Every day between Thanksgiving (Oct 10) and the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (Oct 17), we’re talking about a #FoodRevolution on social media. Why?
ICYMI: Journey through our vision of a #FoodRevolution through this Twitter Moment
If you follow SCIC’s work, you may have noticed that we talk about food – Ok, you may have noticed that we talk about food A LOT. We’ve held tonnes of local events and conferences, hosted online food challenges, made food-themed calendars and bookmarks, and even hosted a cooking competition! We believe in food so much that we even have a dedicated food website complete with interactive learning tools and a local food business directory. So, what’s the big deal?
It may seem brazen to say that food can save the world. But at SCIC, we believe that. We believe it because we are seeing it. We are seeing communities at home and around the world create, support, and revitalize food systems that provide health, dignity, connection, resilience, and opportunity. We see the potential for our food systems to address some of the most damaging injustices in our world.
Food connects us all, is deeply linked to our identity, culture, and ways of knowing the world. From our daily choices as consumers, to the ways we organize our communities, our families, and our businesses, we are in touch with our food. And we have the opportunity to leverage all of our connections to food for good.
On Thanksgiving Day, as many families in Canada gather around the dinner table in a celebration of harvest, family, and gratitude, we’re reflecting on the many people and lifeforms that make our healthy food systems possible. Where did the food on the table come from? How was it produced? How many paths did it cross on the way to the table?
At the same time, we must face the reality of the ongoing inequalities in our food systems. Let's look at that table again. Who determined which food was available to put on the table in the first place? Is there food on the table? We know that there is more than enough food to feed the world, yet millions still go to bed hungry, and still more don’t get enough of the rights kinds of foods.
On this same day, communities are rallying around a call for #DeedsNotWords from the Federal Government. Indigenous communities have gone for too long with broken promises related to the land – land, which is so integral not only to food, but to indigenous worldviews, spirituality, identity, and community. But, as indigenous communities continue to engage in and to revitalize traditional food production and knowledge systems, renewed opportunities for healthy communities become more and more possible.
Food provides powerful opportunities to reconnect with our communities, to develop and support holistic systems that connect our ecosystems, health, community-wellbeing, resilience, and social organizing in ways that can create more just, peaceful, and healthy societies.
And everyone can play a part.
At SCIC, we will continue to focus on food because when we take a serious look at our food systems, we see not only connections to some of the world’s greatest challenges, but also to the world’s greatest opportunities for collective change.
We’ll be sharing resources and ideas for you to learn more about our food systems and how we can be a part of creating the change we want to see in the world. Get involved, and connect with those who are learning and working towards better systems for all.
Links and Resources:
World Food Day event: Regina, October 14, 2016
LookDeeper.ca – Explore why growing more food won’t solve global hunger
EthicalEats.ca – How is chocolate connected to child labour? What about sugar and land grabs? Learn about global issues connected to everyday food items, and find local businesses selling more ethical options near you such as fair trade, local and organic products.
From Oct 10 - Oct 17 we'll be observing several days of recognition through the lens of a #FoodRevolution, including:
- Thanksgiving (Oct 10)
- International Day of the Girl Child (Oct 11)
- International Day for Disaster Reduction (Oct 12)
- International Day for Rural Women (Oct 15) and
- World Food Day (Oct 16)
- International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (Oct 17)