Sustainable Food Monitor - Latest Comments

Re: Youth Leaders of the Global Food Revolution Attend Dag Hammerskjold Farmers Market

yellow125 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:29:08 -0000

Fish is one of the food source in ones country, well these present youth leaders are pretty active they are doing nice jobs for these year

Re: Report from November’s Politics of Food Conference released by Manhattan Borough President

Traveller_Adventure — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:38:09 -0000

What a useful post here. Very informative for me..TQ friends...

Cheers,
Perniagaan Internet

Re: Politics of Food Nov 19th: President of UN General Assembly to Speak

loanketz000 — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:05:48 -0000

I hope the U.N. will do some solution to world problem.. Example of problem is food shortage.. But now the real problem is the A(H1N1).. Hope they invent a vaccine..

Re: Politics of Food: Father Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann’s Speech

ahujaroy — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 01:58:05 -0000

Very god write up and beautiful language you have used title is very good politics of food.

Thanks

Re: Youth Leaders of the Global Food Revolution Attend Dag Hammerskjold Farmers Market

summer_fruit — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 04:50:58 -0000

Good for these Youth Leaders of the Global Food Revolution, since they are making their time worthy in attending the Dag Hammerskjold Farmers Market. I know by this program, they can share more thoughts to other youths and information that are new. In relation to food issues, summer fruit season is just about here. We all know that summer fruit is a bit more expensive than compared with the rest of the year – well, to be fair that is when it's freshest – and no one really wants to get a personal loan to stock up on a few mangos, peaches, bananas, or a watermelon or two. During the summer months more people are on the lookout for cool meals, as you don't really want to eat anything incredibly hot and ice cream does not count as a meal – unless you want diabetes. Sandwiches are always popular, and you can put together some meals with summer fruit without needing installment loans, if you do a little research.

Re: May 4-15; International Symposium to Address Global Crises and Share Best Practices on Regions Feeding Cities

fin2 — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 07:48:22 -0000

Providing a fertile working space for the collaboration of global leaders is a good idea and should be welcomed..Those topics are very nice..
credit card reviews

Re: Politics of Food: Father Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann’s Speech

jazs23 — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 02:03:22 -0000

Nice blog... I think this blog will really help us a lot... Now.. we need to use all resources wisely.. because of recession... we need to tighten our budget for all our needs.. I like your conclusion... nice..

Re: Report from November’s Politics of Food Conference released by Manhattan Borough President

Hampers — Fri, 22 May 2009 04:48:49 -0000

If realized, food galore at its lowest price will result. Care to include food hampers, vegetarian hampers as these are toxic-less foods that will add delights to your food fair. And yes, matters discussed during the food conference should be seriously implemented to benefit the whole citizenry.

Re: Politics of Food: Father Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann’s Speech

Realtor — Thu, 07 May 2009 02:17:01 -0000

Food, shelter, water, and clothes are first few things that man needs to live. But now that we are in recession we really need to save more for our own sake. In relation to people’s necessities, it is said that Realtor is a good career. A realtor during a housing boom can rake in the cash, especially if they’re able to work in an expensive market. Take Marin County for instance – Marin County is the county of the North Bay Area around San Francisco. Unfortunately, it is also close to Oakland. However, with the housing market being what it is, you can't get a house for really cheap in California with poor credit, even with a payday loan to help out with a deposit. Still, some in the Realtor trade are resorting to installment loans to keep afloat. Just try to save more and always keep in mind that too many expenses is unwanted at this time of recession.

