Maude Barlow Point: Water is a fundamental right

adopt a resolution recognizing the human right to drinking water and sanitation. One hundred and twenty-two countries voted in favour of the resolution,

Countries representing 5.4 billion people – the vast majority of the population on Earth – voted in favour of the human right to water and sanitation.

voted for the resolution, including Germany, Spain and France.
China, India, Russia and Brazil, also voted in favour. 

When Pablo Solon, Bolivian ambassador to the UN, stood up to introduce the resolution, he referred to a new report on diarrhea showing that every 3.5 seconds, a child dies in the global South from dirty water. Then he held up his fingers and counted – 1, 2, 3. As he paused, the great hall went dead quiet. Then, the General Assembly voted.
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Maude Barlow  Point: Water is a fundamental right

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/point-water-is-a-fundamental-right/article1661763/

Maude Barlow, national chair of the Council of Canadians

Last week’s UN resolution serves as the template for a more binding resolution

Special to Globe and Mail Update

Last week, the United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly, for the first time, to adopt a resolution recognizing the human right to drinking water and sanitation. One hundred and twenty-two countries voted in favour of the resolution, none opposed and 41 abstained. The General Assembly also voted to call for member states to provide financial resources and technology to help realize this right in poorer countries.

Water was not included in the 1948 Universal Declaration on Human Rights. At the time, as no one could imagine it would ever be a problem. Decades later, when it became clear that the combination of poverty, dirty water and water depletion in the global South was killing untold millions of people, many human rights and development groups started demanding that access to water be added to the list of fundamental rights.

However, by then it had become clear that the growing demand for water was rendering it a potentially valuable global commodity, and a strong set of adversaries came together to oppose any language of rights at the UN. These forces included the World Bank, which was promoting a program of water privatization in the developing world; the big water utility companies benefiting from this program; and the aid agencies of some big northern countries whose governments had bought into a market model of development. Canada led the opposition to any progress on the right to water at the UN, even weakening the mandate of the independent expert appointed by the Human Rights Council two years ago to study and report on the situation.

Fed up with the delay and obfuscation, a number of countries from the global South (led by Bolivia, whose glaciers are melting due to climate change) decided to put a clear up or down vote to the General Assembly and force every country in the world to say where it stands on this most basic of rights. To its shame, Canada was one of the countries, along with the United States, Britain, Australia and New Zealand, that led the opposition to the resolution. Some tried to get the sponsoring countries to dilute the resolution by removing sanitation or adding the words “access to” water and sanitation, which would have meant that governments only had to provide access to these services, not the services themselves, to those without means. Others, including Canada, proposed a “consensus” resolution that would have just restated the status quo and the need to wait for the report of the independent expert. When it was clear they could not get the support for their alternatives, the big five simply abstained.

This vote marked a historic landmark in the fight for water justice in several ways. Countries representing 5.4 billion people – the vast majority of the population on Earth – voted in favour of the human right to water and sanitation. The language of the resolution itself set the gold standard for all future deliberations on the right to water. While a resolution is not binding, it does nevertheless demonstrate the intent of the General Assembly, and when the time comes for a more binding declaration or convention, the clear and unequivocal wording of this resolution will serve as the template.

Finally, it was important because there was a clear split in the powerful countries of the global North. Many broke with the naysayers and voted for the resolution, including Germany, Spain and France. Most emerging powerhouse countries, including China, India, Russia and Brazil, also voted in favour. This demonstrates a global shift in influence away from the once-dominant Anglo powers and their model of development.

When Pablo Solon, Bolivian ambassador to the UN, stood up to introduce the resolution, he referred to a new report on diarrhea showing that every 3.5 seconds, a child dies in the global South from dirty water. Then he held up his fingers and counted – 1, 2, 3. As he paused, the great hall went dead quiet. Then, the General Assembly voted.

Maude Barlow is national chair of the Council of Canadians. She served as senior adviser on water to the 63rd president of the UN General Assembly.

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Dr. Paul Farmer's testimony: Twelve points in favor of the restitution of the French debt to Haiti

Dr. Paul Farmer's testimony in France before the Regis Debray
Commission established by President Jacques Chirac to investigate Haiti's
claim for restitution.

Paris, November 3, 2003
http://ijdh.org/articles/article_recent_news_8-2-06.php

 

Twelve points in favor of the restitution of the French debt to Haiti
By Paul Farmer,

Medical professor at Harvard Medical School
Medical Director, Bon Sauveur Clinic, Central Plateau, Haiti

I thank you for inviting me to speak with you. I believe the Haitian
government is pressing France to refund the indemnity given by Haiti,
starting in 1825, twenty years after the Haitian revolution, that began in
1791 and lead to the country's independence.

Haiti, maybe more than any other nation, can give powerful arguments in
favor of the restitution of the French debt. First, let me specify a
few things. It is your invitation I answer today and not an appeal from
any government. I am a doctor and American anthropologist and I have
been working in Haiti's central region for twenty years. I am here in
front of you today because I believe that the terrible suffering I see in
our clinics and hospitals mainly have social causes, most of them rooted
in slavery and in the foreign policy of great powers. In order to put
an end to this unnecessary suffering, there must be social answers such
as restitution of the debt and reparations. And so it is a great honor
for me, being a doctor worried about the immediate as well as historic
causes of suffering and sickness, to speak before you.

In a perspective of public health, capital movements that are displayed
in parallel of deep inequalities (from a former slave colony devastated
by war to one of the world's most powerful nations, for example) are
one of the main causes of today's misery. These transfers from the poor
to the rich still take place today, although they are a little more
subtle. They have the benediction of some international financial
institutions. But I am convinced that it is possible to stop or at least to
minimize these unhealthy and inopportune practices. I wouldn't be here if I
didn't think that there is still a small hope that the French
authorities take into account the history in this case and that they do what's
right.

The health situation in Haiti today

To those who argue that all this is history, we can say in opposition
that it is the weight of history that leads to the present situation in
Haiti. I will give a short overall view in six main points of this
situation in my fields of competence, public health and medicine.

First, nobody denies today that Haiti has the worst health indexes of
the American continent, and in fact, these indexes are among the worst
in the world. That is not new but many things could have been done to
improve this situation. My own clinical practice reminds me every day
that we can prevent and cure almost all the main causes of deaths in
Haiti, as long as we act in time. In Haiti's central region, we made it
because we imported tools of modern medicine and we work in collaboration
with public authorities to give treatment to sick destitute people. But
the national situation is deplorable. A few figures: the infant
mortality rate is 81%, a number that keeps going up; in comparison, it is 4%
in France and 7% in Cuba. The child mortality death rate, meaning the
number of Haitian children who die before their fifth birthday, rise to
125%; in France, it is 5%.

