Heading into Food Day — a national campaign for everyday people to take back control of their food, health, and environment– this coming Mon. (Oct. 24), we can’t help but think that more than ever before, there is potential for legislative impact. Coming off the heels of our $5 Challenge and this past weekend’s World Food Day—and with Congress’ Super Committee poised to greatly influence the 2012 Farm Bill by deciding where to cut funds for food and agriculture programs by their Nov. 23rd deadline—this is a big moment for the food movement.
For the first time since the 2008 Farm Bill, we have a clear pathway to government. Better yet, we have an opportunity to write a new chapter in America’s story of food and farming—where everyday people rally together to challenge Congress to do the right thing: to make food that’s good for consumers, good for producers, and good for the environment accessible and affordable for everyone, every day.
At the core of Food Day’s mission is a desire to fix America’s broken food system. As an official partner, Slow Food USA could not be more supportive of the day’s participants and their demands, which include:
- Reducing diet-related disease by promoting safe, healthy foods
- Supporting sustainable farms & limiting subsidies to big agribusiness
- Expanding access to food & alleviating hunger
- Protecting the environment & animals by reforming factory farms
- Promoting heath by curbing junk-food marketing to kids
- Supporting fair conditions for food and farm workers
It’s going to take each of us rolling up our sleeves to balance the currently unjust and unsustainable food system. The good news is that there are lots of us and lots of ways to keep the pressure on Congress. On Food Day, can send a message to Congress by signing on to the Eat Real agenda or by taking the $5 Challenge or by doing both! You can exercise your right to free speech and talk about the right to good food online or to the media. Many food activists across the country have even joined up with their local Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movements to protest injustices in the food system.. The tactics you choose are entirely up to you; the greater meaning is to believe that when everyday people take action together, we can make a difference with what ends up on each of our plates.
