<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for Via video, Italian official announces Slow Food will have a G8 audience]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by Steph Larsen http://www.grist.org/article/terra-madre-notes-shiva-to-address-the-g8/ Mon, 03 Nov 2008 12:42:55 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/terra-madre-notes-shiva-to-address-the-g8/1 Co-opting the message

I had a slightly different take on the disapproval of the crowd during the politician's talk.

I understood the unrest to be not just about the G8's reaction to the food crisis, but to food and farming as a whole as it currently exists. The economic policies of the WTO and IMF have driven farmers off the land and into starvation. Instead of growing food to sustain themselves, they are largely exploited by unfair trade agreements.

I thought this was why people were angry, and it was because of the injustices perpetuated by the G8 that caused many to rise in protest.

I could be wrong though...it was pretty noisy in there.

My greater concern, though, was Carlo Petrini's response. I thought he stepped dangerously close to losing some trust by suggesting that Slow Food present to the G8 and scolding people who protested the speech. People have a right to disagree with the G8, and he said he understood that. What he failed to recognize however is that by accepting an invitation to speak at the G8, Slow Food opens its new-found political and food justice messages being co-opted.

I have a lot of faith in Vandana Shiva, whom Patrini said may have a chance to speak to the G8. In a workshop at Terra Madre, she said (and I'm paraphrasing) to only make alliances where you do not have to compromise your principles. I couldn't agree more.

I wonder if the G8 is an alliance Slow Food can join without having to compromise. Having gained a level of standing as an organization, I would like to see Slow Food continue to push for an equitable food system as an independent voice instead of an insider. I think that's when true change will come.

]]> Co-opting the message

I had a slightly different take on the disapproval of the crowd during the politician's talk.

I understood the unrest to be not just about the G8's reaction to the food crisis, but to food and farming as a whole as it currently exists. The economic policies of the WTO and IMF have driven farmers off the land and into starvation. Instead of growing food to sustain themselves, they are largely exploited by unfair trade agreements.

I thought this was why people were angry, and it was because of the injustices perpetuated by the G8 that caused many to rise in protest.

I could be wrong though...it was pretty noisy in there.

My greater concern, though, was Carlo Petrini's response. I thought he stepped dangerously close to losing some trust by suggesting that Slow Food present to the G8 and scolding people who protested the speech. People have a right to disagree with the G8, and he said he understood that. What he failed to recognize however is that by accepting an invitation to speak at the G8, Slow Food opens its new-found political and food justice messages being co-opted.

I have a lot of faith in Vandana Shiva, whom Patrini said may have a chance to speak to the G8. In a workshop at Terra Madre, she said (and I'm paraphrasing) to only make alliances where you do not have to compromise your principles. I couldn't agree more.

I wonder if the G8 is an alliance Slow Food can join without having to compromise. Having gained a level of standing as an organization, I would like to see Slow Food continue to push for an equitable food system as an independent voice instead of an insider. I think that's when true change will come.

]]> Comment #2 by ergosum http://www.grist.org/article/terra-madre-notes-shiva-to-address-the-g8/ Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:20:08 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/terra-madre-notes-shiva-to-address-the-g8/2 We will do

The crowd jeered at Frattini not just because he was delivering for far too long occasionally obnoxious political platitudes with an intonation that would have make an elephant bored, but because he is a Minister of Berlusconi's government, simply anathema for most Italians present at the closing Ceremony of Terra Madre.

As for the value of Terra Madre [not Slow Food] talking before the powerfuls of the Planet, I dunno. Maybe they'll throw down some small piece of legislation from the table - after they have eaten the cake. It will be good, anyway. But I believe the same as the Native from New Zealand (if I remember correctly)who spoke afterwards: we should not trust the politicians, nor we need them. We'll do everything ourselves.

Enzo Pollono

]]> We will do

The crowd jeered at Frattini not just because he was delivering for far too long occasionally obnoxious political platitudes with an intonation that would have make an elephant bored, but because he is a Minister of Berlusconi's government, simply anathema for most Italians present at the closing Ceremony of Terra Madre.

As for the value of Terra Madre [not Slow Food] talking before the powerfuls of the Planet, I dunno. Maybe they'll throw down some small piece of legislation from the table - after they have eaten the cake. It will be good, anyway. But I believe the same as the Native from New Zealand (if I remember correctly)who spoke afterwards: we should not trust the politicians, nor we need them. We'll do everything ourselves.

Enzo Pollono

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