The maternal mortality rate, which means women who die giving birth, is
very low in developed countries. Almost all those deaths occur among
poor women in poor countries. Once again, Haiti has some of the most
disastrous figures in the world: official reports state a rate of 520
deaths for 100,000 births. A few years ago, an investigation among the
population in the southeast of the country estimated that rate at over
1,400. In Cuba, the neighboring country, this figure is at 33; in France, at
10.

HIV quickly became the major infectious disease to cause death among
adults. The World Bank estimates that 5% of the Haitian population is
infected. This number is only at 0,1% in Cuba. Despite its important
infection, Haiti is the country that has the least resources in the American
continent to fight this pandemic. On the exception of our work in the
Central Plateau, the country has no structure for appropriate prevention
nor global taking in charge. With an original approach, including both
prevention and appropriate care, already adopted in the Central Plateau
with the support of the public health care system, this procedure could
be extended throughout the country. Unfortunately, this system cannot
play this role at all because it has no financial means. So the NGOs
benefit from all the resources.

Haiti also seems to be the country where there is the most malaria in
the region, a disease eradicated in its neighboring countries, Cuba and
Jamaica. Concerning tuberculosis, we have completed a study in the
center of the country where we found a rate of 357 cases for 100,000
persons, which is once again the highest rate on the American continent. The
problem of tuberculosis is even more serious in Haitian cities where
HIV infections are concentrated: indeed, the virus revives the latent
infectious tuberculosis and epidemic tuberculosis is now progressing very
quickly in shantytowns.

Malnutrition is at the heart of many of these problems. According to
the World Bank, Haiti is indeed the country where there is the most
hunger in the world, after Somalia and Afghanistan.

Secondly, these appalling figures have nothing to do with the Haitian
culture since the country has an epidemiological profile very different
from that of close former French colonies such as Guadeloupe and
Martinique, where life expectancy and the prevalence of epidemic diseases are
very much like the ones in metropolitan France. What a sour paradox it
would be to conclude that Haitians would be better off if they had
never freed themselves from the yoke of slavery! Not one Haitian who
respects himself or herself would say that, but the fact is that we can
easily see a continuous chain of causes and consequences between the
country's situation the day after the revolution and the situation today -- as
if Haitians continue to be punished for their ancestors' rebellion.
Since 1804, two centuries ago, Haiti has suffered under embargoes and
punishing politics which I will recall in details later.

Thirdly, the health situation in Haiti will certainly worsen more if
substantial investments are not quickly made in the public health system.
It is now time that resources flow back to Haiti, towards the country's
public institutions. We call that "international aid" but the word
"restitution" would be more appropriate. By sharing a little of its wealth
with its former colony, France could act in complete fairness in favor
of literacy, access to drinking water, infrastructure renovation and
health care. But international aid is not abundant. At this time when I
am speaking with you, an embargo with no name is pressing on
humanitarian aid and development aid meant for Haiti. Here are the facts, new in a
sense, but well known to Haitians.

Let us look at the case of the loans blocked by the Inter-American
Development Bank which I mentioned recently in Le Monde Diplomatique. I
learned that these loans were approved three years ago both by the Haitian
government and by the Bank's central committee. But no payment has been
made so far. One of these loans was intended for the public health
system, and the other three for teaching, for the improvement of access to
drinking water and the rebuilding of roads. Being an American doctor
working in Haiti, it seemed right to me to try to understand why. The
loans are suspended for "political reasons," they tell me. In May 2000, in
Haiti, general elections (legislative, senatorial and local) took
place. The election of eight senators was contested and some people demanded
the organization of new elections. Well, according to what I've learned
from Haitian sources as well as American ones, the United States asked
the Inter-American Development Bank directly to block the loans as long
as the dispute is not resolved.

It is tragic that France and other European countries followed the
United States in their decision to block the aid to Haitian public
authorities, while this procedure is a violation to the Inter-American
Development Bank's charter, which stipulates that the Bank is forbidden to
intervene in the State members' political affairs. A report from a French
colleague working for the Bank summed up the situation as follows: "On
the whole, the main reason for the economic stagnation is the
cancellation of subsidies and loans from foreign countries that came with the
international community's answer to the political situation dead-end."
These funds are estimated at over 500 million dollars.

Fourthly, there are many debates on the issue of the blocked aid
intended for Haiti. If leaders of the powerful countries that impose these
sanctions think they present their own point of view, I can assure you
that the facts are clear and they show a deep hypocrisy from the creditor
States. Look at my own government's declarations stating that there is
no embargo. I maintain that all you have to do is look in which
direction money is circulating (or rather is not circulating) between
Washington and Port-au-Prince. During the last decades, when the Duvalier or
military governments were in power, hundreds of millions of dollars
flowed into the Haitian power's coffers. Today, the elected government,
unpopular with the government of the United States as well as with the
Haitian elite, has to content itself with sums close to zero.

The Inter-American Development Bank pretended that the funds had been
blocked after a consensus reached by the Organization of American States
in its "Declaration of Quebec." But this document is dated April 22,
2001, while the United States' representative's letter to the
Inter-American Development Bank asking for the loans not to be given is dated
April 8, 2001. It is clear that the United States put pressure on the Bank
so that it backs their own political choices. To quote one of the few
journalists who considered that this scandal deserved to be investigated
"it seems that there was a consultation about that decision only after
it had been taken."

Presently, international financial institutions' schemes against Haiti
are discriminating and probably illegal. The press remained relatively
silent regarding this: the powerful people of this world can say what
they want without any risk of being questioned when the stakes are
considered unimportant.

That's not all. The Inter-American Development Bank demanded, among
other things, that Haiti, a ruined country, pay crushing arrears always
increasing because of increasing interest. The main part of those arrears
concerns loans granted to the Duvalier dictatorship and the military
governments that governed the country so brutally from 1986 to 1990, and
after a brutal coup d'etat, from 1991 to 1994. In July 2003, Haiti
transferred 90% of its reserve currency to Washington to pay these arrears.
To date, not one cent of these four loans has been given, despite the
many guarantees given by the Bank.

In the fifth place, this astounding repeat of illegal schemes of the
19th century (lawyers as well as poor Haitians will see that the payments
to the Inter-American Development Bank are an echo of the indemnities
given to France starting in 1825) is in a straight line with other
discriminating practices against Haiti and its population. I recently made a
list, for a medical magazine, of the many boycotts imposed to the
Haitian people after it refused to respect the rules of the game, rules that
accepted, even during the period of enlightenment, the trade of human
beings. This medical article, titled "The unfair embargo on the aid to
Haiti," is among the documents I put together for the Commission.

