Flow is always about knowledge, about the concept of knowing. And I use this in my everyday life.
Two examples that have come up recently are worth looking at in regards to flow.
As I’m sure you know, organic food are a hot button these days. Whole Foods became as successful as it is almost exclusively on their ability to offer a wide variety of organics. But did you know that foods labeled USDA Organic are NOT necessarily organic? Thanks to lobbyists and industry pressure, the legal definition in America for organic actually means the food can contain pesticides!
According to a Los Angeles Times article in June, many organic foods can contain nonorganic spices, colorings, pesticides, and other additives you wouldn’t associate with the term “organic”. Bottom line, you are paying more for a product with the same NONorganic ingredients as its conventional counterpart. And, of course, the companies reap larger profits since it costs them no more to produce.
Solution? Look for products that feature other certifications besides USDA Organic such as QAI (Quality Assurance International). These standards are higher and stick to a generally accepted definition of “organic”.
Like this organic controversy, E85 is another case of propaganda triumphing over reality. E85 is seen as one salvation from our dependence on foreign oil. E85 is a blend of 85% ethyl alcohol (derived from crops such as corn) and 15% gasoline. Sounds like a dream scenario, right? Our farmers can produce “endless” crops for fuel, our true gasoline production is reduced 85%, and people can drive their gas guzzling SUVs and other vehicles without feeling guilty.
The reality is quite different, on many levels. E85 costs more to produce that gasoline (including transportation) unless the crop fields are right next to a refinery (very rare). E85 is not good for vehicles — gas mileage is reduced by up to 25% and engines wear out significantly faster, so an SUV getting 15 mpg suddenly gets 11 or 12 mpg and needs an expensive engine rebuilt at 50,000 miles. And, surprisingly, E85 forces the price of food to skyrocket. In Mexico last year the price of tortillas went up more than 400% thanks to E85 demand. Other increases include the price of beef (cows graze on the same crops), desserts (corn syrup/high fructose corn syrup), sodas (same), etc.
Bottom line? You can eat organic labeled USDA Organic and you can support E85 fuel. But flow is always about KNOWING, not simply blindly following what others say. Don’t believe the media or politicians until you are satisfied you have the truth. After all, remember that such things as cigarette smoking and asbestos were considered to not only be safe, but preferable to use.