Submitted by caitlin on Wed, 02/06/2013 - 11:29
by Ed Yowell
photo source: policymic.com
For a lot of folks, 2012 was not much of a year. New York City and environs suffered Hurricane Sandy, which may have convinced a few more of us about climate change and certainly demonstrated to all of us the fragility of our local food distribution systems. Farmers and ranchers suffered the worst drought in more than half a century and devastating frosts. They also suffered the 112th Congress, that, for the first time in the 75 year history of the Food and Farm Bill, failed to renew it, letting the 2008 bill lapse in September, 2012. The 112th Congress, according to the Washington Post, was the least productive in more than 60 years and, according to the Huffington Post , “ended 2012 with a 15 percent average approval rating -- its lowest in history (and) began 2013 with a 14 percent approval rating.” The Huffington Post continued, “...Public Policy Polling found that Congress was less liked than genocidal warlord Genghis Khan (and) cockroaches…”
Submitted by caitlin on Sat, 09/29/2012 - 13:55
A GMO Knockout?
by Ed Yowell
photo courtesy of Millions Against Monsanto
9/30/12
Know Your GMOs
Genetically Engineered (GE) foods, a.k.a. GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) or GM foods, are foods, meat and plants, modified through genetic engineering. Although we have genetically modified animals for thousands of years, we did it through classical, selective breeding, over decades and even centuries. Now, technology enables the transfer of genetic material from one organism to another to create different, ostensibly desirable, variations. GMO foods are a source of continuing controversy about their long-term effects on; humans, wildlife, and our food chain (http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/genetically-modified-GM-foo...).
Submitted by caitlin on Tue, 07/03/2012 - 13:50
Date: Saturday, July 7, 2012
Time: 10:30 am
Location: Union Square Park Pavilion (North End of Union Square, across from Barnes and Noble)
Food insecurity is as high as it's ever been in New York City. Obesity and other diet related diseases are costing our health system millions of dollars. And right now the Food and Farm Bill, the single biggest influence on the food supply in our country, is being negotiated in Congress. Come learn and join the discussion about what's happening right now and how it affects health and hunger in New York City and the country.
Sponsored by Greenmarket and the NYC Food and Farm Bill Working Group
With guest speakers:
- Hannah Lupien, West Side Campaign Against Hunger
- Theresa Powell, NYC Campaign Against Hunger
- Elyse Powell, New York Academy of Medicine
Submitted by caitlin on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 14:57
by Challey Comer
Photo: Cross River Resevoir, courtesy of @JoshDickPhoto.com
Conservation programs that benefit rural farmers impact urban residents of New York City (NYC) by way of watershed management for the City’s water supply. The NYC Watershed, a system of 19 reservoirs and 3 controlled lakes spanning from the lower Hudson Valley to the northern Catskills, utilizes programs within the Conservation Title of the Farm Bill through a public-private partnership. The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) partners with the Watershed Agricultural Council (Council), a nonprofit organization located in the NYC Watershed. The Council works with over 1,000 landowners in an eight-county region to implement conservation practices that protect the City’s drinking water quality. For nearly 20 years, the Council has offered voluntary programs to farmers and forest landowners with funding support from DEP and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Submitted by gabrielle on Mon, 02/06/2012 - 19:37
by Mark Dunlea
1/10/12
The Food and Farm Bill is up for renewal, something that occurs about once every five years. The Farm Bill is how the federal government sets overall food and agricultural policy for the country…to a great extent it determines what we eat and how it is produced. Until recently, the Farm Bill was on a fast track, slated to be passed in December as part of the late Super Committee process. Leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, arguing that they understood the needs of rhe farming community, undertook proposing $23 billion in Farm Bill Ag budget cuts over ten years to help meet the nation’s deficit reduction goals.
Submitted by Jane Shuput on Tue, 04/07/2009 - 15:22
Farmers, community groups, researchers, government and UN partners gathered Monday April 6th 2009 to address the Global Food Crisis and the Right to Food. Read NYC community gardener Ceci Charles-King's closing statement below and learn more about the UN Commission on Sustainable Development by visiting www.sustainablefoodmonitor.org. You can also watch a recorded video from the UN meeting on utube .
Submitted by Jane Shuput on Thu, 10/09/2008 - 15:21
When: World Food Day, Thursday, October 16th, 2008 at 7 PM
Where: Great Hall of Cooper Union, 7 E. 7th Street (at 3rd Ave.), New York City Cost: Free (suggested donation at the door)
RSVP (encouraged): whyevents@whyhunger.org. Seating is first come, first served.
As U.S. food pantries face long lines and empty shelves while food protests rock the globe, it is clear that we are in the midst of a food crisis at home and abroad. The crisis is long in the making, yet even as it hits both headlines and wallets, it has been largely ignored by the current administration and the presidential candidates. In response, food, farm, labor, and justice organizations from across the US are joining together to call on our leaders to address the roots of the problem.
