Small, significant signs of awareness arising in the Global North

[Louis Loizou]

It is now almost 2 years since I met Dr Olaseinde Arigbede. A short time in even my lifespan.

In that time so much has occurred globally, fuel crises, food crises, banking crises... of course all these crises were there all along, but they have entered the consciousness of citizens of the Global North in a new way.

Now the fact of food insecurity and how it is about to affect us here is beginning a slow trickle into public awareness.

Here are 3 examples that have happened in the last 10 days:

Firstly, the major TV News Media in the UK reported Government warnings that the VARIETY, RELIABILITY, QUANTITY and AFFORDABILITY of the food in our shops and supermarkets is no longer guaranteed. They would not admit this before, so why now?

Secondly, days later (there could be be a connection if the government was made aware beforehand) a BBC2 program presented by a household name and face, BBC mainstream news man George Alagiah, the first of 3 weekly programmes now available on-line via BBC i-player for a couple more days):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00m9xjc

I understand that many in Africa and India may not be able to watch this, but I will try to obtain a transcription and if so upload the text.

Then around the same time DEFRA (the UK Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs) posts this consultation site:
http://sandbox.defra.gov.uk/food2030/2009/08/the-food-system-%E2%80...
and:
http://sandbox.defra.gov.uk/food2030/
which I urge anyone able to contribute to as the debate is definitely going in the right direction, opposite to the customary direction of DEFRA.

This coincides with 3 of us writing the aims and constitution of WorldFamily in Brighton for an application to be registered as a charity.

No promises in this uncertain world, of course, but I feel we are about to become an even closer and more active World Family.

Blessings to all my sisters and brothers,

Louis.

[Jemilehin Oluwaseun Opeyemi]

Hi Louis, its been long I thank you for this observation in other words it shows that the issue of food insecurity is not only affecting the third world alone rather it is a global issue. In that case urgent and pratical steps need to be taken to cub the negative consequences of this trend. And this is also a challenge to you over there.

[OLUWASEYIFUNMI KOMOLAFE ARIGBEDE]

It is a Global issue that way more people need to pay attention to Louis...I see the effects of it all here in the US too..I pray that my people get thier collective heads out of the sand long enough to pay attention and stand up for what is real...without proper diets, proper food, access to our idegenous foods we will surely suffer the consequences to our health, wealth and well being.
This is whats been happening here in the US while everyone spends thier time worrying about the economy:

http://www.armingyourfarming.com/no-more-organic-farming-if-this-bi...

[Louis Loizou]

This is really bad. I hope there is a strong movement against this sneaky bill. We have a similar thing going on in Europe but relating to alternative therapies, herbs and other supplements, not organic farming. They would never get away with that here.

This raises a question I have had in my mind in relation to the Food Sovereignty in Europe and North America, in fact anywhere where we have members, not just in the Global South. Your father always makes the point that "we are all living in a sarcophagus existence", and while thinking about our UK constitution for charitable status and the need to set it in a global context with a World Constitution (internally) for World Family I began to think we need to start mobilising farmers over here and getting more involved with groups who do.

Thanks for posting this.