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Food For Life: Food campaign bulletin no. 2 / 2009

15. December 2009

World Food Summit Highlights Continued

Food Crisis

On 16-18 November, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) organized
a World Food Summit to address the global food insecurity situation that has
worsened and continues to represent a serious threat for humanity.
EAA was well represented at the Summit and the Civil Society Forum by ICCO,
Bread for All, Bread for the World, CIDSE, Canadian Foodgrains Bank, FECCIWA,
Tearfund and EED. Ms Carolin Callenius, from Bread for the World and
a member of the EAA’s Food Strategy Group, coordinated the EAA members at
the Summit.

The three-day summit ended after committing the international community to
investing more in agriculture and to achieve Millennium Development Goal
1 on eradicating hunger by 2015. However, measurable targets and specific
deadlines which would have made it easier to monitor implementation were
lacking in the outcomes.

Pope Benedict XVI speaks at the World Food Summit
Pope Benedict XVI addressed leaders at the summit, emphasizing that the
right to food has an important place within the pursuit of the universal rights
of all human beings, beginning with the fundamental right to life. He called
for solidarity with poor countries and involvement of local communities to
promote sustainable agricultural development.

Read his full address on: www.e-alliance.ch/en/s/food/rtf/

EAA advocacy ahead of the summit
In advance of the Summit, many preparations and meetings were done by EAA
and its members. CIDSE (http://www.cidse.org/PressMedia/?id=39), a member of
EAA in collaboration with APRODEV developed a Briefing Paper with recommendations
to the EU for the Summit (http://cidse.nvisage.uk.com/uploadedFiles/Publications/
Publication_repository/A-CIDSE%20APRODEV%20Recommendation%20
FINAL%20280909.pdf). The same recommendations were shared by EAA with the
Coordinator of the United Nations High Level Task Force on the Global Food Crisis,
Dr David Nabarro, during the teleconference held on 5 November 2009.

The EAA Food Campaign Coordinator, Angeline Munzara participated in the
Food Security Network e-discussion. The results of the online discussion provided
input to the background paper of the Summit, in particular by referring
to the International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development
(IAASTD) conclusions. The WFS Background paper can be found
at: www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/wsfs/Summit/WSFS_Issues_ papers/
WSFS_Feeding_the_World_Eradicating_Hunger.pdf The complete proceedings
of this discussion can be downloaded at km.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/
fsn/docs/PROCEEDINGS_How_to_Feed_the_Worldin_2050.doc

The EAA endorsed the Food Governance and Civil Society Call to support the
Reform of the Committee on Food Security (CFS) that was submitted at the Civil
Society Forum (14-16 November). The Declaration of the Civil Society Organizations
to the WFS can be read at www.e-alliance.ch/en/s/food/rtf/

In addition, the EAA sent a letter with over 45 signatures collected from both
EAA food and HIV/AIDS contacts to the FAO Director calling for the respect of the
right to food, just production and consumption of food. The letter and the response
from FAO can be read under Recent Events and Actions at: www.ealliance.
ch/en/s/food/.

Meetings with the United Nations High Level Task Force on the Global Food Crisis (UNHLTF)

A letter sent by the EAA to the United Nations Secretary-General has led to a
working relationship with the United Nations High Level Task Force on the Global
Food Crisis (UNHLTF). Meetings and advocacy in advance of the World Food
Summit focused on sharing information and documents. The next meeting of
the HLTF will be held on 18 December 2009.

The United Nations Comprehensive Framework of Action is available in Arabic,
Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish at (http://www.un-foodsecurity.
org/). You can also read the progress report describing the overall impact of the
work undertaken by the High Level Task Force since its establishment.

US Presbyterians Call for Monthly Fasting

The Presbyterian Church (USA), an EAA member, has developed monthly fast
materials on the global food crisis and calls upon everyone to act in solidarity
to address global food insecurity. Fasting materials up to September 2010 are
available on-line at: www.pcusa.org/foodcrisis7archive7index.htmThe
conference will take place in Vienna, Austria, 18-23 July 2009.

WTO Ministerial Conference Continues Efforts on Doha Round

The Seventh Session of the WTO Ministerial Conference was
held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 30 November to 2 December
2009. EAA members including Economic Justice Network
of FOCCISA, Lutheran World Federation, Bread for All, Norwegian
Church Aid, Church of Sweden and Trocaire attended
the conference.

The general theme for discussion at the conference was
“The WTO, the Multilateral Trading System and the Current
Global Economic Environment”. The main objective was
to review the WTO’s activities and discuss its role in aiding
recovery from the global economic crisis. There was strong
convergence on the importance of trade and the Doha Round
to economic recovery and poverty alleviation in developing
countries. The development dimension was said to continue
to remain central to the Round and that particular attention
should be paid to issues of importance to developing countries.
Ministers reaffirmed the need to conclude the Round in
2010 and for a stock-taking exercise to take place in the first
quarter of next year. Read more on: www.e-alliance.ch
en/s/food/sustainable-production/ and visit www.eed.
de/de/de.col/de.col.d/de.sub.20/de.sub.news/index.html to
view EED interviews with the majority of Southern Partners
working on WTO trade matters.

