The slow food movement originated in Italy over 30 years ago, with the goal of promoting traditional food preparation methods and locally sourced ingredients.

The movement was founded by Carlo Petrini in 1986 as a reaction to the rise of fast food, with the aim of encouraging the enjoyment of good food and conscious consumption.

The slow food movement has since gained supporters in over 150 countries, with a presence in over 150 countries and over 100,000 members worldwide.

The movement promotes traditional methods and locally sourced ingredients, in contrast to the industrial food system which prioritizes scale and efficiency over sustainability.

The slow food movement emphasizes the importance of good quality, clean, and fair food, and has been successful in promoting sustainable agriculture and low-carbon agriculture.

One of the key principles of the slow food movement is the promotion of traditional food preparation methods and the use of local and seasonal ingredients.

The movement has been promoted in various regions, including Taitung in Taiwan, which has been recognized as a model for slow food tourism and has hosted a number of international slow food forums and festivals.

The slow food movement has also been successful in Uganda, where Slow Food Uganda participated in the Agroecology Week of Action 2023, promoting agroecology and sustainable food systems.

To sample the best slow food cuisine, one can visit places such as Taitung in Taiwan, which hosts an annual slow food festival, or attend events like the Terra Madre Salone del Gusto in Italy.

The slow food movement has been driven by individuals like Aruna Tirkey, who founded Oraon Slow Food in Jharkhand, India, and Nazlina Binti Hussin, who founded Nazlina Spice Station in Malaysia.

Current proponents of the slow food movement worldwide include chefs, farmers, and activists who are working to promote and preserve local food cultures and traditions.

The slow food movement has been recognized globally, with international slow food representatives gathering in Taitung, Taiwan, to promote cultural exchange and food preservation.

The movement has also been recognized through various awards, including the awards received by Taitung for its slow food initiatives.

Overall, the slow food movement is a global phenomenon that promotes sustainable agriculture, conscious consumption, and preservation of traditional food culture, and can be adapted and implemented in different cultures and communities around the world.

The movement has the potential to contribute to sustainable development and climate change mitigation, particularly through its focus on local food systems and sustainable agriculture.

However, the slow food movement faces challenges, including climate change, which threatens global food supply and impacts the poorest countries.

Despite these challenges, the slow food movement has been successful in promoting sustainable and equitable food systems, and has the potential to make a positive impact on local communities and the environment around the world.

The slow food movement originated in Italy over 30 years ago, with the goal of promoting traditional food preparation methods and locally sourced ingredients.

Title:

Content: Slow travel.
How do you enjoy your vacation in 2023 in a completely different way?
Tourism and travel have recently become another way to keep up with popular trends or “trends ”, and to capture impressive images that bring in more followers.
While planning vacations, some no longer think only of the places they themselves wish to visit, as much as they observe the experiences of others on social media and think of all those wonderful places they go.
In the meantime, we seem to be surrounded by a flood of travel and tourism social media accounts, which post only minute-long "flutes" where influencers navigate between various fascinating tourist destinations.
Photos and leaflets tell you that you can travel to 10 places in seven days, and that there are 100 destinations you shouldn ’ t miss.
All of this makes us feel like we are in a race to go to as many destinations as possible in as little time as possible, and creates hunger for more experiences, drives us to jump like rabbits from one destination to another and from one experience to another, so we plan vacations filled with experiences, destinations and landmarks instead of focusing our time and budgets on what really interests us.
So, perhaps it ’ s time to rethink the way we travel from a different perspective that gives us more opportunity to relax and delve deeper into the travel experience, through “slow travel. ”
From food to travel.
In praise of slow and slow
In the 1980s, in 1986, McDonald ’ s opened a new branch in Piazza di Spagna, one of Rome ’ s most famous tourist attractions.
Italian sociologist and activist Carlo Petrini published a statement announcing the launch of the Slow Food movement as a reaction to fast food that has become permeating food cultures from one country to another, leaving its negative impact on food cultures and local cooking and turning it into a similar and unified “monster. ”
The statement sparked interest around the world, and quickly led to the emergence of a global movement and organization supported by more than 100,000 members, a movement that over time evolved into sub-ideas in other domains such as slow living, slow design, and slow travel.
Hence the term Slow Tourism, an approach to travel that offers different possibilities and ways to support sustainable tourism and low-carbon tourism, based on reducing mobility by plane and car, and relying more on bicycles or walking.
It also relies on communicating with local people and cultures and eating local folk food, with an interest in preserving the environment (2).
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, global tourism had reached a record high of 671 million international tourists.
Despite the positive effects of the boom in tourism, it has a negative aspect that cannot be ignored.
In a study published in the Journal of Sustainable Tourism, researchers focused on the potential of slow travel in the face of climate change challenges, with travel at the time of publication accounting for 50-97.5% of the amount of heat emission of most tourist trips.
The emerging concept of slow travel at the time was a reaction to high-carbon travel practices, so that slow travel becomes an integral part of the tourism experience and not just a difference in mode of transportation.
The negative impact of the tourism boom was not only on the increasing carbon footprint, but also on other environmental impacts of no less importance, for example, the Philippine government was forced to temporarily close the Boracay tourist area in 2018 to tourists, after it was transformed from a picturesque island to a sewage and waste sink for tourists, which affected the aquatic life there.
All these and other effects have led to the embrace of a new way of tourism, while embracing greater responsibility towards the environment and local communities, and opening up another horizon for individual enjoyment and exploration of the self and the world.
Here are a selection of slow travel mechanisms that will help you enjoy this exciting experience.
Take the least traveled routes.
Off The Beaten Path (or The Road Less Traveled) is one of the terms associated with slow travel, and is adapted from verses by the American poet Robert Frost, which means choosing unusual areas and different routes than the familiar, crowded routes, and is highly associated with the search for hidden local gems and avoiding the pattern of consumer tourism.
We advise you to stay away from peak tourist seasons, so you will be able to avoid the crowds, as well as get cheaper accommodation and transfers.
You will also be able to explore your destination slowly and quietly away from the crowds and crowds of tourists.
Nobody sees everything.
Many tourists fall into the sin of trying to see and discover everything, and you find lists such as “places not to miss if you go to such a country ” containing dozens of places that it is impossible for an ordinary person to visit all of them on a short vacation.
Take the Louvre as an example, one of the most famous and important museums in the world, with an area of   about 13 square kilometers, and its complex map makes you wonder will you be able to visit all these halls?
And see over a million pieces of art and history in one day?
Or even a few days?
Here you will have to choose between jumping from hall to hall and planning your visit so that you can see as many pieces as possible and take dozens of photos, or choose the pieces that really interest you, and look at each piece, and reflect on its meanings.
You can gasp from hall to hall, or you can settle for a few paintings, and if you go in the opposite direction, you can visit the same painting for several days and spend hours in front of it.
And what about the pictures?
The images are already on search sites, and believe me if you ’ re not an exceptional professional artist, the image you take in the Louvre has been taken by thousands of people before you.
Choose what matters to you, and build your own list based on your priorities.
If you don ’ t enjoy art, and you love outdoor adventure, why spend hours in a museum and see paintings you won ’ t be able to communicate with instead of climbing a mountain, for example.
The opposite is also true.
Think about what really interests your heart, are you a lover of architecture, nature or art and history?
And what are your priorities?
Let coincidence lead you.
Despite the importance of planning, planning every minute of your trip deprives you of a lot of coincidences that may give you irreplaceable opportunities.
Leave room for a bit of randomness, an empty space for chance, free tours in which your feet and intuition lead you towards the unknown and the adventure it carries.
You might want to skip the usual tourist attractions to enjoy other things, such as living like the locals and exploring the side streets away from the city center.
Knowing people is a treasure.
Speaking of side streets instead of renting a car, walking and using public transport will enable you to get to know the country better, as well as the chance to get to know the local population.
It is said that "the people of Mecca know its people", and so in every city, away from the popular tourist destinations, the people of the city know the best and cheapest places, restaurants and shops, and from them you can explore the city in the best possible ways.
Not only that, in movies we often see heroes change their lives after having an inspiring conversation with a passing person on the way.
Perhaps we wonder why we do not meet such inspirations, and why our lives do not change.
You may not be able to take inspiration if the ones you ’ re talking to are the hurried tourists or the tour guide.
But what about people from different cultures?
Shopkeepers and old people who sit in cafes, those who belong to a land other than your land and a time other than your time, is it not possible that if you open your heart and speak without concern, you can draw inspiration from them?
There is a hidden pleasure in talking to strangers you may never meet again.
The conversation may not turn your life upside down like in the movies, but if you allow your soul to open up enough, it could be an opportunity to explore a new aspect of yourself or the world.
Find out about local markets and food.
Instead of buying souvenirs from tourist bazaars or airports, you can try buying from local markets, where you will find unique handmade goods.
You can learn about the many handicrafts of each city, from which you explore its history, and support it in the face of counterfeit products that do not carry a soul.
Be sure to try local food as it is one of the most important experiences not to be missed when traveling.
Look for local dishes and try what works for you, visit local markets, and taste vegetables and fruits that may be unfamiliar in your country.
If you ’ re a foodie, you might want to take lessons in cooking local dishes, learn how to prepare them and understand more about the culture and history of the place.
Instead of searching for branches of international chains of cafes and restaurants drink your coffee in a small local cafe, meet the waiters and pioneers and pick up the tales scattered from their mouths, this is your real wealth from the journey, not the bright photographic image that resembles the hundreds of photos taken by tourists before you.
Get rid of travel stress
When you rush from one place to another with a full list of activities you do every minute, you usually come back from vacation with a deep sense of stress, which is called travel fatigue.
In the slow travel experience you will enjoy relaxing, walking through forests and gardens, or lying in the desert in a star-studded sky.
Ignore your phone and your desire to take pictures.
Relax a bit and enjoy your experience. (6)
You don ’ t need any more time or money.
Some may say I can ’ t travel slowly, my vacation is only 7 days.
Slow travel doesn ’ t mean long travel, it doesn ’ t have to do with time frame as much as the way you travel and your way of thinking.
So slow travel brings us back to the real and root causes of travel, why do we move from one place to another?
And what are we looking for?
Are we looking for more photos of our social media accounts, are we looking for relaxation, are we looking for more cultures and history, or do we want to dig deeper and connect with ourselves?
In terms of budget, I ’ m happy.
There are many ways to reduce your travel budget, it is possible to try work while traveling, you can work in one of the farms or small hotels in exchange for accommodation, which many places offer, especially if you decide to settle in one place for long enough.
Also, instead of looking for luxury hotels, you can opt for shared homes, live with a local resident, or look for shared accommodations and cheap local hotels.
And within your city, too.
If you don ’ t have a chance to vacation outside your city, you can apply these ideas in your city as well, instead of meeting your friends in repeated places behind glass walls, go on a tour to explore the city, the unknown areas of it, the unfamiliar streets.
Turn to the old cafes, to the trees you pass every day on your way to work without seeing or noticing its presence, to people and stones.
Remember that slow travel is not just a way to travel, but a different view of the world and a way to live and think.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Sources:
Carlo Petrini and the History of Slow Food
2. Slow Travel and Tourism
Slow travel: issues for tourism and climate
Philippines to shutdown tourist island boracay for six months
The Tourist ’ s Perception about Slow Travel – A Romanian Perspective
In light of the Krona pandemic, slow travel is the latest tourism trends
Source: The Island