Re: Politics of Food Nov 19th: President of UN General Assembly to Speak

helen_d22 — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 17:54:33 -0000

For all my interest and excitement something like social lending, I experience not carried on able to use a social lending platform because there was not one to be had in Canada. Then, that morning, I read on NetBanker that IOU Central has launched, constructing them first out of the gate for Canadians. Instant Loans

Re: Report from November’s Politics of Food Conference released by Manhattan Borough President

educ2 — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:50:48 -0000

The Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer establish some techniques which acts as key point for the conferance..Thnks for the post..
GED test

Re: 2009: New York and CSD 17

home2 — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 13:07:30 -0000

Yes this food and farming system is quite good and incomparable with other systems..
DIY repairs

Re: Politics of Food Nov 19th: President of UN General Assembly to Speak

quazilateral — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 09:50:58 -0000

Saving up on food especially now at the face of the recession is easy but the hard part is going all through the panic that it has conjured. If we don't control that panic and get a grip on ourselves, saving up on food will remain a very difficult task to accomplish especially now in this hard times.

By the way, have you heard about Lion's Deal, the online kitchen and restaurant equipment store? They've got lots of great discount in their web site! Just enter the coupon code on the checkout page to get the discount 'online 10' which will give 8-10% off everything on the entire website with a minimum $50 order.

Re: The Cordoba Declaration on the Right to Food

PaulT — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 01:06:17 -0000

It's good that the declaration presents a number of issues and recommendations that should be given attention in further work dealing with chronic hunger and the aggravation of the food crisis. But good thing I heard that there is another way to divert this issues on food crisis. Did you know about Red Plum? It’s a website chock full of online coupons and tips on how to save on food and other items, and you don't need personal loans in order to join. These coupons are free of charge. All you need to do is enter your zip code, and you’re good to go. They give you coupons and other deals that are available in their site. Just choose the one you want, and print it. The Red Plum might just save you from availing your personal loans for food.

Re: Politics of Food Nov 19th: President of UN General Assembly to Speak

XavierI — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 06:08:18 -0000

Government must try very best to put our economy back to its stability. Unemployment, poverty and even supply of foods are affected. Food is the one of the essential things that man needs. Saving on food in times of recession is much easier than you think. In similar to what large supermarket chains would have you think, you can start saving on food expenses and not have to worry about payday loans to keep you and your family fed. First off, you never want to shop when you're hungry, as you will likely up your discretionary spending. Second, it helps to cook from scratch instead of buying prepackaged food. It tastes better, its better for you, and it can be cheaper. Freeze leftovers for a later date, and if it comes down to it, eat less unnecessary foods like snacks and soda. You save at least extra hundred bucks a year if you saving on food actively. Believe me once you start doing this surely you’ll never afraid getting starve in the near future.

Re: Report from November’s Politics of Food Conference released by Manhattan Borough President

Asantewaa Harris — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:03:55 -0000

Why is there no mention of Maya Wiley? She was the only woman of color to give a keynote address at the Food Policy Conference. A conference that was held in a city where over 2/3s of its residents are people of color. Yet, there was no such representation on any of the panels.
Racism continues within the food system in NYC whether intentional or unintentional.

Let us no longer be a "nation of cowards" as stated by US Attorney General Holder. We could do so much better! CSD 17 must also address the impact of racism as it discusses and shapes priorities for action. We must dismantle racism! The consequences of racism in policy and practices much be recognized and challenged.

Some of us have very important work to do!

Re: 2009: New York and CSD 17

ROSA — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:45:43 -0000

FAVOR NECESITO LA UBICACION DONDE SE REALIZA LA 17A. SESION DE LA COMISISON DE DESARROLLO SOSTENIBLE-CDS17 EN NY

Re: Taking a Stand for Nutrition: the UN’s SCN.

felicitylowry — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 05:46:40 -0000

This is so sad that there is still a famine crisis in the world. Hopefully something can be done quickly before more have to suffer. Thank you for covering this very important issue.

