Michelle Obama launches campaign against obesity

Sort of plodding through Raj Patel's 'Stuffed and Starved' and the wee story at the BBC website that Michelle Obama has launched a campaign on child obesity seems to suggest that she, at least, believes that one of the two main consequences of a global food system that has gone all wrong has to be tackled. Patel tells us that in addition to 800 million people going hungry there are also one billion people overweight. Moreover, as Michelle knows, many of those "fatties" are in the United States. Therefore, the veritable little copycat has started her very own "change" campaign.

Anyway, we had Michelle revealing how a doctor had made her aware of problems that her own children had and there she was cuttiing down on sugary drinks and hamburgers in favour of fruit, vegetables and water. Yes, we might even believe that Michelle, unlike her husband, actually wants change. Nevertheless, I couldn't help thinking that those very same vested interests that put her husband in place to keep their absurd system ticking will make sure that her message does not get across. No, Michelle sorry, drinking water and eating vegetables might be good for your children but it is not what the food and chemical industries want. Quite simply, the politics of food are such that the system which has put your husband in "power" would collapse like a house of cards if people, especially people in the global south, started growing their own food instead of being forced to buy the "cheap" "sometimes genetically modified" and "full of chemicals" crap that is dumped on them. Still, Michelle if it is any consolation, you can at least give your kids water and fruit instead of coca cola and junk food. After all, your kids can afford to eat healthily.

No, Michelle will be allowed her occupational therapy providing it doesn't get out of hand; getting out of hand, of course, means, providing people don't really start drinking water instead of coca cola and really getting out of hand means when people in the global south revolt and start a movement back to a subsistance agricultural system that had far fewer of them either fat or hungry. However, do you really think the big coorporations are going to let a spanner being thrown into their works? In the meantime I have discovered "Tropen Lakritz" from Katjes and I am quite sure that there is an additive in there which is not only delicious but also makes sure that you don't put the packet down until it is empty.