You have probably seen all of our recent posts about the Mayor’s proposed ban on the sale of large sugary beverages. We have created an informal online poll to see how our constituents and friends feel about the proposed soda ban. Let us know what you think!
Hi. the ban is only part of the solution. We need more phys ed in school. I’m working on that. if you want to learn more look up http://physedplus.org/ and http://wccny.org/advocacy/physical-fitness/physical-fitness-task-force/ or email me directly at debranni@yahoo.com
More phys ed, as commented above, is a great idea, as would be better school food and enhanced health & nutrition ed in schools (my kids get none of that). Frankly, the mayor’s photo op about the soda ban – with his stacks of sugar cubes in front of drinks – made more of an impact than will a silly restriction on serving size.
Movie theatre soda portions ARE out of control; it is very hard to buy a normal size without feeling ripped off. But I don’t think this is something legislation should be tackling.
Total control freaks trying to run everyone’s lives by their own opinions, judgments and choices. Where the hell does this end?
I think the soda tax was a way better idea. Both are nit picky and probably a drop in the bucket of the real solution to obesity and living more healthy, though. I think we should also talk about poverty as a determinate for health. Can we address economic inequality as a public health solution? Of course, this is a conversation our neoliberal mayor has historically avoided. Economic wellness feeds into higher education and valuing of oneself which leads to better health and time and energy to focus on wellness rather than subsistence. Just look at places like Park Slope. Kale chips everywhere. I’m being facetious — but the fact remains, there are a perfect storm of variables that produce an obesity epidemic. Getting people some damn money goes a long way. And these tinkering solutions alone aren’t cutting it. Let’s talk about full employment and investing our political capital towards that, yeah? I say hit him where it hurts and drive home the economic arguement. Nobody chooses to live unhealthy and a life of pain. We learn this behavior as a cultural and psychological adaptation to dire circumstances and lack of options and knofwledge, and also we learn to devalue ourselves and feeling good. Poverty, of the pocketbook and the mind, is the main ingredient in this perfect storm. It has to be unraveled by the biggest knots first.
We should b e more concerned about the Mayor’s recent edict requiring all women to breast feed by way of restricting baby formula in hospitals, drug stores,etc. I wish our elelcted officials would clarify this latest infringement of a woman’s right to choose what is best for her child and for herself with medical advice. Breast feedng is not possible for everyone. Where does this insanity end? The mayor should focus on the surging murders in this city and the lack of jobs.
I think the soda tax was a way better idea. Both are nit picky and probably a drop in the bucket of the real solution to obesity and living more healthy, though. I think we should also talk about poverty as a determinate for health. Can we address economic inequality as a public health solution? Of course, this is a conversation our neoliberal mayor has historically avoided. Economic wellness feeds into higher education and valuing of oneself which leads to better health and time and energy to focus on wellness rather than subsistence. Just look at places like Park Slope. Kale chips everywhere. I’m being facetious — but the fact remains, there are a perfect storm of variables that produce an obesity epidemic. Getting people some damn money goes a long way. And these tinkering solutions alone aren’t cutting it. Let’s talk about full employment and investing our political capital towards that, yeah? I say hit him where it hurts and drive home the economic arguement. Nobody chooses to live unhealthy and a life of pain. We learn this behavior as a cultural and psychological adaptation to dire circumstances and lack of options and knofwledge, and also we learn to devalue ourselves and feeling good. Poverty, of the pocketbook and the mind, is the mian ingredient in this perfect storm. It has to be unraveled by the biggest knots first.
Soda drinking in general is an unhealthy and even a toxic consumption: not only for its sugar, but the carbonation process as well . But will the advocacy to educate people to abstain from consuming it run well with the corporations that produce them. Particularly there is Coca Cola, and there is a campaign to boycott it, because they are behind the repression on union organizing for better wages and conditions in several countries where it is produced. Check out: http://killercoke.org/ — “The Campaign to Stop Killer Coke originated to stop the gruesome cycle of violence against union leaders and organizers in Colombia in efforts to crush their union, SINALTRAINAL. Since then, violence, abuse and exploitation leveled against Coke workers and communities have been uncovered in other countries as well, notably China, El Salvador, Guatemala, India, Mexico and Turkey.” Please read more.
I truly believe NYC has more urgent issues to tackle other than the soda ban promoted by Mayor Nannny. Maybe he and the NYC Council should concentrate on bringing jobs to The Bronx like a state of the art bread & pastry plant in The Kingsbridge Armory. Or creating community centers within our schools to allow the local not for profits to hold mentoring, athletic or artistic sessions to educate, empower and bring together our community residents. Or maybe overhauling the corrupt family court system that destroys our families for profit and maintain our people as economic slaves. I find it disgusting that with the issues I mentioned, we have a mayor more concerned about soda consumption and a City Council Leader frazzled by a comment made by a business owner who sells chicken sandwiches. I guess this country is already doomed, very sad. Mark Rodriguez – Accountant and Bronx Political Activist
Bravo! You are going to control obesity by limiting the size of the soda that will wash down 3000 calories worth of a Bic Mack, large french fries, chicken McNuggets and an apple pie! Really healthy eating! And what about the many McDonalds, Burger Kings, and many other establishments where you pour your own beverage and can refill as many times as you wish! Is there going to be a refill patrol counting the times you go back and total ounces you refill? While rent prices are skyrocketing, unemployment and under employment is rampant our great mayor is fighting to reduce the size of a soda. What a joke.
Soda is the #1 driver of the obesity epidemic- it is liquid candy essentially and as portions have grown bigger, we all have consumed more and our waistlines have expanded. If you don’t want the mayor to be the “nanny”, then all the big beverage companies like Pepsi and Coke will be the defacto nanny- THEY will tell us what to drink by using their enormous budgets to market to us. Beverage companies target poor communities of color by saturating neighborhoods with their products and advertising. Have you noticed how many bodegas have Coke sponsored refrigerators? I agree that limiting portion size of soda is not a perfect policy but think it is time to recognize the predatory nature of these companies and how they get us hooked on their drinks. This is a small start and aims to change the social norm.
The Mayor’s ideas while a bit fascist have some basis in reality. I notice in the nieghborhoods that there is a complete disconnect between health and well being and diet. Latinos and blacks of a certain economic class have the dietary sense of the developmentally disabled. “If it is bad for you they eat it. ” This is partially the fault of the stupid food pyramid, which made no sense and the lack of decent produce and the breakdown of the nuclear family since the time of Ronald Reagan.
There is a whole generation of stupid walking around that has never been told don’t do that in relation to any behavior. They are like an ADHD child, who has never been on medications, so they have been walking around their whole lives thinking the whatever impulse they have is “A-OK”.
The choices they make have consequences to the city. Diabetes, obesity, heart disease, cancer are all prevalent in the poorer Nieghborhoods and gluttony among the more affluent is apparently OK also. The rich have better healthcare.
Most of the diseases mentioned above are caused, triggered by poor diet. Popeye’s, McDonald’s, Cuchifritos all have too much salt and sugar. The constant refrain of children begging for chicken nuggets, or pizza for lunch, this has made a generation of fat kids with asthma, who can’t run and sit around all day.
In Europe, in England soda is not sold to children there are warning labels and it is illegal for small children to even imbibe.
The mayor is on the right track but his methods are horrible. People need to wake up !!!