i just saw this while watching tv tonight

http://video.msnbc.msn.com/rock-center/45818879/#45818879

(^ there’s the mini video clip/segment of it)

and i just found the story to be so sad. in case you don’t want to watch the clip, the story basically just draws attention to the life of Miskito Indians in Honduras, and how their lifestyle and way of living is so damaging to their livelihood. on the coast, the two job options are either getting involved with drug trafficking or being a lobster diver. many people choose lobster diving, for obvious reasons, and these lobster that they catch are popular because its cheap, and divers can catch more lobsters in less time than lobster traps. these divers, however, have inadequate equipment when diving 30+ meters below sea level, and end up getting the bends, or decompression sickness, and often times, young divers wind up paralyzed and die. the lobsters that they catch get processed, and frozen so that the meaty tails are shipped to American markets for lobster dinners. 

for those of you who know me really well, you’ll know that my favorite food is seafood, and more specifically, lobster. it’s something that i’ve come to really enjoy, and if there’s an option for lobster, i.e, in the dining halls, i’ll get it without hesitation. in fact, whenever i see a commercial on tv for lobster dinners at Red Lobster or Applebee’s, my mouth starts watering and i start craving lobster. not once have i questioned the origin of these lobsters.

i think the part that was the most heartbreaking for me was learning that boycotting eating lobster isn’t a feasible solution to ending the atrocities for these lobster divers because if the American consumer stops eating these lobsters, the demand for them will go down, and many divers will lose their job and way of making a living. there really is no other option for them. they can either risk their own lives to provide for their family, or choose to salvage their lives, only to put the livelihood of their family, including themselves in danger.

so what is there to be done? 

this is what one doctor is doing about this.

personally, this made me realize the importance of GPI and living simply. even though i’ve been aware of human injustices for a while now, and i’ve definitely felt sad about it, i don’t think any of them have really resonated with me, because none of them really affected me, but this directly affects my eating habits. in comparison, i am incredibly blessed. it’s really easy for me to compare myself to others, especially at BC, where i feel like everyone has tenfold more than i do, and think of myself as being “broke” or “financially disadvantaged” but i have so much more, in terms of opportunities, resources, and wealth than these divers and their families do. i think its stories like these that really put life in perspective for me, and help me to remember the purpose of GPI, and how Jesus calls us to love and care for the poor, and why i once thought about dedicating my life to living simply, and setting aside money that i would spend elsewhere to aid those who definitely need it more than i do. it’s something that’s been really challenging for me to follow through on, but it’s also something that i hope i can incorporate into my life so that it becomes a lifestyle. keep me accountable, please :)