World Food Day, October 16

World Food Day is today.  Food security is such an important global issue.  It’s important to us at AZIPL and our interfaith member congregations.  Why should we care?  Because the right to food is a basic human right.  The plight of the most vulnerable to hunger and malnutrition is well-documented.  As the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations states, “Climate is changing.  Food and agriculture must, too.” Check out their website, http://www.fao.org.  OXFAM America calls for us to “use your voice to help small-scale farmers lift themselves out of poverty” (http://oxfamamerica.org).  Also, check out http://worldfooddayusa.org.

It is vital we educate ourselves AND engage ourselves in this global food justice movement.  AZIPL is committed to raising awareness throughout the year within the interfaith community through collaboration with other food justice organizations.  We have shown the film, “Nourish” to a number of Valley congregations in the past 2 years.  Email us if you’d like to host a screening at your congregation. We’re happy to show up, copy of film in hand and ready to facilitate conversation afterwards!

AZIPL will have a booth at Phoenix Food Day on October 29. Stop by and talk with us.  On November 6, we will be sponsoring a “Just Food Storytelling” gathering.  Join us for stories and conversation.  There is much to be done!  Let us be those “voices” that raise the threats of climate change impacts on our “neighbors” around the globe, impacts that are being felt now and will only increase dramatically in future generations.

Continue to monitor our website for workshops, events and films on the topic, and send us details about your own own climate change events so we can share them on our website.

Patrick Grady