whyhungerconnect

[whyhungerconnect]

The fact is, Monsanto’s seeds produce very little actual food. Its genetically altered corn is grown primarily for animal feed, ethanol, and food additives such as high-fructose corn syrup. Monsanto has increased the amount of raw agricultural material, but it has done little to decrease hunger or improve the world’s food supply. Even with more than 420 million acres of genetically engineered crops planted to date, the number of those going hungry worldwide has increased–to the unconscionable total of one billion today. Read more.

[whyhungerconnect]

Monsanto Wins the World Food Prize?

Read about it here.

[whyhungerconnect]

Confused About the Farm Bill? Let’s Clarify

…and don’t miss the details about Rep. Steve King’s (R-IA) amendment to kill State GE Labeling Initiatives. Not to mention the House version also cuts $20 billion in Food Assistance.

Farm Bill Heads to Senate and House Floors There are some significant differences between the House and the Senate versions, in both what their bills actually contain and in the process used to get them through the committee. http://ecowatch.com/2013/farm-bill-heads-to-senate-and-house-floors/

[whyhungerconnect]

As the farm bill approved by the Agriculture Committee last week reaches the Senate floor Monday afternoon, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) will be a few hours into an experiment: eating for a week on the meager food budget afford by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Murphy announced on Twitter that he would take the SNAP Challenge, which is the brainchild of the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC).

That means Murphy will be eating on a few dollars per day, as his colleagues debate a measure that would cut $4 billion from the SNAP budget over the next decade. Murphy is using the $3 per day allowance FRAC and allies recommended in 2007 guidelines for lawmakers interested in the challenge, although government data shows the program averaged about $4.40/daynationwide in fiscal year 2012.

[whyhungerconnect]

TAKE ACTION!

This is the future of our food that Congress is talking about. Don’t let them do it in secret–we have to let them know we’re paying attention!!

[whyhungerconnect]

Poem for May Day -  James Connolly 1907

Some, faint-hearted, ever seek Our programme to retouch, And will insist, whene’er they speak That we demand too much. ’Tis passing strange, yet I declare Such statements give me mirth, For our demands most moderate are: We only want the earth.

via Coalition of Resistance

[whyhungerconnect]

Nominations are now open for the 2013 Food Sovereignty Prize!

In honoring those who are taking back their food systems, the Food Sovereignty Prize champions solutions coming from those most impacted by the injustices of the global food system. Spread the word and nominate an amazing organization today: Visit www.foodsovereigntyprize.org for more information.

[whyhungerconnect]

What are YOU growing this season?

[whyhungerconnect]

WhyHunger Chapin Awards Dinner invitations are hitting mailboxes across the country! Join us in celebrating legendary artist and activist Yoko Ono Lennon, Patrick Sullivan and RightsFlow by Google and the amazing grassroots winners of the Harry Chapin Self-Reliance Awards. For info, sponsorships and tickets, visit www.whyhunger.org/events. See you there!

[whyhungerconnect]

Now THIS is great!

Abigail Stauffer “We are Never Ever Eating Bad Together” Taylor Swift Remix (by RapForFoodJustice)

[whyhungerconnect]

Happy Earth Day!

What are you going to do to help the Earth?

[whyhungerconnect]

Now THAT'S action!!

Peru Bans Monsanto and GMOs!!!!

[whyhungerconnect]

Congratulations to our friends at Little Village Environmental Justice Organization! They are also one of WhyHunger's 2013 Harry Chapin Self-Reliance Award winners. Nice job, Kim!

Kim Wasserman One of Six Grassroots Heroes to Win $150,000 Goldman Environmental Prize

2013 recipients come from Colombia, Indonesia, Iraq, Italy, South Africa and USA

The Prize recognizes achievements in marshland restoration, solid waste management; fighting fracking, marble mining, and...

[whyhungerconnect]

When it’s suggested that our food system be comprised of millions of small, organic gardens, there’s almost always someone who says that it isn’t realistic. And they’ll quip something along the lines of, “There’s no way you could feed the world’s growing population with just gardens, let alone organically.” Really? Has anybody told Russia this?

On a total of 8 million hectares (20 million acres) of land, 35 million Russian families grow food in small-scale, organic gardens on their Dachas (a secondary home, often in the extra urban areas). Because growing your own food happens to be a long-lived tradition in Russia, even among the wealthy.

Based on official 1999 statistics, 92% of Russia’s potatoes, 77% of its vegetables, 87% of its fruits, 59.4% of its meat, and 49.2% of its milk were produced by these 35 million Dacha families (105 million people, 71% of the country’s population).

[whyhungerconnect]

Take action for justice in America’s tomato fields! IJM President Gary Haugen recently joined faith and justice leaders from around the country in signing his name to a special ‘Letter of Conscience’ to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack. We are asking Sec. Vilsack to help lead the U.S. Government in upholding the Fair Food Program by committing the USDA to purchase only fair food tomatoes. Add your name with Gary Haugen’s today! 

[whyhungerconnect]

Here's to hoping you're feeling Up Beet today!

beets by gemma correll on Flickr.

[whyhungerconnect]

Wondering what food sovereignty looks like? Here are some of the people working to make it a reality at the 2nd US Food Sovereignty Alliance Assembly.