Bay Localize, Food First, and other food justice allies organized a food justice teach-in at Occupy Oakland during the general strike on November 2nd. We shared the urgency of taking back control of our food and landbase from corporate control and how to build community-based alternatives. Our food justice tent offered free healthy and locally-produced food, a permaculture presentation, as well as discussions on seed saving, urban ag, and uniting our food movements.

On November 5-8, the 15th annual Community Food Security Coalition conference “Food Justice: Honoring Our Roots, Growing Our Movement” came to Oakland. Our work on expanding urban agriculture was featured on a standing room-only panel, and grassroots groups from around the country shared strategies and resources on strengthening our local food systems. Especially inspiring was this year’s Food Sovereignty Prize awardee, the Landless Workers Movement (MST) who are reclaiming land for peasants in Brazil.

In solidarity with food sovereignty and climate justice events happening during the UN climate talks in Durban, South Africa, Bay Localize, Communities for a Better Environment, Movement Generation, and other allies are organizing an action on December 3rd called “Building Resilience for Our People & Planet” to recognize land as our common heritage and demand just solutions for a resilient future. Join us!