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2007 -
International Slow Food NEWS |
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Focus on Convivia
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New Convivia
Here is a
list of the most recently created convivia:
Kibwezi -
Kenya
Shrewsbury -
United Kingdom
North East
Ireland - United Kingdom
Saddleback -
Australia
Bamenda
Highlands - Cameroon
Extrême Nord
Cameroun - Cameroon
Volca Niac -
France
Rouergat -
France
Pinzgau -
Austria
Beirut -
Lebanon
Arnhem/Wageningen
- Netherlands
Comunidad
Frontera del Sur - Chile
Brusturoasa
- Palanca - Romania
Marburg-Mittelhessen
- Germany
Duisburg-Niederrhein
- Germany
Gent -
Belgium
Snails on
the march in Belgium
Following a
couple of years of hibernation the Slow Food snail is once again
animating Brussels. Last month saw the birth of the Karikol
Convivium, "snail" in the old dialect of the European capital. A
group of passionate ecologists and gastronomes are creating a
network of slow activists: chefs, academics and teachers... The
convivium's first event is on September 30 to mark the carless day.
There will be picnic open to all to share a plate, with competitions
and tastings of
karikoles.
The convivium has already started planning for next year, with a
major focus on promoting honey production in an urban environment.
•
Convivia in action
Romanian farmers' market cleaned out!
Tarnava Mare (Sighisoara) was the first Slow Food convivium set up
in Romania. Last August members worked hard to revive an ancient
local festival that had been long abandoned. On August 15 over 2000
people flocked to the town of Saschiz to savor traditional food and
stock up at the farmers' market on fresh vegetables, freshly baked
bread, preserves made by the women of the Saxon Villages Presidium,
goat cheeses, artisan sausages and sweet corn. The market was such a
success that produce sold out before the end of the day and the
mayor resolved that only local produce should be sold next year too.
It was a very satisfactory outcome for both Slow Food members and
the inhabitants of the Saschiz area.
Farmer John's European tour
John Peterson is an impressive personality, both in reality and in
the film "The Real Dirt on Farmer John", a story now going round the
world. John is a determined small farmer from the American Midwest
who had struggled to cope with the economic crisis afflicting small
farms and the advance of agribusiness. John finally managed to
transform Angelic Farms, which had belonged to his family for
generations, into one of the most successful CSA (Community
Supported Agriculture) farms in the US. John uses biodynamic methods
and has become a reference point for the small farmers of America.
In September the documentary "The Real Dirt on Farmer John", winner
of several international awards, was presented in the main cities in
German-speaking countries--including Berlin, Munich, Vienna and
Zurich--by John Peterson himself, accompanied by the voice of singer
Lesley Littlefield. The screenings were followed by discussions open
to the public and "slow" snacks upholding the idea of a 'culinary
cinema' at the Berlinale (the International Berlin Film Festival).
These were organized by Bernward Geier--long-standing Slow Food
member and former director of international relations at IFOAM (the
International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements)--and by
Walter Kress--a farmer who took part in the Terra Madre 2004 and
2006 meetings and a member of the Slow Food Germany board--in
collaboration with local Slow Food convivia.
Eco-gastronomic reflections in Austria
"Die Genuss" (The Taste) was a food fair held for the first time in
Wels, Upper Austria, from September 15 to 19. The event gave Slow
Food a chance to present its message about food production and
consumption. The Linz-Mühlviertel Convivium had a stand informing
the public of the various activities promoted by our movement, while
Slow Food Vice-President Giulio Colomba took part in the discussion
"Local instead of global - you can tell the difference",
illustrating the commitment of our association to good, clean and
fair food.
A picnic of environmentalists and discerning gastronomes
The Toronto Convivium together with the environmental association
Evergreen organized an event with definite public appeal--a picnic
of dishes prepared by some of the best Canadian chefs, with raw
materials supplied directly by the producers. The picnic, held on
September 16, was also an opportunity for chefs, producers and
consumers to discuss how to adopt eating habits that respect the
environment and recognize the work of producers, while enjoying good
flavor.
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EDITORIAL |
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The network links
up
Sinclair
Philip, Slow Food Councillor for Canada and leader
of the Vancouver Island Convivium, has visited
Bulgaria to meet cheese producers invited to attend
Cheese. Sinclair recounted his experience at the
last International Council Meeting in Stuttgart:
"Only after my trip to Bulgaria did I really
understand what Slow Food is doing worldwide."
Lucia
Mastroberti, leader of the French Schnaeckele
Convivium in Alsace, decided to set off for
Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan and visit food communities
she had found in the reference book for Terra Madre
2006. The producers welcomed the curious European
tourists to their homes, the guests in turn
encouraged them in their work and made them realize
how important it was. A meeting with members of the
Tashkent Convivium prompted the idea of setting up a
twinning arrangement between the two convivia.
Kirghiz and Uzbek farmers and herders have been
invited to Strasbourg at the time of Terra Madre
2008 so they can get to know their French
colleagues.
