“I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality and freedom for their spirits.” Martin Luther King's Acceptance Speech, on the occasion of the award of the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, December 10, 1964
IPH in partnership with Belfast Food Network hosted a meeting (Monday 11 January 2016) which provided an opportunity for over 40 delegates to learn about the Belfast Food Network; Church Action on Poverty and The Fabian Commission on Food and Poverty and consider how best to move beyond food banks. Access to adequate and nutritious food as part of a sustainable food system is a fundamental element of good lifelong health. Food poverty is therefore increasingly recognised as a key public health concern.
Speakers at the event included IPH Director of Development and Capacity Building Liz Mitchell, Geoff Tansey, Food Systems Academy and Niall Cooper, Church Action on Poverty.
There were a number of key messages that came out of discussions on the day which included:
- Poverty and food insecurity are intrinsically linked
- Access to adequate food is a right recognised by the United Nations
- Food banks are a symptom of growing inequality in society
Please access the materials(audio, photos, slides and video) from the event here
Useful websites:
