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Frances Moore Lappé
"Diet for a Small Planet" turned 30 this past year! Frances Moore
Lappé and her daughter Anna Lappé have published a new,
totally revised and revamped 30th Anniversary sequel, called "Hope's Edge." For information about the book and many related projects, visit
www.dietforasmallplanet.com.
Here are some web sites recommended by Frances and Anna, as a result of
what they learned on their extensive book tour. These sites provide good
examples of effective, inspiring grass roots activism throughout the USA:
- On our book tour across the country, we met thousands of students who proved (as if we
needed proof!) that all young people aren't just apathetic,
Adidas-obsessed consumers. In Northampton, Massachusetts, we spoke to
inspiring students who are part of The National Student Coalition
Against Hunger and Homelessness.
- At Mt. Holyoke College, before our speech folks from Nuestras Raices
told about their community center/garden/restaurant sprouting new civic life and developing job skills.
- The Food Project: The Food Project brings together thousands of youth and adults to grow organic vegetables that are donated to homeless shelters and sold at urban farmers' markets and to families in suburban Boston.
Our youth workers and volunteers farm on 21 acres of land in rural Lincoln and on urban Boston land that they have transformed from vacant lots into lush, city farms.
The Food Project is a place where people from all backgrounds join together to work for more livable communities.
- The White Dog Café in Philadelphia is not only the one restaurant in the
country run solely on wind power, but also the hub of all kinds of
education programs and partnerships to build a strong local economy.
- In Madison, we spoke to a rousing fair trade convention and met more farmers and marketers from Organic
Valley, supporting small farmers by building a
marketing cooperative with national, even international, distribution
that keeps profits coming back home.
- In Oregon, we met citizen groups like NorthWest Resistance Against
Genetic Engineering who are undaunted by the size and
power of some of the biggest multinational companies and are standing up
for what they believe in: a market free of GE foods (GMOs).
- In Pittsburgh, we felt privileged to help commemorate the 40th
anniversary of Silent Spring at the Rachel Carson Institute now taking off under the leadership of Ellen
Dorsey. Recipes from Hope's Edge topped off the evening!
- And in Arcata, California, we celebrated with pro-democracy groups who
succeeded in getting the town to declare "no more fast food chains,"
capping at the present number those allowed to set up shop there. (More
info: cienfuegos@igc.org).
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Marion Nestle, author of "Food Politics," shows how the food industry has been intricately involved in
shaping what Americans think is healthy and good for us. She also talks
about the huge power of these industries and how they've gotten so many
of the people charged with keeping us healthy cowering. As if to prove
her point, the sugar industry has already sent Nestle a threatening
letter (you can read it at www.foodpolitics.com)
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