What are the supporters of slow food movement advocating?

On returning to traditional food methods

What happened after the opening of McDonald's restaurants in Rome opened?

When did Carlo Petrini launch the Slow Food Movement?

The movement was founded by Carlo Petrini in 1986 as a reaction to the rise of fast food, with the aim of encouraging the enjoyment of good food and conscious consumption.

Title:

Content: Praise the slow pace of life.
Explore the fun of the world calmly
The idea of slow living negates the belief that a successful person should be busy or fast, and encourages the person to be present consciously at every moment.
Once the society is saturated with the new, it returns to the past, and this is what happens in art, decoration, fashion, and social trends.
From here, too, the slow pace of life can be seen as a return to the old calm in some way, after the rhythm of life has become too fast to keep up with.
The idea of a slow life can be a convenient orientation for those who are looking for a calm state of mind, trying to take a long-term view of life and the world away from constant stress, anxiety and gasping.
Slow living helps us live more consciously and clearly with what we value and need in life, where we do everything at the right speed, rather than constantly striving for speed.
The idea of slow living negates the belief that a successful person must be busy or fast, and encourages the person to be present consciously at every moment.
Life is better, not faster.
The idea of slow living is part of the broader slow movement that began in the 1980s in Italy.
After opening McDonald ’ s restaurants in the heart of Rome, Carlo Petrini and a group of activists formed a movement defending regional food traditions called Slow Food.
Over time, the movement has gained supporters in more than 150 countries, trying to encourage the enjoyment of good food and conscious consumption that encourages respect for seasonality, and to minimize the negative impact on the environment of food production.
Carlo Petrini ’ s idea began to take shape when he noticed the disconnect between farmer and consumer, due to the huge boutiques and fast food restaurants that fed central Rome and dramatically eroded local food traditions.
Carl Honoré, one of the most famous theorists of the idea of slow living, helped bring the idea to areas other than food when he published a book in Praise of Slow in 2004.
Awareness is growing about slow travel, slow thinking and slow action, all of which are examples of the different branches of the slow living movement.
Not all slowness is negative.
As more people were forced to slow down their lifestyle, interest in slow living increased during the epidemic period.
The search for the term slow life has increased by 4 times in Google and YouTube.
Although some of these images and videos depict a romantic rural life far from reality, for most people, the increase in research related to this content shows the desire to return to nature and seek hobbies closer to it, especially as a large number of people turned to remote work, which gave the opportunity to connect more with the self and search for what is truly pleasing, which is forgotten in the midst of a fast and breathless life.
The slow life movement gets rid of the negative connotations of the word "slow", which some may associate with laziness and non-productivity.
Carl Honoré explains the difference between good slowness and negative slowness, as good slowness is the deliberate slowness to do things at the right speed to achieve the best result.
On the other side, there is also good speed and bad speed.
Speed can be exciting and exhilarating in the right circumstances while the rush to finish things from just above the surface without going deep is just the opposite, because it causes distraction and is difficult to prioritize.
Essential elements of slow living
Slow living doesn ’ t mean we give up technology and fall back into old times, but it does help us give up distracting activities, make us reclaim our own time to become more present and aware of every moment in life, and help build stronger relationships and spend quality time with friends and children.
It also helps us build our own values, design the lifestyle that suits us, and dedicate time to what we ’ re really looking for, not what the fast-paced lifestyle of the planet forces us to do.
A slow life entails taking a break and redefining our relationship with things like a phone, tablet, or other gadgets like them, and then making room for screen-free time.
Honoré says, “The cornerstone of slow living is to form balanced and more humane relationships with modern technologies.
“We have to somehow learn when to go ahead with technology and when to slow down and stop moving between social media, the Netflix screen or even aimlessly surfing the internet. ”
Honoré also emphasizes the need to let go of the fear of rejection or being lost, and instead of trying to do everything, we should choose only what matters to us and touches us, without the worry of saying the word “no ”.
We must say no to everything that does not concern us and not increase the burden we place on ourselves.
We have to prioritize carefully and let everything else go, having grown tired of the speed with which we feel we are racing rather than actually living our lives.
We always wait for a moment other than the moment we live, which makes us feel that our lives are vanishing in vain.
Slow life solidifies deep pleasures and strong emotions, away from entertainment and shallow pleasures that fade away shortly and leave us burdened with feelings of frustration and loneliness.
Source: Websites

What are the supporters of slow food movement advocating?

Enjoyment of good food
Conscious consumption

On returning to traditional food methods

What happened after the opening of McDonald's restaurants in Rome opened?

When did Carlo Petrini launch the Slow Food Movement?

Who is founder of the Slow Food Movement?

An Italian sociologist and activist
Carlo Petrini

The slow food movement has since gained supporters in over 150 countries, with a presence in over 150 countries and over 100,000 members worldwide.

Title:

Content: Breaking The Industrial Cycle With Slow Food

Where do you go to get your groceries? If your first thought was your local supermarket, you are not alone. Shopping in large grocery stores became the norm for many of us, and we rely on these outlets more than we realise. They are convenient, filled to the brim with seemingly every product you could imagine and have a price point that fits most pockets.

From afar it seems like the perfect solution, but we all witnessed what happened in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic turned life on its head and among many others, highlighted the fragility of our food economy and the part supermarkets play in it.

The University of Oxford describes our food system as “a complex set of interconnected practices and relationships that ultimately deliver food from farms, processing facilities, factories, warehouses, and retailers, to the dinner table.”

Slow Food

The industrial food system is built for scale and efficiency with an aim to maximise production, reduce cost, and function much like factories.

Although many supermarkets and producers are taking steps to include the origins of their products on their labels, there is still not enough transparency around where our food actually comes from. This industrialised structure offers customers accessibility to a wider range of products at more affordable prices but has economic and environmental impacts that many are not aware of.

Industrial agriculture is notorious for using a range of fertilisers, pesticides, herbicides in their processes to maximise output, some of which stays present in the soil long after the crops are harvested. The products are then processed in factories, stabilised with preservatives and packaged in plastic, all occurring before they are loaded onto long haul freights, planes, lorries to arrive in distribution centres and eventually to supermarket shelves.

BBC Good Food reported that “DEFRA estimates that moving food is responsible for 25 per cent of all miles covered by heavy goods traffic in the UK. Transporting food within, to and around the UK produces 19 million tonnes of CO2 annually – equivalent to around 5.5 million typical cars.”

The length of the supply chains involved in industrial food systems result in a fragile structure as any slight disruption throughout the intricate process can halt the supply chain at any time.

However, this industrial food system is not the only one available to our economy. While our modern supermarkets heavily rely on large-scale agriculture, large scale production and precise, uninterrupted international food trade and fast turnaround times, the alternative slow food system focuses on a more resilient structure.

As the resilient alternative to this industrial cycle that many in the industry are championing, Slow Food is focused on returning to the traditional methods and celebrating all things local.

The not for profit grassroots organisation, Slow Food was set up in Italy in the late 1980s in a bid to promote traditional food preparation methods and locally sourced ingredients, going against the arrival of the American fast-food chain McDonald’s in Rome. The eco-gastronomic organisation now has around 100,000 members in over 150 countries.

Recognising and raising awareness of the negative impact the industrial food system had on society, the economy and the environment, the organisation ignited a Slow Food movement: a new way of conscious consumerism that takes seasonality, locality and tradition into account.

A slow, or resilient food system can take on many forms, starting with us as individuals making a conscious effort to engage with producers, venues and outlets that are aligned with the slow food values, to foraging, growing our own produce and going to local farmers’ markets.

Any involvement in the movement can make a significant difference in local communities and build a more sustainable, resilient and eco-friendly food system.

As the first accredited Slow Food destination in Northern Ireland, the Causeway Coast and Glens have been spearheading the move toward this resilient system and together with Taste Causeway, the collaborative network of local food and drink businesses.

From exciting slow food events to highlighting producers and awarding them with Slow Food accreditation, Taste Causeway and Slow Food NI are putting local suppliers and venues at the forefront of consumers’ minds, one business at a time.

