For God’s sake, lets not waste food

Food - in abundance for some, cant afford two square meals a day for some.
Food - taken for granted for some, cant afford to take for granted even the next meal for some.

Such diversity with the fundamental ingredient required to keep a man alive. Then, does it gets it due respect? Or do some people even think that it deserves that? Take a look at some facts. Let me also add this disclaimer here that I am not against any kind of tradition, I respect them; but wastage of food is something to think about.

1. In India, it’s a tradition in weddings to shower bride and groom with rice grains. After the tradition, I am sure these are swept away. Say we use only 1 kg of rice per wedding, we have thousands of weddings each year. It could have fed so many hungry people.
Alternative - Why not use ‘CONFETTIS’ ? or colourful thermocol balls?
2. In Switzerland, there is an old tradition of carving the Turnips and making Lanterns out of it.
This happens typically in November , and TONS and TONS of turnips are carved, kids make beautiful lamps and there is a procession in the evening in every street.
First, you grow turnips, remove the pulp inside - throw the pulp, carve the outer turnip to make lamps, end of the day just throw! what a waste?
3. Florida - Yearly even; Throwing the oranges at each other.
4. Spain - Yearly event; Tomatoes thrown at each other, crushed etc..
5. India - Dasheera , Big festival, ‘TONS’ of White pumpkin crushed
6. India - Got a new new vehicle, congratulations - crush 4 lemons for all the 4 wheels of the car…belief is that there will be no accidents.. hey comeon.. just drive carefully. Please do your poojas, but don’t waste food items.

PLEASE -There is another world, where people simply can’t afford even sometimes one meal a day.
Can we not do our part? Can we not teach some of these things to our children, so atleast the next generation is more aware and does its part?

Read a few more links below related to this -

http://www.mamalisa.com/blog/the-turnip-fair-in-switzerland-marked-by-thousands-of-lanterns-made-out-of-turnips/

http://www.andreagrant.org/zuerich/turnip.html

http://www.sa-venues.com/events/kwazulu-natal-event-description.php?id=896