Dive Journal 5

            After watching the movie Dive Living of off America’s Waste: I gained a newly heightened awareness of hunger and food issues of current times. The film Dive, by Jerry Seifert, is a documentary like account by group young men that eat and feed their families off of the food they collect on a daily basis via dumpster diving. The film takes place around the LA, California area and is based upon bringing awareness to the vast amount of non-spoiled food that many large chain food stores throw away verses the below poverty population that are in need of food.  In many instances the participants were able to consume better meals with the food collected from dumpsters than they could afford to purchase (Seifert).  Many fresh, organic meats, vegetables, fruit, grains and dairy products were items recovered from the dumpster dives. Food items are packaged with sell by labels. Once the sell by date and often previous to this date, is reached the store will dispose of the item to the trash. How can anyone with a conscious just throw away perfectly good food, one may wonder? Unfortunately throwing away good food instead of giving it to a needy person is a common practice of many businesses and citizens at homes. Nearly half of food items grown, manufactured and meals prepared in the United States of America are not consumed by people and thrown away when they are yet consumable (Seifert). A statistic like that in a first world country is sad and stifling.  Grocery chains try to avoid customer complaints of food freshness and lawsuits by taking the route of discarding items also to prevent lawsuits. Many people think that it’s easier to throw away than give it to others in need and hungry.  The federal government has assisted in encouraging positive actions like grocery stores, giving food to food banks, needing organizations, etc. without repercussion of being sued via the Good Samaritan Act passed during the Bill Clinton Administration. A law being passed on a federal level is not enough to save lives. Volunteers are needed to organize, distribute and cook food donations for people less fortunate. What type of country has the USA become? Does it care more about the latest fashion then the basic need of all human beings? Humans need food and water to survive: without it their organs will not function properly and can result in death. Where and when do people start to help make a difference? Start today; start now with small, personal, and consistent changes. Take leftovers to work to share with fellow staff members. Donate nonperishable items to the local food bank or church in your area. Any efforts made any better than no efforts.