These are just
two recent news items from the many we have
received, telling us about exchanges, agreements and
visits involving convivia, food communities and
Presidia. These groups are now communicating in many
different ways: from simple friendly visits, to
exchanges for technical information and consultancy.
In some cases convivia, communities or Presidia
offer economic support to communities that want to
set up projects or organize meetings between
producers in poor areas. There are ordinary Slow
Food members who are welcomed with open arms in
countries they do not know. Local slowfooders show
them their traditions, places and food culture.
I firmly
believe that these forms of spontaneous friendship
are the most important expression of what our
network is. It is a network where the main thing is
the sense of humanity shown by its members. I think
that this is also what is most evident at our big
events (such as Congress, Terra Madre and the many
other events), and should be nurtured above all
else.
We don't want
to create an impersonal network just consisting of
long-distance virtual contacts. The network should
encourage people to meet, shake hands and embrace.
Cultivating friendships is what enables us to
achieve our goals, but above all it will also allow
each one of us to never feel alone in creating a
model of life which focuses on good, clean and fair
food. o.
I would like to
invite you all to introduce forms of support to
groups who face difficulties. When you go traveling,
find ways to meet local members and try to ensure
that within our convivia there is always a healthy
spirit of hospitality and openness.
It is great
when we hear this sort of news.
Carlo Petrini
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Countdown to the Congress |
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"MES DE LA PATRIA"
September is a significant month for
Mexicans as it marks various incidents
connected to Mexico's struggle for freedom
and sovereignty. There was the defense of
Chapultepec by the "Niños Héroes" ("heroic
children") on September 13 1847; the "Cry"
for independence in the night of September
15 1810, which signaled the start of the
battle for independence on September 16, and
its conclusion on September 27.
The anniversary days are celebrated with
flags, confetti, signs, lights, historical
personalities and symbols. Cities and
villages are colorfully bedecked. Masks,
wooden swords and cardboard helmets for sale
everywhere invite people to symbolically
relive the main events in the country's
history.
Families prepare
pozol
(a very thick beverage based on cocoa and
corn flour) and
chiles en
nogada (stuffed
peppers with walnut sauce), a typical dish
from the State of Puebla, whose origins date
back to the entry of Agustín de Iturbide,
first emperor of Mexico, and his army into
the city on September 27, 1821. The dish was
created by Augustine sisters from the
convent of Santa Monica, who were inspired
by the three colors of the Mexican flag: the
green of the
chile
poblano (Puebla
pepper), white of walnut sauce and red of
the pomegranate.
With the Congress coming up, you can find a
special feature
on Mexico on
www.slowfood.com
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Terra Madre
Meeting in every corner of the world
The Terra Madre adventure is spreading ever further: it is adopting
new forms and developing according to the people involved, climate
and area. Last March Slow Food members, chefs and Swedish academic
researchers met up for a national Terra Madre. They developed
concrete proposals to strengthen alternative distribution systems
and shorter supply chains.
Just now on September 28 and 29, there is a meeting between Belarus
members of the Terra Madre network to discuss new innovative forms
of support for producers: creating a database of farmers, setting up
a legal consultancy service, fund-raising initiatives and aid for
commercialization.
At the beginning of October it will be the turn of Terra Madre
Brazil. An event will bring together those involved in food
communities so they can identify synergies to support local food
production, an activity that defends the plant and cultural
biodiversity of this enormous South American country.
Soon there will also be regional Terra Madre meetings in the
Netherlands, Ireland and Middle East-North Africa. The Terra Madre
world network is increasing in strength through its local activity.
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Events for Learning, Meeting and Tasting
Irish autumn festival
An innovative group of associations in County Leitrim, in
the north of the Republic of Ireland, has organized an
autumn festival in the picturesque town of Drumshanbo to
promote eco-gastronomic tourism in the region.
Producers not only sold local organic products direct to
consumers at the market; the public was also able to visit
farms in the area, discuss Irish culinary traditions, go on
guided walks to find wild flowers and fruit, see
documentaries and observe chefs giving cooking
demonstrations.
For more information:
www.harvestfeast.ie
France celebrates the potato!
On September 15 2007 Slow Food France celebrated its first "Journée
Nationale Slow Food". The events, which were organized at
the same time by various French convivia, presented recipes
and tips so people could be a little more "good clean and
fair" in their daily eating.
Tastings, displays, games and workshops revolved around a
major ingredient of French diet--the potato. This tuber
vegetable entered French cuisine at the end of the 18th
century in the times of Antoine Parmentier, an assistant
pharmacist of the army in Prussia who discovered the
nutritional benefits of this Andean product and became its
champion at the court of Louis XVI.
The day's events around France were an introduction to the
2008 initiatives, declared by the UN and FAO "International
Year of the Potato", and invited us to think about this
simple, cheap and highly nutritious product.
For a list of the activities organized in France for this
Slow Food Day:click
here.