In the sixth place, your committee should be extremely cautious with
regard to the notices published in French and in English when those
notices can make people think that Haitians refused in any sort of way the
restitution of indemnities extorted by France many generations ago.
French is not all Haitians' mother tongue. We estimate that only 10% of the
population speak French while all Haitians speak Haitian Creole. Some
Haitians are opposed to the restitution, which can seem staggering. If
we listen to Haitian radio, we can soon guess that the only Haitians
opposed to the restitution are part of the political opposition, weak in
number, not very appreciated in the country but nevertheless with a
great influence on the international level. There are of course a few
bitter intellectuals who also declare they are against the restitution –
which is in accordance with the sociology of a country where social
classes are so deeply divided. However, the great majority of the
population, desperate with the country's terrible situation, is in favor of this
process.

Much of the analysis, notably those of French and American journalists,
presents Haiti's current problems as if they have nothing to do with
slavery, with racism, with war and two centuries of interior and exterior
hostility to popular democracy. The battle Haiti continues to fight
against hereditary or military dictatorships and against the brutal
neo-conservatism privileged by some international financial institutions, is
also a battle against the voluntary eclipse of history.

Historical roots of the current situation

Historians, and probably members of this committee know the facts:
These facts are hard to exonerate, even though many people have tried. In
the way it treats the Haitian issues, contemporary journalism shows
total irresponsibility. Let me underline, once again, six essential facts,
before I speak about the consequences of the 1825 indemnity on Haiti's
later development and its current suffering. I will of course stress on
the roots of the sanitary crisis the country is going through today.

First of all, Haiti is mostly a creation of France. By the Treaty of
Ryswick, signed in 1697, the western third of Santo-Domingo island was
given to France, who made it its most profitable colony within sixty
years. The main editor of the time, Moreau de Saint-Méry, described it as
follows: "The French part of the Santo-Domingo island is France's most
important possession in the New World because of the wealth it gives to
its metropolis and because of the influence it has on its agriculture
and its trade." In his book published in 1981 on the end of the Former
System, Olivier Bernier recalls what the source of this great profit
was: "French products were sent everywhere in the world, but very few
products made in foreign countries went into France. Most of the trade was
based on food products, tobacco and colonial products, sugar, spices,
rice, tea and coffee. That allowed some merchants, most of them from
Bordeaux, to make profit on a merchandise extremely profitable, called
"black gold" -- it was Black slaves. Most of the ships' managers
participated in the vile triangular trade, based on slaves, sugar and rum. They
prospered. The city of Bordeaux was almost completely rebuilt at the
end of the 18th century and it still cuts a fine figure. The money came
from the sale of human beings."

Second point, the French part of the Saint-Domingue island is known by
historians of slavery to be the most merciless colony of history.
During the second half of the 18th century, it was the main call for boats
carrying slaves. When they had lived through the crossing, one-third of
the newcomers died a few years later. Slaves were the great majority of
the population and the masters lived in continuous fear of a rebellion.

Third point, Haitians conquered their independence with arms. We saw
masters free their slaves towards the end of the French revolution but
only after slaves themselves took their situation in hand, in 1791. As
proven in the archives, Napoleon thought later of restoring France's
power on the colony and reestablishing slavery.

The fourth point, almost all of the world's powers took France's side
against Haiti, the first nation to declare itself as a hiding country
for fugitive slaves but also for native people (Haiti's native people had
died long before the Treaty of Ryswick, in a holocaust caused by
infectious diseases and Spanish pro-slavery). The first independent nation in
Latin America and second in the "New World," Haiti was surrounded by
slave colonies. The country had only one independent neighbor, the United
States, owners of slaves themselves. They refused to recognize Haiti's
sovereignty. The diplomatic recognition took a long time to come. A
senator in South Carolina, speaking in front of his peers in 1824,
declared, "Our politics towards Haiti is simple: we will never recognize its
independence." The peace and security of a great part of the Union
prevents us from even considering it." At the end of the 19th century, the
United States took France's place and the American military occupation,
from 1915 to 1934, made my country become the dominant power in Haitian
affairs in the 20th century. These are the facts.

During the first decades of the independence, the Haitian economy in
ruin continued to depend on coffee, sugar and other products, none of
which were intended for local consumption. As long as the great powers
refused to recognize Haiti's sovereignty, the leaders of the country saw
the national economy trapped in inequitable commercial relations.

It is also important to underline, like Moreau de Saint-Mercy did
before the revolution, the irreparable ecological damage caused by single
crop farming practiced by French planters during the 18th century. As for
the sanitary situation after the independence war, Dr. Ary Bordes
summed it up as follows: cities and large villages were unhealthy, lacking
drinking fountains and latrines; refuse was accumulating in the streets.
Most of the plantation hospitals were destroyed; only military
hospitals in Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haitian were running. Almost all doctors,
surgeons and pharmacists had left the island. Only Black people who had
worked in the destroyed hospitals, midwives, healers and bonesetters
still gave rare health care. With very little training, they were facing
a population just freed from slavery, generally living in primitive
huts, without water or latrines, weakened and decimated by contagious
diseases against which it was badly protected. And the doctor concluded:
"Overwhelming legacy left by our former masters, craving for profit and
caring very little for the native population's life or health
conditions." The current sanitary situation shows a disturbing similarity with
this legacy of the past.

The fifth point, even if it is impossible to evaluate the cost of
slavery (three and a half centuries of destruction of lives and families,
but also of cultures and languages), the "French debt" can perfectly be
quantified. In 1825, Charles X accepted to recognize Haiti's
independence on the condition that the new republic pay 150 million francs to
France -- the annual budget of the French government at the time -- and cut
its customs taxes in half. Other people than me will give you precise
information on the amounts that were actually paid, but you must know
that such a demand was illegal with regard to the French law. Indeed, the
French ultimatum came with explicit threats to use force and to
reestablish slavery. But France had already signed a treaty (Treaty of Vienna,
1815) in which, even though slavery was not abolished in places where
it already existed, it was expressly forbidden to establish it on new
territories or to reintroduce it where it had been abolished, like in
Haiti. And so the threat that had presided in the negotiations was
completely outside of the law.

The sixth point, the consequences of the payment of the debt on the
Haitian society of the 19th century was devastating. In Haiti, the results
are heavy: anthropologist Jean Price-Mars denounced in 1953 the Haitian
leaders who had given in to French demands: "The incompetence and
thoughtlessness of the men in power made a country where expenses and
revenues were balanced up until then, become a nation overburdened with debts
and tangled up in financial obligations impossible to respect." In
France, opinions on the issue were different at the time, according to the
people's political convictions. Victor Schoelcher, who fought to
abolish slavery, considered that to impose the payment of an indemnity to
victorious slaves was just like asking them to pay with money what they
had already paid with their blood. Even those who benefited from the
agreement knew that it was a fatal blow to the Haitian economy. Alexandre
Delaborde, former colonist in Saint-Domingue, admitted in 1833 that
these 150 million francs represented three times the value of the entire
colony. And so, where does the payment of the indemnity and customs
concessions stand in the long list of tragedies that weigh down the Haitian
people? Very high up, in my opinion.

