FOOD SECURE SASKATCHEWAN ANNOUNCES ITS FORMATION
Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 7:12 pmFOOD SECURE SASKATCHEWAN ANNOUNCES ITS FORMATION
ON WORLD FOOD DAY
www.foodsecuresaskatchewan.ca
PRESS RELEASE October 16, 2006
Contact:
Ms. Twyla Markham Co-Chair (306) 227-7703
Dr. Rick Sawa Co-chair (306) 953-7234
Organization concerned about food security of Saskatchewan Citizens and Communities.
Challenges government of Saskatchewan to develop provincial strategy to promote food security.
SASKATOON…Food Secure Saskatchewan (FSS) a provincial organization is pleased to announce its formation on October 16th, World Food Day.
“Food Secure Saskatchewan”, according to its co-chair, Twyla Markham, “was officially formed in 2005, to advocate for and work towards improved food security policies and programs for Saskatchewan residents”.
FSS will do this by fostering coordination and cooperation among food organizations and by working across sectors with all involved in the delivery of a healthy sustainable food system. Food Secure Saskatchewan has a diverse membership of over 150 including farmers, nutritionists, civil servants, food program volunteers, advocates, First Nations residents and community leaders.
Building the capacity of families and communities, shifting the focus from short term relief to strength-based approaches to food issues and developing policy alternatives for governments are key ingredients of the organization. “To inform this work”, said Markham, “there were three food security roundtable discussion groups held between December 2004 and May 2005 in Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, and LaRonge, culminating in a report which can be found on our website www.foodsecuresaskatchewan.ca”. These roundtables led to a food security conference in May 2006 in Prince Albert. the proceedings of which are attached.
“Governments have a legal obligation to respect, protect and fulfill the right to food“ stated Rick, co-chair of FSS, “that is in sync with the United Nations 2002 declaration. We encourage the government to continue working with us and we are offering to meet with caucus to discuss food security in the province”. FSS wholeheartedly agrees with Recommendation 3.2 of Making It Happen, the 2002 report of the Saskatchewan Council of Children, which stated that ‘(t)he government of Saskatchewan (should) develop a provincial food strategy, in partnership with communities and business, to promote food security’.
“There is a growing movement and atmosphere throughout the province related to food security as is evidenced by the development of food charters in Saskatoon, Prince Albert and North East Saskatchewan”, said Sawa.
Let this launch be the occasion for new resolutions – to get moving on investing in agriculture for food security. It would make a dramatic contribution to the well being of Saskatchewan people.
Food Security exists when all people at all times have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life
(World Food Summit, Rome, 1996).
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ON WORLD FOOD DAY
www.foodsecuresaskatchewan.ca
PRESS RELEASE October 16, 2006
Contact:
Ms. Twyla Markham Co-Chair (306) 227-7703
Dr. Rick Sawa Co-chair (306) 953-7234
Organization concerned about food security of Saskatchewan Citizens and Communities.
Challenges government of Saskatchewan to develop provincial strategy to promote food security.
SASKATOON…Food Secure Saskatchewan (FSS) a provincial organization is pleased to announce its formation on October 16th, World Food Day.
“Food Secure Saskatchewan”, according to its co-chair, Twyla Markham, “was officially formed in 2005, to advocate for and work towards improved food security policies and programs for Saskatchewan residents”.
FSS will do this by fostering coordination and cooperation among food organizations and by working across sectors with all involved in the delivery of a healthy sustainable food system. Food Secure Saskatchewan has a diverse membership of over 150 including farmers, nutritionists, civil servants, food program volunteers, advocates, First Nations residents and community leaders.
Building the capacity of families and communities, shifting the focus from short term relief to strength-based approaches to food issues and developing policy alternatives for governments are key ingredients of the organization. “To inform this work”, said Markham, “there were three food security roundtable discussion groups held between December 2004 and May 2005 in Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, and LaRonge, culminating in a report which can be found on our website www.foodsecuresaskatchewan.ca”. These roundtables led to a food security conference in May 2006 in Prince Albert. the proceedings of which are attached.
“Governments have a legal obligation to respect, protect and fulfill the right to food“ stated Rick, co-chair of FSS, “that is in sync with the United Nations 2002 declaration. We encourage the government to continue working with us and we are offering to meet with caucus to discuss food security in the province”. FSS wholeheartedly agrees with Recommendation 3.2 of Making It Happen, the 2002 report of the Saskatchewan Council of Children, which stated that ‘(t)he government of Saskatchewan (should) develop a provincial food strategy, in partnership with communities and business, to promote food security’.
“There is a growing movement and atmosphere throughout the province related to food security as is evidenced by the development of food charters in Saskatoon, Prince Albert and North East Saskatchewan”, said Sawa.
Let this launch be the occasion for new resolutions – to get moving on investing in agriculture for food security. It would make a dramatic contribution to the well being of Saskatchewan people.
Food Security exists when all people at all times have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life
(World Food Summit, Rome, 1996).
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