KWIC News: World Issues with Local Connections this Week
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2. The David Morrison Lecture 2011 with Raj Patel
He has worked for the World Bank, interned at the WTO, consulted for the UN and been involved in international campaigns against his former employers. For more information, including his blog, vist www.rajpatel.org. Book signing and reception to follow.
3. Wed., Oct 5th, 11:00-12pm: The Food Climate & Gender working group meets in the KWIC Global Education and Resource Centre to discuss education and engagement activities for this fall. Everyone is welcome to join this inter-generational initiative. Bring a lunch if you like. We'll provide some refreshments. If you are not able to make this meeting but are interested to participate in the working group, please send an email to kw...@trentu.ca.
4. Wed., Oct 5th, 6:30-9pm at Sadleir House: Canada in Colombia: Staking Out Claims on Gold Presentation & Discussion with CPT Volunteer and Trent Alumnus Stewart Vriesinga. Stewart will illustrate the campesino farmer and artisanal miners' struggles with mining companies and the Colombian and Canadian Governments. Despite death threats, displacement, massacres, extrajudicial killings, military and paramilitary armed intimidation, Free Trade Agreements, and new legislation, the local population is resisting every step of the way! Free event with donations accepted for Christian Peace Makers.
Sponsored by KWIC & OPIRG Peterborough.
5. Vote for Food!
The media release below was issued by Sustain Ontario last week. It asks that people concerned with food and farming go to www.voteonfood.ca and consider signing the pledge to support local food, and to email their candidates in the provincial election. It only takes a couple of minutes. Please support this campaign - only three days left!!!
MEDIA ADVISORY
For Immediate Release
TITLE: First Time for Food and Farming on the Provincial Elections Agenda
For the first time in history, Ontario political parties are talking about food. They are making connections that food and farming advocates have long heralded: that investing in good food creates jobs, promotes health and builds strong communities across Ontario.
"It isn’t surprising that Ontarians are demanding a new approach to farming and food policy. The ideas offered by farm and food advocates, many of them taken up by our provincial political parties, represent integrated solutions to the economic, health, environmental and social problems we face." says Lauren Baker, Toronto Food Policy Council coordinator and advisory council member.
Ms. Baker is part of a province-wide campaign to put Food and Farming issues on the agenda this election. The Vote ON Food and Farming campaign is a movement of Ontarians that believe in the power of food to make change and are holding their candidates accountable. The Vote ON website gives an overview of what the party stances are on healthy food and farming and puts forward good food ideas for the future of Ontario.
“Food Champions” in ridings across Ontario such as Barrie, Cobourg, Durham, Guelph, Haliburton, Hamilton, Niagara Falls, Ottawa, Peterborough, Waterloo, and Windsor have been making food and farming an elections issue this fall by hosting food-related debates and educating their candidates.
"Food and farming issues are relevant to everyone, as we all need food to eat. Farmers grow that food. How do we balance the need for farmers to make enough money to make a living from the farm and still find ways for low-income families to access good healthy food?" says Peggy Brekveld, Thunder Bay Federation of Agriculture representative. "These are issues that need to be addressed at the Provincial level, and now is the time to ask our candidates what they and their parties plan to do to address these issues."
Sustain Ontario has been supporting these local events in an attempt to build provincial solidarity. “We believe that food and farming can fix the problems that concern Ontario voters,” says Sustain Ontario’s Director, Ravenna Nuaimy-Barker. “Food and farming combined is the number 2 employer in Ontario. Up to 90% of Type 2 Diabetes can be prevented with a healthy diet. If jobs and health are election priorities, then so is good food.”
Vote On food campaigners are asking candidates to support Ontario food and farm enterprises, good food for health, healthy food in schools, protecting farmland and the environment and access to good food for all. A summary of these good food ideas and an overview of the party platforms can be found at www.voteonfood.ca.