Today is the first day of school for Malia and Sasha Obama, daughters of President Elect Barack Obama and future first lady Michelle. The kids' new school is the prestigious Sidwell Friends school in Washington, D.C. The school, which costs $30,000 per year per child to attend, serves all-organic lunches, according to a report this morning on "Good Morning America." Michelle Obama has made it clear in interviews that she feeds her family organic foods whenever she can.Meanwhile, at nearby Washington, D.C., public schools, the children of less wealthy, less powerful parents are being served toxic, industrial, non-organic foods. And likewise at nearly every public school across the nation.During the campaign, all candidates, including Obama, talked endlessly about what was always categorized as "healthcare," when in fact it was all about healthcare insurance. "Health" almost never came up during the campaign, nor did the US government's massive corporate welfare program, which subsidizes the most toxic and unhealthy foods, while leaving healthy and organic food producers to fend for themselves on this uneven playing field.Nevertheless, I and many others remain hopeful that the Obama's awareness about the superiority of organic foods will lead to actual policy changes that put organic food in every school and every home, and stop the obesity, diabetes and cancer epidemics where they start: with our diets.Barack Obama: We applaud your good parenting, and your desire to take care of your kids. But starting January 20, you're our president. And we're counting on you to take care of our kids, too. |