Restitution and reparations

While Haiti is getting ready to celebrate the bicentennial of its
independence, it seems fair to me to wonder if the "international community"
will continue to cut off the country or will it choose to make amends
to the longest succession of abuse towards this one and only nation in
history? France and the United States are the two countries where that
question should be asked with the most strength.

I cannot conclude without a word about the reparations for slavery
itself. Experts tell me that the procedures for reparations, undertaken
these last few years by slaves' descendants, come up against two
obstacles: slavery was not illegal in France at the time and, second difficulty,
these reparations represent enormous amounts for rich countries
(comparable, at the very least, to those that American cigarettes makers were
condemned to pay, not including interest). Reparations should be
extended to the entire American continent and the African continent. Beyond
the easy legal arguments, let's underline that the restitution of the
debt is a much less complicated issue than the reparations, and that it
is quite manageable for France. The amount can be calculated without
great difficulties and the beneficiaries are easy to name. It is a lot
less complicated than trying to estimate a reparation for a Central
African country, for example, that lost part of its population when an
African slave trafficker took away inhabitants to sell them to a Portuguese
trafficker who then sold those captives in Haiti.

Our world will become a better world if we pursue the idea of
reparations. Legal obstacles can be by-passed, and that is known by everyone
with good intentions who, by the coincidence of their birth, have power
today. But these are circles where good intentions are rare. And we have
every reason to fear that if reparations are paid one day, they will go
to slaves' descendants who are relatively rich who live in the United
States, in France or in England, a country who, with Spain and Portugal,
were the main architects of slavery in the New World.

I am going back to Haiti tomorrow and I am not very optimistic about my
capacity, as a doctor, to significantly change the sanitary crisis I
described here and elsewhere. I brought with me ten files with documents
that detail and support what I told you today, because justice must be
done. For a doctor, working in Haiti, in a country that continues to
suffer from abuses from the most powerful nations in the world, is a
little like trying to stop a sea wall with fingers. But I have a great debt
towards this country that made me a better doctor, at least I hope, and
that taught me to think in a more critical way. The medical team I am
part of will never stop treating sick poor people. Public teachers,
teachers, lead a similar battle in their field. We do not represent the
Haitian State but we work together with the Ministries of Health and of
Education, which must become responsible again for the access to health
care and teaching for everyone. We need allies and an answer to the
following question: will the happy winners of the world's history settle in
their distressing routine or will they finally break off from cruel,
corrupted and racist politics? Will they finally give back to Haiti the
price of its blood? Haitians are getting ready to commemorate the
bicentennial of their country's independence but they believe that they have
been punished, for two centuries, for daring to shake their chains. The
past and present history prove they are right.

Once again, thank you for asking for my advice.


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Pete Seeger Live - Hopin we'll all pull through - God's Counting On Me & You

Pete Seeger Live - New Protest Song About BP Oil Spill in Gulf Coast on Banjo w James Maddock Guitar

http://www.commondreams.org/video/2010/07/30-2

On July 23th 2010 Pete Seeger performed live at a Gulf Coast Oil Spill fundraiser at The City Winery in New York City. There, he unveiled to the public his new protest song about the BP oil spill entitled "God's Counting on Me, God's Counting on You." Backing up Pete's singing and banjo picking is the singer/songwriter James Maddock on acoustic guitar. All proceeds of this concert went to the Gulf Restoration Project. The show was produced and hosted by Richard Barone. The video was edited and mixed by Matthew Billy.

Lyrics:
When we look and we can see things are not what they should be
God's counting on me, God's counting on you
When we look and see things that should not be
God's counting on me, God's counting on you
Hopin' we'll all pull through, Hoping we'll all pull through,
Hopin' we'll all pull through
Me and you.
It's time to turn things around, trickle up not trickle down
God's counting on me, God's counting on you
It's time to turn things around, trickle up not trickle down
God's counting on me, God's counting on you
Hopin' we'll all pull through, Hoping we'll all pull through,
Hopin' we'll all pull through
Me and you.
And when drill, baby, drill turns to spill, baby, spill
God's counting on me, God's counting on you
Yes when drill, baby, drill turns to spill, baby, spill
God's counting on me, God's counting on you
Hopin' we'll all pull through, Hoping we'll all pull through,
Hopin' we'll all pull through
Me and you.
Don't give up don't give in, workin' together we all can win
God's counting on me, God's counting on you
Don't give up don't give in, workin' together we all can win
God's counting on me, God's counting on you
Hopin' we'll all pull through, Hoping we'll all pull through,
Hopin' we'll all pull through
Me and you.
There's big problems to be solved, let's get everyone involved
God's counting on me, God's counting on you
There's big problems to be solved, let's get everyone involved
God's counting on me, God's counting on you
Hopin' we'll all pull through, Hoping we'll all pull through,
Hopin' we'll all pull through
Me and you.
When we sing with younger folks, we can never give up hope
God's counting on me, God's counting on you
When we sing with younger folks, we can never give up hope
God's counting on me, God's counting on you
Hopin' we'll all pull through, Hoping we'll all pull through,
Hopin' we'll all pull through
Me and you.


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THE FOREST AND THE FIRE-KEEPER - "In every Ending There Is A New Beginning"

From the last story of the book the Global Forest
by Diana Beresford-Kroeger , pages 163-166,

Meet her in a short video:
http://www.stuartbernstein.com/beresford-kroeger.html

THE FOREST AND THE FIRE-KEEPER
"In every Ending There Is A New Beginning"

Unlike books, words are old. So are the oral traditions of global cultures. A collective memory was kept alive and passed on in the oral traditions of storytelling, songs, poetry, and family bloodlines. Occasionally within a culture a mystic would arise who could see a clear vision of the future from the patterns of the past. These mystics were prophets. They had the gift of prophecy and their words were remembered.

The oral tradition of any culture is its essence. It skims off wisdom and keeps these nuggets close from bosom to bosom down through the generations. This wisdom is collectively gathered and is committed to memory for use. Those who gather this wisdom have many names in many cultures. For the First Nations, the aboriginal peoples of North America, they are called the "Fire-keepers."

The fire-keeper is the keeper of legends. The fire-keeper is also charged with the memory of prophecy. Such items of future history are recorded according to a dateline of some event outside of the normal measurement of time. This clocks the event into the future in a timeline that nobody can dispute.

The forecasts of prophecy are fairly common phenomena that are often adopted universally and become embedded in the public's consciousness of the time. These, too, are remembered in common as an anchor for the prophecy itself.

