Climate Change and Food,

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### !\II~~ As a Registered Dietitian, Iwork with peopleto prevent disease and promote health.
see the impacts ofclimate change and environmental justice through this lens. As a person offaith, I believethatwe live within an interdependent web ofexistence. I see the impacts ofclimate change and environmentaljusticethrough this lens. As an American, I am grateful that we are able to speak out and make choices. I see the impacts ofour loss ofwin-win thinking when we don't consider climate change and environmentaljustice in our choices and commentary. Iwould like to commentfrom this philosophy of my life and experience. As a Registered Dietitian, Iworry aboutthe loss offood diversity and security which will lead to increased malnutrition. Iworry aboutfood insecurity and food diversity which
our nation already is experiencing in those at the margins of income. Food insecurity and food diversity will be impacted by decreased production, increasing variability of weather including frequency ofmajorweather events like drought and floods. Those at the margins of income and eventually those at the median ofincome mayfind food increasingly at prices that cannot be afforded for the diversity ofdiet necessary for healthy existence. America can already see what happenswhen a diverse diet is not available to a population. Right now in ourcountry it seems to be related to an inability to purchase healthyfood or inappropriate choices in food. Rising health care costs, obesity, heart disease, cancer and diabetes are all related to malnutrition ofsome sort. Wethink of malnutrition as a poor people's disease. The reality is it is also related to poor choices in diet With climate changes impact on food security and diversity, it will
no longer be our choice. Our choicewill be limited bythe limited availability offoodwhether because it is totally not available in some areas or due to costs offood because it has become limited in availability or in economicterms a scarce resource. Malnutrition in children leadsto a decreased capacity to learn and grow to physical productivity; malnutrition in adults leads to a decreased ability to think, work and problem solve. These losses will not be evident quickly; these losses will creep up on us to the point we have no ability to solve our problems any more. This decreases our economicviability as a nation to succeed. We must make decisions nowto be a successful nation in the future. As a person offaith, I believe we are interdependentweb. From Matthew 25:40 , 'Truly I say to you, to the extentthatyou did itto one ofthese brothers of Mine, even the least ofthem, you did itto Me.' Whetherwe think of"these brothers of Mine" as our Earth, as our fellow beings on this planet ,the Nations ofthe World, American brothers and sisters, local neighbors, or our immediate family and friends, I believe we must remember always that we are an interdependent web oflife. We must make decisions that value this planet and our brethren. As was stated this morning by the Rev. Gerald Durley, Civil Rights Activist of long standing, minister offaith and man called to environmental action, the first commandment ofthe God ofAbraham is to take care of this gift ofthe earth to us. This interpretation is a gift from Rev. Durley to us all that in
our dominion and acting as god ofthis world, we bear ultimate responsibility for our actions. Ourdecisions forAmerica impactthe Whole world in so manyways. We are models for some ofawayto be on this earth. We are beneficent caregivers for some. We are consumers of resources to others. We are hated intermediaries for others. Our decisions in America on every level are important. We musttake courage in hand and

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make choices that will help for the long run. Thatwill leave us with a planet to live on. Thatwill allow all people an opportunity to succeed in this wonderful web of life that we have been granted. As an American, I am grateful that I live in a place that will listen to my thoughts on this issue. I am grateful that I have sufficientfood dayto day. I am grateful that I have a career to help people make choices or be assisted to resources thatwill make a health difference in their lives. I am grateful. I still must state clearly that I feel thatAmericans do nottreat our "Commons" very well. We do not as a nation honorour "Common"
areas. The American commons of media, social media, politics, and government have become un-trusted from repeated lack ofcourage, repeated lack ofdecision making for the benefit ofall, increasing fear-mongering and hatred ofthe Other and poor follow through on plans. This is an opportunityfor courage, honoring the diversity in our country, increasing our respect forthe world and following through on a mission that will be like our mission to the moon in the sixties. This isthe millennia! Mission to the Moon. Please be our inspiration forthis Mission to save our Future. Help us be the bestwe can be. I am acting todaywith Love for my country, Love for my planet and Love for myfellow beings. I supportthe Clean Power Plan.