Here's a post I drafted two weeks ago and just found. I'd come across this post on Slow Food International's website 10 Words that Change the World | Slow Food International - Good, Clean and Fair food and wanted to share it here.
First to fill you in if you are not familiar with this global organisation:
Slow Food is a global, grassroots organization with supporters in 150 countries around the world who are linking the pleasure of good food with a commitment to their community and the environment.
A non-profit member-supported association, Slow Food was founded in 1989 to counter the rise of fast food and fast life, the disappearance of local food traditions and people’s dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes and how our food choices affect the rest of the world.
Today, we have over 100,000 members joined in 1,500 convivia – our local chapters – worldwide, as well as a network of 2,000 food communities who practice small-scale and sustainable production of quality foods.
NB: 2008
Founder Carlo Petrini named one of the '50 people who could save the planet' by the British newspaper The Guardian.
At the opening ceremony of the Salone del Gusto and Terra Madre, speakers from Alice Waters to Vandana Shiva and FAO Director José Graziano Da Silva interpreted the key words of the event - earth, seeds, water, education, biodiversity and more – in front of a packed auditorium of thousands of representatives of Slow Food and Terra Madre food communities from around the world.
DIVERSITY
“Terra Madre is the celebration of diversity. Of languages, cultures, colors and tastes. Diversity is essential for food security and the importance of food in our lives is clear… There was a time when humans used tens of thousands of vegetables, cereals but today we rely on just a few cereals. But now is not the time to complain. We must focus on going forward and promoting sustainable models.”
José Graziano Da Silva, Director-General of the FAO
SEEDS
“Life renews in seeds. Food begins with seeds. In India the word for seeds means ‘that from which life arises’. Today, the very source of life is being appropriated and privatized. A seed by its very nature gives. This apple seed doesn’t say “give me a royalty or I won’t give you the apple.” Seeds give back and that’s a problem for greed. A seed is not invented; it is millions of years of evolution, thousands of years of breeding. Every patent on a seed is a theft, it is biopiracy.”
Vandana Shiva, president and founder of Navdanya
EDUCATION
“Pleasure and justice must go hand in hand. The power of Slow Food is connecting the two. Pleasure and taste bring people together, bring people back to the table, establishing a new relationship with food and each other. In schools we can reach all children, and if we feed all children delicious wholesome sustainable food it can become a right for all and not just a privilege. We know the unrelenting forces of fast food nation are indoctrinating our children, and that’s why we need the universal and very-possible solution of an edible education.”
Alice Waters, chef and founder of the Edible Schoolyard Project
NETWORK
“Today we are here as one big family to celebrate what was started 20 years ago. What we have built takes dedication, time and working and thinking together. In Uganda we have managed to connect farmers, volunteers, traders, cooks, journalists, local leader, consumers, schools and so on to defend our agri-biodiversity, culinary traditions and values. A sustainable food chain necessarily involves many stakeholders and to defend it we must stay connected and continue building the Slow Food and Terra Madre network.”
Edward Mukiibi, Slow Food Mukono, Coordinator of Thousand Gardens in Africa project in Uganda
EARTH
“The earth has always been violated, misused and mistreated, but its voice never stops talking to us with passion. We love our earth, it’s the only thing that truly exists, producing baskets of sacred food that end up on tables of the world. The earth can be a huge wonderful garden, where we harvest the ideas of human knowledge. With respect, determination and creativity, this immense knowledge can ensure the earth offers not only the daily bread, but gives rise to dignity, freedom, quality, joy, for all living creatures.”
Carlos Vanegas Valdebenito, CET Expo Movil, Chile
WASTE
“If we managed to cut total food loss and waste by half we would have enough food to feed one billion more people, without having to increase production and without placing additional pressure on national resources... With hunger, the only number acceptable is zero.”
José Graziano Da Silva, Director-General of the FAO
WATER
“Water arrived on earth bringing us the gift of life. We, human beings, are organized water. Soil absorbs water as if a treasure, nourishing the countless other crops of the world’s biodiversity. Streams and rivers cross continents, finally reaching seas and lakes, and offer us resources. But once polluted, water is no longer a source of life but a carrier of poisons that cause diseases and kill. We can bring back life and ensure the source of life is pure again by cleaning up environments.”
