THE EDIBLE REVOLUTION #15: food for thought & other news! (Feb 2 - Feb 8)

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A picture from Singapore Really Really Free Market @ Hong Lim Park during Human Rights Day. 2013 

Subject:        THE EDIBLE REVOLUTION #15: food for thought & other news! (Feb 2 - Feb 8)
Date:   Sat, 7 Feb 2009 15:57:32 +0000
From:   Heather Chi 
To:     Food for All Gmail <foodforallsg@gmail.com>




*THE EDIBLE REVOLUTION **food for thought & other stories in a nutshell! # 15*
*
*
/*HOT AND FRESH FROM THE UK!*/
//

   *FOOD FIGHTS**
   *

   * *WHAT DRIVES THE ROHINGYA TO SEA?*
     (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7872635.stm):
     "Economic hardship and chronic poverty prevents many thousands of
     people in north Rakhine state from gaining food security," says
     Chris Kaye, the country director for the UN's World Food Programme
     who visited there two months ago.

   * *THE PENDING SCRAMBLE FOR WATER
     *(http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7790711.stm): The experience
     of Saudi Arabia, China and South Korea today could be a foretaste
     of what will follow elsewhere. It stems from the failure of
     national governments and the international trade system to address
     the looming water crisis. Without changes, we face a scramble for
     water over the next two decades. When water availability drops
     below 1500 cubic meters per person per year, a country needs to
     start importing food, particularly water intense crops.



   *CHEW ON IT!*

   * *WILL OBAMA CHANGE THE WAY AMERICA EATS?
     *(http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/01/will-obama-change-the-way-america-eats.php?dcitc=weekly_nl):
     MD Julie Upton has identified 4 Ways Barack Obama Can Change the
     Way Our Country Eats. Upton's four points include anticipated
     support for local, organic farms, food-assistance programs being
     re-visioned to focus on healthier food, less bureaucratic food
     safety policy, and a focus on school nutrition. While these
     possible policy directions have not had time to be implemented,
     much less produce results, it's perhaps the Obama's personal
     example that will inspire America to choose their food wisely.

   * *AGRICULTURAL EMPLOYMENTS ASPECTS IN BRITAIN*
     (http://www.forumforthefuture.org/blog/agricultural-employment):
     Organic farming is attracting younger people into farming compared
     to the farm industry as a whole. On average, organic farmers in
     the UK are seven years younger than non-organic farmers (whose
     average age is 56). And if all farming in the UK became organic,
     over 93,000 new jobs directly employed on farms would be created.

   * *THE MIRI METHOD TO CONSERVE WATER*
     (http://planetgreen.discovery.com/food-health/miri-method-water-conservation.html?campaign=th_weekly_nl): An
     acronym for multiple-inlet rice irrigation, MIRI irrigation is a
     new way to harvest rice using close to 26 percent less water
     during the irrigation process. The concept is simple: apply a
     smaller amount of water to each paddy on the rice farm opposed to
     applying all of the water (pumped usually from dwindling aquifers)
     to the first paddy and allowing for it to overflow to the other
     paddies.

   * *ANOREXIA: THROUGH THE EYES OF A SURVIVOR*
     (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/4413354/Anorexia-My-wedding-dress-looked-beautiful--and-then-it-slipped-right-off.html):
     Following the death of a promising 18-year-old student from
     anorexia, Emily Halban gives a personal account of how the disease
     can strike girls like her who "had it all".



   *ROJAK!*

   * *HOW TO EAT MORE SLOWLY
     *(http://www.physorg.com/news152543084.html): Stop eating before
     you feel full. It takes 15 to 20 minutes for your digestive system
     to tell your brain that you've had enough. If you keep eating
     until that feeling registers, you pack in lots of extra calories.
     Instead, put down your fork when you start to feel satisfied. More
     tips here!

   * *SUSTAINABLE SUSHI* (http://www.sustainablesushi.net/): Enough said.

   * *MAKE YOUR OWN SOYMILK*
     (http://planetgreen.discovery.com/food-health/homemade-soymilk.html?campaign=th_weekly_nl)




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FORUM-ASIA Statement - Thailand: Human Rights Situation Rapidly Deteriorating as Political Impasse Continues

FORUM-ASIA Statement: 27 May 2014

Thailand: Human Rights Situation Rapidly Deteriorating as Political Impasse Continues

The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), a regional human rights group with 47 member organisation across 16 countries in Asia, registers its deep concern at the rapidly deteriorating human rights situation in Thailand following the imposition of martial law since 20 May 2014 and subsequently a military coup on 22 May 2014. Increasing restrictions have been imposed on the exercise and enjoyment of basic rights and freedoms while violations continue unabated without any accountability or safeguard mechanisms put in place by the military government.

In a time of deep political turmoil and uncertainty, the restrictions on press freedom – through the initial silencing of TV stations and channels, sweeping restrictions on print, broadcast and online media, blocking of websites and threats to shut down social media – are particularly worrying as people are denied access to crucial information, critical analysis and the opportunity to discuss issues of national importance. This is further exacerbated by the recent summons and arrests of academics, journalists and other media practitioners who continued to report on or speak out against the coup and for alternative solution.