The EAA sent a letter with over 46 organizational signatures
to Pascal Lamy, WTO Director-General and Ambassador Mario
Matus, General Council Chair ahead of the 7th Ministerial
Conference calling upon WTO members to respect the right to
food as enshrined in human rights instruments. The final letter
and response from Pascal Lamy can be viewed at: www.ealliance.
ch/en/s/food/

Report on confronting the global food challenge launched

A new book, “The Global Food Challenge” was launched in Geneva
on 30 November during the WTO Ministerial by the EAA,
FoodFirst Information and Action Network (FIAN), and the Institute
for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP). The book draws
from the 2008 conference on Confronting the Global Food
Challenge to highlight the need for a fundamental reshaping of
international trade and investment rules to put human rights,
particularly the right to adequate food, at the centre of economic
and development policy. Over 35 people attended the
side event. For more information please visit: www.e-alliance.
ch/en/s/food/sustainable-production/the-rights-approachto-
trade-rules-real-solutions-to-the-global-food-challenge/


Let the bells ring for climate justice!

The Conference on Climate Change is currently taking place in
Copenhagen. Churches all over the world joined together with
the churches in Denmark on 13 December by ringing bells for
climate justice. Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Caritas Internationalis,
DanChurchAid and CIDSE are among EAA members
who attended the conference. LWF General Secretary, Rev. Ishmael
Noko, called on states participating at Copenhagen to reach
a fair, equitable and legally binding agreement to achieve the target
of a 40 percent reduction of developed country CO2 emissions
by 2020.

Archbishop Tutu handed over half a million signatures (www.
danchurchaid.org/) calling for climate justice to Yvo de Boer, executive
secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change. Sound recording: bit.ly/DesmondTutuAndYvoDeBoerCOP15.
Worship resources are still available at:
www.e-alliance.ch/en/s/food/food-and-climate-change/

There is no Plan B on Climate Change: Appeal from Pax Christi International

On 10 November 2009, Pax Christi International, a member of
EAA issued an interfaith appeal on the occasion of the United Nations’
Climate Change Conference (COP15) in Copenhagen. The
statement called upon political leaders, communities of faith, and
all people of good will to acknowledge the common danger we
face, accept responsibility for immediate and decisive action, and
embrace this opportunity to change. Read the statement at http://
storage.paxchristi.net/2009-0789-en-gl-HS.pdf

Canadian Foodgrains Update on Food Security and Climate Change

As part of its Food Justice Updates, the Canadian Foodgrains
Bank released Food Security and Climate Change. Canadian
Foodgrains Bank, a member of EAA calls for a treaty that is fair
for all, one that benefits the most vulnerable people in society.
Read the full update on: www.foodgrainsbank.ca/food_
justice_updates.aspx

Britain bins £12bn of food and drink every year, report reveals
More than £12bn worth of food and drink that could have
been consumed is thrown out every year by householders,
according to new figures that reveal the scale of the UK’s
food waste mountain (The Guardian, Monday, 9 November
2009). The cost of the avoidable food and drink waste is typically
£480 per household per year and rising to around £680
a year for families with children.

To read more on the study please visit: www.guardian.
co.uk/environment/2009/nov/09/britain-food-drink-waste-figures

Resources

A Community Guide to Environmental Health
This book contains chapters on community food security, facts about genetically engineered food, health and medical advice in regards to pesticides and sustainable farming methods. It is available for purchase or free download at www.hesperian.org. The book is also available in CD format. To order, email Ingrid Hawkinson at Ingrid@hesperian.org or visit the website. A Spanish translation will be available in spring 2010.

Video on Stop Gambling on Hunger
Learn about market deregulations and its impact on hunger by watching a video from the Association for Latin America and Economic Justice at www.stopgamblingonhunger.com.

7 Weeks of Finding the Divine in Hunger
This new resource complements the Fast for Change: 7 Days of Food for the Soul (http://www.fastforchange.ca/uploads/resource_booklet.pdf ). The booklet provides bible studies, prayers, reflection questions and advocacy actions and can be viewed here: www.fastforchange.ca/uploads/F4C-Companion.pdf.

Sharing Food, Christian Practices for Enjoyment
This book by L. Shannon Jung offers an understanding of how food, feasting and fasting function culturally today and how this figures very practically in Christian lifestyle. ‘Sharing Food’ will cause readers to be more mindful of how they relate to food as a gift from God. The book sells for $16 and can be ordered at: www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0800637925/ref=nosim/librarythin08-20

God, Creation and Climate Change
This resource is part of the Lutheran World Federation’s overall strategy on the challenges posed by climate change. View the book at: www.lutheranworld.org/What_We_Do/DTS/Programs/DTS-Climate_Change-web.pdf

Subscribe to African Agroecological Alternatives to the Green Revolution
The newsletter welcomes news editorials that are promoting sustainable agricultural methods. Sign up to receive your own newsletter on https://www.thedatabank.com/dpg/199/personal2.asp?formid=aaagrrrr

Rethinking Public Policy in Agriculture: Lessons from History, Distant and Recent
The article discusses the history of a wide range of agricultural policies concerning issues in 11 developed countries. It ends by discussing the policy lessons that may be learned from these historical experiences. The full article can be downloaded for free for a limited period of time: www.informaworld.com/smpp/title~db=all~content=g916400439








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