When: Thursday April 30th.
Language: English
Speakers: Qiana Mickie, Just Food (North America); Judith Hitchman, Urgenci International and RIPESS
Special guest: Marcus Hill, RIPESS US Sen (North America).
Introduction
Humanity is facing one of the most serious and uncertain crises in recent history. The current globalization of the COVID-19 pandemic has allowed it to spread to all countries. Even remote populations are at risk, as are populations in war zones and those living in cramped conditions with poor hygiene such refugee camps, putting the lives of human beings at risk in an increasingly globalized world.
This webinar firstly addressed how the present crisis is affecting the right to food and food security from both producers and consumers points of view, and then to explore how the existing social solidarity economy can provide an important part of the answer. It is essential to break with the neoliberal existing commodification of food to do so and build legislation to support connecting farmers to markets. 54 states and other bodies now have some form of SSE legislation in place. How can we use this to better implement the right to food, in both formal and informal economies?
As expressed in RIPESS’ statement, the challenge we face is how to build an alternative model of development, driven by the needs of all peoples and communities around the world, and the protection of our planet. The window of opportunity is now open to accelerate the process, capitalise on the thousands of ingenious solutions being created within communities and make positive change permanent and global in all its diversity.
