OXFAM takes on biggest food conglomerates

Oxfam thanks food industry for ‘bland’ and ‘complacent’ response to damning CSR report.

Oxfam will step up its campaign to improve the treatment of people and resources that form part of the supply chain of the world’s biggest food conglomerates, after it cast industry responses to its damning Behind the Brands  report as ‘bland’ and ‘complacent’. 

Oxfam: World's Largest Food Companies Creating Legacy of Destruction 

The world's largest food and beverage companies may be profitable, but according to Oxfam International their practices are helping to destroy not only the natural resources that support a global food system but the lives of the people they depend on most: their employees and their customers.

Trade is More Crucial Than Aid For Development.

Good African coffee also a good African story:
 It has been nearly a decade since Andrew Rugasira came up with a plan to streamline sales between Ugandan coffee growers and British supermarkets in an effort to show that trade is more crucial than aid for development. Tim Adams visits with Rugasira, who recently wrote a book on his Good African coffee company project, to assess what has worked and what hasn't. The Observer (London)(2/16) 

A not-so good African story: 
If trade is good for development, the question must be asked: "When will the developed countries stop 'dumping "chicken legs"' on developing countries at reduced prices that prevent developing countries farmers from selling their "chicken legs" at a price that will sustain their farm and family? 
(The "free trade agreement" has benefited U.S. exports.) 

"Chasing Ice"

Looking for exciting YouTube pictures?  Pull up "Chasing Ice" or "Calving Glaciers." 
http://www.commondreams.org/video/2012/11/27-0

Commission of Social Development

February found me attending the UN Commission's meeting. The purpose of this commission is to focus on PEOPLE "to make the conquest of poverty, the goal of full employment and the fostering of social integration overriding objectives of development." Put in other words, this commission articulates the VALUES that must be part of any UN activities. 

The Fifty-First Session of the Commission for Social Development convened at the United Nations in New York, from February 5 - 15. The priority theme for this year is "Promoting empowerment of people in achieving poverty eradication, social integration and full employment and decent work for all". 

This YouTube video will take you to the Commission's meeting. 

Global Movement For A Culture of Peace

The new culture, the new civilization, the new world

With each of our simple acts of goodwill and with each of us working actively with the principles of unity and goodwill in our lives, we’re creating together a future of peace and progress for the whole human race. We are rising together. We’re consuming less and creating more. We’re sharing more. We’re creating cooperatives. We’re creating community.We’re creating new ways to share and to tend to and to care for each other. We’re creating right relationship. We’re creating a culture of heart.

Article 8 of the UN Declaration says: “a key role in the promotion of a culture belongs to parents, teachers, politicians, journalists, religious bodies and groups, intellectuals, those engaged in scientific, philosophical and creative and artistic activities, health and humanitarian workers, social workers, managers at various levels as well as to non-governmental organizations.” 

For more information: http://www.gmcop.org/global-movement/ 

Foods That Will Sustain You Into the 21st Century

Click to view 
http://www.trust.org/alertnet/blogs/photo-blog/photo-essay-preserving-global-crop-diversity/#.UQ_PLYwj7Xg.email

There Is Something You Can Do

UNEP Tackles the Problem of Food Waste with "Think Eat Save" Campaign

Food waste is a terrible problem – a 1.3 billion tons a year problem – according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Globally, about one-third of all food produced ($1 trillion worth) is lost or wasted.
“In a world of seven billion people, set to grow to nine billion by 2050, wasting food makes no sense – economically, environmentally and ethically,” said UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner  

Check out this site to read what you can do.