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Food Is A Human Right.

© Bob Ewing

I have reprinted this article from 2000 to provide context to our ongoing discussion about food and hunger. It is not possible to mend a problem until you understand the root cause of that problem. This article is meant to aid that understanding and therefore worth repeating.

The Vernal Equinox has just passed and fall as offically arrived. We are moving towards the darkest time of the year, yet it is also a time of celebration and light. A time when far too many people suffer due to hunger and poverty. We can make a difference.

The Winter Holiday Season is an ideal time to stop and ask yourself, this question: What type of world do I want to live in? Do I want a world where all life lives in harmony, where wealth is shared and all are prosperous? Or do I want a world where everything is in conflict where competition rules and all are prey?

In 1948, the United Nations, created a document that provides the foundation for discussion and action that can address these questions. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was born on December 10, 1948.

For our purpose we will look at Article 25 of this Declaration:

Article 25 Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control. Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance.

As you see the right to food is guaranteed. How has your country lived up to this guarantee? Is your country even a signatory to this Declaration, or has it refused to add its name? How can we as citizens, ensure that all who live within our community are guaranteed sufficient food? I believe that the first step is to recognize food as a right then design the food delivery system that will acknowledge this right. Community gardens, community kitchens, and community shared agriculture programs are good places to begin.

You may want to neighboursyour neighbours and look at community food production. Community food production has economic spin-offs and we will begin to explore these in future articles. A food co-operative may help reduce food want in your community as well as generating some cash.

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