At present there is a prophecy for the direct future of the times in which we all live. This prophecy concerns nature itself. Nature or Mother Nature, which is sometimes described as Gaia, is composed of a complex web of life in which all things live in an interdependent manner. The small is equal to the large in this network of life. And the small is codependent on the large for its life force. Every cog is placed in every wheel for a reason. There is a balance there too, a little play in this giant system so that it all works together hand in hand.

There is a timeline for this prophecy, too. The prophecy will happen around the time of the great dying of the North American maples, Acer saccharum, the sugar maples. These maples are the great feeding trees of the eastern seaboard of America. These trees will begin to decline from the tip. At first the tops of the trees will wither and die. Then the disease will spread downward through the trees until they lose all of their leaves. This dying is the beginning of the timeline of the destruction of nature.

The rape of nature has then begun. Other trees will succumb to various infestations. The loss of the forests will foreshadow a period of devastation. People will not realize what they have done, but they will continue in their path of demolition. From the peoples of today will arise another new generation of children. These children will be different from all those who came before. These children will have many gifts. They will be able to do extraordinary things.

Primarily these children will have the gift of telepathy. They will be able to communicate with one another across the globe, even though they do not know one another. Their recognition factor will be youth itself. These children too will have the gift of the dream. In the dream they will have clarity of vision. From this dream they will understand what has happened to nature. They will understand it and comprehend what their parents have done. Many of these children, too, will have the gift of prophecy. This will frighten them in the beginning until they gain an understanding.

Then the children of this generation will want to help the planet and nature in a collective way. They will hold hands across the planet in their minds. They will alter their parents' ways. They will encourage one another. In this circle of life the children will save their parents through a dream and through a prophecy. In saving their parents they will save the planet.

This is an old legend, told before the advent of the computer or the Internet. It was told before the advent of radio, television, mass media-even before electricity. It was told at a time when the sugar maples were healthy and producing copious quantities of sap for maple sugar.

Even as the words of the legend of the fire-keeper come together there is a truth to them. The media is filled with stories of nature's abuse. Those who should protect nature calmly put whole forests like the boreal forest on the chopping block without a moment's hesitation. Those who want more oil are busy with their killer sonar techniques in the krill-rich waters of the Tatarskiy Proliv (Strait of Tatar) between Sakhalin Island and mainland Russia, the birthing ground of the bowhead and the feeding grounds of the great whales. There seems no end to greed and no beginning to sustainable management of the planetary resource basis.

But the children exist. They have been taught a better mode of planetary management. The consumerism in their lives bores holes of unbearable solitude. They are already reaching for something else, something elusive, something that is color-blind to race. It is called dignity, the dignity of life, all life.

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Diana Beresford-Droeger is a botanist and medical biochemist who is an expert not he medicinal, environmental, and nutritional properties of trees. She lives in Ontario, Canada, surrounded by her sprawling research gardens filled with rare and endangered species.

From an Amazon.com review:
Perhaps because of the Irish ancestry she references at the outset, with its tradition of storytelling, the form of the essays is far from scientific but rather that of almost mystical, poetic appreciation. They even begin with a subtitle "refrain" that captures the essence of each piece. Yes, the book is full of the amazing facts I was hoping to find - such as the existence of warm-blooded plants and the complex chemistry that trees have evolved in order to survive. And there is a hopeful theme of the potential to reverse global ecologic devastation through reforestation. But most of all this is the sensually and lovingly written ode of a passionate scientist, harking back to writers of more enlightened ages."

From the cover of The Global Forest:
All of life as we know it hangs on trees in a matrix of complexity we call the living earth.
Her extraordinary bioplan shows how trees can be planted in rural and urban areas to promate health and counteract pollution and maintain biodiversity in the face of climate change.

Using the voice and style of her ancestors including, Irish Seanchai, the traditional story tellers who drifted through the landscape at night visiting farmsteads, she has crafted an original work of natural history. Her indisputable passion of life inspires people to see trees and their own connections with nature with awe.
http://www.stuartbernstein.com/beresford-kroeger.htm

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Family Farmer, Could Save the American Economy - Willie Nelson & Friends Farm Aid Support ...

Here's the report:
Rebuilding America's Economy with Family-Farm Centered Food Systems

Published on Friday, July 23, 2010 by Civil Eats
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/07/23-6

How Willie Nelson’s Bedrock, the Family Farmer, Could Save the American Economy

by Laura Edwards-Orr

As an advocate for local, and for family farmers, I know that there is immense power in the experiential. When you have a direct relationship with a farmer, you just know that relationship is mutually beneficial. When you see four leggers on pasture instead of concrete, it only makes sense. But, do we have our talking points lined up on a deeper level? Are we ready for that serendipitous moment when online dating sets you up with an agribusiness ladder climber who wants to debate free trade two beers in? Or when it comes time to make policy recommendations or offer a zinger quote to a reporter? Despite being a career local foods non-profit staffer, I don't always feel prepared when I leave the realm of the story for that of the concrete. Now that consumer awareness of the story of local has reached a critical mass, it is time to take our movement to the next level. Research. Organize. Speak out.

In celebration of its 25th year, Farm Aid, the longest running concert-for-a-cause, has published a report to help us make this push. Rebuilding America's Economy with Family-Farm Centered Food Systems takes one of the more sensitive topics in the American psyche today, the economy, and convincingly demonstrates the bounty of opportunity that family farmers can bring to local and regional communities.

Starting with a rally cry from Farm Aid's celebrity board, originally drafted in a letter to Congress in September of 2008 in a call to recognize the potential of family farmers to revive the collapsing U.S. economy, Rebuilding America's Economy paints a vision of what our nation could look like:

A $1 billion [a micro mini portion of the $700 billion bailout] investment in family farm agriculture would enrich us all, because we are all shareholders of the family farm. The return on investment in the family farm includes thriving local economies, nutritious food for better health, a safer and more secure food supply, a cleaner environment and more renewable energy. Investing in local, sustainable and organic food would shorten the distance between eaters and farmers, conserve energy, create economic opportunities, and new jobs through innovative processing and distribution systems, resulting in a better, greener, more efficient food and farm economy.

Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, and Dave Matthews Farm Aid Board of Directors

Showing the sophistication of knowing millions of farmers over the years, Farm Aid authors launch the report by eschewing black and white definitions of "family farmer" and other key terms. Instead, the report offers that family farmers are those who own the majority of the land or tools, make most of the decisions, and do most of the work. Perhaps more importantly, however, that each farmer who meets the above description inherently possesses the capacity to earn and demand fair wages, further community well-being, be an environmental steward, and promote public health. These are the values that make up the foundation for the family-farm centered food systems envisioned in the report.