Carmen Martinez, Coordinator of Slow Food Amaranth Presidium, Mexico
ENERGY
“Following the nuclear incident in our area and the resulting very high level of radiation, we have been looking for ways for food producers to save their land and products from the contamination. Nuclear policy could radically destroy principles at the basis of the Slow Food movement and we believe it is necessary to promote the use of alternative energies. It doesn’t make sense to use energy sources with high potential to pollute our environment and which destroys connections between people and food, life and our precious land.”
Yoko Sudo, Slow Food Fukushima, Japan
BIODIVERSITY
“In my region, the Balkan cultural and food biodiversity is the result of the wide variety of traditional agricultural practices and gastronomic heritages. The region is home to many old breeds and plant varieties. Facing globalization, intensification and industrialization of agriculture, demand has risen for animal products and livestock development, concentrated on very small number of breeds. This is something very very dangerous. Safeguarding rare breeds is also a tool for ensuring the future of communities. Only in this way and only together can we preserve agrobiodiversity for future generation and save these valuable genes.”
Ivanov Sergez, Stara Planina breeders food community, Serbia
CELEBRATION
“In these years, Terra Madre has been observed with curiosity, seen in terms of anthropology, folklore. No. This reality must be seen as a big political phenomenon. The politics of Terra Madre will come with serenity and celebration...This crisis won’t be overcome with sadness. At Terra Madre, politics has taken joy by the hand.”
Carlo Petrini, Slow Food International founder and president
First to fill you in if you are not familiar with this global organisation:
Slow Food is a global, grassroots organization with supporters in 150 countries around the world who are linking the pleasure of good food with a commitment to their community and the environment.
A non-profit member-supported association, Slow Food was founded in 1989 to counter the rise of fast food and fast life, the disappearance of local food traditions and people’s dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes and how our food choices affect the rest of the world.
Today, we have over 100,000 members joined in 1,500 convivia – our local chapters – worldwide, as well as a network of 2,000 food communities who practice small-scale and sustainable production of quality foods.
NB: 2008
Founder Carlo Petrini named one of the '50 people who could save the planet' by the British newspaper The Guardian.
 |
| Slow Food Philippines Pasil Traditional Farmers' Day |
10 Words that Change the World
Italy - 25 Oct 12
At the opening ceremony of the Salone del Gusto and Terra Madre, speakers from Alice Waters to Vandana Shiva and FAO Director José Graziano Da Silva interpreted the key words of the event - earth, seeds, water, education, biodiversity and more – in front of a packed auditorium of thousands of representatives of Slow Food and Terra Madre food communities from around the world.DIVERSITY
“Terra Madre is the celebration of diversity. Of languages, cultures, colors and tastes. Diversity is essential for food security and the importance of food in our lives is clear… There was a time when humans used tens of thousands of vegetables, cereals but today we rely on just a few cereals. But now is not the time to complain. We must focus on going forward and promoting sustainable models.”
José Graziano Da Silva, Director-General of the FAO
SEEDS
“Life renews in seeds. Food begins with seeds. In India the word for seeds means ‘that from which life arises’. Today, the very source of life is being appropriated and privatized. A seed by its very nature gives. This apple seed doesn’t say “give me a royalty or I won’t give you the apple.” Seeds give back and that’s a problem for greed. A seed is not invented; it is millions of years of evolution, thousands of years of breeding. Every patent on a seed is a theft, it is biopiracy.”
Vandana Shiva, president and founder of Navdanya
EDUCATION
“Pleasure and justice must go hand in hand. The power of Slow Food is connecting the two. Pleasure and taste bring people together, bring people back to the table, establishing a new relationship with food and each other. In schools we can reach all children, and if we feed all children delicious wholesome sustainable food it can become a right for all and not just a privilege. We know the unrelenting forces of fast food nation are indoctrinating our children, and that’s why we need the universal and very-possible solution of an edible education.”
Alice Waters, chef and founder of the Edible Schoolyard Project
NETWORK
“Today we are here as one big family to celebrate what was started 20 years ago. What we have built takes dedication, time and working and thinking together. In Uganda we have managed to connect farmers, volunteers, traders, cooks, journalists, local leader, consumers, schools and so on to defend our agri-biodiversity, culinary traditions and values. A sustainable food chain necessarily involves many stakeholders and to defend it we must stay connected and continue building the Slow Food and Terra Madre network.”
