[AODA members] Food Aid, Farm Bill: School lunches overseas improvements

Sun Aug 19 10:53:55 PDT 2007

AODA and HEN members (there are several of us who are part of both 
groups, sorry for double postings)

I'm so glad this topic of CARE changing its food aid approach has come 
up.  I started an e-mail to you a month or so ago on the same topic, 
during the rash of Farm Bill e-mails, but I decided to hold off until 
things calmed down.  I also didn't want my comments to affect anyone's 
decision on supporting the topic of this e-mail, School Lunches 
Overseas.  I am in support of supporting these initiatives, but not with 
food aid in most cases.

Attached is an overview of the Fairness Amendment from the Ron Kind site 
(my representative in the USA who is generally superb, I'm so lucky!).  
I appreciate his outlook on life and actions that he takes toward health 
of people and the environment.  But, a part of the Fairness in Farming 
Act that needs re-consideration is how the School Lunches Overseas is 
implemented, this sentence is taken from the ADA alert from July 25 that 
I've left in tact at the bottom of this e-mail:
*· School Lunches Overseas* -- Increases by $1.1 billion the 
McGovern-Dole program to provide school lunches to hungry children in 
developing countries.

I live in one of those hungry countries that has been awarded this type 
of programme and we need to help people to understand the long reaching, 
negative impacts of food aid dependency and to guide this money into 
sustainable food and nutrition programming instead (at least in cases 
where there is no crisis).

The concept is good, but most of these School Lunches Overseas 
programmes run as a 'food aid' programme from a 'donor' country' instead 
of working with the school system to build a permanent system within the 
school to provide school lunches.  These programmes tend to bring in 
food even when there is food in the country.  In fact, the World Food 
Programme calls these programme 'School Feeding' instead of school 
lunches, which emphasizes the dependency of the the programme.

In several countries in Southern Africa, even in the face of 'maize 
deficits' we are working with the school system to develop School 
Permaculture Programmes so schools are able to provide themselves with 
Sustainable Food and Nutrition Security. 

If you have been to Africa you will know that the definition of 'food' 
is very limited, in Malawi largely because of the Colonial and Dictator 
influences, and in other countries their own influential events.  The 
traditional food sources are seen as inferior when they are, in fact, 
just the opposite.  They are resilient, high in nutrients and delicious 
(for the most part).

I will end here for now and contact McGovern and Dole to get a copy of 
the concept to make concrete suggestions how the money can be spent in a 
more sustainable manner that will help these hungry students for their 
entire lives.  I've looked on McGovern's site to no avail.

Towards Sustainable Global Health,
Stacia

*Stacia Nordin photo**
Stacia Nordin, RD
AODA President 2007-8
*President at EatrightOverseas.or*g**
* 	
American Overseas Dietetic Assn Logo
.
www.EatrightOverseas.org
*  Mission*:   Empowering members to lead dietetics globally
*  Vision*:      AODA members are the most valued global
                    advocates for food, nutrition and dietetics
.
Stacia Nordin, RD - School Health & Nutrition Advisor
Basic Education, Ministry of Education
GTZ:   German Technical Cooperation (Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer, 
Technische Zusammenarbeit) GmbH,
Box 31131, Lilongwe, Malawi
www.gtz.de
T/F: +265 1-755-000

Personal:   Kristof, Khalidwe & Stacia Nordin
Crossroads Post Dot Net x-124, Lilongwe, Malawi
nordin at eomw.net
www.NeverEndingFood.org
T: +265 1-707-213
C: +265 9-333-073

Mary Jo Forbord wrote:
> Please act on this very important and time sensitive request from ADA:
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ADA Government Affairs [mailto:Govaffairs at eatright.org] 
> Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2007 2:58 PM
> To: sustainablefarming at hcinet.net
> Subject: Third Farm Bill ACTION ALERT
>
> THIS IS A NEW REQUEST FOR YOUR HELP.
>
>
> PLEASE TELEPHONE THE OFFICE OF YOUR CONGRESSMAN OR CONGRESSWOMAN BY
> THURSDAY, JULY 26. ASK HIM OR HER TO SUPPORT THE "FAIRNESS in Farm and Food
> Policy Amendment."  
>
> We know that we have issued several action alerts in the past weeks related
> to the farm bill, as well as MNT and the early intervention program. Each
> request has been tied to a specific part of the governing process; for
> example, a committee mark-up of legislation, or an agency's call for
> comments.
>
> We are asking you again to contact your House member regarding the farm
> bill. BUT YOU MUST ACT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!
>
> This Thursday, July 26, the full House of Representatives will debate the
> farm bill. The measure going to the floor, H.R. 2419, falls well short of
> ADA's recommendations to improve the nutritional health of all Americans,
> strengthen the food assistance programs, and achieve a better balance in
> farm and food policy.
>
> An amendment -- the "FAIRNESS in Farm and Food Policy Amendment" -- will be
> offered by Reps. Ron Kind (D-WI) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ) to put America on a
> new course for farm and food policy. Not only would this amendment provide a
> reliable safety net for America's farmers, it would also:
>
> * Increase food assistance programs by at least $5.4 billion over five
> years.
> * Provide $1.2 billion more than H.R. 2419 to fund healthy food choices,
> including fruits and vegetables in schools and farmers markets.
> ** Increase by $1.1 billion over five years the McGovern-Dole program that
> provides school lunches to hungry children in developing countries.*
>
> The process is simple. And time is of the essence.
>
> You must call -- not write or email -- your House member today.
>
> If you need to determine your Representative, go to:
> http://www.house.gov and type your zip code in the "Find Your
> Representative" area located at the top left of the page.
>
> Then dial the number at the US Capitol: 202/224-3121. Call that number and
> ask to be connected to your Representative's office. Tell whoever answers
> the phone that you are a constituent, a member of the American Dietetic
> Association, and that you support the "FAIRNESS Amendment" offered by
> Congressmen Kind and Flake to the farm bill. This amendment will better
> serve all Americans' interests, including farmers and their customers.
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