November 2008

Dear friends and supporters of Inter Pares,

Social gatherings around food are central to creating community. But more importantly, access to food is fundamental to our health and well being.

This past year, riots erupted in major cities as food prices rose too quickly for people to adjust. Food aid programs, including one run by an Inter Pares counterpart for Burmese refugees, faced prices that in some cases tripled over six months. This crisis only underlined how deeply our food systems have become vulnerable to financial speculation, massive conversion of arable land to agrofuel production, and rising oil prices. It also brought home how much of the world's food is imported or exported, like a simple commodity, instead of being grown for local and national consumption.

The enclosed November Bulletin, entitled Reclaiming our Food System, profiles people and organizations who have a different vision – one in which eating and growing food is accessible to all, and is part of a healthy community, economy, and planet. As an Inter Pares supporter, your financial support to this struggle for food sovereignty is vital.

As you gather to share food with friends and family this holiday season, you can celebrate as well the growing international movement promoting the same bounty for all.

Best wishes,



Eric Chaurette

P.S. Please send in your gift today so that together we can continue building a movement for food sovereignty in Canada and around the world.