Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
Ms Hart
Kamini Saldanha
10/16/2016
Robert Paarlbergs essay Attention Whole Foods Shoppers, from
the May 2010 edition of Foreign Policy magazine, is a cry for help to fix
the ongoing hunger problem in Africa. Addressing his argument to the
upper middle class of America, Paarlberg uses statistics as well as
current and past events to create feelings of guilt in order to invoke
compassion for those in Africa. Using various rhetorical strategies, he
debunks why organic food is hurting the end of world hunger.
Paarlberg makes his audience clear with his title Attention Whole
Food Shoppers. Whole Foods Market is an American supermarket
chain, which exclusively features organic products. Shopping here
costs more than in your regular supermarket. Paarlberg is singling out
the upper middle class of America, in particular: eco-foodies, those
who want to eat food thats been produced in an environmentally
friendly manner, or those who can afford to shell out more than usual
on food.
Paarlberg uses negative language to make his readers feel bad
about the lack of regard for hunger in Africa. He asserts, Food has
become an elite preoccupation in the West. In this way, Paarlberg
implies that that there is enough food to go around to be able to be
engrossed with it in the America. He is not far from the truth; America
does have a reputation for being one of the most obese countries
around the world. His use of the term elite further suggests that
eating organic has almost become exclusive to and only affordable to
America. Paarlberg is correct; not every country has major chains of
supermarkets tailor made meet such niche food needs. Organic food
does not come cheap either, not everyone can afford it. Describing
food as a preoccupation, he has categorized organic food as an
obsession in the America. Being an eco-foodie is a commitment, which
becomes a lifestyle choice. Although some might take it to higher
levels than others. Paarlberg wants to showcase the contrast: a
country with the demand and resources to make an exclusive food
market and a continent with the lack of resources to simply feed its
people.
Paarlberg supplements his argument by exposing the flaws behind
general assumptions of most statistics. His first example of choice is
international prices. He goes on to explain that global markets assume
extreme price hikes will create a World Food Crisis. However, the
real problem the world faces is that millions are undernourished before
these extreme price hikes even begin. He draws to this recurrent
theme of ignorance of those in poorer countries. Its true; most people
usually sympathize with those similar to or of their socioeconomic
background. Its not commonplace to first think of those from lifestyles
that are worlds different to ones own. Paarlberg wants the reader to
see the ugly truth in the hope of opening the readers eyes to see the
importance behind empathizing with those from backgrounds
completely different to their own.
America is reputed for its modern technology driven highly
capitalized agricultural system. Paarlberg applauds them for it and
addresses that it is essential to ending hunger in Africa. New elitist
lines of thought have emerged that discourage both agricultural
modernization and foreign aid.
Appealing to the readers empathy and honest truth allows him to both
keep the reader engaged and emotionally involved.
and prove his point. Evidence does not lie. Although, Paarlberg seems
to handpick the evidence that best suits him.
his solutions
explains why farming is more successful in America (comparison of
two)
examples of successful and unsuccessful farming in other countries