It's hard talking points fall right into line as you read "Rebuilding America." For example, research by David Swenson of Iowa State University, in conjunction with the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, shows "increased fruit and vegetable production could boost regional farm sales by over $882 million, and spur retail-level sales as high as $3.31 billion. The effort would also generate 9,032 farm-level jobs and 9,652 retail level jobs, and a corresponding $395.1 million in farm level labor income..."

To my mind, jobs and increased income/sales are exactly what's needed at this very moment in economic history. Just in case data doesn't make people's heart sing the way mine does, I will simply submit that the report gives a multitude of similarly compelling facts that demonstrate the potential impact of small and medium sized farms to create thriving local economies by growing local, direct markets and regional value chains to feed wholesale demand.

Giving color to the well-researched data, are six case studies that show what can be done when a commitment to values is held equally to that of the bottom line: Shepherd's Grain, Indian Springs Farmers Association, Woodbury County, IA, Red Tomato, Hardwick, VT, and Community Farm Alliance. These case studies show that each region, group of farmers, or specific product requires its own innovation. In Kentucky, for example, where tobacco used to be the cash crop, Community Farm Alliance has helped farmers put their Tobacco Settlement offers to good use shifting their farms to more diversified operations. With more food crops in the ground across the state, CFA can now estimate that "if Kentucky were to match the national average for per-farm direct marketing sales, it would generate an additional $7.9 million in farm income and $15.8 million for the state as a whole."

In 1985, Willie Nelson named the family farmer the backbone of the country and the bottom rung on the economic ladder on which all else depends. Twenty-five years later, it is the job of the enthusiast and the advocate to understand what family farmers truly have to offer and what resources they need to seize the moment. Farm Aid, this report, the resources (down to the footnotes), and case studies in it, are an excellent place to start.

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Laura Edwards-Orr started her career as a local foods advocate at Farm Aid. She now works for Canton, MA based Red Tomato and works as a freelance writer, researcher, and data nerd for organizations and businesses working to create family-farm based food systems and value chains. She lives in Providence, RI with her husband, horse, dog, two cats, and is expecting her first two children this fall.



http://www.farmaid.org/site/c.qlI5IhNVJsE/b.6060101/k.6E56/Funding_Opportunities.htm

Family Farmers and Economic Stimulus: Funding Opportunities

Click here to download Funding Opportunities for Investing in Family Farm Centered Food Systems as a pdf file.

Right now, numerous funding opportunities from several federal agencies can be harnessed to create thriving local and regional food systems with family farmers at their base. Several of these programs are underutilized; others often award the same recipients year after year, squandering opportunities to advance the reach of the Good Food Movement. Still other programs are just now being recognized as opportunities for investing in family farmers and local and regional food systems.

While many of the opportunities highlighted below are part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the 2008 Farm Bill, or both, we issue a challenge to think outside the box and consider funding possibilities that cross sectors and foster new collaborations. Taking advantage of these opportunities can forge regional food markets, rejuvenate "agriculture in the middle" and stimulate local economies all at once.

= funding opportunities for which farmers and ranchers are eligible.

Working In Concert: Food Systems and Rural Development Whether by encouraging innovative marketing strategies or through new infrastructure like food storage facilities, the following grant and loan programs offer great promise for utilizing local and regional food systems to spur rural economic development across the United States.
Business & Industry Loan Program	Community Facilities Program		Economic Development Administration Programs		Rural Cooperative Development Grants
Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program	Rural Business Opportunity Grants		Rural Business Enterprise Grants		Value-Added Producer Grant Program
Linking Food Systems with Public Health & Nutrition There are a number of new and existing programs that enable public health and nutrition goals to be strategically linked with the development of local, family farm economies. Below are some resources for exploring these important connections.
ACHIEVE Healthy Communities Program	Communities Putting Prevention to Work Program		Farmers' Market Nutrition Program		Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program
The Heart of Community Food Security With obesity, diabetes and other chronic conditions related to poor nutrition disproportionately impacting rural, low-income and minority communities, access to affordable, healthful foods is a critical element of food security in the United States. The following programs offer unique opportunities to include local and regional food systems as a central strategy in achieving community food security.
Community Development Block Grants		Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program		Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program
Community Outreach Partnership Centers Grant		Community Service Block Grants		Healthy Urban Food Enterprise Development Center Program
Agriculture and the Green Economy It is a natural fit for those interested in local and regional food systems to work in tandem with the larger movement toward a green economy. Numerous opportunities exist to bolster on-farm income with renewable energy endeavors, establish a new "green" workforce, and expand community infrastructure to support more sustainable food systems founded on the hard work of family farmers.
Biomass Crop Assistance Program	Brownfields Development Program		Rural Energy for America Program		Training Grants for Green Jobs and Emerging Industry
From the Ground Up: Support For Farmers and Ranchers At the heart of every food system is the individual farmer or rancher. Investments at the farm level are essential for the stability and prosperity of local and regional food systems, which in turn contribute to the economic and social fabric of their communities. The following programs are available for farmers and ranchers, or are otherwise targeted in a way that directly enhances farmer and rancher livelihoods.
Farm Service Agency's Farm Loan Programs		Farm Storage Facility Loan Program		Farmers' Market Promotion Program
Specialty Crop Block Grant Program		Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program
Knowledge Is Power: Research and Information Services Many resources are available to support research initiatives that can be utilized to grow the body of knowledge that supports local and regional food system development. They can also better equip individuals and organizations to do the legwork of building these systems from the ground up.
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative		Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas		Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program
Small Business Innovation Research Program		Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education		Corporation for National and Community Service Volunteers

Farm Aid maintains that an investment in local and regional family-farm based food systems is an investment in the health and prosperity of all Americans, the communities in which they reside, and the economies that keep them afloat and profitable.

The list above is by no means exhaustive, but covers a wide range of programs that traditionally were designed for and utilized by narrow audiences. The challenge before us is to think creatively about funding resources, prospects for cross-sector collaboration and community mobilization strategies that can leverage these opportunities. This is a critical element to growing the Good Food Movement and a needed step in building a better future for us all.

