2005 Annual Report

30 Years of Fighting for the Right of All to Feed Themselves and Their Families

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In our 30^th anniversary
year, Food First deconstructed the systemic and structural causes of
hunger, poverty, and environmental degradation and continued
identifying, disseminating and creating socially and ecologically
viable alternatives. We continued working to reclaim agriculture for
our communities and to re-orient our food system to benefit people
and restore our environment.

Food First's work in 2005 began by
fundraising for Via Campesina's grassroots tsunami relief and
reconstruction in Indonesia, Thailand, India, Bangladesh, and Sri
Lanka, and publicizing their calls for aid policies that support
local farmers.

Food First participated in the World
Social Forum in Porto Alegre, Brazil, in January, 2005, and took part
in strategy meetings with the global small-scale farmers’
organization Via Campesina, Brazil’s Landless People’s Movement
(MST), the Our World is Not for Sale Coalition, Rede Social de
Justica e Direitos Humanos, the Food First Information and Action
Network, Action Aid, the Food Trade and Nutrition Network, and many
other organizations. Reports and photos from the World Social Forum
are available at http://www.foodfirst.org/wsf2005.

At the invitation
of the Laotian Department of Agriculture, Food First sent two Cuban
agricultural specialists to Laos to develop natural alternatives to
pesticide use, and teach sustainable farming techniques to peasant
farmers from around the country.

In October Food
First brought Mangaliso Kubheka, of South Africa's Landless People's
Movement, to the U.S. to speak about Food Sovereignty and the link
between land access and food security for farmers worldwide. Events
in the Southern U.S., the East Coast, and the San Francisco Bay Area
involved academics, activists, policymakers and youth, and
highlighted the need for farmers and activists worldwide to speak
with a unified voice and support grassroots solutions to hunger.

Food First
celebrated our 30^th anniversary on October 18, with a
workshop on sustainable development as the path to ending hunger and
poverty in the U.S. and Africa. This was followed by a dinner, where
the Institute presented Food First Economic and Social Human Rights
Awards to three organizations: Vía Campesina, The Coalition of
Immokalee Workers, and the Farm Fresh Choice project of the Berkeley
Ecology Center.

Research and Analysis

This year we released updated versions
of three well-loved Food First books: the 2nd edition of Breakfast
of Biodiversity: The Political Ecology of Rainforest Destruction,
the expanded 11th edition of Alternatives to the Peace Corps: A
Guide to Global Volunteer Opportunities, and the 3rd edition of
Basta! Land and the Zapatista Rebellion in Chiapas, with a new
chapter.

Food First released a major research
report analyzing North Korea’s famine and its food system in May
2005. Food First backgrounders in 2005 included: US Farm
Subsidies and the Farm Economy: Myths, Realities, Alternatives,
which debunks the myth that subsidies cause overproduction; Rights
Fight: Local Democracy vs. Factory Farms in Pennsylvania, shows
how small communities targeted by corporate agribusiness fought back,
fending off the threat of polluting factory farms through the
fighting spirit of civic participation; and Going Local on a
Global Scale: Rethinking Food Trade in the Era of Climate Change,
Dumping, and Rural Poverty argues that artificially cheap food on
the world market makes hungry people hungrier.

Rural-Urban Migration and the
Stabilization of Cuban Agriculture was published on the Food
First website, providing a case study of how Cuba's successful
transition from a “green revolution” food system to one based on
agroecology improved food security on the island.

Media, Outreach and Education

Food First continues to use the media
as a powerful tool for communicating our analysis, and our staff is
regularly sought out for our analysis and commentary on current
events.

Over the last year, Food First articles
and analysis have appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, San
Jose Weekly, The New Standard, Common Dreams, Counterpunch, Yale
Globe, Polityka (major Polish news magazine), The
Village Voice, Plenty Magazine, and Harpers Magazine.
Food First staff have been interviewed on the BBC, Berkeley's KPFA,
New York's WBAI, Portland's KBOO, Bridgeport's WPKN, Environmental
Directions radio series, and San Francisco's Live105; additionally,
staff members spoke on college campuses and at conferences around the
country.

In May, we launched the redesigned Food
First's website, which allows users to find publications by issue
area, geographic focus, author, or publication type, and discover
additional relevant content with our "article tools"
feature.

Food First's op-ed "We Need GM
Food Like a Hole in Our Kidneys" highlighted both the ecological
and bodily harm caused by GMOs, and called for a sustainable solution
to hunger. Food First staff joined the vigorous opposition to CAFTA,
publishing a fact sheet on CAFTA and the op-ed “Channel CAFTA
Energy Toward the WTO.” Counterpunch published Food First's
take on the G8's plan for debt forgiveness and what real debt relief
would entail.

