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Lord! Give enough that the needs of this family are met,
So that I don't go hungry, and neither does the mendicant.
~ Kabir, 15th century mystic and poet
India is famous for its amazing variety of food, range of
crops and myriad preparations. Perhaps more precious is the
Indian cultural perspective of food not as a commodity but
as a life-giver for all, indeed as a form of the divine: annam
parabrahma svarupam. To feed an unexpected guest is an honour.
The farmer, regarded as annadata or giver of food, is not
simply someone who makes a living out of cultivation; just
as a scientist is a symbol of learning, of technical advancement,
not just someone who works for pay in a laboratory.
To raise awareness about the struggling farmers, AID volunteers
around the world held candlelight vigils on October 2, 2007
the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi which brought together over
3000 people across the world. AID volunteers pledged to support
possible solutions with grassroots partners, through changes
in public policy and in our own lives.
And then there are choices that are personal but could be
just as significant. Do we know who grows, harvests, packs,
transports and markets the food we eat daily? What do they
earn? What do they eat? Do they have homes? How far does our
food travel? How much fuel is used in transport and cooling?
Are we fooled by the cosmetics that give it a "fresh"
look at journey's end? These questions highlight our power
as consumers to tilt the market away from vegetables steeped
in pesticides, waxed fruits, and legumes coated with metanil
yellow, towards organically grown vegetables, low-input grains,
fairly traded to give the farmer a takehome wage rather than
mounting debt. Can we exercise this power? What if our common
humanity depends on it?
Wishing you peace and joy in 2009, we welcome you to join
AID. Let us make a difference together.
We hope this calendar helps
more of us become cognizant of the issues, and connect at
a deeper level.
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