What will we occupy next?

I just love "occupy the pasture". Why not stage your own demo, reflecting your own economic justice values, in the case of the Larson family in Nebraska, growing their own food to take a stand against corporate agriculture.

http://www.grist.org/food/2011-10-21-occupy-the-pasture

Now, how about Occupy the Vineyard to protest mono-cropping here?

World Food Day is Sunday

and today I am all about food.

I attended our local Food Policy Committee meeting this morning, am working on a sermon and some handouts for Sunday, and about to head out to buy some local cheese for coffee hour and a swing by the community garden, bringing in more tomatoes.

In my preoccupation I may forget to post something in the next few days. Here's a video from the Institute on the Environment, Global Land Initiative, University of Minnesota, that provides a good snapshot of the world's food system.

after much work

the product of the working group on food and environment of the Episcopal Committee on Science, Technology and Faith is finally up.

http://episcopalscience.org/resources/food-systems

A free downloadable booklet, just in time for Food Day.

but not to the South Pacific

I'm referring in the title for this post to the entry below - about moving.

Water supplies have run out in Tuvalu and Tokelau. The drought which precipitated (ouch!)this situation is the result of an El Nina effect in the Pacific. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-15163543
But the situation is exacerbated by climate change. As sea levels rise, groundwater sources become saline. http://www.theworld.org/2011/10/an-island-nation-with-no-drinking-water/

Welcome to the world some people don't believe in and others think we can still head off.
While not strictly a food issue, the agriculture practiced in island nations is becoming threatened by the lack of fresh water.

Meanwhile, Samoa has begun rationing. And did you know that there are people in Fiji without access to potable water? Think about that when you see those square bottles on market and convenience store shelves.

What's the good news this St. Francis Day?

Perhaps I'll move to Detroit...

but then I think about the cold, damp winters, and I wonder if that would be such a good idea. Still, this story on Sunday's weekend edition
http://www.npr.org/2011/10/02/140903516/the-gift-of-detroit-tilling-urban-terrain
about urban farming there warmed my heart.

Out of the ashes at the heart of America's notsogreat depression, comes the biggest boom in urban farming.

I do wonder what difference small scale farming in the city has made to the chronically poor and food insecure who live there, and would like to see more of the justice dimensions covered by the media - but still, this is hopeful.

And they have a pretty good ball team. Go Tigers!