The Politics of Food

For some, this post will not seem appropriate for the subject of this blog. For me, this is a critical example of how we the citizens of the world are connected through food and environment.

At present, some Brazilians have taken it upon themselves to take objection to the actions of their government. Yes, this did involve protests in Sao Paulo over a rise in public transit fee. The movement that was born out of these protests has become far bigger than that issue. It too has become about raising awareness. In this case, it is about raising awareness of the truth in what's happening in Brazil. Take a look at the linked video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIBYEXLGdSg

For Brazilian organizers, this cannot be allowed to become associated with a specific ideology. It needs to be about bringing attention to the truth, both abroad and at home. At home, the message also needs to challenge all Brazilians to take the time to understand what is going on and how in a democracy, you have the power to change Brazil. That can start by demanding the truth from political leaders and demanding explanations for their actions or their proposed actions. It also needs to include a recognized obligation to be an informed participant in democracy.

So why should we living in other parts of the world care? Food. It is no different (and maybe more important) than the concerns we have about politics in the Middle East and its influence over global energy. While Brazilian politics is not as unstable as that in the Middle East or developing Asia, its democracy is still developing and has had its challenges with less than honest politicians. In fact, Brazilian democracy continues to be controlled by the power of personal influence rather than fairness and the ideals of an informed public.

It is to the benefit of all that Brazil's democracy continue to mature. It is also important that we encourage Brazilians to get informed and at the same time make sure the truth is known by public, as it should be in any democracy. After all, we are all citizens of the world. And our food and water needs to be managed by those who can think beyond their own personal benefit. I applaud these Brazilians who are trying to hold their politicians accountable. Let's all stand by them. And remember that we also need to do the same.