FORUM-ASIA calls for the rescinding of all restrictions that prevent the access of the public to timely and accurate reports and called on the authorities to allow the media to operate in an environment that is conducive for the discharging of their professional duty.

We are also disturbed by the arbitrary arrest and detention of persons, including politicians, political activists, academics, journalists and anti-coup peaceful protesters, by the military. To date, the whereabouts of a number of those detained have not been disclosed. They have also not been duly informed of the reasons for arrest or formally charged in court. This is in clear violation of Thailand’s international legal obligations as a State party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which stipulates the strict and limited application of emergency powers. This is further compounded by the recent announcement by the military to subject violators of security laws and standing orders to court-martial proceedings.

FORUM-ASIA is further deeply concerned by the incidences of clashes and the use of excessive force between military personnel and civilians during anti-coup protests that have been held in various parts of Bangkok. We urge the National Council for Peace and Order for restraint and its soldiers to observe maximum tolerance in handling voices of dissent and protestors to maintain diligence to avoid further violations of rights.

Finally, FORUM-ASIA calls for the prompt re-establishment of the rule of law as well as respect and protection of human rights in this turbulent period. We stress that these concerns must not be disregarded even as the country attempts to find a way out of the political impasse. We further emphasise that it is imperative for all actors involved to find, at the earliest, a democratic solution to the current political situation.

Released by the Executive Committee of FORUM-ASIA:

1.     Mr. Henri Tiphagne, People’s Watch, India (Chairperson)

2.     Mr. Peter Jacob, National Commission for Justice and Peace, Pakistan

3.     Mr. Adilur Rahman Khan, Odhikar, Bangladesh

4.     Sister Crescencia L. Lucero, Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP), Philippines

5.     Mr. Haris Azhar, The Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS), Indonesia

6.     Ms. Chalida Tajaroensuk, People’s Empowerment Foundation, Thailand

7.     Mr. Taeho Lee, People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD), South Korea

On behalf of the following member organisations of FORUM-ASIA:

Bangladesh

1. ASK – Ain O Salish Kendra
2. MLAA – Madaripur Legal Aid Association
3. Odhikar
4. RIC – Resource Integration Center

Burma

5. HREIB – Human Rights Education Institute of Burma

Cambodia

6. ADHOC – Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association
7. LICADHO – Cambodia League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights 

India

8. ADHIKAR – Center for Social Action Documentation Research & Training
9. Dalit Foundation
10. FARR – Friends’ Association for Rural Reconstruction
11. MASUM – Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha
12. PW – People’s Watch
13. PVCHR – People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights
14. RDS-LRSA – Rural Development Society
15. SICHREM – South India Cell for Human Rights Education and Monitoring

Indonesia

16. AJI – The Alliance of Independent Journalists Indonesia
17. HRWG – Indonesia’s NGO Coalition for International Human Rights Advocacy – Human Rights Working Group
18. IMPARSIAL – Inisiatif Masyarakat Partisipatif untuk Transisi Berkeadilan
19. KontraS – The Federation of Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence
20. PBHI – Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association
21. SAMIN – Yayasan Sekretariat Anak Merdeka Indonesia
22. YLBHI – Indonesia Legal Aid Foundation

Malaysia

23. ERA Consumer – Education and Research Association for Consumers
24. SUARAM – Suara Rakyat Malaysia

Mongolia

25. CHRD – Center for Human Rights and Development
26. GI – Globe International

Nepal

27. CSRC – Community Self Reliance Centre
28. INSEC – Informal Sector Service Center
29. WWS – Women’s Welfare Society

Pakistan

30. B4A – Bytes for All (ICTs for development, democracy and social justice)
31. HRCP – Human Rights Commission of Pakistan
32. NCJP – National Commission for Justice and Peace
33. PODA – Potohar Organization for Development Advocacy
34. SPARC – Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child

Philippines

35. PAHRA – Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates
36. PLRC – PILIPINA Legal Resources Center
37. TFDP – Task Force Detainees of the Philippines
38. Tanggol-Kalikasan – Public Interest Environmental Law Office

Singapore

39. Think Centre

South Korea

40. KHIS – Korean House for International Solidarity
41. PSPD – People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy

Sri Lanka

42. INFORM – Information Monitor
43. LST – Law and Society Trust

Taiwan

44. TAHR – Taiwan Association for Human Rights

Thailand

45. People’s Empowerment Foundation

Timor Leste

46. HAK Association – Perkumpulan Hukum, Hak Asasi dan Keadilan (Law, Basic Rights, and Justice Foundation)
47. JSMP – Judicial System Monitoring Programme

Singapore Really Really Free Market Human Rights Day 2013

human rights day - Really Really Free Market

It seems that it has been a Singapore Really Really Free Market tradition to hold a really really free market session with other human rights defender for annual Human Rights day event.

This year is the 3rd time we are doing it.

Here is me standing in front of the SOS Bukit Brown booth.

Town Hall pictures

Transmission out!