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The condition of the book is very good.It is brand new. However, the delivery time is too long. I waited for 2 weeks before I could get the book.
Dr.Shiva has indeed opened my eyes to the true nature of big corporate factory farms and the actual and potential damage which threatens mankind all in the quest for profits. It is almost unfathomable that any law could be created at the behest of a corporation that would make sharing seed among farmers illegal.
The well being of people seems to be not much more than an afterthought. I was shocked and angered at the pervasivness of corporate influence in the food we eat.
Poorer countries have been self sustaining for centuries developing specific strains of seed to survive in specific areas. Dr.
Shiva is very articulate in framing the consequences of the Monsanto's and Cargill's of the world and how they are systematicly robbing poor countries of their ability to survive without them. Easy to read,easy to understand.
I highly recomend this book to anyone under the illusion that the American food supply is safe.
I would ask that everyone interested in learning how our food supply and our seed stocks are being taken control of due to the actions of several large Agriculturally-focused corporations' and their abilities to utilize the World Trade Organization, International, and Country-of-Origin patent rights to hold-hostage the world's citizens in an attempt to covet the natural process for creating seed, to read this book. This is the most important fight for our collective futures that we can involve ourselves in.
First, Shiva points out that many of the productivity gains attributable to the Green Revolution were achieved by dramatically increased inputs of fertilizer, seed and water. The author supports a non-cooperation movement in India that is resisting corporate attempts to claim ownership of seeds that have been cultivated by countless generations of farmers.Shiva's sacred cow / mad cow metaphor effectively and appropriately contrasts agribusiness with small farming. might perceive as the conventional wisdom, Shiva makes a strong argument that local, small scale agriculture is superior to the agribusiness model for a number of reasons. In this remarkable book, Vandana Shiva effectively contrasts corporate command-and-control methods of food production with the small farmer economy that predominates in the third world (especially in her native India). This opening of consciousness to new possibilities may be attributable to the extraordinary work of people like Vandana Shiva, whose intelligence and compassion is abundantly evident in this book. She compares this short-sighted approach with traditional Indian fishing techniques that have successfully sustained themselves for generations while protecting important ecosystems such as mangrove forests.Shiva discusses corporate patenting of seeds, which insidiously transforms the cooperative ethic of seed sharing into a criminal offense.
Shiva discusses the commercial fishing and aquaculture (shrimp farming) practices that inevitably result in environmental destruction and reduced catches.
When one compares units of input with units of output, however, native practices produce higher yields -- especially when one takes into account the multiple uses derived from a single product.For example, mustard oil is a vital product used by many of India's poor for cooking, seasoning, medicine and other uses.
Shiva also touches on the topic of genetic engineering (GE) and discusses the threat it poses to biodiversity, food safety and human health.The Afterword to the book alludes to the WTO protests in Seattle.
In contast to what many here in the U.S.
India's sacred cows live in harmony with the environment, performing multiple services and producing multiple products for the community; whereas mad cows are a grotesque manifestation of an industrial system obsessed with uniformity, technology and profit.
But it has been banned by the Indian government (under highly suspicious circumstances) in order to allow imports of soybean oil products.
While giant corporations benefit from expanded sales, native industries have been destroyed, contibuting to poverty and malnourishment.
Shiva believes this watershed event proves that people are becoming more aware of the dangers of unaccountable corporate power, yet she believes that positive change is possible.
Highly recommended.
this is a great book, i highly recomend it. i must warn you its not for the weak stomached, this book will CHANGE your view on the food you eat. i didnt eat for a week after reading this.
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