To find out more about how you can support the Slow Food movement, the businesses involved and the upcoming events on the Causeway Coast, go to https://slowfood.tastecauseway.com/

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How many countries have members of Slow Food organization?

How many members does the Slow Food Movement have globally?

What happened after the opening of McDonald's restaurants in Rome opened?

The movement promotes traditional methods and locally sourced ingredients, in contrast to the industrial food system which prioritizes scale and efficiency over sustainability.

What are the supporters of slow food movement advocating?

On returning to traditional food methods

A movement promoting responsible use of marine resources.

A movement promoting high-quality, fair, and clean fisheries

What is the purpose of Taiwan's Taitung County Government ito hold the "SLOW SUPER Taitung Slow Farmer Market"?

To promote sustainable agricultural development

The slow food movement emphasizes the importance of good quality, clean, and fair food, and has been successful in promoting sustainable agriculture and low-carbon agriculture.

Title:

Content: Taitung ’ s first ever International Slow Food Forum will be held on April 28!
International slow food representatives from Italy, the Philippines, India and Malaysia gathered at the Taitung County Government Hall to share the experience of slow food promotion around the world, and exchange and learn with local slow food practitioners in Taitung, making Taitung a new base for dialogue with the international slow food movement and linking up the southern island culture.
The slow food movement originated in Italy, has been popular around the world for more than 30 years, and has been promoted in Taitung for 10 years.
The slow food spirit of “Good quality, clean and fair ” comes from Italy, but it has grown up in Taitung with a rich variety of local features.
The Taitung County government specially invited seven international slow food activists and local slow food practitioners from Taitung County to exchange ideas on the eve of the first slow food festival this year, “from the festival to the day, from the traditional to the contemporary. ” The theme is to explore how traditional food culture can be practiced in contemporary society through the Slow Food Movement, and how the international Slow Food Movement can blossom in all corners of the world through the diverse participation of citizens and community power.
On the agenda, Andrea Amato and Daniel Cruse, from the International Slow Food Headquarters in Italy, first introduced the expansion of Slow Food from Italy to the world, and shared the classic Ark of Taste and Slow Food Presidia projects of the Slow Food movement.
In response to the International Year of Xiaomi 2023, Indian representative Aruna Tirkey will introduce the Xiaomi Kitchen in Jharkhand, India.
Nazlina Spice Station in Malaysia is an introduction to the local cuisine, starting from Laksa, to the preservation of Penang ’ s food culture.
Community power is also an important theme of this forum. The Gonnay couple from the Philippines and Ramon Uy Jr will discuss how the Slow Food movement can achieve the function of cultural inheritance and food farming education through community connection from family, community, organization, market, and tourism.
The local representative of Taitung, ibu istanda takiscibanan of the Bunun tribe, shared the history of restoring millet in the Kandeng tribe of Haiduan Township; Guo Lijin, CEO of Jinhetang, will talk about the experience and future vision of slow food in Taitung for ten years; and many Taitung slow food chefs and shop owners will join hands to show the strength of the cohesion in the local community.
Simultaneous real-time interpretation service is available, and people who are interested in promoting slow food are welcome to join us.
For details and registration, please go to
https: / / www.accupass.com / go / TTSlowFoodForum
2023 Taitung Slow Food International Forum
From Festivals to Everyday, From Tradition to Contemporary
Date: 4 / 28 (Fri) 09: 00-16: 30
Venue: Taitung County Government Hall
Taitung County Government Advertisements
# Slow Food # Taitung # International # Slow Food Movement # Italy

What are the supporters of slow food movement advocating?

On returning to traditional food methods

What is the purpose of Taiwan's Taitung County Government ito hold the "SLOW SUPER Taitung Slow Farmer Market"?

To promote sustainable agricultural development

One of the key principles of the slow food movement is the promotion of traditional food preparation methods and the use of local and seasonal ingredients.

What are the supporters of slow food movement advocating?

On returning to traditional food methods

The movement has been promoted in various regions, including Taitung in Taiwan, which has been recognized as a model for slow food tourism and has hosted a number of international slow food forums and festivals.

Title:

Content: Local Local Focus
Taitung ’ s Slow Economy Fermented Food Capacity Five-Star City
▲ Five Star City Taitung 4 consecutive bars.
(Photo by reporter Yang Han-sheng)
Journalist Yang Han-sheng / reporting from Taitung
The results of Taitung County ’ s food education promotion have been affirmed by most people and nutritionist groups. It has been ranked as a five-star city for four consecutive years. This year, it ranks second among 22 counties and cities, improving from last year, and has performed prominently in the three indicators of “Agriculture and Environment ”,“ Food Safety and Health ” and “Promotion Satisfaction ”, ranking second and third respectively. Performances.
Food magazine held an award ceremony on the 27th, and presented a five-star city award. Chiang Hui-ching, director of agriculture of Taitung County Government, went to receive it on behalf of the county government.
In the 2024 Urban Survey, the objective indicators include 72 indicators in four dimensions (agriculture and environment, education and culture, health and nutrition, food safety and hygiene). The survey, conducted by the President ’ s Alliance, the National Education Action Alliance, and the Foundation, asked citizens, parents, nutritionists and teachers in Taiwan about their satisfaction with the promotion of local ingredients, food culture, and health promotion in Taiwan.
Taitung County Governor Rao Qingling said that Taitung has actively attached importance to the education of “food ”, starting from the land where food grows. In recent years, Taitung has promoted organic agriculture and friendly farming area. And...
In recent years, the county government has launched the Taitung brand with "Taitung Slow Food Festival" and "Tribal Food Fashion", which has caused more people to pay attention to "food" as the core. Among them, Taitung Slow Food Festival has been held for many years. The public has developed a sense of slow food, paid more attention to the source of food materials in life, practiced environmental protection and plastic reduction, and changed the food culture in Taitung. The Taitung Slow Food Festival won the Best 100 and Gold Award of Japan ’ s Good Design Award.
At the same time, Taitung has been promoting the slow food movement for 10 years. Not only did it hold the “Slow Food International Forum ” for the first time last year, it invited international slow food representatives from Italy, the Philippines, India, Malaysia and other countries to gather in Taitung. In the name of the club, she personally led the team to Italy to participate in the Terra Madre (Slow Food Global Conference), showing the diversity of Taitung ’ s food culture and the fruitful results of years of slow food practice. In the future, it will continue to promote and link with the region.
Lin Yu-ting, deputy editor-in-chief of Foodpower magazine, pointed out that Taitung County not only ranked second and fourth in Taiwan in the two indicators of “Friendly Cultivated Cultivated Cropland Area ” and“ Organic Agricultural Cropland Area ” respectively. The county has a lot of characteristics of rural villages, providing a good quality of rural community tourism services.
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What was the host of the International Slow Food Forum of 2023?

Which county in Taiwan has hosted Slow Food Festival?

The slow food movement has also been successful in Uganda, where Slow Food Uganda participated in the Agroecology Week of Action 2023, promoting agroecology and sustainable food systems.

Title:

Content: Slow Food Uganda Triumphs at the National Agroecology Action week 2023

The Agroecology Week of Action, organized by Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Uganda, served as a platform for like-minded Civil Society Organizations, and individuals to come together and uphold the cause of agroecology. From the National Agroecology Actors Symposium, Agroecology Market Systems Expo, to the Indigenous Food and Seed Fair, the five-day event was a dynamic and comprehensive display of the power and potential of agroecology. The Slow Food Uganda’s invaluable participation in this week-long event aimed to raise awareness, foster knowledge exchange, and inspire action towards a more just, resilient and equitable sustainable food system. The Slow Food Uganda participation in the Agroecology Week of Action provided a critical opportunity for the selected Slow Food Communities to share experiences, showcase success stories, and discuss the challenges faced by small-scale farmers and other Agroecological Actors.

PELUM Uganda, an umbrella organization comprising over 60 civil society organizations, has long been organizing this annual event of the Agroecology Week of Action, which has become an inspiration for empowering the small-scale farmers, stakeholders, and communities in driving positive change towards a more resilient and sustainable future for food and agriculture through fostering a deep-rooted commitment to promoting agroecology as a transformative approach to farming. The outstanding activities organized have made this event a platform for knowledge exchange, capacity building, and advocacy for sustainable food systems.

Throughout the Agroecology Week of Action, participants were treated to a diverse range of activities, including panel discussions, exhibitions, and cooking demonstrations. Slow Food Uganda’s active involvement in these events brought forth their expertise in promoting traditional food cultures, fostering food sovereignty, and advocating for the preservation of local food biodiversity.

By bridging the gap between policy and practice, the Agroecology Week of Action aimed to influence decision-makers and stakeholders to prioritize agroecology as a viable solution to the challenges facing our food systems. Through engaging dialogues and thought-provoking presentations, this event provided a space for critical discussions on issues such as climate change, food sovereignty, and rural livelihoods. Slow Food Uganda’s participation further strengthened the credibility and impact of these discussions, drawing attention to the importance of preserving traditional knowledge and promoting sustainable farming practices.

Here is the highlight of Slow Food Uganda’s participation in all the events that happened during the Agroecology Week of Action:

National Agroecology Actors Symposium

Slow Food Uganda’s participation in the side event focused on “Consumer and Market Led Mechanisms for Scaling up Agroecology” during the National Agroecology Actors Symposium was instrumental in highlighting the crucial role of Earth Markets in promoting and expanding agroecological enterprises. During this side event, John Kiwagalo from Slow Food Uganda shared insights and experiences on how Earth Markets can contribute to scaling up agroecology entrepreneurship. He emphasized the importance of Earth Markets in raising awareness among consumers about the benefits of supporting agroecological practices for environmental sustainability, biodiversity conservation, and improved nutrition.

