We believe in consensus, non-violence, and vegetarianism. By
themselves these concepts are rather ambiguous and open for wide
interpretation. While it is good that our principles are flexible and
inclusive, it is also important that we prevent our ideas from being
co-opted. It is the way that FNB has put these principles into action,
and the way we have come to define them, that has given these ideas
their true meaning and value. We combine these ideas with
decentralization, collective and personal empowerment, feminism, and
non-hierarchical organizing strategies. We have rejected the concept
of charity that usually defines free food give aways. We believe that
charity fails to address the causes of hunger and poverty, and
attempts to band-aid the crisis without challenging the institutional
structures that create inequality. We attempt to confront and
dismantle the power structures of patriarchy, white supremacy, and
other forms of domination - in society, in our organizations, and in
our own consciousness. These are ideas and beliefs that have been
expressed in meetings, written about in our literature, and
incorporated into the way we organize our own groups and in the
solidarity we try to build with other groups and struggles.
...
Towards a non-violent society: a position paper on anarchism, social
change and Food Not Bombs
by Chris Crass
The origins and purpose of this position paper:
This paper was originally written 11.29.95. as a result of discussions
that we were having in San Francisco Food Not Bombs about our politics
and how we represent our politics in literature. In a meeting on
11.09.95. we embarked on a rather in-depth and thought provoking
discussion about anarchism and FNB. Most of us at the meeting strongly
believed that FNB in its structure and goals was and always had been
anarchist in orientation. However, there were several people who
raised concerns about anarchist politics and the principles of FNB.
...
Anarchism and Vegetarianism:
Food Not Bombs groups serve all vegetarian and vegan food as a
political act against the meat and diary industries and to promote
ecological sustainability, equal distribution of food and resources
throughout the world, human health, and animal liberation. The
commitment of FNB groups to these issues has lead to long lasting
coalitions with groups like Earth First, the Save Ward Valley
Coalition, the Save Headwaters Forest Coalition, and many other
environmental groups as well as animal liberation groups. Anarchism
challenges the exploitation and domination of the earth that is
characteristic of capitalist expansion. Anarchism attempts to not only
change the relationships of humans to each other, but also of humans
to the earth and environment.
...
We can make the ideas of cooperation, mutual aid, solidarity,
egalitarianism, and a non-violent society popular, but only through
the actions we take and the politics we advance. We can win.
Chris Crass has been an organizer with Food Not Bombs since early 1993
when Whittier Food Not Bombs began and has worked with San Francisco
Food Not Bombs since 1994.
--
full story:
http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20070103085023714
