cfielding’s Recent Comments

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  Claire, I feel that you've failed to realize the intent of films such as The Cove.  This film has been produced to spread to the broader community not only the malice enacted upon these dolphins, but also to tell a story about lies, secrecy, fear, manipulation, etc.  If it weren't an engaging story, I hate to say it, few people would care.  Focusing on the Rambo mission is part of that story and needs to be told so as to boost sales and spread the message ever further. 

  -Clay

  On 'The Cove' pulls no punches in documenting Japanese dolphin hunt posted 2 months, 2 weeks ago 1 Response

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  Local collaboration is needed

  More collaboration is needed at the local level to ensure that local food can get to the consumer.  Part of this has to do with educating the public on what is out there (CSA's, farmers markets, using labeling), but other times people don't have access to these outlets or have little interest in going out to the farm to get their food.  So, funding is needed for these small farmers and producers to help them compete with big ag in retail shops as well.  Without funding for small farms (either subsidies or tax breaks) these local farms will continually be bought up by the big food giants.  I agree we need to take action into our own hands and eat more sustainably and locally, but not everyone has the luxury of spending more time and money in getting and preparing food for their families.  We need more equity and access.

   Food Policy Councils have been popping up in many corners of the U.S.  These are local entities that help bring together many local forces to improve the community food system.  They can help farmers markets to get started, provide workshops for beginning farmers, help improve the chances of low income residents in getting local food (WIC and foodstamps accepted at farmers markets), initiating farm-to-school programs, etc.  One that is pretty impressive is the Missoula County Community and Agriculture Coalition at: http://www.missoulacfac.org/  One way that these entities fail apart or are hindered is a lack of funding.  It seems though that with federal funding, these community organizations could really do more work.  A federal program that funded these local "Departments of Food" would be a great way to ensure that federal agencies and big agribusiness are not so in control of local resources.  A cookie cutter program aimed at improving local food systems will by no means solve local food issues.  They must be personal, small, and local in order to meet the needs of local community members.

  So, thank you Tom and everyone else who is working for a more equitable food system.  On Think locally, act infrastructurally posted 10 months ago 15 Responses

• Click here to view comment in original post

  Local collaboration is needed

  More collaboration is needed at the local level to ensure that local food can get to the consumer.  Part of this has to do with educating the public on what is out there (CSA's, farmers markets, using labeling), but other times people don't have access to these outlets or have little interest in going out to the farm to get their food.  So, funding is needed for these small farmers and producers to help them compete with big ag in retail shops as well.  Without funding for small farms (either subsidies or tax breaks) these local farms will continually be bought up by the big food giants.  I agree we need to take action into our own hands and eat more sustainably and locally, but not everyone has the luxury of spending more time and money in getting and preparing food for their families.  We need more equity and access.

   Food Policy Councils have been popping up in many corners of the U.S.  These are local entities that help bring together many local forces to improve the community food system.  They can help farmers markets to get started, provide workshops for beginning farmers, help improve the chances of low income residents in getting local food (WIC and foodstamps accepted at farmers markets), initiating farm-to-school programs, etc.  One that is pretty impressive is the Missoula County Community and Agriculture Coalition at: http://www.missoulacfac.org/  One way that these entities fail apart or are hindered is a lack of funding.  It seems though that with federal funding, these community organizations could really do more work.  A federal program that funded these local "Departments of Food" would be a great way to ensure that federal agencies and big agribusiness are not so in control of local resources.  A cookie cutter program aimed at improving local food systems will by no means solve local food issues.  They must be personal, small, and local in order to meet the needs of local community members.

  So, thank you Tom and everyone else who is working for a more equitable food system.  On Think Locally, Act Infrastructurally posted 10 months ago 14 Responses