Slow Food Uganda’s participation in this side event was key in sharing success stories and best practices from the Earth Markets network, highlighting how market-led approaches can attract farmers to adopt agroecological practices, leading to improved livelihoods and sustainable agricultural systems. The insights and recommendations shared by Slow Food Uganda during the side event served as a call to action for policymakers, researchers, and other stakeholders to integrate consumer and market perspectives into their strategies for scaling up agroecology.

Agroecology Market Systems Expo

One of the highlights of the Agroecology Week of Action was the vibrant market expo, where agroecological entrepreneurs from across Uganda showcased their organic produce and traditional food products. This unique platform not only celebrated the richness and diversity of local agricultural practices but also provided a direct link between agroecological producers and consumers who value sustainable and diverse nutritious food. Through showcasing the Earth Market and the Slow Food Cooks Alliance model, Slow Food Uganda played a crucial role in emphasizing the significance of supporting local economies and short supply chains as well as promoting food that is good for people, the planet, and communities. Milly Namakula, a dedicated member of the Dembe Catering Cooks Alliance, skilfully prepared the renowned Nyasaland Arabica coffee sourced from the Nyasaland Coffee Presidium in Mbale district. This local processed coffee was proudly showcased and served alongside the delightful local sweet bananas sourced from the robust BOCOVACO Food Community in Buikwe district. The esteemed presence of Mr. Abitekaniza Johnson, the Assistant Commissioner of MSME Training and Business Skills Development at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives who represented the Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, as the chief guest of the day, further raised the significance of the occasion. During his visit to the Slow Food Uganda stand, Mr. Abitekaniza Johnson had the opportunity to gain deep insights into the remarkable work carried out by Slow Food Presidia, Earth Markets, Cooks Alliance, and Food Communities. This provided the minister with a deeper understanding of how these initiatives actively foster agroecological markets, thereby enhancing the livelihoods of small-scale farmers. Over 100 visitors had an opportunity to taste the flavours of Uganda’s Nyasaland Arabica Coffee.

During the engaging panel discussion, John Kiwagalo delved into the pivotal role played by Earth Markets in fostering agroecological markets. Earth Markets, as highlighted by Kiwagalo, serve as platforms for fostering innovation and implementing initiatives that prioritize the principles of sustainability and biodiversity protection. Kiwagalo’s insights shed light on the significance of Earth Markets in creating connections between producers and consumers, facilitating the exchange of knowledge and promoting agroecological practices for a more resilient food system.

Indigenous Food and Seed Fair

Slow Food Uganda was part of over 100 exhibitors who participated in the Annual Indigenous Food and Seed Fair that happened for 2 days, showcasing their commitment to promoting cultural and biological diversity. The event provided an excellent platform for Slow Food Uganda to exhibit their diverse range of initiatives, including exciting displays of the Slow Food Garden, Earth Market stalls, and seed banks, as well as highlighting the important work of the Cooks Alliance.

Dr. Paul Mwambu the Commissioner for Crop Inspection and Certification who represented the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries as the chief guest at the Indigenous Food and Seed Fair visited the Slow Food Uganda stand which further amplified the significance of the participation. During his visit, Slow Food Uganda emphasized the crucial role of supporting small-scale farmers in certifying their innovative practices. They stressed the need for policies that not only recognize and value the contributions of agroecological farmers but also provide them with the necessary support and resources to effectively utilize their innovations.

During the event, an array of indigenous seeds was showcased by dedicated farmers representing various Slow Food Communities. This exhibition not only provided a platform for farmers to display their valuable seed diversity but also facilitated seed exchanges among participants from different organizations. The collaborative spirit of the event allowed for the sharing of traditional seeds, ensuring their continued cultivation and protection.

Moreover, visitors were treated to a delightful gastronomic experience as members of the Cooks Alliance skilfully prepared a range of local dishes, showcasing the incredible diversity and flavours of the Uganda’s cuisine. From traditional delicacies to innovative culinary creations, the Cooks Alliance demonstrated the richness and versatility of local foods. Additionally, guests had the privilege of enjoying the renowned Nyasaland coffee, sourced from the Nyasaland Presidium, which further highlighted the exceptional quality and taste of Uganda’s coffee heritage.

The exhibition of indigenous seeds, food, artisanal materials, domesticated animals, poultry, clean energy technologies and locally made agroecological inputs coupled with the tasty offerings from the Cooks Alliance and the Nyasaland coffee, provided a memorable experience for visitors, fostering a deep appreciation for the cultural and culinary heritage of Uganda. This vibrant celebration of local food traditions and agricultural biodiversity showcased the vital role played by Slow Food Communities in promoting sustainable practices and preserving the unique flavours and traditions of Uganda.

In his opening remarks during the Food Fair, Edward Mukiibi, the president of Slow Food International and Vice Chairperson of PELUM Uganda emphasized the importance of local farmers’ initiatives in enhancing the protection of local food biodiversity. “Women, youth, indigenous peoples and men who are small scale farmers are the custodians of our biodiversity. These are the true people who are nourishing and feeding this country and no one should take this away from us.” Edward said. He added that biodiversity and culture are linked together and biological and cultural diversity is the foundation of every country’s food system.

Best Exhibitors’ Awards

Slow Food Uganda gained a well-deserved recognition by winning the prestigious award as the Best Exhibitor at the Annual Food and Seed Fair. This achievement did not only highlight Slow Food Uganda’s solid commitment to promoting biodiversity and supporting small-scale farmers but also underscored their significant contributions to fostering a more sustainable and inclusive food culture. Slow Food Uganda’s recognition as the best exhibitor in the Annual Food and Seed Fair serves as evidence to their significant impact in promoting sustainable food systems. The exceptional display at the fair captured the spirit of their mission, captivating visitors with a vibrant and diverse range of exhibits. The organization’s booth stood out through its thorough curation, showcasing indigenous seeds, traditional food varieties, and innovative farming practices. The passion and dedication of Slow Food Uganda members were clearly evident, as they shared their wealth of knowledge and engaged visitors in meaningful conversations about the importance of preserving local food heritage.

John Kiwagalo, Slow Food Uganda

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On returning to traditional food methods

To sample the best slow food cuisine, one can visit places such as Taitung in Taiwan, which hosts an annual slow food festival, or attend events like the Terra Madre Salone del Gusto in Italy.

Title:

Content: Local Local Focus
Let ’ s eat out of the Bay!
Invited to the Slow Food Annual Conference in Italy, Slow Food Spirit received international attention
The Hualien Slow Food team was once again invited to participate in the 2022 Global Slow Food Conference in Italy. (Photo / Courtesy of Hualien County Government, same below)
Reporting by reporter Wang Chao-lin / Hualien
In the past two years, Hualien County Slow Food Team was once again invited to participate in the 2022 Terra Madre Salone del Gusto Global Slow Food Conference in Italy. On the 16th, Mayor Xu Harwei and team members gathered in the county government to discuss the relevant agenda.
The Terra Madre Salone del Gusto Italian Slow Food Conference is a space for communication centered on agriculture and diet, and an event that draws the world ’ s attention to the diversity and tradition of agriculture and diet.
From September 22 to 26, the team will give participants an in-depth experience of the Taiwanese aboriginal food feast in Dulin, Italy.
The mayor, Xu Wei, and the team members held in-depth discussions on the relevant agenda, and encouraged the members to achieve the richest results and return full load.
Xu started by thanking Hualien NGOs for participating in international exchange activities and conferences, so that local culture and Hualien characteristics have the opportunity to shine internationally.
Hualien attaches great importance to promoting slow food in the local context, and the original intention of Hualien Aboriginal food culture and the spirit of slow food are "high-quality", "clean" and "fair".
In the future, the Slow Food Forum and the Organic Forum will be scheduled to be held once every two years, and the organization will be staggered to extend and improve the preparation period, so as to maximize the benefits.
The Hualien County government has been engaged in discussions on the Slow Food movement since 2019, inviting Italy, Japan, the Philippines and other countries to participate in the first Hualien International Slow Food Forum, sorting out the local context and international development trends, and establishing a development direction for Hualien Indigenous Slow Food.
Two years later, the county government overcame the epidemic and held the second Hualien International Indigenous Slow Food Forum in 2021.
Through online meetings, people from Italy, South Korea, Japan, India, the Philippines, Malaysia and Taiwan were invited to discuss the current status of the global slow food movement and the new development of the future of slow food in Hualien.
Hualien Slow Food Association members attending this annual meeting include: President Wu Xueyue of Hualien County Indigenous Ethnic Wild Vegetables School, Indigenous Slow Food Small Farmer Biyingshu Team, Indigenous Slow Food Restaurant Seven Xing Tan Mumming Menu Cuisine Ho Chi Minh, Guang Fu Red Tile House Chef Cheng Yi, Dance Poetry Picking Workshop.
After that, 12 people, including President Gao Zhiyuan of the Taiwan Indigenous Peoples Voluntary Service International Exchange Association, and Youth Liaison Officer of the Taiwan Slow Food Organization, Hsu Gongyuan, and Director Deng Kelun of the Tribal Economics Section of the Indigenous Affairs Department of the county government, also went to observe and study, so that the county government will continue to work with NGOs to jointly promote the next stage of the Slow Food Project.
▲ ▼ The team will be in Turin, Italy, to let the participants deeply experience the food feast of Taiwan ’ s indigenous people.
The Slow Food Year 2022 will be held in Parco Dora, an environmentally friendly park in Turin, Italy, and will bring together Slow Food organizations and food manufacturers from around the world to discuss the environment, climate, public health and other issues. Parco Dora has become an important green center in Turin. The selection echoes the theme of the regeneration of the agricultural food system this year, and has also become a major highlight of this event.
Wu Hsueh-yueh, president of Hualien County Indigenous Vegetarian School, said that the Hualien Slow Food team will exhibit native seeds and important cereals during the annual meeting.
In addition, Chef Ho Chi Minh, a member of the Federation of Slow Food Chefs in Hualien, will lead cooks from the Asia-Pacific region to launch a cross-border indigenous slow food menu at the venue.
The 2022 Slow Food Salon will continue the spirit of the past, and with a new perspective and attitude, we will create a wonderful slow food movement with more than 30,000 slow food activists around the world in the new arena of Toulin.
Official Website: https: / / 2022.terramadresalonedelgusto.com / en /
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What are the supporters of slow food movement advocating?

