I've got all sorts of feelings about this, a little bit excited of course..
The networking, and meeting with other like-minded folks from all over the globe will be doubtless be inspiring and stimulating.
As farmers and growers, who seek to farm alongside nature, we believe we have many solutions to offer, in terms of carbon sequestering, and biodiversity enhancement, whilst providing abundance for human need.
We can showcase the work that is already happening world wide.
Explain what's so good about it.
Whilst campaigning to have some of the barriers we still face removed.
But at the same time the current highly polluting industrialised food system has a powerful lobby.
Those who profit through extractivism, and exploitation, have deeper pockets and thereby far greater influence under current systems.
Not just here in be the UK but globally too.
We must also speak up for those marginalised farmers and growers in other countries as well, largely those in the global south.
Who have no chance of attending the COP.
Farmers and landworkers who are on the frontline of climate change.
They are already struggling with more extreme weather, and other challenges to their survival.
So the stakes are high.
Tackling climate change feels overwhelming.
Doing 'enough' as individuals, or even in our groups is nigh on impossible right now.
So we need to find ways not to get swamped by it all.
And to not fall into despair.
To still have enough lightness in our own hearts to be able to act, and speak in good faith .
Lots of us together, making small changes, but pushing in the same direction .
That's what being in a union is all about.
La Via Campesina, of which Landworkers is the UK section, is numberswise the largest global union, on the planet.
So in those moments when I'm feeling a bit hopeless in the face of what seems like insurmountable odds.
I need to think of all those people quietly getting on with their work on their own farms, for whom we are going to Glasgow to represent.
Good work. How did it go?
ReplyDeleteWell - as you may gather from above post i came away with as much faith in 'the powers that be' to address this as i arrived with, ie not much, but thats not really new news.
ReplyDeletePersonally - i was inspired and humbled by how much effort creativity and commitment is being shown globally by the grassroots - to hear directly from even a small fraction of those voices was a massive privilege.
Thats where the real hope lies i believe - and i think these are the people who will have to effect change.
Plus i got to have a nice time,in a fine city, hanging out with people who also really know how to have fun alongside doing their thing.
Oh and then i had a beautiful train ride and a soggy nights camp out by Loch Ossian before coming home - just to make sure all the 'fun'things were covered :-)