World Food Day – Opportunities For Media

As World Food Day approaches on Tuesday 16 October and following the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) announcement that globally almost 870 million people remain chronically undernourished, ActionAid is organising:

• Spokespeople from across the globe to speak on the causes, impacts and solutions to hunger.

• Events across the world, including high impact photo and filming opportunities and background briefings on hunger and land grabs.

LAND GRABBING BRIEFING PAPER (16 Oct)

Large scale land acquisitions by national and international investors are increasingly impacting on food insecurity in poor countries. ActionAid’s briefing paper ‘Lay of the Land’ looks at land grabbing across 24 countries, outlining the actions that poor countries can take to mitigate land grabs and protect the rights of affected communities.

AMERICA:
Report: Fuelling the Food Crisis: The Cost to Developing Countries of U.S. Corn Ethanol Expansion

Depleted corn supply from US drought has caused increased concern over rising food prices. Meanwhile, 40% of corn supply in US is diverted to fuel. ActionAid USA’s latest report, Fueling the Food Crisis: The Cost to Developing Countries of U.S. Corn Ethanol Expansion, shows which nations will pay the most from higher corn prices, amidst US mandates to divert food crops to fuel. The ActionAid study is based on Tufts University research.


PHOTO EXHIBITION (15-21 Oct) Tap Gallery, Darlinghurst, Sydney: ActionAid Australia will launch its Exposing Hunger: Capturing Solutions photo exhibition. Competition winner and photographer Lani Holmberg travelled to Kenya to photograph an ActionAid project. Holmberg’s photos along with others in the exhibit depict the ingenuity, strengths and resilience of Kenyan and Zimbabwean communities fighting poverty and hunger.


PANEL DEBATE (18 Oct) Tap Gallery, Darlinghurst, Sydney: How well placed are local food movements and cooperatives to address the global food crises?Among images of Kenyan and Zimbabwean communities fighting poverty and hunger journalist, Tracey Spicer will moderate an international panel of experts as they discuss whether localism can help to address the challenges of the global food system. Speakers include, Bjay Kumar, ActionAid’s Head of International Emergencies and Zimbabwean farmer, Sarudazi Nyakueskwa. Attendance is free; please RSVP @ http://www.eventbrite.com.au/event/4416788734

BRAZIL:

SNOW WHITE PHOTO & FILMING OPPORTUNITY (16 Oct)

Snow White’s wicked stepmother (representing large scale agriculture) will be handing out beautiful but ‘poisoned’ apples to Snow White and the general public. The stunt will highlight the toxic nature of industrial scale farming and how it cannot not feed the world.

GAMBIA, KENYA & NEPAL:

MOBILE PHONE SMS CAMPAIGN (16 Oct)

ActionAid has launched an innovative twitter campaign, connecting Gambia, Nepal and Kenya in a debate on the very real threat of land grabs and food insecurity faced daily by poor people in these countries. NGO’s are increasingly using mobile phone technology to connect with communities on food prices, disaster and health issues.

GREECE:

E-SHOP LAUNCH (16 Oct)

ActionAid Hellas in Greece will launch locally produced Greek products in their e-shop. The products include, honey, jam, sauces and handmade soap, which have been made, grown and manufactured by women’s cooperatives. The launch of the online products at a time of economic austerity for Greece, creates a bridge of solidarity between small scale producers in Europe, Africa and Asia and demonstrates that sustainable development should be based on the people of each country. Profits from the products will support producers in Greece and also ActionAid’s work in developing countries. Spokespeople available.

ITALY:

UN MEETING OF AGRICULTURE MINISTERS (16 Oct)

ActionAid is calling on Agriculture Ministers to scrap biofuel ‘food to fuel’ policies, as they prepare to meet at the FAO in Rome to discuss skyrocketing food prices. The meeting follows calls from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), World Bank and other major global organisations for an end to biofuel mandates which are pushing up global food prices. Spokespeople available.

LAUNCH OF COOKBOOK – RECIPES AGAINST HUNGER (16 Oct)

ActionAid Italy has collaborated with two top Italian Chefs, Sebastiano Rovida and Alessandro Borghese to produce a new cookbook ‘Recipes Against Hunger’. The book will launch at Red Feltinelli in Rome.



Editors’ notes

Notes to Editors

ActionAid is an international anti-poverty agency working in 50 countries, taking sides with poor people to end poverty and injustice together. Together with more than 2,000 civil society partner organizations worldwide, ActionAid works with and supports the poorest and most vulnerable people to fight for and gain their rights to food, shelter, work, basic healthcare and a voice in the decisions that affect their lives. View the website at www.actionaid.org.