Which county in Taiwan has hosted Slow Food Festival?

The slow food movement has been driven by individuals like Aruna Tirkey, who founded Oraon Slow Food in Jharkhand, India, and Nazlina Binti Hussin, who founded Nazlina Spice Station in Malaysia.

Title:

Content: Local Local Focus
Taitung Slow Food is highly recognized by international guests
▲ International Slow Food representatives from Italy, the Philippines, India and Malaysia were invited to participate in the Taitung Slow Food Festival organized by the Taitung County Government. (Photo by reporter Yang Han-sheng)
Journalist Yang Han-sheng / reporting from Taitung
International Slow Food representatives from Italy, the Philippines, India and Malaysia were invited to attend the Taitung Slow Food International Forum, Taitung Slow Food Festival and Food Culture Exchange Workshop organized by the Taitung County Government. Studying together.
The Taitung County Government said that the seven international slow food representatives invited this time are all advocates who have been working hard on slow food for many years, including two representatives from the International Slow Food Headquarters in Italy: Andrea Amato, head of developing countries in the Department of International Affairs, Daniel Cruse, commissioner of Asia; Ramon Uy Jr., who is the Southeast Asia regional advisor of the International Slow Food Organization, also the Philippines Negros Island Co-founders: Nazlina Binti Hussin from Malaysia, founder and CEO of Nazlina Spice Station; Aruna Tirkey, founder of Oraon Slow Food in Jharkhand, India; and Rowena Gonnay and Laren Gonnay from the Philippines, both founders of Pasil Slow Food in the Philippines.
During the 5 days of carefully arranged activities and itineraries, the international Slow Food representatives not only went to the Kandeng Tribe in Haiduan Township to learn about the history of Bunun people preserving traditional millet, but also experienced traditional icibi in the Dalumak Tribe in Peinan Township, and cooked aboriginal cuisine from the Philippines and India in the tribe ’ s outdoor kitchen, as well as Laksa, Malaysia ’ s most classic tradition. The food community partners to communicate and improve.
Aruna Tirkey, from India, was very surprised to see the successful restoration of the traditional crop of the Gaiana workshop in Kandeng tribe, which is also the traditional crop of her hometown. Denial, representative of the International Slow Food Headquarters, said that Taiwan was the first overseas country he visited after joining Slow Food, and what he saw and heard will always remain in his heart.
At the same time, we also participated in the 2023 Taitung Slow Food Festival - Morning Table, allowing international guests to fully experience the Taitung breakfast culture presented in 43 booths, and perform traditional dishes from their hometowns during the Slow Food Festival.
On the eve of his return to China, Governor Rao Qingling specially invited international guests to a gourmet dance celebration in the form of Pakelang, a harvest or work ending.
During the evening banquet, Andrea Amato, representative of the International Slow Food Headquarters, believes that the results of Taitung Slow Food ’ s promotion for many years have been quite fruitful, and the local slow food community and festivals belonging to Taitung have been developed. The Taitung experience.
While Ramon Uy Jr from the Philippines, who is committed to promoting Slow Food Travel, and Rowena Gonnay, founder of Pasil Slow Food Organization in the Philippines, Lamen Gonnay, during their stay in Taitung, strongly felt the resonance of the Austronesian ethnic culture in food and values, and said that the first time to Taiwan, I was a bit upset, but I saw millet, glutinous betel nut trees, Rice wine, these are very similar to home, feel like home!
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Current proponents of the slow food movement worldwide include chefs, farmers, and activists who are working to promote and preserve local food cultures and traditions.

Title:

Content: 00: 00
Expo 2020 Dubai Today
Azerbaijan..
Sustainable and delicious food journeys at Expo 2020
Spending 12 hours preparing a dish is not unusual, but very satisfying, by Azerbaijani chef Orkhan Makhtarov.
The chef is used to prepare a dish that makes locally grown products without harming the environment.
Products of the highest quality and at a fair price to the producers, employing the local knowledge and experience accumulated over centuries to make the most of each ingredient.
Mukhtarov is part of Slough Food, an international network of chefs that works to protect biodiversity and supports local food producers.
One of the signature dishes is a hot smoked eel (marinated for 24 hours) with cream cheese and black olive powder, which will be on display this week at the Azerbaijan Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.
Asked why he was interested in Slow Food after a busy career preparing international food in prestigious hotels, Mukhtarov said: “I can use interesting local ingredients that I have never tried before, such as seasonal ingredients and those that grow in forests.
This has got my attention because it helps small producers.
It helps them compete and promote their products. ”
With the help of Chef Apolvaz Habibov, Makhtarov established a menu under the name of "The Taste Ship", valuing the policy of slowly cooked food using good, clean and locally grown ingredients.
In March 2021, this duo established a project to strengthen the community value chain in the Greater Caucasus Mountains region, a community organization founded in 1989 to reduce the disappearance of local food cultures and traditions, in partnership with the Azerbaijan Tourism Board.
The EU-funded project is being coordinated in collaboration with Slow Food.
The 15 dishes on the menu to be served in the Azerbaijani pavilion include ingredients such as Caucasian Mountain Chestnut and Rice thus, a soft milk cereal characteristic of the Shaki district.
The menu is exceptional in its presentation, just like its taste.
Makhtarov said: “I think all chefs who love their work are really artists.
You have to be an artist. ”
The executive director of the Azerbaijan Tourism Board, Florian Syngst Schmid, said the promotion of Azerbaijan ’ s food heritage is a natural fit for his country.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a new model of travel, where people are now looking for safer and more environmentally friendly destinations, which is what Azerbaijan stands for, of course: “We are not inventing anything new, all we are doing is using already existing resources, physical and intangible assets in the country, and creating new tourism experiences and products for travelers. ”
Sakina Asgarova, director of industry associations at the Azerbaijan Tourism Board, said her country occupies a unique position on the international stage in gastronomy.
Asgarova spent three years working with local food producers and stakeholders in the Caucasus Mountains of northern Azerbaijan to help preserve the region ’ s food and cultural heritage.
Asgarova said: “The location of the Azerbaijan Pavilion in the sustainability zone was no accident.
Our focus was on clean food, that is, food that was produced without harming the environment and accessible at a fair price from producers. ”
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What are the supporters of slow food movement advocating?

On returning to traditional food methods

The slow food movement has been recognized globally, with international slow food representatives gathering in Taitung, Taiwan, to promote cultural exchange and food preservation.

Title:

Content: The first International Slow Food Forum was held today at the Taitung County Government Auditorium. International Slow Food representatives from Italy, the Philippines, India and Malaysia brought experience from all over the world to promote slow food.
Wang Zhihui, deputy mayor of Taitung County, said that this year's Slow Food Festival "Morning Table" will be held in Taitung Forest Park on April 29 and 30.
The slow food movement, which has been popular around the world for more than 30 years, originated in Italy and has been promoted in Taitung for more than 10 years.
In the "Taitung Slow Food Festival" held every spring and autumn, the public and tourists pay more attention to the source of ingredients in their lives, practice environmental protection and plastic reduction, and tell new stories in the contemporary era with traditional ingredients.
On the eve of the first Slow Food Festival this year, the Taitung County government invited seven international Slow Food Movement advocates to exchange with local Slow Food practitioners. The theme of the forum was “From Festival to Everyday, From Tradition to Contemporary ”." Flowers? "and other issues, hoping to continue to move internationally and link the Austronesian culture.
The 2023 Taitung Slow Food International Forum begins at 9: 00 am on the 28th. Andrea Amato and Daniel Cruse, from the International Slow Food Headquarters in Italy, introduce the expansion of Slow Food from Italy to the world, and share the classic Ark of Taste and Slow Food. The Food Presidia Project.
In response to the International Year of Millet 2023, Indian representative Aruna Tirkey shared the experience of the local Slow Food Festival in India with Xiaomi Kitchen in Jharkhand, India.
In addition, Malaysia representative Nazlina Spice Station is a local cuisine, from Laksa to talk about the preservation of Penang ’ s food culture.
The ibu istanda takiscibanan, who represents the Bunun in Taitung, shares with the international community the journey of restoring millet to the Kandeng tribe in Haiduan Township, while Kuo Li-chin, CEO of Tinhetang, fully describes the experience and future vision of Slow Food in Taitung for ten years.
International speakers will participate in the Taitung Slow Food Festival “Morning Table ” held in Taitung Forest Park on the 29th and 30th, and demonstrate the traditional breakfast of Indian and Filipino aborigines on the 30th. The event is free of charge. Please refer to the full text of the forum download website (https: / / reurl.cc / pL0XvZ), and Taitung Slow Food Food Festival information (https: / / www.facebook.com / SlowFoodTaitung /).
# International Slow Food Forum # Taitung Slow Food Festival # Taitung County Government # Slow Food Festival

How many countries have members of Slow Food organization?

On returning to traditional food methods

What was the host of the International Slow Food Forum of 2023?

Which county in Taiwan has hosted Slow Food Festival?

The movement has also been recognized through various awards, including the awards received by Taitung for its slow food initiatives.

Which county in Taiwan has hosted Slow Food Festival?

