“The greatest change we need to make is from consumption to production, even if on a small scale, in our own gardens. If only 10% of us do this, there is enough for everyone. Hence the futility of revolutionaries who have no gardens, who depend on the very system they attack, and who produce words and bullets, not food and shelter.” ~ Bill Mollison
The world has become a complicated place: there are so many crises and problems that we sometimes don’t know where to start!
Many think whatever individuals do is never enough, so they give up before even trying. Others have been working towards a better world for years, only to hit a wall and become overwhelmed and burn out when things don’t turn out as they expected.
Sometimes, I also wish I had a magic wand! Or to run and hide in a nice cabin in the woods, a small urban farm where I can just stay away from bad, sad and overwhelming news and take care of my loved ones.
I have thought long and deep about this and came up with something really basic: what if there is an area where we each (individuals, businesses, schools, workplaces, communities, governments at all levels, etc.) can make small changes, small interventions that would ripple far and wide now and into the future?
What if it is that simple?
It would be embarrassing, but wouldn’t it be also great?
Archimedes, the great Greek philosopher, scientist and engineer once said: “Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world. ”
What if that lever actually exists?
This is what I came with: you may have your own ideas (and I would love to hear them!), but this is my contribution as a blogger, food sovereignty advocate and practitioner:
Food is the main basic thing we can change. (the “lever”): why? Because everyone eats! Rich and poor, young and old, no matter their culture, ethnicity, worldview, etc., all people eat…
If we change the way we eat, we can literally “Change the World”
I’m not talking about lifestyles or fad diets. I’m talking about thinking and then changing the way we eat at all levels:
- What we eat: how it is made, where it comes from, who made it, etc.
- How we eat: mindfully or mindlessly?
- Where we eat: at home, community, in front of a computer, on the go?
- Why we eat: to feed whatever craving we have or to nourish, heal and keep our bodies healthy?
- How the food we eat impacts the people, ecosystems, other beings and communities?
- How do we plan, buy, storage, show respect and eventually dispose of the food we eat?
We could make many other questions, but this week I want to leave you with the though of the power you have in your mouth and digestive system:
What are the impacts you could have?
- In your health and that of your loved ones
- In your community economic well-being and resilience
- In the environment and other beings who share this world with us
- In other communities around the world as your choices respect their choices and livelihoods
- In decisions and choices small and big businesses do around how they produce, distribute, prepare and dispose of food
What small change can you make this week that would improve the lives of others?
“Though the problems of the world are increasingly complex,
the solutions remain embarrassingly simple.”
~ Bill Mollison