Many of my friends would say that on multiple occasions they have experienced a food crisis. It usually happens when I invite them over for lunch or dinner and cook for them and things just don’t quite go to plan. The lasagne burns. I confuse flours and use plain flour rather than self raising flour so that my cake doesn’t rise. Or perhaps I struggle to distinguish between a zucchini and a cucumber and my zucchini slice suffers as a result – cucumber is no substitute for a zucchini. These days I specialise in fruit – I enjoy cutting up apples and peeling oranges and because my name rhymes with banana (Alana) I have a special soft spot for bananas, especially when they are found in a banana cake.The crisis my friends experience when I cook for them is nothing compared to the crisis that 900 million people around the world are currently experiencing as a result of the global food crisis.
Climate Change and Poverty - the connection
As I’ve highlighted in previous blogs relating to climate change, we are at a turning point in history. We will either solve the problems of climate change and poverty together or we will solve neither of them. Climate change is the greatest threat affecting those in the developing world – it affects their ability to grow food to feed their families, results in difficulties in accessing water, makes it difficult to control the spread of infectious diseases and can result in conflicts over dwindling food resources. The climate change conference in Copenhagen is about putting together a new climate treaty as the Kyoto Protocol runs out in 2012. The discussions that will take place in Copenhagen, along with the negotiations that occur around the world in the lead up to December, are some of the most important relating to climate change that the world has ever witnessed. “We can see that we are standing in front of a fork in the road,” Al Gore recently said. “We can say to the scientists ‘we don’t want to listen to you.’ If we take this option, it will no doubt lead to a catastrophic outcome for our generation and those in the developing world. OR “we can respond to the opportunity that this climate crisis presents – the opportunity to take serious action – and invest sensibly in the building of new infrastructure that can make our countries stronger and put people to work and give them money that they can spend to get the economy moving again.”
Al Gore is spot on. I think most of us are cheering for the second option.
But are our everyday actions as individuals enough? No way. The Australian government needs to step up – we need some seriously leadership on climate change.
As I’ve highlighted in previous blogs relating to climate change, we are at a turning point in history. We will either solve the problems of climate change and poverty together or we will solve neither of them. Climate change is the greatest threat affecting those in the developing world – it affects their ability to grow food to feed their families, results in difficulties in accessing water, makes it difficult to control the spread of infectious diseases and can result in conflicts over dwindling food resources. The climate change conference in Copenhagen is about putting together a new climate treaty as the Kyoto Protocol runs out in 2012. The discussions that will take place in Copenhagen, along with the negotiations that occur around the world in the lead up to December, are some of the most important relating to climate change that the world has ever witnessed. “We can see that we are standing in front of a fork in the road,” Al Gore recently said. “We can say to the scientists ‘we don’t want to listen to you.’ If we take this option, it will no doubt lead to a catastrophic outcome for our generation and those in the developing world. OR “we can respond to the opportunity that this climate crisis presents – the opportunity to take serious action – and invest sensibly in the building of new infrastructure that can make our countries stronger and put people to work and give them money that they can spend to get the economy moving again.”
Al Gore is spot on. I think most of us are cheering for the second option.
But are our everyday actions as individuals enough? No way. The Australian government needs to step up – we need some seriously leadership on climate change.
How can young people's voice be heard on Climate Change? 
Youth Decide presents young Australians with the perfect way to give the Australian government permission to get serious about climate change. World Vision have partnered with the Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC) to bring you Australia’s first youth online vote relating to climate change, providing an opportunity for Australians to tell the government how they should tackle climate change in the lead up to Copenhagen. There will be a week in which people can vote – 14 – 21 September 2009 and we’re encouraging Vision Groups and VGenners to mobilise their community on this issue by running an event at their workplace, school, university or community group. The results from this vote will be complied and presented to government leaders to demonstrate that young people believe that the government should be more active on this issue.