EXPANDED LISTINGS

Working In Concert: Food Systems and Rural Development

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Business and Industry Loan Program

• Description: Through the Business and Industry (B&I) Loan program, USDA co-signs on guaranteed loans to provide rural businesses with affordable capital. USDA promises to pay a portion of any loss a business owner cannot repay, which lowers the lender's risk and allows for more favorable interest rates and terms to the borrower. B&I loans are to be used for purchasing and refurbishing assets and refinancing debt. About $100 million will be set aside for local and regional food projects in FY 2010, with priority given to underserved rural populations.
• Award Type: Guaranteed loans
• Maximum Award: Up to $10 million; some special exceptions for loans up to $25 million
• Who's Eligible: Nonprofit organizations that are lending institutions; other lenders to business owners in eligible rural areas. Eligible business owners may be cooperatives, nonprofits, corporations, Indian tribes, public bodies and individuals. Eligible rural areas include any area with 50,000 residents or less, excluding urban areas that are contiguous or adjacent to these areas. Cooperative processing facilities can be located in non-rural areas as long as the facility serves local farmers and improves the farm economy.
• Timelines: The loan program is ongoing, but applications for extra funds from the Stimulus Bill (ARRA) must be submitted by September 15, 2010. Groups are encouraged to apply at any time.
• More information: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/busp/b&I_gar.htm. Also visit the Rural Development Field Office locator at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html to find your State Rural Development Office.

Community Facilities Program

• Description: The Community Facilities Program provides loans and grants for the construction, acquisition, or renovation of community facilities or for purchasing equipment for community projects. Over $930 million in ARRA funds will go toward this program, which USDA's Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative envisions can be used to encourage the development of farmers markets, school and community kitchens, community food banks, food storage or distribution centers and food preparation centers. This program is ideal for non-profits and cooperatives interested in building food system infrastructure, though, importantly, funds cannot be used for any commercial purpose.
• Award Type: Direct loans, guaranteed loans, grants
• Maximum Award: Varies by project and community type
• Who's Eligible: Nonprofit organizations, local governments, tribal governments. The financing of "essential community facilities" applies to rural areas, which can have no more than 20,000 residents.
• Timelines: The next Request for Applications (RFA) will be released in September of 2010.
• More information: General: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rHS/cf/cp.htm. Also visit the Rural Development Field Office locator at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html to find your State Rural Development Office.

Economic Development Administration Programs

• Description: The Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) has many programs that support the construction or rehabilitation of public infrastructure. These projects are designed to retain jobs, attract capital and provide technical assistance and research to help communities cope with economic changes. The EDA has made investments in rural food and agriculture infrastructure projects before, and while local and regional food systems development has not been an explicit focus in the past, the EDA is interested in any proposal with significant job-creating potential, and with a focus on sustainable development.
• Award Type: Competitive Grants
• Maximum Award: Varies by program
• Who's Eligible: Nonprofit organizations acting in cooperation with some public State entity
• Timelines: Varies by program
• More Information: For general program overviews see: http://www.eda.gov/AboutEDA/Programs.xml or contact regional EDA offices: http://www.eda.gov/AboutEDA/Regions.xml.

Rural Cooperative Development Grants

• Description: USDA encourages the development or improvement of effective cooperative organizations through its Rural Cooperative Development Grants. These funds help establish and operate institutions, such as vegetable processing and marketing cooperatives or community development credit unions, with the purpose of improving rural economies. By strengthening marketing opportunities for agricultural producers, this program can be an important tool in developing strong local and regional food systems in communities across the United States.
• Award Type: Grants
• Maximum Award: $200,000 with a 25% matching fund requirement.
• Who's Eligible: Nonprofit organizations and higher education institutions.
• More information: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/rcdg/rcdg.htm. Also visit the Rural Development Field Office locator at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html to find your State Rural Development Office.

Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program

• Description: The Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) was created in the 2008 Farm Bill with the purpose of empowering rural entrepreneurs to establish new businesses or continue existing rural microenterprises. Through RMAP, USDA will provide grants to "Microenterprise Development Organizations" that offer training, technical assistance or small loans to new and existing rural small businesses. The program fills an important void left by other similar lending programs at the federal level, which tend to focus on non-rural communities. RMAP will have $13 million available for 2010, at least $4 million mandated in 2011 and $3 million mandated in 2012.
• Award Type: Microloans and Grants
• Maximum Award: Loans of less than $50,000; Grant limits not yet announced by USDA
• Who's Eligible: Nonprofit organizations, Indian tribes, or public institutions of higher education
• More information: USDA does not yet have a website for this program, but information is available from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition at http://sustainableagriculturecoalition.org/publications/grassrootsguide/local-food-systems-rural-development/rural-micro-entrepeneur-assistance/ or on the Center for Rural Affairs website: http://www.cfra.org/policy/micro/federal-micro-program. 

Rural Business Opportunity Grants Program

• Description: The Rural Business Opportunity Grants Program (RBOG) promotes sustainable economic development in rural communities of exceptional need through training and technical assistance for business development, rural entrepreneurs and business managers, rural business incubators, and economic development officials. Funds also assist economic development planning. These funds could be leveraged for local food system development through projects that focus on food businesses and community food enterprises.
• Award Type: Competitive Grants
• Maximum Award: $50,000 for projects serving one state; $150,000 for projects serving two or more states; $250,000 for project periods of up to two years
• Who's Eligible: Nonprofit organizations, public bodies, Indian tribes, and cooperatives with primarily rural members. RBOG serves rural areas, which this program defines as areas with 50,000 residents or less, excluding any urban area contiguous or adjacent to such areas.
• Timelines: Final applications are due June 28, 2010. The anticipated award date is September 15, 2010.
• More information: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ga/trbog.htm. Also visit the Rural Development Field Office locator at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html to find your State Rural Development Office. 

Rural Business Enterprise Grants Program

• Description: The Rural Business Enterprise Grants Program (RBEG) provides grants for rural projects that finance and facilitate the development of small and emerging rural businesses. They can fund distance learning networks and employment-related adult education programs, and assist with business development. Funds can also be used to acquire and develop land, or to construct buildings, plants, equipment, access roads, parking areas, and utility and service extensions. USDA's Know Your Farmers, Know Your Food initiative envisions RBEG funds being used for rural food processing businesses, facility planning, financing, constructing or refurbishing; or for training farmers to produce in coordination with a facility.
• Award Type: Grants
• Maximum Award: None, though priority is given to smaller projects
• Who's Eligible: Rural governments or public entities, Indian tribes, and nonprofit organizations
• Timelines: Interested applicants should contact their Rural Development Office to determine eligibility and begin the application process.
• More information: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/busp/rbeg.htm. Also visit the Rural Development Field Office locator at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html to find your State Rural Development Office. 