To find out more about this subject see also:
http://www.fao.org/AG/magazine/0611sp1.htm
-
www.potato2008.org
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Slow Education
The Queen of the Turkmen melons
Since time immemorial melons have been one of the most respected
plants in Turkmenistan. The hot sun and dry air make it an ideal
environment for growing this crop. The first signs of melon
plantations found in the country date back to the fourth century. In
Medieval times Turkmen melons were transported in large caravans
along the Silk Road to Arab countries. The "Queen of the Melon
Fields" features in many Turkmen legends and folk songs.
So it is no surprise that the day when melons (Gavun
bayramu) are celebrated has become a national
festival for the past thirteen years. This year the new Slow Food
Akhal Convivium made a significant contribution to the festival's
success. Members visited a nursery school in the city of Ashkhabad,
letting children and teachers try various local varieties of melon
so they could recognize their characteristics and differences.
Between one slice and the next, the children listened spellbound to
the stories of the Queen of the Melons, and begged the Slow Food
members to return next year.
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Mission Biodiversity
Ethiopian honeys in Italy
"The spirit of solidarity between beekeepers is impressive... it
reminds me of what you find between smokers!" This was how Zewdi
Abadi Alemu, representative of the Wonchi Volcano Honey Presidium,
commented on the training visit and exchange he had in Italy
together with Haleka Alem Abreh, beekeeper with the Wukro White
Honey Presidium. At the end of August Zewdi and Haleka were guests
of various members of the Italian Consortium of Beekeepers and
Organic Producers (CONAPI): it was an opportunity for them to extend
their knowledge of modern beekeeping techniques learned during the
training course held for them by Diego Pagani (Conapi beekeeper)
back in January 2007, and also to experience with their Italian
colleagues the daily problems that every beekeeper has to deal with.
In subsequent days the two Ethiopians were guests of honor at "Profumo
di Miele", an event in Rome dedicated to Lazio honeys, organized
this year in collaboration with the Fiumicino Convivium and the Slow
Food Foundation for Biodiversity. This allowed Zewdi and Haleka to
give an international public the chance to try their honeys.
For information on the event:
www.profumodimiele.it
Good news from Bosnia-Herzegovina
The Bosnian women of the Presidium for Slatko (a sweet preserve
based on local Pozegaca plums), who formed the "Emina" association a
year ago, have set up a processing workshop with the help of funding
from the Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity. The producers, who
before the creation of the Presidium only prepared Slatko at home
for their families, this year are taking part in Cheese, the
international festival of quality cheese organized by Slow Food
(September 21-24, 2007, Bra, Italy). Slatko is traditionally eaten
with cheese and yoghurt.
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UNISG: life on campus
Alumni (and future alumni) around the world...
Italy and the United States are able to exchange students through
the Fulbright Scholarship Program. An Italian student who has just
finished a UNISG Master's course is bound for Marietta, Georgia,
while an expert in health communication from New York is on her way
to Colorno (Parma). Katharine Millonzi will attend the 2007-08
Master Course in Food Culture, aiming to examine international
agricultural policies and the impact of biogenetic engineering on
the food we eat. Carlo Baggi, who did the Master course in 2005-06,
is about to start teaching a course in eco-gastronomy at
Chattahoochee Technical College, as part of a program on culinary
arts at the College.
... and the world at UNISG
With the degree ceremony, Cheese and the launch of the project "Alla
Ricerca del Grande Fiume" (a journey down the River Po), Pollenzo
and Bra are busy with the many students who come and go. On
September 17 the first seven students graduated (from the three year
degree course); four of them were from Italy, one each from Canada,
Mexico and Hungary.
During Cheese, Pollenzo students welcomed visitors to the courtyard
of the Boccondivino, one of the focal points of the event. Only a
few days later on September 26, they set off on their gastronomic
adventure and socio-environmental study along Italy's longest river.
For more information about the University and to apply online:
www.unisg.it
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Communications...
The Slow Food message in Germany
The publisher Tre Torri will shortly be launching the German version
of Carlo Petrini's book "Slow Food Nation: Why Our Food Should Be
Good, Clean, And Fair" under the title "Gut, Sauber und Fair".
>From 2008 the magazine "Slow Food" published by Slow Food Germany
will appear every two months and each issue will have 100 pages.
A friend has left us
Michael Jackson, writer, historian and a top world expert on beer,
died on August 30 at his London home. A great friend of Slow Food,
he worked with the magazine Slow from the very start and then with
the Italian magazine
Slowfood.
You can read a tribute to Michael
here.
From the Member Service Center
Once a month we send the membership list to all convivia. If you do
not receive yours, please contact us. We would also like to ask you
to check every month all the names, mailing addresses and e-mails of
members in your convivium. Let us know of any corrections. Two
people on the convivium committee may receive the information: the
convivium leader and a freely selected second person. If you wish to
nominate or change the second person in charge in your convivium,
please let us know. This will help us to improve our service to
members. Thank you for your continued support.
servicecentre@slowfood.com
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For any questions or information and events you wish to share please
contact your national office or your area coordinator if no national
office exists in your country.
Slow regards,
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