Ethical Eating Draft Statement of Conscience (SOC) Abstract
by Scott Baxter
The following is an abstract of the current Ethical Eating SOC Congregational Study/Action Issue being considered by the UUA. The full article can be read at: http://www.uua.org/socialjustice/issuesprocess/currentissues/index.shtml
Religions have devised food rules and rituals for a variety of purposes. In keeping with that tradition, UUs are called to address our relationship with food and its broad implications for our planet and our society. All seven UU principles, especially the seventh, call for recognition of and respect for the other—other people and other organisms. ‘Ethical eating’ is the application of that perspective to food.Food production has become a complex industry with potentially harmful effects, including: the overuse of fertilizers and pesticides; the mistreatment of food animals and workers; possible unintended consequences of genetic engineering; obesity among the poor who lack access to healthy food; energy lost by eating at a higher level of a food chain; conflicting ethical eating values; and classism, racism, and sexism.
Mindful of the interdependent web of life to which we belong, we, as individuals, covenant to buy or raise food for ourselves that: minimizes both suffering of food animals and negative environmental effects (by purchasing responsibly-farmed and organically-produced food); requires a minimum of transport; supports a fair trade organization1; increases our consumption of organisms lower on food chains; and is healthy and in healthful quantities. We covenant to advocate for the benefit of food organisms, food workers, the environment, and humanity.
As congregations, we covenant to: promote organic and fair trade food at congregational events as much as is practical; organize members to work for food justice; support the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee and the Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office; provide programs for all ages to inform them about the issues of food, nutrition, and home and/or community gardens; participate in Community Supported Agriculture2 (CSA); become Green Sanctuary certified; advocate for healthful school lunches; support the Unitarian Universalist State Advocacy Network in advocating for ethical eating; and engage in direct action in solidarity with workers and labor advocacy groups.
Glossary
1. Fair trade is an alternative approach to conventional trade and is based on a partnership between producers and consumers. Fairtrade offers producers a better deal and improved terms of trade. This allows them the opportunity to improve their lives and plan for their future. Fairtrade offers consumers a powerful way to reduce poverty through their every day shopping.
When a product carries the FAIRTRADE Mark it means the producers and traders have met Fairtrade standards. The standards are designed to address the imbalance of power in trading relationships, unstable markets and the injustices of conventional trade.
http://www.fairtrade.net/what_is_fairtrade.html
2. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has become a popular way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer. Here are the basics: a farmer offers a certain number of "shares" to the public. Typically the share consists of a box of vegetables, but other farm products may be included. Interested consumers purchase a share (aka a "membership" or a "subscription") and in return receive a box (bag, basket) of seasonal produce each week throughout the farming season.
http://www.localharvest.org/csa/
