Are you willing to pay 10-20% more for local, independent certified organic food?

Yes, I was allowed to vote again when I logged in.

Thank-you for your comments Darius. I agree that massive inequalities exist in our current system. I am, however, struggling with "the answer" to the difficult question of 'how'. Alternative economic models exist more in theory than practice which is why I would be so thrilled to see more practical and pragmatic attempts at developing such here in London. Moving from theory and criticism to actual application is what seems to be lacking in our current local infrastructure and movement building. Many of us are trying, the best we can, to do what we feel will help make some type of transition toward social and environmental justice as well as political and economic democracy.

I understand your drive to dismantle the current system in place. In fact I empathize with it greatly. However, are you concerned with who will 'take over' inside a rapidly created vacuum? I would suspect those who are well organized, with vast resources, would be in a position to take control of vital geo-political and economic resources - the very resources we need for harm reduction - to limit suffering, throughout a transition. Most likely fragments of state structures, as well as sophisticated violent criminals would potentially over power and control domestic populations. Democracy, justice and freedom would find no home in that scenario.

I am also concerned that we are not in the position to provide for ourselves or our community, the basic needs we require. Food security is at the centre of this concern. We are facing a serious, and not so distant, food crisis, on a local level (the food crisis is in full swing in the 'international arena'). While urban farming is important and highly encouraged, we are not able to grow enough food in the urban setting to sustain our urban populations. Farm land outside our cities is being destroyed by conventional practices at such a rate that it will take decades, if not generations, for us to recover and rejuvenate the soil. Land policy is an integral pivot point of these concerns. There is little possibility for youth to take on subsistence as well as trade oriented farming practices in our area.  Supporting local, independent and organic farms must be, in my opinion, a very high priority.  

Sustainability should be addressed here as well. Sustainable lifestyles must also be a high priority in order to limit suffering. The rate in which refugees are fleeing their homes due to climate change is rapidly increasing. Small scale organic subsistence and trade oriented farming, when effectively organized and practiced,  would be a resolve. Such practices are also a high priority for developing social, political and economic  justice in the 'international'. For example; conventional grain dumping, under the banner of international "aid" is a travesty that could be avoided with local, small scale food production.

Accomplishing this task of supporting local, small scale farmers, producers and distributors demands we act accordingly. We need to pay equitably for our food. Developing schemes to drive down food costs puts us at odds with these farmers and our environment. This concept segways easliy into why we must pay folks a living wage if they are to be involved with the production or distribution of food. This is not an easy task when our culture thinks that feeding an urban population should be cheap and easy.This is especially true when the folks who have the resources to share, make decisions to follow the path of the cheapest food option. This obviously needs to change as soon as possible - but how?

In short, I am not suggesting that you disagree with what I am saying (although you may), rather I am suggesting that building on old as well as new infrastructure to help guide a transition may encourage the results we would both like to see. In other words, sometimes planting seeds is more important then removing the weeds - and many weeds, if altered properly, are edible enough to carry us over to harvest.

In solidarity,

Jeff