Eat of the Good Things

In 2011 we saw over 12 million people at risk of starvation in East Africa. Famine, unprecedented drought and conflict left millions of people in desperate need of food, water and healthcare. Poor rainfall in Somalia, Kenya, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Uganda led to the driest period in 60 years, causing crop failures and death of livestock. The increase in staple food prices around the world made the situation worse, with families being unable to afford the basic necessities. 

Did you donate to this latest crisis but were left wondering how many more times our brothers and sisters in Africa will have to face starvation and receive aid handouts from rich countries?  How can we start to address some of the longer-term causes behind the food crisis - the global trade rules, climate change, unequal access to resources, overconsumption and wastage in the developed world – which mean 1 billion people around the world go hungry every day?

Did you know that:

• In the UK around £10billion worth of food is thrown away every year

• Growing demand for meat and dairy products in countries including the UK mean that crops like cereal and soya are being used for animal feed pushing up food prices for the world’s poorest people.

• Over the next 60 years, climate change could cause a 50% decline in food yields in countries in sub-Saharan Africa

• Switching our favourite brands for Fairtrade products would ensure that farmers in developing countries are paid a fair price for their goods and have the chance to invest in education and healthcare for their families

Allah commanded us in the Qur’an to “eat of the good things”, eat what is tayyib, meaning pure, wholesome and good.  How often are our food  choices limited to whether something is halal meaning whether it has been killed in the permissible manner, rather than reflecting on where that food comes from, how that animal has been treated during its life and what impact our choices have on the environment and our brothers and sisters around the world?  We’re asking you to think about what you consume and how you can take positive action here in the UK by choosing products that are produced fairly and sustainably, reducing your carbon footprint and advocating for global policies which ensure equal rights for the world’s poorest men and women so they can both produce and purchase enough to eat. To read more about the issues click here

Take action!

We have recruited 20 volunteers to take part in a six month project to connect with issues of food production and the environment as well as being trained to take leadership roles in their communities, build campaigning networks and inspire others to take action.  For more information about this project click here.

You can also take action!

Here are 4 things that you can do to “eat of the good things”!

• Volunteer for one of our community garden projects in east or north London and start growing your own food!

• Say NO to bottled water and start drinking tap!  Bottled water wastes resources, damages the environment and adds to the food crisis.  Find out more about the campaign here.

• A quarter of food purchased in developed countries gets thrown away.  Try to just buy and cook what you will eat and minimise your food waste!

• Make sure that farmers get a fair price for their produce by purchasing fairly traded tea and other products such as dates, fruit and chocolate.  See the list of Fairtrade products here.

Photo credit: Fairtrade Foundation