[Week 11: Reflection]
“You contest and change things at a grassroots level and eventually get strong enough to manifest a shift at the community level, and then communities get strong enough that they force changes in policy at a governmental level and elect people to do so.”
- Debbie Field, Director of FoodShare (Wekerle 2004, p 385).
Movements are shaped by many different actors. As with other movements throughout U.S. history, the food justice movement operates on a number of different scales. Food activists espouse different ideologies and tactical interventions. Like the National Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) and the National Woman’s Party (NWP), or Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X, many movements comprise a more policy-oriented group trying to affect change within the existing system, as well as a more radical, direct action faction. Both are necessary for transforming society, as they push culture and politics from multiple levels.
The direct action piece is particularly important in keeping the issue at the forefront of public attention, which puts pressure on political parties to enact change. In particular, I’m interested in strategies that use an “opposite effect” or power-dismantling tactic to convey a message. For example, the Coupe Klutz Clowns in Knoxville, TN used nonviolent humor to dispel hate during a White Power rally (see the children’s book). The attendees of another KKK rally in Davidson, NC found themselves shouting to deserted streets, as the nearby shops and businesses closed and a competing event was intentionally organized during the hours of the rally. Likewise, mountaintop removal mining -- a practice that operates on efficiency -- becomes less appealing when tree sitters block or slow down the process.
Have there been any recent examples of direct action within the U.S. food movement? In other parts of the world, food is at the crux of current human rights movements. La Via Campesina is an interesting example within the food and farmers’ rights movement, because it utilizes both direct and indirect action. This multi-tiered strategic approach may contribute, in part, to its success. I also wonder if there’s a tipping point within a movement, in which people are moved to act with the realization that the issue (like women’s vote or civil equality) is a basic right. La Via Campesina’s draft of the Nyéléni Declaration advocates for a world in which “food sovereignty is considered a basic human right, recognised and implemented by communities, peoples, states, and international bodies.” Question for readers: Do you think people or institutions within the U.S. view food as a right? Can you think of any large scale, organized, rights-based food movement in this country, like La Via Campesina?
José Bové, on his way to jail for his 1999 destruction of a McDonalds in Millau, France. Bové: "It is not a person who is in prison, but a movement" (BBC News).
I like the comparisons you draw towards other social movements and the food movement. I agree that by keeping the food movement relevant and getting people aware of it will help cause the change needed. Nice post!
ReplyDeleteAfter completing a brief survey online of potential food movements within the U.S., I noticed there weren't any movements that were jumping out and demanding a change. Instead, the change appeared in articles tailored toward incremental and moderate changes. I think the news coverage has a tight grip on what subject matters are leaked out as well as large agribusinesses having so much monopolized power they can crush more radical food movements. Although this is quite cynical, the other option would be that no one has pushed for a food movement. Students know this has to be untrue given the simple fact of how many scholastic articles, statistics, and data have been completed on food and security, justice, health, environment.
ReplyDeleteThe wide reaching affects of how food and human interacts is a domino affect that spills over and into many other categories. Because it overlaps into so many things, its easy for people to forget its wide subtle, yet wide reaching affect. This causes the conclusion that Americans take food for advantage, especially with super grocery stores fully stocked and only a short car ride away.
To answer your question, Sara, I do not think the U.S and its current policies support food as a right, but I do think their food programs do however. It may sound complicated initially, but in short, the current policies that the U.S.D.A and FDA administers and enforces for food production and food manufacturing gives little food sovereignty to Americans(it's a given that food sovereignty is a right). On the other hand, I think programs like Food Stamps, WIC, SNAP, Voucher's, and School Lunches are great policies that support food as if it is indeed a right. Moreover, although the programs listed are mostly disbursed under entitlements, the fact that there are political officials and Americans out there that want to take away or significantly reduce those benefits among current beneficiaries its time to look at some of those programs as rights.
ReplyDeleteConcerning your second question, I cannot think of any organized food movement at that time. In abstract, it is more of a food wave that could better describe food's status in society. Cooking with raw ingredients and avoiding fast food is something that I am seeing increase among many of my peers, colleagues, and coworkers preferences. Furthermore, low-income and minorities have increased access to healthy resources which enables them to make wiser dietary choices than before.