During last weekend’s Powershift conference in Sydney, I caught up with a mate Pat (who I randomly met at youth hostel in Kenya earlier this year!!). He sent me a message in relation to Youth Decide today and I thought I’d share it with you -
Youth Decide presents young Australians with the perfect way to give the Australian government permission to get serious about climate change. World Vision have partnered with the Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC) to bring you Australia’s first youth online vote relating to climate change, providing an opportunity for Australians to tell the government how they should tackle climate change in the lead up to Copenhagen. There will be a week in which people can vote – 14 – 21 September 2009 and we’re encouraging Vision Groups and VGenners to mobilise their community on this issue by running an event at their workplace, school, university or community group. The results from this vote will be complied and presented to government leaders to demonstrate that young people believe that the government should be more active on this issue.
During last weekend’s Powershift conference in Sydney, I caught up with a mate Pat (who I randomly met at youth hostel in Kenya earlier this year!!). He sent me a message in relation to Youth Decide today and I thought I’d share it with you -
Youth Decide makes so much sense!
Why wait for 2010 election when the politicians present what they're going to do, and we get to choose between a douche and a turd sandwich?
The idea of holding a nationwide vote and tell them what we want is serious democracy in action - I can't wait to get involved!!
To get involved and find out more about this exciting initiative register at http://www.youthdecide.com.au/
But what about Ethical Consumersim?
Still living and breathing it everyday.
Many VGenners and Vision Group leaders have asked whether Don’t Trade Lives is still a focus in their campaigning especially as we move into promoting the 40 Hour Famine, the global food crisis and climate change. Absolutely – in fact, I know that for many VGenners, ethical consumerism and ensuring that what you consume is ‘slavery free’ is a part of your everyday life as an activist. We have all taken action in different ways and many of us are always looking to new projects or initiatives to increase awareness of these important issues in our everyday life. I recently discovered some very funky ethical clothing – the designer and founder, Hayley has a great website http://www.heidiandseek.com/ and I recommend that you check it out. She is a big advocate for ethical fashion (why should any of us be allowed to look good at the expense of others?) and her clothing is eco-friendly (reconstructured frin 100% recycle materials and reclaimed fabrics and sweat shop free. I must admit that I hate shopping - but my friend Dhakshy and I certainly enjoyed this experience! )
Many VGenners and Vision Group leaders have asked whether Don’t Trade Lives is still a focus in their campaigning especially as we move into promoting the 40 Hour Famine, the global food crisis and climate change. Absolutely – in fact, I know that for many VGenners, ethical consumerism and ensuring that what you consume is ‘slavery free’ is a part of your everyday life as an activist. We have all taken action in different ways and many of us are always looking to new projects or initiatives to increase awareness of these important issues in our everyday life. I recently discovered some very funky ethical clothing – the designer and founder, Hayley has a great website http://www.heidiandseek.com/ and I recommend that you check it out. She is a big advocate for ethical fashion (why should any of us be allowed to look good at the expense of others?) and her clothing is eco-friendly (reconstructured frin 100% recycle materials and reclaimed fabrics and sweat shop free. I must admit that I hate shopping - but my friend Dhakshy and I certainly enjoyed this experience! )
So where is VGen at and what's to come?
The next few months are seriously exciting – STIR sessions across the country relating to climate change and the global food crisis and then World Vision’s 40 Hour Famine!! September will bring us Youth Decide, a week that will certainly be important in the lead up to Copenhagen.
These are historic moments in our lifetime. What are you doing to bring them to life? Or more importantly, what are you doing to ensure that these events, initiatives and campaigns are catalysts for serious change in your life?
The next few months are seriously exciting – STIR sessions across the country relating to climate change and the global food crisis and then World Vision’s 40 Hour Famine!! September will bring us Youth Decide, a week that will certainly be important in the lead up to Copenhagen.
These are historic moments in our lifetime. What are you doing to bring them to life? Or more importantly, what are you doing to ensure that these events, initiatives and campaigns are catalysts for serious change in your life?
Alana Smith.
The ethical purchases...the latest additions to my wardrobe. Very exciting! Make sure you check Hayley's website out. Oh, and just so you know - these pictures aren't me trying to get my modelling career kick started (I gave up on that long ago!) - it's the designer herself!
Read on...
