Atamanenko hosts Food Sovereignty forum Sunday at United Church
By Nelson Daily Staff
Alex Atamanenko, MP for BC Southern Interior is all set to welcome constituents to a series of public forums he has organized with others throughout the Riding on the topic of Food Sovereignty.
The first forum is set for the United Church in Nelson, Sunday from 7-9 p.m.
“I couldn’t be more pleased that Colleen Ross, Vice President of Policy for the National Farmers Union (NFU) has offered to share her wealth of stories and experience in international and national food movements alongside local presenters at each of the forums,” said Atamanenko.
“Colleen and the NFU work very closely with Via Campesina, a global small farmer organization fighting an epic battle against the world’s largest corporations for the right to have a say in their countries’ food policies.”
Other stops on the tour include Grand Forks (Monday), Oliver (Tuesday), Cawston (Wednesday) and Princeton (Thursday).
According to Atamanenko there are enormous barriers and challenges facing farmers and eaters in Canada and around the world to produce, trade and have access to healthy and sustainable food supplies.
“The solutions to these challenges are varied and often complex, but overcoming these barriers will rely on the intentional actions of informed citizens in each and every community,” said the BC Southern Interior MP.
“Under the current regime in Canada, there is really little hope of influencing policy that positively impacts small and medium sized farmers in a way that will rebuild our local food systems,” said Ross.
“For this reason, we must organize more strategically at the grassroots levels – forming partnerships with each other here in Canada and with our allies abroad so that change for the good happens globally, not just locally.”
Ross went on to stress that every person involved in the food sovereignty movement can help to make a huge difference by getting more people to join in the struggle.
“This will quicken the pace and impact for a better future for food, farmers and society as a whole.”
Atamanenko is inviting everyone to an evening of inspiring discussion.
The rest of the locations include:
· March 18 – United Church – 602 Silica St., Nelson
· March 19– Senior Citizens Hall – 565-71st Ave., Grand Forks
· March 20– Elks Club – 9725-360th Ave., Oliver
· March 21– Cawston Hall – 2119 Main St., Cawston
· March 22– Princeton Legion – 172 Bridge St., Princeton
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