Overall, the slow food movement is a global phenomenon that promotes sustainable agriculture, conscious consumption, and preservation of traditional food culture, and can be adapted and implemented in different cultures and communities around the world.

How many countries have members of Slow Food organization?

What are the supporters of slow food movement advocating?

On returning to traditional food methods

What is the purpose of Taiwan's Taitung County Government ito hold the "SLOW SUPER Taitung Slow Farmer Market"?

To promote sustainable agricultural development

The movement has the potential to contribute to sustainable development and climate change mitigation, particularly through its focus on local food systems and sustainable agriculture.

Title:

Content: British Climate Czar Alok Sharma. By Chris McAndrew, CC BY 3.0, Link

UK Energy Secretary Appeals for Faith Leaders to Save COP26

Guest essay by Eric Worrall

COP26 President Alok Sharma has thanked 40 faith leaders for presenting a commitment to promote a voluntary permanent climate lockdown, in the form of “Encouraging our communities to embrace simple and sustainable lifestyles at home, so as to reduce our collective carbon footprint”. But Alok has explained, more needs to be done to help spread the message.

The original appeal from the 40 faith leaders;

4 October 2021 – Joint Appeal

One family in a common home

Today we come together united, in human fraternity, to raise awareness of the unprecedented challenges that threaten us and life on our beautiful common home, the Earth.

As leaders and scholars from various religious traditions, we unite in a spirit of humility, responsibility, mutual respect and open dialogue. This dialogue is not limited to merely the exchange of ideas, but is focused on the desire to walk in companionship, recognizing our call to live in harmony with one another and with nature.

Today’s gathering is the fruit of months of involved fraternal dialogue among faith leaders and scientists coming together, aware of the necessity of an even deeper solidarity in the face of the global pandemic and of growing concern for our common home.

Our awareness: nature is a gift

Nature is a gift, but also a life-giving force without which we cannot exist. Our faiths and spiritualties teach a duty, individual and collective, to care for the human family and for the environment in which it lives. We are not limitless masters of our planet and its resources. We are caretakers of the natural environment with the vocation to care for it for future generations and the moral obligation to cooperate in the healing of the planet.

We are deeply interdependent with each other and with the natural world. This connection is the basis for interpersonal and intergenerational solidarity and for overcoming selfishness. Damage to the environment is a result, in part, of the predatory tendency to see the natural world as something to be exploited with disregard for the extent to which survival hinges on biodiversity and on maintaining the health of planetary and local ecosystems. Multiple crises facing humanity are demonstrating the failures of such an approach; these are ultimately linked to a crisis of values, ethical and spiritual.

Faith and science are essential pillars of human civilization, with shared principles and complementarities. Together, we must address the threats facing our common home. The warnings from the scientific community are becoming increasingly stark and clear, as is the need for concrete steps to be taken. Scientists say that time is running out. Global temperatures have already risen to the point where the planet is warmer than at anytime in the last 200,000 years. We are on course for a rise in temperature of more than two degrees above the pre-industrial levels. It is not just a physical problem but also a moral challenge. The climate crisis affects us all, but it does not involve us all equally, because it will have different yet devastating effects on people in industrialized and non-industrialized countries. In particular, it affects the poorest, especially women and children in the most vulnerable countries, which are the least responsible for it.

Humanity has the power to think and the freedom to choose. We must address these challenges using the knowledge of science and the wisdom of religion: to know more and to care more. We should seek solutions within ourselves, within our communities, and with nature, adopting an integral approach. We must think long-term for the sake of the whole of humanity, now and in the future.

We need to expel the seeds of conflicts: greed, indifference, ignorance, fear, injustice, insecurity and violence. We must focus particularly on those at the margins. We need to act together to inspire and energize each other. We need to live in peace with one another and with nature. Now it is the time to take transformative action as a common response. As the COVID pandemic rages, 2021 presents a vital challenge to turn this crisis into an opportunity to rethink the world we want for ourselves and for our children.

Care must be at the heart of this conversion, at all levels.

Our call: the need for greater ambition at COP26

We need a framework of hope and courage.

But we also need to change the narrative of development and to adopt a new kind of economics: one that places human dignity at its center and that is inclusive; one that is ecologically friendly, caring for the environment, and not exploiting it; one based not on endless growth and proliferating desires, but on supporting life; one that promotes the virtue of sufficiency and condemns the wickedness of excess; one that is not only technologically driven, but is moral and ethical.

Now is the time for urgent, radical and responsible action. Transforming the present situation requires the international community to act with greater ambition and fairness, in all aspects of its policies and strategies.

Climate change is a grave threat. In the interest of justice and fairness, we advocate for common but differentiated climate action at all levels, from individual behavioral changes to high-level political decision-making processes.

The world is called to achieve net zero carbon emissions as soon as possible, with wealthier countries taking the lead in reducing their own emissions and in financing emission reductions from poorer nations. It is important that all governments adopt a trajectory that will limit the global average temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. To achieve these goals of the Paris Agreement, the COP26 Summit should deliver ambitious short-term actions from all nations with differentiated responsibilities. There is also an urgent need to deliver action to meet its medium- and long-term commitments.

We beg those nations with the greatest responsibility and present capacity to: step up their climate action at home; fulfil existing promises to provide substantial financial support to vulnerable countries; agree on new targets to enable them to become climate resilient, as well as to adapt to and to address climate change and loss and damage, which is already a reality for many countries.

We will accompany nations in seeking to protect and invest in the marginalized groups and vulnerable populations within their own borders, who for too long have borne disproportionate burdens and been on the frontlines of poverty, pollution and pandemic. The rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities must be given special attention, protecting them from predatory economic interests. They have been caretakers of the earth for millennia. We should listen to them and be willing to be guided by their wisdom.

We appeal to governments to raise their ambitions and their international cooperation to: favor a transition to clean energy; adopt sustainable land use practices including preventing deforestation, restoring forests and conserving biodiversity; transform food systems to become environmentally-friendly and respectful of local cultures; end hunger; and to promote sustainable lifestyles and patterns of consumption and production.

We ask that full consideration be given to the effects on the workforce of the transition to a clean energy economy. Priority must be given to the creation of decent employment for all, particularly those in fossil fuel dependent sectors. We ask to ensure an effective and inclusive just transition to low greenhouse gas emissions and climate resilient development. At the same time, we call on them to consider both short-term and long-term social and economic consequences, and adopt a balanced approach that combines care for future generations with guarantee that no one is deprived of his/her daily bread in our own time.

We call upon financial institutions, banks and investors to adopt responsible financing for investments that have positive impacts on people and the planet.

We call upon civil society organizations and everyone to face these challenges with courage in a spirit of collaboration.

In parallel, we ask the leaders attending COP26 to ensure that no more biodiversity is lost, and that all land and water ecosystems are restored, protected and sustainably managed.

In order to achieve these goals, a major educational challenge stands before us. Governments cannot handle such ambitious change alone. We need all of society – the family, religious institutions, schools and universities, our businesses and financial systems – to engage in a transparent and collaborative process, ensuring that all voices are valued and all people represented in decision-making, including those most impacted, especially women, and those communities whose voices are often ignored or devalued.

This is where we, religious leaders and institutions, can make an important contribution. Humanity must rethink its perspectives and values, rejecting consumerism and the pervasive throwaway culture, and embrace a culture of care and cooperation.

Raising public awareness is indispensable to the change of course that is needed.

Our commitment and our creativeness

The followers of religious traditions have a crucial part to play in addressing the crisis of our common home. We commit to taking much more serious action. Young people are demanding that we listen to the scientific insights and that we, their elders, do much more.

First, we commit to advancing the educational and cultural transformation that is crucial to sustain all other actions. We underline the importance of:

* Deepening our efforts to bring about a change of heart among the members of our traditions in the way we relate to the earth and to other people (‘ecological conversion’). We will remind our communities that care for the earth and for others is a key tenet of all our traditions. Recognizing the signs of the divine harmony present in the natural world, we will strive to incorporate this ecological sensitivity more consciously into our practices.

* Encouraging our educational and cultural institutions to give priority in their programs to relevant scientific insights, to strengthen integral ecological education, and to help students and their families relate to nature and to others with new eyes. Beyond the transmission of information and technical knowledge, we want to instill deep-rooted virtues to sustain the ecological transformation that is required.

* Participating actively and appropriately in the public and political discourse on environmental issues, sharing our religious, moral and spiritual perspectives and uplifting the voices of the weakest, of young people, and of those too often ignored, such as Indigenous Peoples. We underline the importance to reframe environmental debates from being about technical issues alone to include moral issues.

* Engaging our congregations and institutions with their neighbours in the building of sustainable, resilient and just communities, creating and developing resources for local cooperation in, for example, restorative small-scale agriculture and renewable energy cooperatives.

Second, we underline the importance of taking far-reaching environmental action within our own institutions and communities, informed by science and based on religious wisdom. While calling on governments and international organizations to be ambitious, we also recognize the major role we play. We wish to emphasize the importance of:

* Supporting actions to reduce carbon emissions, achieve carbon neutrality, promote disaster risk reduction, improve waste management, conserve water and energy, develop renewable energy, provide green open spaces, conserve coastal areas, prevent deforestation and restore forests. Many of these actions require partnership with farming and fishery communities, especially small-scale and family farmers, whom we will support.

* Working to make bold plans to achieve full sustainability in our buildings, land, vehicles and other properties, joining the global race to save our planet.

* Encouraging our communities to embrace simple and sustainable lifestyles at home, so as to reduce our collective carbon footprint.

* Striving to align our financial investments with environmentally and socially responsible standards, ensuring greater accountability and transparency as the tendency to move away from investments in fossil fuels and toward investments in renewable energy and restorative agriculture is becoming ever more widespread. We will encourage public and private sector stakeholders to do the same.