Food First Books 2005 Releases

In May 2005, Food First Books released the third edition of BASTA! Land and the Zapatista Rebellion in Chiapas by George A. Collier with Elizabeth Lowery Quaratiello that was originally released in 1994. In a new chapter, Connecting the Local to the National and the Global, the authors trace the continuing story of the Zapatista movement, especially as its legacy has helped shape global resistance to neoliberal economic policy, free trade, and corporate consolidation and control. This third edition situates the Zapatistas within the context of the rise of global civil society as key players in developing alternatives to global finance and trade.

The thoroughly updated second edition of Breakfast of Biodiversity: The Political Ecology of Rain Forest Destruction by John Vandermeer and Ivette Perfecto was released in July 2005. 

The destruction of tropical rain forests spurs global warming and greatly reduces the biodiversity that is part of a resilient environment. Vandermeer and Perfecto, with 50+ combined years of experience studying tropical rain forest ecology, use their knowledge to analyze how land security, environmental agriculture, and democracy are key components needed to save these forests. In this updated edition of the 1995 publication, the authors discuss important new advances in our understanding of rain forest biology and examine the impact of a decade of “free” trade on Central America’s rain forests and the people who live in and around them.

The all new 11th edition of Alternatives to the Peace Corps: A Guide to Global Volunteer Opportunities, was released in October 2005. This thoroughly revised, updated, and expanded edition contains over 100 carefully selected listings of organizations in the U.S. and abroad that enable volunteers to work for peace and social justice. Especially helpful to a new volunteer are the sections on how to decide what kind of volunteer opportunity is right for you, how to evaluate an organization, how to budget and raise money to fund your experience, and how to carry forward with the lessons you learn while volunteering.

These new books, along with other Food First classics, can be ordered by calling 510-654-4400 or on line at www.foodfirst.org/books. To request a printed catalog, send a post card to 398 60th St, Oakland, CA 94618 or fax to 510-654-4551. Examination and desk copies can be requested by mail or fax. Each examination copy is $5 plus $2.50 for shipping and handling in the U.S. and $5 shipping and handling in Canada.

Thank you for your generous and loyal support in 2005. Donations by individuals, organizations, and small businesses, and grants from foundations provide the basic support for Food First’s work aimed at obtaining the right of all people to resources for a healthy life, including the right to feed themselves and their families. Space does not allow the listing of all of our generous donors. Please know that your support is vitally important as we move toward greater equity, peace and understanding. We value your activist collaboration.

Foundation, religious and business support

Alliance for Democracy, Saint Louis, MO • Alliance for
Democracy, Peace & Green Party • Asplundh Foundation
• Barbara and Victor Ulmer Fund of the Agape Foundation
• Bellman Allan Trust • Bernice Jenkins Foundation • Bird
in Hand Farm • Blossoms Montessori • Blue Hill Coop •
Border Crossings • Brattleboro Food Co-op • Bullfrog Films
Inc. • California Orchids • Capsule Connection • Church of
the Epiphany • Citybikes Workers Cooperative • Clermont
Foundation • Collaborative Change Works • Dominican
Sisters of Mission San Jose • Dominicans of St Catharine •
Ecology Action • Edwand Handelman Fund • Elan Organics
Coffees • Emerald Valley Kitchen • Endicott Charitable Trust
• Eppler Fund, Austin Community Foundation • Feinstein
Foundation • Fireland Open Schools • Food Conspiracy •
Frame Surveying & Mapping • Franciscan Justice, Peace
& Integrity of Creation Office • Gendler Family Foundation
• Ginia Davis Wexler Trust • Glickenhaus Foundation •
Golden State Lodge • Gratitude House • Greenhaven Press
• Hampshire Group Limited • Harold K. Raisler Foundation
• Hill-Snowdon Foundation, • Holden Village Resource
Center • I & R Foundation • InJoy Videos • Institute for
Integrative Nutrition • James Irvine Foundation • Joseph
Rosen Foundation • Kai Pond Builders Inc. • Kirby Sack
Properties Inc. • Knoll Farms • Kurz Family Foundation
• Lawson Valentine Foundation • Lifework Foundation •
Lincoln Crow Strategies Communications • Maine Coast Sea
Vegetables • Making Waves • Marrone Construction Inc. •
Maryknoll Office for Concern, Peace, Social Justice, and
Integrity of Creation • McKenzie River Gathering Foundation
• Meshewa Farm foundation • Morning Glory Natural
Foods • Muse Family Foundation • National Community
Development Institute • Natural Harvest Farm • New Pioneer
Coop • New Society Fund • New World Foundation • Novich
Family Foundation • Nutrition for Optimal Health Associates
Inc. • Office Information Systems • On Shore Foundation
• One World Family Way, Inc. • Pacific Bakery Inc. •
Pax Christi of New Orleans • Peaceworks • Philanthropic
Ventures foundation • ProQuest • Rainbow Grocery
Cooperative • Real Food Store • Russell’s Garden Center
Charitable Foundation Inc. • Saint John Vianney Parish •
San Francisco Medical Research • School Sisters of Notre
Dame, Mankato • School Sisters of Notre Dame, Saint Louis
• SEI Investments • Sinsinawa Dominicans Inc. • Sisters
of Charity of Cincinnati • Sisters of Charity of Nazareth •
Sisters of Charity of the BVM • Sisters of Saint Dominic •
St. Joseph Church, Hawthorne, CA • St. Joseph Church,
Laguna, NM • Teitel Family Trust • The Food Project •
The RMF Foundation Inc • The Thanksgiving Fund • The
Tzedakah Fund • The West Fund • The Winky Foundation •
Tides Foundation • Tompkins Charitable Gift Fund • Trillium
Natural Foods • United Methodist Church, General Board
of Global Ministries • Villa St Joseph • Weller Investment
Company • Womanshare • Wooden Shoe Gardens • World
Hunger Year