Re: Politics of Food Nov 19th: President of UN General Assembly to Speak

SEOpinay — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 11:20:51 -0000

this will be help to plan for new ideas about food solution

Re: Politics of Food: Father Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann’s Speech

Joan Mencher — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:11:02 -0000

From Counterpunch
Edited by Alexander Cockburn and Jeffrey st. clair

PULSE OF THE PLANET

Profiteering and predictable food scarcity:
The human right to eat
By JOAN P MENCHER

Somini Sengupta's front-page article, "India's Growth Outstrips Crops" (New York Times, June 22, 2008) points out various reasons for the current shortage of staple foods in India
--including rapidly sinking water tables, inadequate government investment in agriculture and especially in irrigation and access to loans for farmers, agricultural land being sold for residential use since the profits from agriculture were so poor. Between 1968 and 1998 India’s production of cereals had doubled, but between 1998 and 2008 it has gone down due to the cancellation of government support prices, which followed the advice of the World Bank and the United States economists. Based on my own field research on agricultural issues in India over the last fifty years I have always been surprised by the disconnect between what farmers tell me and what I hear from economists (most of whom rarely visit many farms). I see a very different picture.

Starting with the colonial occupation of India, the government's agricultural policies have focused on the accumulation of money by the well-do-do farmers and the government at the expense of those who tilled the land. Instead of focusing on increasing the production of multiple crops, grown in tandem either through crop rotations or by intercropping (such as the intercropping of trees and field crops), the focus was from early on, and more so during the last 10 years, on crops for export (for example bananas and other fruits to Europe) rather than on feeding its own population. The journal Seedling, published by an NGO named GRAIN, points out that all of the largest grain traders in the world have greatly increased their profits during the past two years; Cargill, for example, announced that its profits from commodity trading for the first quarter of 2008 were 86% higher than for the same period of 2007. It is not surprising that the poor do not have enough to eat. See: www.grain.org

While many of us would consider the right to food to be a fundamental human right, the concept of "rights" has paradoxically been appropriated by multinational corporations, as well as governments, to expand the philosophy of neoliberalism. For example, recent changes in Mexican law have elevated the “right” of private ownership over the communal ownership of common lands, water resources, etc., traditionally observed by indigenous communities (Seedling, Oct. 2007, pages 6-7.) And we are all familiar with the use of the “right” to individual (or corporate) ownership to steal traditional products of nature from local traditional societies, including not only indigenous tribal groups but also many preparations used by our grandmothers, by patenting them in a slightly modified form. Seedling quotes a Canadian farmer saying: "farmers all over the world need to start thinking once again of food as a source of nutrition and sustenance and to re-connect with old ideas about fertility, knowledge, labour and community. . . awareness that the corporate strategy for world domination is unsustainable and ultimately self-defeating." Not only in some parts of rural India, but the world over, people's "rights " and
their advocates are increasingly being heard, and people are beginning to look to a new pattern of agriculture that will be directed toward feeding people rather than toward profit.

After the dry spell in the mid 1960s-early 1970s, making India self-sufficient in food became a rallying call. But instead of basing the methods for accomplishing this on land reform (along with really well informed, ecologically sound extension), the politically driven emphasis on mono-cropping, export for profit, and complex market chains led to an adoption of the U.S. model of agriculture based on a limited number of commodities. This approach relied on an extensive use of artificial petrochemical-based fertilizers and pesticides, with a strong emphasis on the large and very large farmers (size defined in locally relevant terms). With the so-called “liberalization” of the economy in the last 10 years, there has been a large emphasis on export crops, based on the views of economists who believed that it would be good for trade if India were to import many of its basic grains, taking advantage of what economists call "economies of scale", a concept borrowed from industry which ignores the realities of rural/agricultural life. As George Mombiot recently pointed out, it has been known since the 1960's that small farms produce greater yields per acre than large farms, sometimes as much as 20 times greater. (The Guardian, London, 10 June 2008). In the 1950s Walter Goldschmidt's work, as well as the political reaction to it, made it clear that industrial agriculture is less a matter of efficiency (productivity, energy, or capital usage) than of political power.

In any case, food is not simply a product, like a piece of cloth or a machine, though food companies have tried to turn it into commodities like pieces of cloth.. The growth of plants and animals is part and parcel of local communal life, of the quality of rural day-to-day existence and the local exchange of goods. The current policy also makes people dependent on the transportation of food and food products over long distances (using large amounts of petrochemicals), as well as on petrochemicals for fertilizers, herbicides, and enormous quantities of pesticides which are destructive of the soil, apart from having numerous health impacts.

