2014 Food Week of Action World Food Day
From Andrew Kang Bartlett, National Hunger Concerns, PHP
Our faith calls us to work for a world where everyone has sufficient, healthy and culturally appropriate food! And those who produce and prepare the food are fairly compensated, respected and celebrated!
The Global Churches Week of Action on Food (October 12-19) is an opportunity for Christians and others around the world to act together for food justice and food sovereignty. It is a special time to raise awareness about farming approaches that help individuals and communities develop resiliency and combat poverty. We are called also to examine our food choices and call for policy changes that will ensure the right to food for everyone.
Food Week of Action – Sunday Oct. 12 through Sunday Oct. 19 – includes World Food Day (October 16) as well as the International Day for Rural Women (October 15) and the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (October 17). Look for the three 2014 ACTIONS now and during Food Week on pcusa.org/foodweek
RESILIENCY is the focus for this year’s Food Week of Action.
1. Resilient livelihoods, communities and relationships
2. Resilient farming production and food chains
3. Resiliency promoted through policy
Increasing resiliency brings food security, health and a sustainable future. To get there we pledge to support: food democracy; sustainable, agroecological food production; climate change adaptation; fair wages for food workers; fair prices for farmers; less food waste; policies that promote these goals!
2014 Priority Actions1) With Farmworkers! Urge the EPA to pass revised, strengthened Farmworker Protection Standards now. Go to bit.ly/wfd-epa2) With Family Farmers! No more secrecy around the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and Fast Track bit.ly/wfd-trade legislation so family farmers and democracy are not hurt.3) With Food Workers! Support the Fair Minimum Wage Act. bit.ly/wfd-wage4) For Climate Justice! Global Climate Negotiations coming in 2014 & 2015. Learn about climate & food/farm connections and join the Climate Justice movement ourpowercampaign.org. See pcusa.org/foodweek for climate education links.
Activity Ideas for the Food Week of Action
1. Worship. Organize a church service during the week. PHP’s own Bryce Wiebe has created the liturgy this year. Find it and other materials through http://bit.ly/foodweek2014. You can also draw from past worship materials available at pcusa.org/foodweek
2. Watch and learn: Check out the 11 videos people made for the Real Food Media contest- http://vimeo.com/user13324578. Also do a search for food + justice on youtube.com and see what you find.
3. Share your food story with a captioned photo, video or written social media post (e.g. YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook),using the hashtag #myfoodstory via @e_alliance and @presbyhunger.
4. Explore your faith and your food: Select a food-related biblical passage and share with your church study group or family what it means to you. See the curricula and faith-based Bible study guides on pcusa.org/foodweek
5. Get your hands in the dirt: Plan a church or family trip to your nearest farm to learn more about where your food comes from and the steps involved in getting what’s grown to your plate. Consider starting a community garden. How to and other ideas here: bit.ly/phpfoodfaith
6. Celebrate local foods and knowledge: Organize a community fair that showcases local food producers and shares the stories of farmers and people involved in food justice.
7. Eat what you preach: Organize a church or community dinner and encourage people to bring dishes prepared with local produce. If ingredients are not local, people can be encouraged to read food labels so that they know where their food is coming from. Labels for dishes can share the source of food, and conversation can be encouraged about changes seen in local food growing and buying, and why these changes have occurred.
Let us know what you are doing for World Food Day or the Food Week of Action by emailing . Thank you.
The PC(USA) is a member of Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, a broad international network of churches and Christian organizations cooperating in advocacy on two global campaigns – Food for Life and HIV/AIDS. EAA helps coordinate Food Week of Action globally. The Alliance is based in Geneva, Switzerland. See www.e-alliance.ch for more information.