In-kind donors 2005

Acme Bread Company • Avalos Farm • Berkeley Bowl •
Blossom Bluff Orchards • Blue Heron Farm • Catalan Farm
• Eco Village Farm • Firme Farm • Fitz Fresh Mushrooms •
Frey Vineyards • Frog Hollow Farm • Full Belly Farm • Happy
Boy Farm • Kamameshi House • Inkworks Press • Lundberg
Family Farm • McLaughlin Coffee Company • Riverdog Farm
• Semifreddis Bakery • Tip Top Farm • Trader Joe’s • Vital
Vittles • Whole Foods

Collaborating Organizations and Coalitions

Action Aid • Africa Action • Alameda County Community
Food Bank • Black Farmers and Agriculturists Association
• California Food and Farming Coalition • California Food
and Justice Coalition • Center for African Studies, Stanford
University • Clinton Library • Coalition of Immokalee
Workers • Community Food Security Coalition • Farm
Fresh Choice Program of the Ecology Center • Federation
of Southern Cooperatives • Focus on the Global South •
Food First Information and Action Network International
• Food Systems Working Group—UC Santa Cruz • Food
Trade and Nutrition Network • Friends of the MST • Global
Exchange • Heifer Project • House Subcommittee on
Africa—Global Human Rights and International Operations
• International Development Exchange • Korea Solidarity
Committee • Land Access Membership Action Team •
Land Loss Prevention Project • Land Research Action
Network • Landless People’s Movement, South Africa •
Landless Workers Movement (MST), Brazil • Laos Ministry
of Agriculture • National Campaign on Sustainable
Agriculture’s Commodity Policy Dialogue • National
Family Farm Coalition • Organic Consumers Association
• Our World is Not for Sale Coalition • Oxfam Solidarity,
Belgium • People’s Grocery • Pesticide Action Network
• Rede Social de Justica e Direitos Humanos • Robert F.
Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights • Small World
Institute • TransAfrica Forum • University of Agriculture,
Havana • Via Campesina • Washington Office on Africa •
World Social Forum • World Watch Institute

Support the right to food and human dignity for all

Your generous support of Food First’s work allows us to monitor, question, and propose alternatives to unfair and unhealthy government and corporate decisions. We are proud to partner with so many like-minded donor activists who share our vision of a good life for all people, not just the wealthy.

Your participation in making this happen is as important as your financial support. Here are some ways you can help:

• Sign up to receive our “We Are Fighting Back” e-mail newsletter, full of inspiring stories of people around the world who are mobilizing and organizing for change. Return the form below or go to www.foodfirst.org/newslettersignup.
  
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• Share Food First information, including this issue of Food First News & Views, with friends and ask them to participate in actions we suggest. You can direct people to this report at www.foodfirst.org/annualreport.
  
• Recommend Food First books to teachers and librarians. Purchase books to donate to libraries.
  
• Form a study group using Food First materials. Materials can be printed from the web site. To order books, go to www.foodfirst.org/books.
• Make a donation in memory of or in honor of a special someone. Gift memberships, T-shirts, or Food First books can be given for weddings, anniversaries, graduations, or birthdays. See coupon below or go to www.foodfirst.org/books.

Help us Secure a Future of Food for All

Member support is the foundation upon which Food First builds consistent action, allowing our work to continue until all people have attained basic economic and social human rights. In addition to your generous continuing donations, please consider planning for the future.

• Remember the Institute for Food and Development Policy in your will. For suggested language, check the box below and we will send you information.
• Join the Pooled Income Fund—your donation of $5,000 or more allows you to receive a tax deduction. Call Marilyn for details at 510-654-4400 ext. 234.
• Donate appreciated stocks, bonds, or property. You receive a tax deduction for your gift and also reduce capital gains tax. For transfer instructions go to www.foodfirst.org/stockgift.
• Name the Institute for Food and Development Policy as beneficiary on your life insurance policy or retirement savings. Your insurance agent or personnel manager can give you these forms. Your paid-up life insurance policy can also be donated to the Institute.