Food Security

At this time when we experience, or know of, Happy Families that are enjoying the season and sharing traditional holiday meals, a Humanist ethical and compassionate consideration would naturally fall upon the inhumane inequities of homelessness and hunger; the story of those who are NOT invited to the bountiful tables. We will meet to discuss this inhumane inequity.

If you have personal knowledge of a family or a person who may not have access to a dinner on this occasion, please consider sharing? Invite them to attend this meeting, especially as the irony that we are comfortably meeting in a restaurant to discuss these issues, does not escape scrutiny.

The title of our discussion, Food Security, has multiple dimensions. Here follows a world focus statement from the United Nations:

The World Food Summit of 1996 defined food security as existing "when all people at all times have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life". Commonly, the concept of food security is defined as including both physical and economic access to food that meets people's dietary needs as well as their food preferences. "Food security is built on three pillars: 1) Food availability: sufficient quantities of food available on a consistent basis. 2) Food access: having sufficient resources to obtain appropriate foods for a nutritious diet. 3) Food use: appropriate use based on knowledge of basic nutrition and care, as well as adequate water and sanitation."

There are many other considerations, such as food propagation and harvesting. "Food Chains" is a current movie that explores the conditions and abuse of food workers. Another consideration is the intrusion of GMOs, and contamination of our water with fracking. We will have information from the Food & Water Watch (http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/) organization, and possibly a representative from this group.

Local practices that allow usable food to be wasted and destroyed will be discussed, with suggestions on how we as a Humanist group might be instrumental in making beneficial changes citywide or even statewide. Please bring your OWN information and bring your OWN experience for presentation to the group. All are welcome! Looking forward to sharing with you. Come join the discussion.

Please note that because this meeting is being held in a restaurant, food and adult beverage of your choice will be available for purchase.

For questions, call Beth Lamont at 914-588-5284 or e-mail HSMNY Executive Director Stephen James at info.hsmny@corliss-lamont.org .

Note: This HSMNY Chapter Meeting Announcement Notice can be found on the HSMNY Web site at http://bit.ly/1HJjJtu.

For additional reading:

Food Security (one-page PDF - 35,767 bytes)

http://www.corliss-lamont.org/hsmny/Food_Security_BKL_-_HSMNY_2014-12-04.pdf

UN Food Security (one-page PDF - 43,504 bytes)

http://www.corliss-lamont.org/hsmny/Food_Security_U-N_-_HSMNY_2014-12-04.pdf