Climate Action Merribek: people in Brunswick, Coburg, Fawkner and Glenroy wanting action on climate change

Fair Food Forum at Coburg Farmers Market discusses agriculture and food security

October 14, 2014 at 9:43 am John Englart 2 comments

Climate Action Moreland members ventured to the Coburg Farmers Market on Saturday to shop, to chat with other Moreland residents about climate change, collect signatures on the Monster climate petition, and listen to candidates for the State Election in November 2014 speak at the Fair Food Forum.

Food security and agriculture are important subjects which we should all be aware of and asking our political representatives about.

Fair Food Week – 10 to 19 October – is organised by Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance (AFSA). Michael Croft, AFSA President, described the occasion as “Fair Food Week encourages the general community to embrace local food production, purchase and consumption.”

All candidates for the seats of Brunswick and Pascoe Vale who had so far committed to stand were invited to speak, however the Liberal candidate for Brunswick cancelled the night before, Jane Garrett, Labor MP for Brunswick refused to attend, and Lizzie Blandthorn, Labor candidate for Pascoe Vale although originally agreeing to come then reneged and instead handed out red balloons and launched the Batman market near the Batman railway station.

But the forum went ahead with the Greens candidates Liam Farelly and Tim Read, Dean O’Callaghan from Save the Planet and Sean Brocklehurst from Socialist Alliance.

I am really astounded that both major parties refused to send anyone along to this forum. Food and agriculture is so important in our lives, and yet both the Liberal and Labor parties could not bother to provide some-one to represent their party and policies in this area. Climate change is already affecting agriculture from long and intense droughts, changes to rainfall patterns, more extreme weather events, and of course rising temperatures affecting crop yield and milk production.

The forum was written up at Nofibs with videos of the four speakers. For more detail read the article: Labor and Liberal no show at #vicvotes Coburg Fair Food Forum

Both Greens candidates addressed the issue of Food Security and climate change and the lack of competitive regulation with the Coles and Woolworths duopoly.

Sean Brocklehurst from Socialist Alliance also raised relevant food justice issues in his talk focusing on community need not corporate greed.

Dean O’Callaghan from Save the Planet Party also spoke:

Entry filed under: food security, forum, Meet Climate Action Moreland members, news. Tags: agriculture, climate change, dean o'callaghan, Fair food forum, food, food security, Jane Garrett, Liam Farrelly, Lizzie Blandthorn, Sean Brocklehurst, tim read, vicvotes, vicvotes2014.