Hi All,

I just finished my interview with Graham Riches, talking about his new book, Food Bank Nations; Poverty, Corporate Charity and the Right to Food, and how some of the riches countries on this planet (like the USA) don’t take responsibility for providing food to their needy, as a basic human right. Food Banks started out as a temporary, emergency response to hunger, and they have now turned into the expected norm. It has allowed governments to look the other way, leaving the burden of caring for the hungry to volunteers, religious organizations and corporations. Corporations are happy to donate their leftover, cheap, unhealthy food, to food banks, and use the PR to greenwash their efforts, while poisoning the population with their processed foods. It is a misconception that poor people are lazy and are looking for free handouts. That is what our government wants you to think, but the reality is that the majority of people in need are working more than one full time job, but they are paid so poorly, that they can’t make ends meet. Many of the poor are mothers, children and the elderly who are not able to work. We need to honor the basic rights that every person should be entitled to, food, clothing, and a place to live, and we need our governments to take on that responsibility. It shouldn’t be left to charity, and it certainly shouldn’t be left to corporations who get to greenwash their donations as altruistic acts of kindness.

Once again, we are called to come together in solidarity, to put pressure on our governments to address poverty, hunger, and economic inequality. We can’t depend on donations, and we certainly can’t expect our government to do anything about it, if we don’t make them do it!!  Save the date to March in DC on September 8th for Climate Change, Jobs, and Justice.

In the meantime, if you missed my interview with Graham Riches, please check it out here, and share it with your friends and circles.