Response Paper: Facing Famine, My Daily Dives in the Dumpster, What's in Your Toothpaste

Health and the Common Notions “Good health” can be defined as the absence of illnesses and a state of mental and social well being. In other words, in order to maintain optimal health, it is imperative to have a well-balanced lifestyle, which would include a nutritious diet as well as mental and social tranquility. Tom Haines, author of “Facing Famine”, David Bodanis, author of “What’s in your Toothpaste”, and Lars Eighner, author of “ On Dumpster Diving”, discuss various topics of health while challenging the notions commonly perceived to be true. Together, the authors provide harsh insight regarding health conditions in relation to famine and disease in third world countries, as well as, challenging common views arguing on the truth behind toothpaste, and the perceptions held of everyday dumpster divers finding food from dumpsters and their “unhealthy” lifestyles. Famine is a widespread shortage of food that may apply to any species, which is usually accompanied by regional malnutrition, starvation, epidemic, and increased mortality. Author Tom Haines uses the short essay “Facing Famine” to discuss the rising famine epidemic in high hopes of provide insight and a new perspective to his audience. Providing his personal experience of visiting a village in a third world country, Haines provides images and emotions to the reader illustrating the events that occurred. Immediately he recalls that on the first afternoon spent in the village he was promptly shown a shallow, wide hole with nothing but hard dry earth at the bottom. Due to the lack of precipitation from the drought the lush farming lands have withered away or died. In turn eliminating all source of income, causing poverty. Once in poverty each household could no longer purchase essential supplies such as water, food, and medicine, ultimately leading to famine. Haines next introduces reasoning why the government of this third word country is not at blame either: “Three times, the government tried to