will streamline Add the indirect costs, such as a host of federal "place-based" lost wages and productivity and projects and offer technical assis­ lost tax revenue, and the total cost tance to jurisdictions that seek to o f health inequities for the nation stimulate economic activity and was $1.24 trillion. build ladders of opportunity. Our nation's poorest need health Investments in vulnerable com­ insurance. But we cannot afford to munities may be among the most stop there. cost-effective strategies to close the Only by recognizing and then health gap and improve the overall erasing the deep divides that create health of the nation. communities with fewer health op­ A study commissioned by the portunities can we create a nation of Joint Center for Political and Eco­ individuals given the chance to reach nomic Studies found that the direct their full potential. medical costs associated with health Dr. Brian D. Smedley is vice inequities — in other words, addi­ president and di rector o f the Health tional costs of health care incurred Policy Institute o f the Joint Center because of the higher burden of fo r Political and Economic Studies disease and illness experienced by in Washington, D.C. THE LAW OFFICES OF Patrick John Sweeney, PC. Patrick John Sweeney Attorney at Law 1549 SE Ladd Portland, Oregon Portland: Hillsoboro: Facsimile: Email: (503) 244-2080 (503) 244-2081 (503) 244-2084 Sweeney @ PDXLawyer.com