Perhaps I just wasn't paying enough attention before, but it seems that the food movement has officially exploded. Everywhere I turn, people are talking about organic food, local food, farmers' markets, community-supported agriculture (CSAs), community gardens, rooftop gardens, home gardens, "WWOOFing" (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms), and collective kitchens.
Perhaps the Concordia Food Systems Project internship that I worked on this summer transported me into a world where food is again central, as it was, and as it should be. But no, the food movement is thriving - I'm sure of it.
Food brings people together, whether it's through growing food or eating food - communities are built around food and food builds communities. Food is the basis of our social, economic, and political systems. And most important, food unites us as a species: every human, regardless of age, sex, race, religion, ethnicity, or sexual orientation, needs food every single day.
What's pushing people to think more about their food? Where it comes from? What's in it? The food system is in serious danger, that's what.
Perhaps the Concordia Food Systems Project internship that I worked on this summer transported me into a world where food is again central, as it was, and as it should be. But no, the food movement is thriving - I'm sure of it.
Food brings people together, whether it's through growing food or eating food - communities are built around food and food builds communities. Food is the basis of our social, economic, and political systems. And most important, food unites us as a species: every human, regardless of age, sex, race, religion, ethnicity, or sexual orientation, needs food every single day.
What's pushing people to think more about their food? Where it comes from? What's in it? The food system is in serious danger, that's what.
Food has been industrialized to the point where its production is environmentally destructive, and its consumption is biologically dangerous. Pesticides are getting into our waterways, and into our bodies. Genetically modified organism (GMOs) are all over the place, the effects of which are not completely certain, but it's not looking good. Also, the way foods are being transformed, being pumped with a quadrillion additives is out of control - these chemical compounds (like carageenan, aspartame, soya lecithin, maltodextrin, and even "natural flavour") are in so many of the foods most of us eat everyday - it's hard to avoid them.
The problem is that food production is being controlled by huge multinational corporations, more concerned with making profits than taking care of people and their environments. If you don't know what I'm talking about, please watch Food, Inc.. As the website claims: "You'll never look at dinner the same way."
But that's depressing. Let's get back to hope, back to action for change, back to the food movement.
The problem is that food production is being controlled by huge multinational corporations, more concerned with making profits than taking care of people and their environments. If you don't know what I'm talking about, please watch Food, Inc.. As the website claims: "You'll never look at dinner the same way."
But that's depressing. Let's get back to hope, back to action for change, back to the food movement.
Food sovereignty is what's important: people being able to choose how their food is produced and what's in it. To achieve this, many people, sick of waiting for industry or legislation, have turned to growing their own food. What makes it more exciting is that there's an urban movement - the urban agricultural movement, and this movement is alive online. To share this movement with people, I included a bunch of food movement videos on the Concordia Food Systems Project's YouTube page I put together this past summer.
But my ultimate favourite, and something I'm really excited about, is the trailer for Edible City. This film is revolutionary, and extremely inspirational. See for yourself:
But my ultimate favourite, and something I'm really excited about, is the trailer for Edible City. This film is revolutionary, and extremely inspirational. See for yourself:
Edible City Teaser from East Bay Pictures on Vimeo.
So, what do you think?
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