ONE “FINE” DAY
It was 8 a.m. and Anna was in a hurry. She had to serve breakfast to her husband and kids, buy some medicines for her mother, who was suffering from a sudden bout of skin irritation, and get a doctor’s appointment for her younger son who was recently diagnosed with asthma. Phew! These diseases, the endless rounds to the doctors, and the horrific side effects of medicines, made her irritable. John, her husband, was an extremely busy Professor at UC Berkeley, and that left Anna to manage home and everything else. She was a teacher of Biology at a High School, and had a comparatively less rushed routine than John.
But today was a special day. She and two of her childhood friends had decided to meet at a book-signing event of the renowned eco-feminist and activist Vandana Shiva, at the North Atlantic Books Office at Berkeley. They had decided that they would buy her book with her signature on it, and then head to Ippuku for some delicious Japanese cuisine. They had read about her, and watched her TED talk about the grave dangers that mankind was facing due to genetically modified foods and increased pesticide usage. Anna had read the review of her latest book “Who Actually Feeds the World?” at an online women’s magazine website, and was impressed as it talked about the relationship between women and Nature. She wanted to know more about it, and hence the wonderful plan.
Anna met her friends at 10 a.m. after doing the necessary errands, (she almost had an altercation with the receptionist at the doctor’s; huh! These people are not a bit flexible when it comes to booking a doctor’s appointment!) I hope I don’t have to come here this often, she wondered aloud while fastening her car’s seat belt, and driving frenetically towards the publisher’s office.
Dorothy and Mary were waiting for her outside the building. They rushed in and were barely in time for Dr. Vandana Shiva, the lady-of-the-moment to start her speech. They were impressed with her towering personality and blazing kohl-lined eyes. She wore a sari and a big “bindi” on her forehead. They would surely ask their Indian friend, Shobha, where they could buy this beautiful round adornment of the forehead.
Dr. Vandana Shiva began her speech by saying that women are much better at agriculture as their sense of intuition is much better. They can produce more with less resources, and since farming was their livelihood and not a robotic job with money as the “pay off”, they grew crops for familial purposes, and it was done with utmost love and care, and without any use of harmful pesticides or fertilizers. “A woman can feed many stomachs with limited food in her pantry”, she said. The friends looked at each other and smiled. They remembered an incident. It was Mary’s son’s birthday, and they realized that they had ordered food for 40 children and here they were! A total of 50 hungry stomachs! The women took charge in the kitchen, and cut the birthday cake into smaller pieces, and also cooked up a few super-quick extra dishes with whatever was there in the refrigerator. The stomachs were satiated beyond measure, and so were these women!
Dr. Shiva then shared a startling story. The Green Revolution which as its name states, revolutionized the agriculture scene in India, was actually a blot on the face of humanity. The sudden rise of produce was brought about by using hazardous chemicals such as fertilizers, and pesticides. This caused fatal diseases like cancer in the children of Punjab in India, where this Revolution actually started. Shockingly, there was a special train going from Punjab to Delhi called the Cancer Train. This train carried passengers from Punjab to Delhi for cancer treatment only! Anna and her friends being mothers shuddered at the thought of the Cancer train.
She quoted from research journals and books, and that made her very believable. Also her numerous accolades were proof of her grasp on the subject of environmental studies. She warned the audience that the Corporations would spell doom, that their incessant and uncontrolled use of chemicals and genetically modified seeds would need to be resisted, and their baleful agendas thwarted. She urged the enthused audience to stop the use of chemical based laundry detergents and cosmetics, encourage their fraternity to do farming as a self-sustainable activity, and think thrice before throwing away, or buying plastic items. Reject or Reuse is the new mantra she quipped with a redoubtable and brilliant smile.
Anna and her friends were stupefied by the speech and they hurried towards Ippuku after buying a signed copy each, and managing to click a hurried groupfie with the celebrated author who had to rush to another event. After a yummy lunch consisting mainly of sushi, they decided to do something proactive. Mere reading the book won’t help. Let’s carry cloth bags ALWAYS, they decided. They even thought of compulsorily growing vegetable plants and sharing the
produce amongst themselves. They would join Bay Nature Institute at Berkeley which helps women farmers with money and seeds, and help them whole-heartedly in their initiatives , and Dorothy could even contribute to their Bay Nature magazine as she was a freelance writer. Why didn't they think of all of this before?
They needed a beacon. And it's never too late they realized after they bid each other goodbye for the day, and decided to meet the coming Monday at Bay Nature Institute. Yes, and this time the friends will check each other’s purses to see if they have cloth bags and organic cosmetics. The one who doesn't carry those have to gift the others organic lipsticks!
Fastening her seat belt, Anna again wondered aloud, “what a day this was, and I am sure this lady with the “Bindi” makes sense. If only we listen to her, and spread her good word, can we one day, reduce the visits to the doctor, and live a healthy life, all the while encouraging women power by encouraging the women farmers around the world.
