People Putting Food First #129

Farm to Hospital—A movement that is long overdue
By Christine White

For decades, hospital food has lacked variety, nutrients, and edibility. In recent years large cafeteria vendors and fast and processed foods have dominated hospital cafeterias, limiting patients and employees to very few, nutrient-enriched meal options. However, six years ago a healthy hospital makeover started, and it’s catching on fast. Read more at http://www.foodfirst.org/en/node/2466

Ecuador Paves Way for Terminator Technology?
By Karla Peña

The Food Sovereignty Organic Law in Ecuador was approved by the National Assembly with President Rafael Correa’s Partial Veto in March of this year.

The Food Sovereignty Organic Law of Ecuador elaborates on the constitutional law proposed in September, 2008 with the duty to promote and guarantee to its population nutritious and culturally appropriate food by providing mechanisms to convert to agroecological practices. Through public credits, subsidies and mitigation efforts, the State will prioritize on the internal market and national availability of food supply. Land will serve its social and environmental function; generating employment, equitable distribution of income, productive utilization and conservation of biodiversity. Read more at http://www.foodfirst.org/en/node/2465

By Leonor Hurtado

Representatives of the Via Campesina-Central America held a meeting on March 29-31, 2009 to determine their position on the Association Trading Accord between Central America and the European Union. The Central America Via Campesina, which includes 42 peasant and indigenous organizations representing more than 700,000 families, rejected the Trading Accord because this free trade agreement would favor 27 developed countries of Europe over the 6 undeveloped countries of Central America.

Via Campesina of Central America claim that the Accord will destroy national sovereignty and steal national resources. They also state that in the EU treaty negotiation, the governments of Central America are not considering the best interest of their own citizens; instead favoring business interests. Via Campesina-Central America invites all popular organizations to join their struggle for food sovereignty, an integral agrarian reform, and the respect of human rights.

http://movimientos.org/ (Spanish & Portuguese)