Wednesday, February 13, 2013

How the Most Affordable Food Became the Most Costly

Today, Ash Wednesday, marks the beginning of the Lenten Season for many Christians. Many other religions and cultures also have seasonal periods of austerity and sacrifice which typically include restricted food choices.

For Lent, sacrifice traditionally means going meat free, eating seafood instead. The "Fish on Friday" tradition likewise is a respectful sacrificial observance. Huh??? But my supermarket circulars show much higher prices for seafood than meat!?!? Yes seafood has become a much more luxurious and costly food since the time when these traditions originated. (Many types of fruits and vegetables are also higher in price than some types of meat - but that's a subject for a future Blog.)

In the time of Jesus and his apostles, the poor ate fish because it was abundant and cheap.
What has happened to our rivers, lakes, estuaries, and oceans and the life in them in the last several decades?

Pollution and Infrastructure



Overfishing


Deep Ocean Trawlers