In addition, the central and state governments have chosen to focus on larger size dams and irrigation projects, while neglecting local-level water conservation and water harvesting along with small household level ponds, the recycling of semi-contaminated water at the local level (such as bath water etc.) and failing to employ the most ecologically sound methods of water use, which has inevitably had a negative impact on agriculture.

In 1995, an important conference organized by IFPRI (the International Food Policy Research Institute) based in Washington, D.C. concluded that with existing technology, along with new methods already being tried out--such as the SRI (System of Rice Intensification, developed in Madagascar), India would be able to feed itself for the next 25 or more years. Yet the significant increase in export farming, the continual neglect of small farmers, the belief held by the urban elite that basically nobody wants to farm, the rapid increase in the price of oil and other petrochemical products, has made it extremely difficult for poor farmers and even middle-sized ones. The failure of various south Indian state governments (where I have been working) to support the use of (formerly) common lands by self-help groups of landless women which were producing vegetables both for their own consumption and the local market is one of the pieces of a broader failure to see sustainable agriculture by villagers as a meaningful alternative to so-called “modern” agriculture.

The tendency among the elite, and this includes many (though not all) economists, to belittle small farmers, those that grow for the local community and perhaps the nearby city, encourages farm policies that make rural people more dependent on importing foods from longer and longer distances, and that fail to meet the needs of local farmers and consumers both. The government's downplaying of procurement policies, buying of grains and basic foodstuffs at lower than market prices, only exacerbates food crises, and may even create them.

I have seen NGOs struggling to obtain funds to help with programs that assist small farmers
having to fight both their local government policies as well as those of the central government. I
have also witnessed farm after farm obtaining high yields of multiple crops when they are given not only financial support but also technical advice and examples to follow as well as community support. The focus of these groups is clearly at variance with most government policies.

Agricultural changes in the US today also reflect a rejection of centralized agricultural policies. We are experiencing a major change as more and more people turn to Community Supported Agriculture associations (CSAs), farmers' markets, and small-scale urban agriculture, which is creating a significant though still small movement which may well transform the way we eat. Even though this movement is against the interests of large corporate interests, it continues to grow. The movement in the US is starting from a very different place compared to the situation we find in India. While the gap between urban elites and food cultivators is every way as great in India as in the U.S., perhaps even greater because of issues of caste in India, it is still possible for Indian farmers to be weaned away from export crops, and to return to production for local and regional markets. For example, in Bangalore I have seen how organic food brought in to a city market usually sells out in a few hours--even in poorer neighborhoods. People want healthier foods. Even urban people are beginning to grow their own vegetables and fruits (though not yet grains), as well as keeping a few hens to provide their families with fresh eggs.

For a number of reasons, the increasing cost of food may serve to send more people back to local consumption. The real problem in India and elsewhere are the really poor, in rural areas the landless, in urban areas the homeless or the slum dwellers, who lack even tiny amounts of space to grow food, or to innovate on water conservation, etc. At this moment in many countries of the world, these people are barely able to afford the minimum nutrition their bodies need. This is fine for the commodity traders, who are in a perfect position to profit from other people’s hunger. Is a trader’s “right” to obscene levels of profit more sacred than a poor person’s right to eat?

Which brings us back to the question of human rights--the right to land, to housing, to water, to food and to a decent quality of life for everyone. With a recognition of these rights most of the people reading this will have the chance to gain more autonomy over their own lives. The struggle for this is essential for both human survival and the survival of all types of life on this planet. .

Joan P. Mencher is an Emerita Professor of Anthropology from the City University of New York’s Graduate Center, and Lehman College of the City University of New York. She is the chair of an embryonic not-for-profit called The second Chance Foundation which attempts to raise funds for rural NGOs working with poor and small farmers on issues of sustainable agriculture. She has worked primarily in South India but also in West Bengal briefly, on issues of ecology, caste, land reform, agriculture, women, and related issues over the last half century, and has published widely both in the United States and in India on all of these subjects, primarily in academic journals.