April 2010 Johannesburg

Hoodwinked , John Perkins

The book is a description of where we are now economically, how we got
to this desperate place, and where to go next. Many books have been
written about the economic crisis, but Perkins goes further by
identifying "the virus that infected us" and the prescription for a
long-term cure.

The End Of Food, Paul Roberts

Until the late 20st century, the modern food system was seen as a
monument to human ingenuity that was producing more grain, meats, fruit,
and vegetables than ever before. We were producing it more cheaply than
ever before, and with more variety, safety, quality and convenience at
levels that would have bewildered previous generations.

Knowledge worth having

Gateways Business Book Breakfasts have been held every year from February through November for the past 15 years!

Venue and Date:
Michelangelo Hotel, Sandton Square, WEDNESDAY 7 April 7:45 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.

Please confirm your attendance or non-attendance by replying to this email or by calling 011 788-8903

We look forward to seeing you

Ian Mann & David Hendrie

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MORE ABOUT THE BOOKS

Hoodwinked, John Perkins

The book is a description of where we are now economically, how we got
to this desperate place, and where to go next. Many books have been
written about the economic crisis, but Perkins goes further by
identifying "the virus that infected us" and the prescription for a
long-term cure.

To put the crisis in perspective: Major banks, financial institutions
and markets lost the equivalent of the total US GDP, about $14 trillion.
The crisis was not "a fluke" it was the result of the decisions people
made by commission or omission.

Perkins describes where problems began, (when Ronald Reagan moved into
the White House,) and how the 400 wealthiest people in the US grew their
wealth by 60% in the Bush era. The emerging rulers of the world are not
politicians, but CEO's. Six huge corporations, for example, own most of
the broadcasting industry, giving them huge power to influence the
thinking of a generation. And the insidious side effect: The trampling
on and enslaving of the poorest.

Capitalism has proven a tremendous tool for channelling creative minds
into productive uses. The solution to our problems is to fix a broken
system, not to discard it. We need to redefine the goal: instead of
maximizing profit regardless of the social and environmental cost, we
need to focus on making profits within the context of creating a
sustainable, just and peaceful world.

The book is aggressive and provocative, but it is never silly or
trivial. It raises hard questions we should all get to grips with
because the world we are talking about is our home.

The End of Food, Paul Roberts

Until the late 20st century, the modern food system was seen as a
monument to human ingenuity that was producing more grain, meats, fruit,
and vegetables than ever before. We were producing it more cheaply than
ever before, and with more variety, safety, quality and convenience at
levels that would have bewildered previous generations.

While the food system has evolved like other economic sectors, food is
not, according to Roberts an economic phenomenon, because it doesn't
conform to the rigor of the modern industrial model. Food is so unsuited
to mass-production that we have had to reengineer our plants and
livestock to make them more readily harvested and processed, but then
they have to be amended with preservatives, flavourings, and other
additives. The result is that the long term viability of the system is
now in serious doubt.

There have been consequences of all of these transformations, many of
which are frightening. The nutritional quality of processed food is in
serious decline, and there has been a huge rise in the incidents of
obesity, diabetes and other health consequences of a food system geared
toward over- production.

Shifting the cooking of food from the home to the factory, while leaving
us with free time to use for other purposes, has left us with far less
knowledge of and control over, what we eat. What was in that convenience
prepared food you gave your children for lunch today? It might taste
good with all the artificial flavourants, but are they getting the
required nutrition for basic health or just empty calories?

Whether you are manufacturer, retailer, or consumer this is knowledge
you need to have. The book is a fascinating insight into a most unusual
economic phenomenon whose worst excesses thrive on our ignorance.

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