© histman via Flickr
Birke Baehr, an 11-year-old kid from Asheville, N.C., recently gave a five-minute speech at the "TEDx: Next Generation Asheville" event. When I first saw the link for this YouTube video, I was admittedly skeptical - this kid couldn't possibly describe the ins and outs of America's crippled food system in little more than five minutes. Heck, famed foodies and top dogs at the Department of Agriculture can't accomplish that feat. Plus, kids acting like adults seriously creep me out (I'm looking at you, Dakota Fanning).
But then Baehr began. "It seems to me like corporations are always trying to get kids like me to get their parents to buy stuff that really isn't good for us or the planet," Baehr said at the beginning of his presentation. A solid point that's lost on many youth (which is the whole point of deceptive marketing tactics that lure kids into wanting junk food). I was admittedly intrigued by where the tyke was headed with all this. (Watch Baehr's speech after the break).
Baehr went on to provide one of the most succinct and clear explanations that I've ever heard on what's wrong with America's food system. (I should mention that Baehr used no notes of any kind in delivering his speech, which is impressive for an adult, but simply astounding for an 11-year-old). Baehr accurately and expressively explained the problems with concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs); chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides; and food irradiation. He then pointed to farmers who are doing things right, like Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms, and gave a shout-out to the taste and nutritional benefits of eating baked kale chips over fried potato chips.
Baehr may look like a kid and sound like a kid, but his well-articulated message is something that even most intelligent adults fail to grasp. He even plans to take his sustainable foodie mission beyond the stage at the TEDx conference. "Awhile back I wanted to be an NFL football player," Baehr noted. "I decided that I'd rather be an organic farmer instead. That way, I can have a greater impact on the world."
Baehr reveals in his speech that he's home-schooled. Public schools would do well to show this video to students and teach them about some of the topics Baehr described in his presentation. Or actually, let's show this speech to most adults out there, too. We could all stand to get schooled by this knowledgeable 11-year-old.
I looked forward to this clip as I enjoy young people who are not cowed by their parents and that they subsequently have confidence in themselves.
However, I am not American and I view things through European senses.
This young man is robotic and his body language, especially his unnatural hand movements tells me he is under stress performing in this monkey manner. His breathing alone says much about the stress he is under.
I would suggest that he is not doing this naturally and has been press-ganged into doing it.
I would even go so far as to suggest that there is child abuse involved.