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Another Inspiring Food Not Bombs

Birmingham Food Not Bombs | 08.08.2007 13:44 | Climate Camp 2007 | Ecology | Free Spaces | Health | Birmingham

Last chance for Brum Food Not Bombs to participate in the promotion and mobilisation for this years Camp for Climate Action.
Another great action involving reclaimed and grown food, best curry yet, and broad-based campaigning work.











This time, returning after a short break following our presence at the refugee sleepover, we decided to do our action not at our old New Street home, but on the High Street, outside Marks and Spencers. It's an interesting space to take, busy but with public benches and space to hang out; and it means we can accompany and show solidarity with the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign who regularly hold a stall there urging boycotts of M&S, infamous for it's support for the Israeli state and it's lethal occupation of Palestine.

The food was fantastic; we had a good collection of fruit and veg from shops, and also a good harvest of broad beans from the FnB allotment. This was the first time food from the allotment has gone in a serving, so a significant moment in Brum FnB's history: a little bit of food autonomy at last! And it made an excellent dish, traditional Arabic, cooked by FnB's newest volunteer. It was only one of the three dishes we served that day. Also on offer was an unusual, very tasty, curry involving apples, and a carrot and seed salad. Liquid refreshment on the hot (at last!) summer day was two fresh fruit juices: one a melon and apple mix and the other grapefruit sweetened with pineapple. And for afters the FnB traditional banana cake and a new raw flap-jack.

There was a really good vibe. Loads of interesting networking amongst activists and interested members of the public. One of the PSC members and a FnB member talked about ways of networking between the various progressive political campaigns throughout the City. Ideas floated were a regular social meet up (bringing food to share), holding progressive fairs where each campaign hosts an info stall, and ultimately setting up a social centre.

Its amazing the amount of anarchists you meet on the streets! Its always a buzz to find people who identify so easily with the principles of non-hierachy and no leaders. Living so long in a society that rubbishes what we know to be commonsense its great to meet people you would not stereotype as your typical anarchist feeling so passionately the same. An empowering lesson relearnt at each serving! One of us had a chat with a radical christian about the the need for flexible structures as opposed to rigid stifling structures that can be dominated by ego personalities. (Umm!) She was kicked out of her old church for being too radical, wonder why? :0)

Many of the Brum FnBers have been busy getting together the West Mids neighbourhood for Climate Camp so much of the info on the stall this week was climate action stuff. Anyone who fancies checking the climate camp out please come and join in the west mids hood. Come for a day or the whole week, the day of action takes place over Sunday to Monday. More info at climatecamp.org.uk or contact the west mids group at  wmclimatecamp@riseup.net.

If you Want to get involved in Brum Food Not Bombs please contact  brum_fnb@riseup.net or phone 07904529362

Birmingham Food Not Bombs
- e-mail: brum_fnb@riseup.net

Additions

food autonomy

08.08.2007 14:07

Great article, but I have a small correction to make. It's great that the allotment is now producing food for FnB, but this certainly isn't the first time food autonomy has gone into a serving: food grown or foraged by us (mainly spinach, but garlic, elderflower and other stuff too) in other places has gone in occasionally since about a year ago i think, so we've had some food autonomy for that long.

The sentiment is very much echoed here however, and that autonomy grows with every passing fortnight (despite the difficult harvest this year thanks to the excess rain - thanks for nothing climate criminals, we're learning how to adapt)!

Well done to all FnB crew and see you on the streets, the plots or in the wild.



watt tyler


FNB @ Climate Camp

08.08.2007 14:30

Nice write up of a cool bit of direct action!
The Birmingham Food Not Bombs collective will be serving up some tasty dishes at this years Climate Camp. So please come along near Heathrow and join us in the Midlands neighbourhood!

FNB'er


Comments

Display the following 2 comments

  1. wow what a great lifestyle! — crustie stew
  2. Good Work — sheFNB