Prior To Beginning Work On This Discussion Forum Read 403084
Prior To Beginning Work On This Discussion Forum Read The Articleneig
Prior to beginning work on this discussion forum, read the article Neighborhood Disparities in Access to Healthy Foods and Their Effects on Environmental Justice, watch Mississippi “Food Deserts” Fuel Obesity Epidemic, and consider reviewing a recommended resource. Assume that your town is a food desert and you would like to do something about it. Prepare an argument to present to your local town council that outlines an idea to offer healthy food options to your town. Use at least one ethical theory or perspective to support the moral or ethical reasoning for why this program should be implemented. Your initial post should be at least 250 words in length.
Support your claims with examples from the required resources and/or scholarly sources, and properly cite any references in APA Style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center resources Introduction to APA and Integrating Research. Think about what the concept of social justice means within the context of food security. Are human beings entitled to nutritious food? Consider how human beings are affected by the systemic inability to access quality food. Respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts by Day 7.
Paper For Above instruction
The issue of food deserts and food insecurity presents a significant challenge to social justice and public health. As many communities lack access to affordable, nutritious food, systemic inequalities exacerbate health disparities and inequities. Addressing food deserts in my town requires not only increasing physical access to healthy foods but also understanding the ethical foundations that justify such interventions.
One compelling approach to justify efforts to eliminate food deserts is the ethical theory of justice as fairness, as proposed by John Rawls. Rawls argues that social and economic inequalities are only justifiable if they benefit the least advantaged members of society (Rawls, 1971). From this perspective, ensuring access to healthy food for all residents, especially those in food deserts, aligns with principles of fairness and equity. Implementing programs such as incentivizing supermarkets to open in underserved areas, supporting local farmers’ markets, or establishing mobile food pantries directly addresses disparities, promoting social justice.
Furthermore, the systemic lack of access to nutritious food impacts vulnerable populations disproportionately, including low-income families, the elderly, and minority communities (Beaulac, Kristjansson, & Cummins, 2009). These disparities contribute not only to poor health outcomes but also to cycle of poverty and marginalization. By framing food access as a moral obligation grounded in ethical theories like utilitarianism—maximizing well-being for the greatest number—or Kantian ethics—respecting the inherent dignity of all individuals—we strengthen the moral case for local policy interventions.
Research highlights that improving food environments in disadvantaged neighborhoods can reduce obesity rates, chronic diseases, and health disparities (Laraia et al., 2013). As such, policy efforts rooted in social justice principles serve not only to enhance individual health but also to foster a more equitable society. To conclude, addressing food deserts through ethically justified initiatives is moral and necessary for promoting justice and health equity within our community.
References
Beaulac, J., Kristjansson, E., & Cummins, S. (2009). Food deserts in urban areas: A review of the literature. Urban Food Environments, 6(2), 101-115.
Laraia, B. A., et al. (2013). Neighborhood food environments and disparities in diet quality. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 44(1), 26-30.
Rawls, J. (1971). A Theory of Justice. Harvard University Press.