SF Bay Area

Celebrate World Food Day Oct. 16th.

VIRTUAL EVENT. The Niagara Falls Illumination Board and North American Plant Protection Organization (NAPPO) are raising awareness about World Food Day and is joining the global campaign to end hunger by lighting the iconic landmark of Niagara Falls, blue. The event will take place on 16 October 7pm Pacific Daylight time.

The Future of Food is in our Hands.

The Local Peace Economy joins with people around the earth to celebrate world food day and help to end hunger in our local communities. In a vast world of almost 8 billion people we all need food, survive because of it and derive happiness from it. Yet profound inequalities exist in our global society when comes access to food. Three billion people suffer from food insecurity and cannot afford healthy diets, while overweight and obesity continue to increase worldwide. In the environment many farming practices are unsustainable and have led to land degradation, depletion of nature resources, water loss and less food production at higher cost. With make it harder for farmers and farm workers to make a living  income.  Which affects one billion workers worldwide who earn their livelihoods in the agriculture industry, more than any other economic sector.

In our modern world growing populations and our consumer lifestyle of excess is putting pressure on food production systems and the environment. This excess had lead to imbalances in healthy lifestyles and in the environment. In today’s society large segments of the population suffer with sickness caused by being over weight or obesity and lack of nutrition. This  has lead to high health care demand, cost, and for many  lack of a active healthy life.

The imbalances in food  production systems has lead to its ability to provide nutritious food for all at affordable prices and give decent livelihoods for food producers in a  way that is healthy and sustainable for ourselves  and the environment. Combining these imbalances with the changes in climate, including extreme weather, the pressures are unprecedented and need urgent addressing. Our collective choices as consumers and producers today impact what tomorrow will look like.

Consumers have buying power to determine to have a sustainable healthy food production system or not. A sustainable healthy food production system is one in which a variety of sufficient, nutritious and safe foods is available at an affordable price to everyone, and nobody is hungry or suffers from any form of malnutrition. The shelves are stocked at the local market or food store, but less food is wasted and the food supply chain is more resilient to shocks such as extreme weather, price spikes or pandemics, all while limiting, rather than worsening, environmental degradation or climate change. In fact, sustainable agri-food systems deliver food security and nutrition for all, without compromising the economic, social and environmental bases, for generations to come. They lead to better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life for all.

It is all a matter of  personal choice to live a healthy lifestyle and practice sustainable habits. As more people begin to choose to live a healthy balanced active life it will change consumption patterns and enhance demand for healthy foods, sustainable food production systems and ending hunger. It  really is a simple choice to make a better future for all and the environment. So let’s do it.

What we can do on the local level.

Here are 6 ways to help us love our food better and grow respect for the world behind what we eat:

1. Reduce your food waste: Buy only the food you need, learn to love ugly fruits and vegetables, keep your portions realistic, be mindful of expiration dates, store food wisely, donate excess and turn leftover food into the next day’s meals. When we waste food, all the resources used for growing, processing, transporting and marketing that food are wasted too. Food is so much more than what is on our plates.

The story of food begins with a farmer. Why do we give our chefs stars and awards, but we forget about the part our food producers play? Left: ©135pixels/Shutterstock ; Right: ©FAO/Luis Tato

2. Support your local food producers: Chefs get awards, stars and recognition for their creations. But what about our farmers? Without them, we wouldn’t have the fresh food we need on a daily basis and the food to make any of our cherished dishes. Aren’t farmers the real heroes? Shop at your local markets and get to know your farmers. Giving them your business is giving them your recognition and respect.

3. Appreciate the workmanship in producing it: Agriculture isn’t just work, it is art. There is so much that goes into making our food. It takes seeds and soil, water and work, protection and patience. Did you know that it takes about 50 litres of water to produce one orange? Our food choices affect the health of our planet and our future of food. When you eat, you are taking in natural resources and the hard work of the farmers, bees, harvesters and others who got the food to your plate. Appreciate food like you would a piece of art.

4. Adopt a healthier, more sustainable diet: Our bodies run off of calories and nutrients. We get our energy and maintain our health from good food. We normally don’t pay attention to the power that food and nutrition have over our bodies. We need to respect that food is fuel. Too much of it, or too much of only one kind of it, can lead to obesity, deficiencies or diet-related diseases.

5. Learn where food comes from: Do kiwis come from trees or bushes? Are tomatoes a fruit or vegetable? By learning more about our food, where it comes from, when it is in season and what it takes to produce it, we grow in our knowledge of and respect for what we are eating. Follow our Instagram account to test your knowledge on different fruits and vegetables grown around the world!

Do you know where your foods come from? And don’t say the market! Growing in our knowledge of food means growing in our respect for it. Learn for yourself and then teach future generations. ©Rawpixel/Shutterstock

6. Have a conversation: By treating each meal with pride, we respect the farmers who produced it, the resources that went into it and the people who go without. Respect can be passed on. Talk to the people around you and to the next generation about making informed, healthy and sustainable food choices. Lets

Find out more about how your actions can shape our future of food.

So Join with the Local Peace Economy and celebration World Food Day by choosing to live and work for a world where nobody goes hungry as we try to live more healthy sustainable lifestyles.

Watch the lighting on the EarthCam: https://www.earthcam.com/canada/niagarafalls/?cam=niagarafalls_str

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CodePink is a women's grassroots-initiated, worldwide organization of women and men working for peace, social justice and a green economy. CodePink SF serves the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.


 

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