Get Up, Stand Up
In Vancouver this October, young people from around the world stood up for what they believed-literally. The young people, ages 14 to 26, were delegates to the annual Community Food Security Coalition. As a way to foster dialogue about the movement, participants were asked to place themselves along an imaginary line according to how much they agreed or disagreed with a read statement.
Below are some of the statements and a few of the opinions expressed.
Statement #1: I feel like I am part of a movement.
“Actively choosing how you spend your money, time, and energy IS the revolution. This means having control over your own life and needs, it means not letting outside forces have control over you.”
“Saying movement sounds like a pretty big claim, but just by agreeing with the movement, you are part of it. You don’t have to be radical but by saying this is what I believe in and what I stand for makes you part of the movement.”
“In my work I build raised beds with volunteers and teach others how to build raised beds themselves. I’m always surprised at how many kids show up, some of them very young, and they’re excited to get involved. It’s not just about adults getting food, it’s also about teaching kids that they can grow their own food and provide for themselves. It’s hard to change the mind of someone older, but when we teach a kid it sinks in and then they’ll teach their kids and it spreads.”
Statement #2: The World will be a better place in 40 years.
“I understand why people would strongly disagree with this statement - people in power are making bad decisions - but enough people are getting pissed off, more and more are becoming disempowered. Soon there will be billions of people who are ready to do what it takes to change things. If we all make it happen, we can cause massive change - though it may be quick and uncomfortable.”
“My first instinct was to disagree, but I remembered that every time I get scared and lose hope that things are getting better I meet someone who reminds me that change is happening, consciousness is changing, especially among young people. I want to share that I have hope. There’s something happening, it’s getting bigger and stronger and things are changing.”
“I’m not an optimist but I have a different definition of better. Coming from a place where we live with a strong sense that things go on and at the same time a sense that everything ends. It’s a very old place and culture, it has collapsed several times, there is wreckage of that everywhere. I also have a deep agrarian perspective that everything dies - but death isn’t a finality. I’m not imagining anything rosy but things will take their course.”
Statement #3: Food is THE issue.
“It’s so simple in my mind - we all eat. It’s the lowest common denominator. Why not start with food as a way to change everything.”
“I come from Hawaii, far way from everything else. Food is everything there. We get 93% of our goods imported. I feel we need to change. Food is the start; we can’t go on without food. Healthy food is everything.”
“Food is an issue but it ties into religion, land, people, and water. It all comes to one thing - life. I try not to look at the different countries as separate places, but at the whole world. Everything is related.”
We invite you think think about these statements yourself. Where do you fall along the spectrum? We hope the questions and opinions we have shared here will inspire you to engage in similar discussions, introducing this type of movement thinking into your own community.