Article by Josette Combes, Ripess Europe
Many members of RIPESS Europe devote their energy to promoting the quality of agriculture with the aim of providing consumers with quality products. You will find excellent examples in this newsletter.
Thus our Finnish friends in Oma maa cooperative give us an experience of agriculture supported by consumers by recalling that “the primary need is not for the farm to be supported by the community, but rather for the community to support itself through farming.” It is indeed fundamental to remember that it is ultimately the consumer who benefits from the quality of what the producers offer him/ her. We must remember the power that everyone holds by making consumer choices.
In Spain, REAS publishes (in Spanish) a statement published in the magazine Soberanía Alimentaria “For a food system based on agroecology and food sovereignty” « Those of us who subscribe to this declaration consider ourselves informed, conscious, critical and committed citizens, linked in various ways to rurality and food». It is important to underline this.
ZMAG (Zabgreb, Croatia) has joined the Jarunu Public Orchards Initiative, which contribute “not only in greening cities and mitigating the effects of climate change, but are also places to socialize, play and learn”. So many benefits that are added and justify the involvement of users.
In this regard, mention should be made of the Social Market Guide which presents the modes of regulation between exchange partners, namely SSE entities, consumers and investors, as well as the Guide for the drafting of a Social and Solidarity Economy law.
As we can see, agroecology is not enough to feed people well, it is a major contributor to solutions to the climate crisis. For a year, researchers, experts and activists collaborated to develop a comprehensive plan that proposes solutions to the climate crisis. We find their catalog in the article dedicated to them.
Cities that are committed to supporting green energy are beginning to multiply (too little admittedly) and we must welcome their example. Rennes in France is renewing its commitment to Enercoop, the totally renewable electricity cooperative.
One of our international partners, the Universidad del Buen Vivir/ Campaña por un Curriculum Global de la ESS, has established a compendium of “good practices” that have a transformative effect at the territorial level. This collection of Educational Experiences for Living Well, Transformative Practices for Another Possible World will be presented during the World Social Forum in Mexico City 2022. See the article here.
RTES will celebrate its 20th anniversary in May. Last September Chloé Sécher represented the network at the 10th anniversary meeting of RIPESS Europe. A link will allow you to find in the video dedicated to this anniversary some of the participants of this joyful and rich time of exchanges. We also publish this month the interview of Nicolas Krausz, the representative of the Fondation pour le Progrès de l’Homme, carried out at the Bergerie de Villarceaux where we were welcomed.
Let us conclude by recalling that if food is essential, so is Art. The UFISC and its member organizations are taking the initiative to revive the dynamic L’Art Est Public and to call for cultural mobilization. The call can be downloaded here. This is an initiative taken in the context of the presidential and legislative elections in France but which would be intended to circulate throughout Europe and beyond.
To feed the body and mind a noble mission for the times to come.