Edward Mukiibi, Slow Food Mukono, Coordinator of Thousand Gardens in Africa project in Uganda
EARTH
“The earth has always been violated, misused and mistreated, but its voice never stops talking to us with passion. We love our earth, it’s the only thing that truly exists, producing baskets of sacred food that end up on tables of the world. The earth can be a huge wonderful garden, where we harvest the ideas of human knowledge. With respect, determination and creativity, this immense knowledge can ensure the earth offers not only the daily bread, but gives rise to dignity, freedom, quality, joy, for all living creatures.”
Carlos Vanegas Valdebenito, CET Expo Movil, Chile
WASTE
“If we managed to cut total food loss and waste by half we would have enough food to feed one billion more people, without having to increase production and without placing additional pressure on national resources... With hunger, the only number acceptable is zero.”
José Graziano Da Silva, Director-General of the FAO
WATER
“Water arrived on earth bringing us the gift of life. We, human beings, are organized water. Soil absorbs water as if a treasure, nourishing the countless other crops of the world’s biodiversity. Streams and rivers cross continents, finally reaching seas and lakes, and offer us resources. But once polluted, water is no longer a source of life but a carrier of poisons that cause diseases and kill. We can bring back life and ensure the source of life is pure again by cleaning up environments.”
Carmen Martinez, Coordinator of Slow Food Amaranth Presidium, Mexico
ENERGY
“Following the nuclear incident in our area and the resulting very high level of radiation, we have been looking for ways for food producers to save their land and products from the contamination. Nuclear policy could radically destroy principles at the basis of the Slow Food movement and we believe it is necessary to promote the use of alternative energies. It doesn’t make sense to use energy sources with high potential to pollute our environment and which destroys connections between people and food, life and our precious land.”
Yoko Sudo, Slow Food Fukushima, Japan
BIODIVERSITY
“In my region, the Balkan cultural and food biodiversity is the result of the wide variety of traditional agricultural practices and gastronomic heritages. The region is home to many old breeds and plant varieties. Facing globalization, intensification and industrialization of agriculture, demand has risen for animal products and livestock development, concentrated on very small number of breeds. This is something very very dangerous. Safeguarding rare breeds is also a tool for ensuring the future of communities. Only in this way and only together can we preserve agrobiodiversity for future generation and save these valuable genes.”
Ivanov Sergez, Stara Planina breeders food community, Serbia
CELEBRATION
“In these years, Terra Madre has been observed with curiosity, seen in terms of anthropology, folklore. No. This reality must be seen as a big political phenomenon. The politics of Terra Madre will come with serenity and celebration...This crisis won’t be overcome with sadness. At Terra Madre, politics has taken joy by the hand.”
Carlo Petrini, Slow Food International founder and president
I have mentioned slowfood.com at this blog frequently and posted on Vindana Shiva (see Seeds above) on several occasions.
Slow Themes
To read this page... the Slow food Education Manifesto ... go to the pdf magazine Slow Foods Almanac 2011 where pages or the whole magazine are able to be downloaded. Its a wonderful document of all aspects of the work of Slow Foods International. Artfully presented and comprehensive in its depth of focus.
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| Istanbul, TURKEY Genç Çevre Girişimi organized an event in their office in Istanbul, coming together to prepare Aşurem Bereketim their traditional dessert made from all natural fruits and cereals. |
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| Slow Food Magalies Valley, SOUTH AFRICA We celebrated Terra Madre Day with an Earth market where convivium members sold food products grown and processed in the valley, many with a Christmas theme. Products on sale included free-range pork and suckling pig, free-range chickens and geese, seasonal vegetables, preserves, smoked hams and local olive oil. All items were made seasonal produce grown in the valley, including artisanal beers. |
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| Slow Food Mauritius Launch of our Towards Organic Planting (TOP) workshop - to build knowledge about sustainable planting and local food production in the community to increase to food gardens in schools, communities, restaurants, hotels, companies and institutions. |
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| Merida, MEXICO |
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| Convivium Slow Food San Jose, Costa Rica An eco-gastro festival, with traditional foods, crafts and organic producers, was held at the Parque de Curridabat. |
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| Slow Food São Paulo, BRAZIL "Um dia de campo urbano" A day of urban foraging for food... |
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| Slow Food Jabotedabek, INDONESIA Purple rice, gudeg, noodle from ganyong, krecek and papaya leaf.
All images are from the Terre Madre Day 2012 celebrations shown on Facebook by Slow Food International. Read more on Terre Madre Day here.
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