Can Children Grow Up Healthy? 

John Haberern

The Rodale Institute

This is the third in a series of articles by The Rodale Institute. Mr. Haberern, President of The Rodale Institute, wrote this article in August, 2002, under the title, "Do children today and the yet unborn generations of this world have a chance of growing up healthy?" The Rodale Institute and Shumei are working partners in projects designed to educate people in regenerative agriculture and foster sustainable living around the globe. Although never having personally met, the founders of both organizations, Mokichi Okada and J. I. Rodale, corresponded with one another. It seems very fitting that both organizations now are committed to working together to serve humanity and the environment.

Shumei and The Rodale Institute have joined hands to answer not only "yes," but through kidsregen.org and thenewfarm.org, we have the education tools to empower young people and farmers to take their health and the health of the environment into their own hands. Let me explain what's happening to children and why the power and necessity of the Internet will help put children, farmers, and consumers together in a network that will make a tremendous impact on today's world.

              Living in a maze of agriculture and other chemicals, and on a diet high in snacks and junk foods, young people today are on a path leading to epidemic proportions of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and even certain cancers. Dr. Philip Landrigan, Chairman of Community and Preventive Medicine at New York's Mount Sinai Hospital, told us when we met with him here at The Institute this month, "We are seeing a disturbing rise in the reported incidence of cancer among young children and adolescents, especially brain cancer, testicular cancer and acute lymphocytic leukemia. My goal is to push towards a world where kids aren't exposed to chemicals."

              And the July 31st issue of Newsweek, reported that in the US there's now an army of parents, doctors, and lawyers mobilizing a war against junk foodsÑeven class action suits, linking fast foods to obesity, heart disease, and high cholesterol in young people. In a book by physician and author Don Colbert, he exhorts parents to help children break junk food addiction. "Do it for yourself and for your children. Do it for God!" he writes.

              I think we all should feel very good about the major role Shumei and The Rodale Institute are playing in this campaign to improve the health and quality of life of all people, especially children. Helping to change the world for the better. Thanks to the help and patience of the Japan team, KRRN is making great progress. Already there are more than 1500 US and Japanese KORE members. This month, kidsregen.org was selected as "Dr. Hotlist's Site of the Week" by the "District Administration Magazine" (formerly "Curriculum Administrator Magazine"). And, our website visitors really love what we're doing. A mother from Georgia wrote us recently saying, "Thank you so much for teaching my son how to show concern for our planet and each other."

              The www.newfarm.org website is also making great strides, especially putting together the articles for the Japanese development site. Ray Epp, a Mennonite farmer who has established a successful CSA in Japan, writes about how his own farm, making use of many traditional Asian agricultural practices, may serve as a model for Japan's agricultural future. In the course of the story, he tells about Japanese visitors to his farm looking for a way to grow food that is better economically and spiritually.

              Klaas and Mary-Howell Martens converted their 1,400 acre conventional farm in upstate New York to organic. Why? Ten years ago, Klaas would come home from a day of spraying, his clothes reeking of pesticide, his head aching and his stomach churning. Mary-Howell was pregnant with their second child. They both knew this way of life was killing them and putting their children at risk.

              The New Farm¨ website can teach thousands how to make the change from conventional to organic farming. According to Anthony Rodale, "The New Farm¨ Brand is a name that people around the world already know and recognize for its past leadership and approach to providing information on Regenerative Agriculture to farmers and extension agents. The New Farm¨ promotes farmers' success stories, both practical and financial. The New Farm¨ has created a community of farmers around the USA and we want to continue growing that community globally."

SHUMEI MAGAZINE. Vol. 244. MARCH/APRIL 2003

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