* Evaluating all the goods we purchase and the services we hire with the same ethical lens, avoiding two different moral standards being applied to the business sector and to the rest of social life. For instance, we will raise awareness in our faith communities about the need to examine our banking, insurance and investment choices, to correct them in line with both the values we proclaim here.

Our hope: a time of grace, an opportunity that we cannot waste

We are currently at a moment of opportunity and truth. We pray that our human family may unite to save our common home before it is too late. Future generations will never forgive us if we squander this precious opportunity. We have inherited a garden: we must not leave a desert to our children.

Scientists have warned us that there might be only one decade left to restore the planet.

We plead with the international community, gathered at COP26, to take speedy, responsible and shared action to safeguard, restore and heal our wounded humanity and the home entrusted to our stewardship.

We appeal to everyone on this planet to join us on this common journey, knowing well that what we can achieve depends not only on opportunities and resources, but also on hope, courage, solidarity and good will.

In an age fraught with division and despair, we look with hope and unity to the future. We seek to serve the people of the world, particularly the poor and the future generations, by encouraging a prophetic vision, a creative, respectful and courageous action for the sake of the Earth, our common home.

Source: UK Government

COP26 President Alok Sharma’s response;

Playing our part to turn the tide on climate change

COP26 President-Designate Alok Sharma’s remarks at the Vatican following the powerful call to action from faith leaders ahead of the climate change summit in Glasgow.

From: Cabinet Office and The Rt Hon Alok Sharma MP
Published 4 October 2021

Your Holiness, Esteemed Faith Leaders, Scientists and Minister.

It is an honour to receive this Appeal.

And I look forward to hearing today from so many inspiring faith leaders from across the world.

Daniele [Guadagnolo] and Federica [Gasbarro] have spoken with great passion, and their energy and sense of urgency echoes so clearly the sentiment I heard throughout the Youth4Climate event in Milan last week.

The climate crisis we face is grave. And entirely of our own making.

A crisis built by human hands.

And it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the challenge.

By the injustice of the situation, where the poorest are suffering the most, having contributed the least to climate change.

But today shows us how we can, and will, turn the tide.

Doing so requires us all to play our part.

Every country and every part of society, mounting a global effort led by those most human qualities, reason and morality. The head and the heart.

Through science we understand the damage we are inflicting on our planet, and its people.

Through morality we comprehend our responsibility to restore the planet and nature.

The Hindu tradition, into which I was born, teaches that nature is divine, and that we must promote the welfare of all living beings.

Religions around the world contain similar teachings.

So we need our youth to continue to call for change, with the passion we have heard today.

We need scientists, with their academic authority, to amplify further their voices in the public debate, and faith leaders to use their moral leadership to make the case for action.

This Appeal does just that, with immense clarity and power.

Forty faith leaders have come together, and working with scientists, have created a powerful call to action for the world.

I thank you for the months of hard work that have gone into this Appeal.

For the commitments you have made to take action.

And for the strength of your message to governments at COP26.

Our priorities are shared.

I too am committed to keeping the 1.5 degree limit alive, to following the science, driving action in vital areas like power and deforestation, and to delivering for developing nations, including vitally on finance, as justice requires.

This Appeal is a powerful call in support of these efforts.

And I commit to working with you all to spread its message to Ministers, world leaders, and all at COP26, in Glasgow where the world will decide the future of our planet and its people.

And I request you to do the same.

Please spread the message of this Appeal far and wide.

As individuals and collectively, you have a very powerful set of voices.

I am very well aware of the scale and the gravity of the task ahead in Glasgow.

But the strength of purpose I have witnessed here today gives me great hope for our collective future.

So I thank all of you for your work, His Holiness and his team for hosting this gathering, and the Hon. Luigi Di Maio and Italy, our partners for COP – and partners in this initiative, thank you.

Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/playing-our-part-to-turn-the-tide-on-climate-change

In my opinion the people behind this dialog won’t be happy until they have rolled back civilisation to the medieval age, when church and state utterly dominated the lives of peasants, and individual liberty for commoners was not even a concept.

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What is the purpose of Taiwan's Taitung County Government ito hold the "SLOW SUPER Taitung Slow Farmer Market"?

To promote sustainable agricultural development

However, the slow food movement faces challenges, including climate change, which threatens global food supply and impacts the poorest countries.

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Content: UN Climate Report Predicts Environmental Disasters
Yokohama, Japan — Scientists reported Monday that climate change is already having a profound impact on every continent and on all the world ’ s oceans.
They also warned that unless greenhouse gas emissions were brought under control, the problem was likely to worsen significantly.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), part of the United Nations, regularly aggregates information on climate science.
The committee concluded that the ice sheet is melting and the ice floes in the Arctic Ocean are disintegrating, while water supplies are strained, heat waves and heavy rains are intensifying, coral reefs are dying, and fish and many other organisms are migrating toward the poles, some even at risk of extinction.
The report also pointed out that the rate of sea level rise is threatening coastal populations, and the oceans are gradually acidifying due to the absorption of carbon dioxide emitted by cars and power plants, resulting in the death or growth of some organisms.
Some of the organic matter that has been frozen in the Arctic soil since before civilization began is melting, and scientists say that turning it into greenhouse gases will only worsen global warming.
Scientists say in the report that the worst is not just that.
In particular, the report stresses that the world's food supply is at great risk -- a threat that could have serious consequences for the poorest countries.
The report is the second of three reports that the world will try to reach consensus on a new global climate agreement next year, and it is expected that these reports will receive considerable attention.
This is one of the most sobering reports the IPCC has published to date.
The committee, along with Al Gore, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 for its efforts to shed light on the risks of climate change.
Monday ’ s report in Yokohama is the culmination of hundreds of authors; details from this and the next draft of the report have been leaked over the past few months.
The final report will be released next month.
The report attempts to explain the impact of environmental change on human society for decades to come.
While economic and technological advances may be offset by the effects of global warming, the report notes that environmental change has the potential to cause considerable disruption.
The report cites the risk of mass death or bodily injury, possible public health hazards, displacement of persons, and the possibility of mass migration.
"Throughout the 21st century, the effects of climate change are expected to slow economic growth, make poverty eradication more difficult, further jeopardize food security, deepen existing poverty traps and create new ones, particularly in urban areas and emerging hunger hotspots," the report said.
The report also listed the potential for violent conflict over land and other resources, indirectly caused by climate change.
Climate change "exacerbates these long-standing drivers of conflict, such as poverty and economic instability."
The scientists stressed that climate change is not just a matter to be considered in the distant future, but a matter of urgency now.
For example, snow is falling in the mountains in many parts of the western United States, threatening local water supplies.
And the only snowfall melts earlier this year, which means there will only be less and less melted snow to ease the hot summer.
In Alaska, the collapse of sea ice has caused huge waves to hit the coastline, causing frequent soil erosion, which has forced multiple coastal communities to migrate en masse.
However, the experts did find a bright spot.
Since the panel released its report in 2007, it has found growing evidence that governments and businesses around the world have launched extensive programs to adapt to the impact of climate change, even as some conservatives and a handful of scientists in the United States continue to deny the problem.
“I think that addressing climate change effectively will be the mission of the great powers, ” said Christopher B. Field, co-chair of the working group that authored the report.
Field is a geoscientist at the Carnegie Institution for Science in Stanford, California.
In some areas, people have shied away from the topic of how to adapt to global warming on the grounds that it would divert attention from the need to cut emissions.
Over the past few years, however, there has been a shift in thinking, and research by some scientists and economic writers has pointed out that both strategies need to be implemented simultaneously.
However, since the world has not succeeded in limiting greenhouse gas emissions, the Committee believes that adaptation efforts are far from being able to cope with the intensification of climate change in the coming decades.
The Committee specifically referred to the risk that, in the wake of a warming climate, farmers would not be able to meet the rapidly growing demand for food.
“If supply is less than demand, then people will not get enough food, ” said Michael Oppenheimer, a climate scientist at Princeton University.“ If people don ’ t get enough food, they will starve. ”
Yeah, I'm worried. "
Oppenheimer contributed to the new report.
According to the report, the world's poorest people have not contributed to global warming at all, yet they will bear the brunt of the consequences as the disruptions of climate change intensify.
The World Bank estimates that poor countries need as much as $100 billion a year to fight the consequences of climate change, but at most they receive only a few billion dollars a year in such aid from rich countries.
Although the $100 billion figure was included in the 2,500-page main report, it was removed from the 48-page summary for world political leaders to read.
At a one-day editorial meeting in Yokohama, the abstract went through a final reading.
This change is one of the most important changes in the review process.
The amendment was made because a number of rich countries, including the United States, questioned the wording, which was revealed by several people in the conference room at the time.
Since the discussions were held in private, they were reluctant to reveal their identities.
The wording is controversial because at a summit of world leaders to be held in New York in September, poor countries will again ask for aid.
Leaders will seek new progress on a new treaty to limit greenhouse gas emissions.
Many rich countries believe that the annual demand of 100 billion U.S. dollars is unrealistic, which is actually asking rich countries to double their overseas aid budgets at a time of domestic economic difficulties.
Such rhetoric has generated growing anger among leaders in poor countries, who feel that their people are paying the price for decades of unbridled consumption in the West.
The international community's efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions over the past two decades have had little success, and it is not clear whether the negotiations in New York this fall will produce any different results.
Although greenhouse gas emissions have begun to decline modestly in many rich countries, including the United States, rising economic powers like China and India emit far more greenhouse gases than the rich countries reduce.
For poorer countries, food is not the only problem, but it may be the most serious.
In recent years, there have been many instances of climatic disturbances in major food-producing areas that have led to imbalances in food supply and demand and, in turn, to higher food prices, which have reversed, at least temporarily, decades of global achievements in the fight against hunger.
The new report contains more sharp warnings about food supplies than any of the committee's previous reports.
This reflects a growing body of research revealing that many crops are sensitive to heat waves and water stress.
David B. Lobel, a Stanford University scientist who has published several articles on the subject, also contributed to the new report.
"Too little research has been done to understand this risk, let alone how to deal with it by improving crop types and agricultural techniques," he said in an interview.
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Despite these challenges, the slow food movement has been successful in promoting sustainable and equitable food systems, and has the potential to make a positive impact on local communities and the environment around the world.

