Can a Carrot Set Off a Revolution?
Can a Carrot Set Off a Revolution?
Throughout the Omega Center for Sustainable Living conference Seeds of Change: Cultivating the Commons, this quote from the French artist Paul Cézanne was featured prominently on the back wall of Omega’s Main Hall: “The day is coming when a single carrot, freshly observed, will set off a revolution.”
While the original statement from the turn of the 20th century was referring to artistic styling rather than agricultural methodology, the feeling that fresh observation of our relationship with food could spark a revolution was present throughout the three day discussion of food justice, water rights, political action, and seed freedom. (You can view video of the entire conference free on demand through November 11, 2015.)
Here’s a taste of some of the more poignant takeaway moments of Seeds of Change, as expressed through the robust Twitter documentation of the event.
Why do we do this conference? Not just to inform & inspire but also to bring people together & build the future. #OCSL #SeedingChange
— Skip Backus (@SkipBackus) October 10, 2015
Water is element that ties us together, even though we often don’t think about it. @SkipBackus #ocsl Need a new relationship with water.
— Mat McDermott (@matmcdermott) October 10, 2015
A: @MaudeBarlow urges us to look higher. “We have to think about how we live + shop, but also look at corporate farming + energy.” #ocsl — Michelle Horton (@earlymama) October 11, 2015
“A society with more justice needs less charity. We need to simplify the profound.” @ralphnader #OCSL #seedingchange @socialjustice — Leona Palmer (@leonapalmer) October 11, 2015
How does change occur? @ralphnader references Arthur E. Morgan’s answer: “The small community.” http://t.co/K1GPGFuE2k #ocsl #seedingchange
— Omega Institute (@omega_institute) October 11, 2015
“The only place democracy comes before work is in the dic-tionary.” @RalphNader @OCSL #seedingchange @TheConwaySchool
— Helmi Elisa Hunin (@ecohelmi) October 10, 2015
“65K Americans die from air pollution, 2K from hospital mal-practice, 40K from lack of health insurance.” @RalphNader #SeedingChange #OCSL
— Omega Institute (@omega_institute) October 11, 2015
We need to share culture of the #commons just as much as we need to share seeds. Ken @seedlibrary Greene. #ocsl #seedingchange #foodjustice — Mat McDermott (@matmcdermott) October 11, 2015
The only way to end hunger globally is to grow food locally. We need to grow some #farmers. We need to do it now! Will Allen #SeedingChange — Anandi A. Premlall (@AAPremlall) October 11, 2015
Communities need not just access to food, but ownership over their food. —@browngirlfarmin #OCSL #seedingchange #ecojustice #foodjustice
— Leona Palmer (@leonapalmer) October 11, 2015
“Is the #foodjustice movement just? Inclusive? Do we understand the roots of injustice woven into our food system?” @brownggirlfarmin
— Michelle Horton (@earlymama) October 11, 2015
Jalal Sabur @FreedomFarm acknowledges legacy and ancestors of slavery and #foodjustice with youth. #SeedingChange pic.twitter.com/GRXGXfcy0c — Anandi A. Premlall (@AAPremlall) October 11, 2015
Farms have been replaced by prisons in upstate NY State lock-ing up incarcerated peoples from food deserts in NYC #seedingchange — Dr.EB (@LNBel) October 11, 2015
The answers and future are in the seeds and stories of our ances-tors and also in young farmers of color @browngirlfarming #seedingchange
— Dr.EB (@LNBel) October 11, 2015
“It’s okay to have a worldview not based on empire,” says @WinonaLaduke. #seedingchange #OCSL
— Omega Institute (@omega_institute) October 10, 2015
Food is what connects us, we are on one planet. The fate of humanity is deeply connected with how we shape our economy @drvandanashiva #ocsl — Anandi A. Premlall (@AAPremlall) October 11, 2015
We are the soil & we forget that reality at a huge cost. @drvandanashiva #OCSL #SeedingChange #FoodJustice — Omega Institute (@omega_institute) October 10, 2015
A: @drvandanashiva “Most people of the world are people of color. Color is the nature of the world.” #foodjustice #seedingchange
— Michelle Horton (@earlymama) October 11, 2015
“Sustainability and justice are two sides of the same coin.” @drvandanashiva #foodjustice #seedingchange #ocsl
— Omega Institute (@omega_institute) October 11, 2015
“It’s our spiritual opportunity to be here now and do the right thing.” @WinonaLaduke #foodjustice #seedingchange #ocsl — Skip Backus (@SkipBackus) October 11, 2015