Stop Subsidizing Obesity

Our tax dollars should only go to things that serve the public good, yet we’re handing out taxpayer subsidies to big agribusinesses to help subsidize junk food. Huge, profitable corporations like Cargill and Monsanto are pocketing tens of billions in taxpayer dollars, and turning subsidized crops into junk food ingredients—including high fructose corn syrup. These taxpayer giveaways are all the more absurd at a time when one in three kids is overweight or obese, and obesity-related diseases like diabetes are turning into an epidemic.

With Congress looking at ways to trim spending and reduce the deficit, cutting this kind of wasteful spending has the potential to bring together allies from across the political spectrum.

But big agribusiness will fight to protect their billions in subsidies.  We know, because in 2008, they spent $200 million lobbying and campaign contributions.

No one in Congress wants to be seen standing up for taxpayer giveaways to junk food, and with public concern about obesity and federal spending at all time highs, your support can help us finally beat Big Ag and end subsidies for junk food.

Issue updates

Blog Post | Hunger

Peanut Butter in Bellies | Lisa Nikodem

It’s hard to believe, but Oregon has the highest rate of child food insecurity in the country, with nearly 30% of children with limited or uncertain access to adequate food.  What’s more is that the number of families in need is on the rise.  Right now 138,000 people in Lane County are eligible for food assistance, up from 124,000 people last year.  Food banks are struggling to keep up.   

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Blog Post | Hunger

UO Trick or Eat Event collects 233 food items | Jenn Engstrom

The UO OSPIRG chapter decided to use this Halloween to give back. Yesterday, twelve volunteers went trick or treating for food items, collecting 233 items. The food items were donated to Food for Lane County, the largest food bank in Lane County, as part of OSPIRG’s campaign to generate 30,000 meals for hungry people in Eugene. 

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Resource | Hunger

Hurricane Sandy Response Toolkit

Summary

The best way to immediately help the victims of a natural disaster is to fundraise and get the funds to on-the-ground relief organizations as quickly as possible. Check out our toolkit for tips. 

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Blog Post | Sustainability

Protect Clean Air | OSPIRG Students

Doctors, nurses, and public health officials agree: carbon pollution spewing from power plants fuels global warming, which threatens our health through dirtier air. Left unchecked, the deterioration of air quality triggers asthma attacks, heart attacks and other fatal diseases.

Click here to support limits on carbon pollution from power plants.

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Blog Post | Consumer Protection, Foods, Waste

Stop Subsidizing Junk Food: Galley Closing and Panel | Thomas Letchworth

Government subsidies that benefit big agribusinesses, like Monsanto and Cargill, have made products like corn syrup so cheap that it's less expensive to buy a Twinkle than a bunch of carrots. The majority of these subsidies go to less than 10% of farms in America, and yet these farms receive more than $245 billion to grow only a handful of cash crops that are made into unhealthy, processed foods. It should come as no suprise to us then that childhood obesity has more than quadrupled in the last forty years. We need to end this wasteful government spending program.

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