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Content: Supply Chain Failures Prove Growing Need for Localized Economies

The mainstream media — television, print and digital — routinely cycle through the litany of crises gripping the world. One week they’ll tell us about the latest climate disaster. The next, the focus may shift to the war in Ukraine. A few days later, COVID-19’s latest variant might be trending. The hot topic of the day is picked up, described in isolation and then discarded.

What we never hear is the fact that these crises are, in fact, connected. They are symptoms of a global economic system that is not only driving up resource use and pollution; it is squeezing people financially, undermining democracy, concentrating wealth and power in the hands of unaccountable global corporations, and exacerbating conflict and violence.

In addition, recent events have highlighted how vulnerable we are because of our dependence on the global economy. Long-distance supply chains are failing around the world, and the cost of living is skyrocketing as a result.

This is clearest when it comes to our most basic need of all: food. At the grocery store, Americans are paying 10 percent more for food than a year ago, while the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization reports that global food prices hit record highs in March. In the United Kingdom, the price of chicken is set to soon match the price of beef.

Why? Largely because economic globalization — which, in short, involves using public monies and government regulations to favor exports over self-reliance — has ensured that we source our food from ever farther away, via ever longer, more complicated supply chains.

That means that when China shuts down in response to COVID, it affects the whole world. When Russia invades Ukraine, global supplies of grains, vegetable oil and chicken feed are jeopardized. When energy prices rise, so do food prices, because industrial agriculture for export is built on fossil fuel-based fertilizers and fuel-guzzling transport. When synthetic fertilizer production facilities shut down because the price of fracked gas is too high, chemical-dependent farmers’ yields fall.

And when fears grow, they snowball: Countries across the globe have halted food exports for fears of food insecurity.

This would not be nearly so big a problem if the entire globe hadn’t been made so dependent on global trade for basic needs. Consider the fact that global trade volume is now roughly 40 times greater than it was in 1950. As governments — at the behest of global corporations — continue to subsidize and regulate in favor of global trade, people’s lives and livelihoods are at the mercy of middlemen operating transnationally.

Thanks to globalization, food produced regionally or nationally is more likely to be exported than to feed the local population: They’ll eat food imported from elsewhere. The situation is now so absurd that countries regularly import and export nearly identical quantities of identical products. In 2019, for example, the United States imported 1.53 million tons of beef, even as it exported 1.51 million tons. In 2020, Germany was the world’s top importer of butter ($851 million), and also the fourth-largest exporter of butter ($653 million). That year, France both imported and exported about $1 billion worth of beef. These are not outliers but typical examples of “redundant” trade in the global economy.

The list of actual and potential hiccups along these fragile supply chains is virtually endless. Those we have experienced recently include pandemic lockdowns, a blockage in the Suez Canal, and avian flu outbreaks. Last week, the Royal Bank of Canada reported that one-fifth of the global container ship fleet is currently stuck in congestion.

These are but harbingers of worse to come. The global food system itself — based as it is on chemical-intensive industrial monocultures for export — has decimated seed and livestock diversity, and is rapidly eroding topsoil and depleting fertility in our most important food bowls. Add to all this the fact that this food system is responsible for up to 57 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions, and widespread food system collapse is very possibly imminent.

Can we assume that these and other real-world effects will finally lead to a rethinking of “comparative advantage” — a cornerstone of the modern economy? The 1817 theory — an article of faith among supporters of “free trade” and globalization — asserts that if countries specialize in what they produce best and trade for every other need, all countries will be better off.

The theory of comparative advantage may have been plausible 200 years ago, but globe-spanning supply lines make no sense in our increasingly fragile world. During the pandemic, most countries would have been far better off had they relied more on local production, rather than on specialized production for global trade.

Unfortunately, political leaders on both left and right have ignorantly continued to promote economic globalization despite its mounting costs. Their policies have enabled multinational corporations and banks to accumulate immense wealth: By 2000, more than half of the largest economies in the world were corporations. Their wealth enables them to distort the democratic process through campaign donations and vast lobbying efforts, and to spend billions of dollars shaping public opinion through advertising, data mining and media ownership. Trade agreements even allow transnational corporations to sue governments if environmentally or socially conscious laws or regulations get in the way of corporate profits. In short, globalization has reshaped society in the interest of unaccountable, internationally mobile corporations.

For many rather obvious reasons, this is a bad idea. For example, it is the main reason why governments have continuously failed to act on the climate crisis. It is why profit-driven media have become ever more polarizing and incendiary. It is why local businesses are being driven to bankruptcy by global giants, and why communities are being broken apart and amalgamated into ever-bigger, more anonymous, more resource-intensive megacities. It is why billionaires continue to get richer and richer, even as the majority of the world’s people must run ever harder and faster just to stay in place. As the resources needed to fuel this globalized system become more scarce, conflict both within and between countries is seen to rise.

The fact that these seemingly disparate issues are connected by their shared roots in the globalizing economic system is, perhaps counterintuitively, a reason for hope: By focusing on that root cause, we can more easily take steps that address all of those problems simultaneously.

And although we haven’t heard much about it in the media, initiatives across the world are proving the multiple benefits of shifting away from dependence on global corporations toward place-based, community businesses. These projects can be seen on every continent and constitute a movement toward what can best be described as “localization.”

Ordinary people are responding to the specter of food insecurity by boosting localized production of food and other basic needs. At the onset of the COVID pandemic, small farmers from Melbourne, Australia, to Mexico City were able to ramp up production in a matter of weeks to meet a doubling of demand, proving that local farms and businesses are not only much more resilient in the face of global crises but also far more responsive to the needs of their communities. We have heard from a number of sources that these farmers didn’t raise their prices, even though they ended up working harder and employing more people.

Similarly, people are organizing into informal community networks to help each other deal with the havoc of COVID lockdowns and — increasingly — climate shocks. In many cases, these informal groups have proven to be much more effective than centralized bureaucracies. They also galvanize community solidarity and lift people’s spirits in ways that simply cannot be achieved by large-scale organizations.

Because they’re happening under the radar, no figures will do justice to the proliferation of such informal groups. But it is telling that, in the U.K., more than 4,000 mutual aid groups emerged in 2020 alone.

Community mutual aid networks represent but one facet of a much broader movement for localization. Although sorely underrepresented in the mainstream media, concern for climate change, corporate rule and mental health are giving rise to a plethora of localizing responses.

A local food movement is growing on every continent. While the number of farmers’ markets in the U.S. has quadrupled over the last 20 years, organizations fighting for local food sovereignty are among the largest social movements in the world, representing more than 200 million small farmers.

Local food systems — which are based on small-scale, biodiverse production — not only dramatically cut greenhouse gas emissions but actually regenerate the land. Studies by the Rodale Institute suggest that shifting to such techniques on all cultivated and pastureland would enable us to rebuild soils and sequester over 100 percent of current CO2 emissions. This doesn’t mean a reduction in production: Small farms produce up to five times more food per acre than industrial monocultures.

What’s more, reorganizing our economies around local interdependence instead of global dependence would significantly increase community prosperity. A 2021 U.K. study, for example, reveals that local food outlets create three times as many jobs for the same amount of food sold as supermarket chains.

The benefits of localization apply to more than just the food system. A case study on independent versus chain bookstores found that money spent locally left three times as much money in the local economy as money spent at a chain store — resulting in three times the job impacts, three times the income effects, and three times the tax proceeds to local government. Another study showed that every square foot of retail space occupied by a local business generates 70 percent more local economic impact than a chain store.

Meanwhile, regional government support for local, craft-based economies in some parts of rural India has increased earnings by more than 60 percent for hundreds of thousands of people, while slowing the widespread and damaging trend of hyper-urbanization.

Stronger local economies are important not only for the financial and employment benefits they provide, but also for the closer contact with nature and with community they offer. In a Norwegian study, the simple act of community gardening was shown to be more than twice as effective in treating depression as chemical antidepressants. Participants in such programs have overcome devastating mental illnesses and have described their experiences movingly (“as the garden began to bloom, we began to bloom”).

By understanding the root causes of our global crises, we can begin to identify systemic solutions. What’s more, we can also see that these solutions are already being pioneered by ordinary people all across the globe, acting with little if any government support but on goodwill and common sense.

This June, under the banner of “World Localization Day,” numerous projects and networks working toward economic localization are coming together to make their global movement known. The campaign demonstrates that localization is not about isolationism — in fact, cross-cultural collaboration is an integral part of the movement. World Localization Day is also an attempt to break the corporate stranglehold on information: While the mainstream media excels at highlighting the disparate symptoms of systemic breakdown, it fails to connect the dots between these symptoms, nor does it identify the plethora of real-life systemic alternatives.

The next time the daily news makes you painfully aware of the many crises we face, remind yourself that we don’t have to fight each problem on its own. We can instead expose their root causes and work together to withdraw dependence on the global system while reweaving local interdependence. We can join the movement to solve multiple crises at once.

What are the supporters of slow food movement advocating?

What is the purpose of Taiwan's Taitung County Government ito hold the "SLOW SUPER Taitung Slow Farmer Market"?

To promote sustainable agricultural development