Value-Added Producer Grant Program

• Description: Through the Value-Added Producer Grant program (VAPG), USDA provides grants to producers who process or market their raw products to add value to their businesses and retain a higher portion of the retail dollar. VAPG awards planning grants for activities like business plan development, as well as working capital grants for needs like labor, inventory, advertising and so forth. The 2008 Farm Bill includes "locally-produced" marketing as an eligible activity. In addition, USDA is reserving 10% of these funds to develop local and regional supply networks. Another 10% of funds are available for both beginning or socially-disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and small or midsized farms and ranches.
• Award Type: Competitive Grants
• Maximum Award: $300,000 for working capital grants; $100,000 for planning grants
• Who's Eligible: Independent producers, farmer or rancher cooperatives, producer groups, majority-controlled producer-based business ventures, and nonprofits (which must be farmer controlled in certain circumstances).
• More Information: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/vadg.htm

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Linking Food Systems with Public Health & Nutrition

CDC's ACHIEVE Healthy Communities Program

• Description: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) ACHIEVE (Action Communities for Health, Innovation, and EnVironmental changE) Healthy Communities develop and implement strategies to prevent or manage risk factors for heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, obesity, and arthritis. Through this program, the CDC funds selected national organizations, which provide technical support and funding to selected communities. In this way, ACHIEVE harnesses the experience and expertise of its national partners to strengthen community leadership and activate change around the country. The holistic approach to prevention lends itself well to local and regional food system architects.
• Award Type: Competitive Grants, covering 3-year periods.
• Maximum Award: Varies. Most ACHIEVE funds are split between Category A and Category B recipients. Category A recipients re-grant to local organizations while Category B recipients are responsible for promotion and dissemination of effective tools and do not re-grant.
• Who's Eligible: Category A recipients include the National Association of County and City Health Officials, the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors, the National Recreation and Park Association, and the YMCA of the USA, who award funding to local entities and work closely with them on program development, implementation and evaluation, and also help them network nationwide.
• Timelines: ACHIEVE has added 93 communities since January 2008 and aims to have 200 total participating by Spring 2013. Category A organizations will be adding approximately 40 new communities to the program each year, with the latest round of additions announced in February 2010.
• More information: http://www.achievecommunities.org/Pages/default.aspx and http://www.cdc.gov/healthycommunitiesprogram/communities/achieve.htm. Contacts for the national organizations and for general inquiries can be accessed at http://www.achievecommunities.org/pages/contact.aspx.

Communities Putting Prevention to Work

• Description: The CDC's Communities Putting Prevention to Work program is a major new funding initiative under ARRA that aims to address two leading preventable causes of death and disability: obesity and tobacco use. The goal is to reduce disease risk factors, prevent and/or delay chronic disease, promote wellness in children and adults and provide positive, sustainable health change in communities. Those interested in promoting local and regional food systems with programs in health and wellness may be able to access this funding stream. Organizations are encouraged to contact state and local health departments to inquire about partnering on these opportunities as soon as possible.
• Award Type: Cooperative Agreements awarded on a competitive basis
• Maximum Award: Varies
• Who's Eligible: Funding will be awarded to health departments, but subcontracting with community groups is encouraged.
• Timelines: Varies by program
• More information: http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/recovery and http://www.hhs.gov/recovery/programs/cdc/chronicdisease.html

Farmers' Market Nutrition Program

• Description: In numerous states, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP), Senior Nutrition Program and Women Infant and Children (WIC) Program are participating in the Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP), which allows FMNP coupons to be used to purchase a variety of fresh, nutritious and locally-grown produce. The central goal of the FMNP is to support local food systems through direct marketing opportunities. Special priority is granted to projects that increase access to local, fresh foods among low-income residents. When it is not practical for individual farmers to obtain a license to accept program benefits using standard Electronic Benefit Technology (EBT), a farmers' market sponsor can acquire a license to allow all eligible farmers to accept benefits through a centralized point-of-sale device.
• Award Type: Competitive Grants
• Maximum Award: $100,000
• Who's Eligible: Nonprofit organizations, local governments, tribes, economic development corporations, agricultural cooperatives, and regional farmers market authorities
• More information: General: http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/FMNP/FMNPfaqs.htm and http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/ebt/fm.htm; Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program: http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/SeniorFMNP/SFMNPmenu.htm; WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program: http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/FMNP/FMNPfaqs.htm#3

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program

• Description: USDA envisions the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program as an integral part of the larger campaign against childhood obesity and efforts to improve the eating habits of our country's youth. Created in the 2002 Farm Bill, this program introduces elementary school children to a variety of produce they may otherwise never encounter. Participating schools can purchase fruits and vegetables through several means, including local producers, so long as they follow proper procurement guides. The 2008 Farm Bill expanded mandatory funding for this program with an additional $101 million in FY 2010 and $150 million in FY 2011.
• Award Type: Grants
• Maximum Award: Funding is allocated among States using a formula that allocates half of the funds equally among states and the rest based on State population. States will re-grant the money to elementary schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).
• Who's Eligible: All 50 States, the District of Columbia and U.S. Territories. The program is generally administered through State Departments of Education (a few states run the program through their Departments of Agriculture), via agreements with school food authorities.
• Timelines: All funds remain available until expended, with new funding each fiscal year opening up in July.
• More information: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/FFVP/FFVPdefault.htm

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The Heart of Community Food Security

Community Development Block Grants

• Description: For 36 years, the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Community Development Block Grant program has offered grants geared toward poverty reduction, community revitalization and individual or community economic self-sufficiency. Those interested in promoting local and regional food systems may be able to access these grants. The following projects, if targeted to stimulate economic recovery and growth, could qualify: beginning farmer programs, community food distribution centers and integrated growing, processing, storage and distribution systems.
• Award Type: Grants
• Maximum Award: Varies
• Who's Eligible: Local and state governments, who grant to eligible communities
• Timelines: The 2010 application deadline passed in April.
• More information: http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/communitydevelopment/programs/

Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program

• Description: The Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Loan Guarantee Program is the loan provision of the Community Development Block Grants Program (CDBG), and finances economic development, housing development, public facilities rehabilitation and construction projects that benefit low- to -moderate-income people. Past funds have been used for food systems projects, such as creating farmers markets in communities with little access to fresh food.
• Award Type: Guaranteed Loans
• Who's Eligible: Metropolitan cities and urban counties (i.e. CDBG entitlement communities) and non-entitlement communities that apply with States who administer the CDBG program
• Timelines: Grants are accepted on an on-going basis.
• More information: http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/communitydevelopment/programs/108 or find your State Community Planning & Development Director at: http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/about/staff/fodirectors/.

Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program

• Description: Since 1996, the Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program has fought food insecurity by supporting projects that promote the self-sufficiency of low-income communities while addressing food, nutrition and farm issues. Eligible projects are designed to increase food security in communities by bringing "the whole food system" together to assess strengths, establish linkages, and create systems that improve the self-reliance of community members over their food needs. Funds can be used for infrastructure development and grants favor projects with creative, innovative marketing strategies.
• Award Type: Competitive Grants
• Maximum Award: Total awards of $10,000-$300,000 for 1-3 years, with no more than $125,000 to be expended per year. These one-time grants require dollar-for-dollar matching funds, though this can be achieved through in-kind donations.
• Who's Eligible: Grants are intended to help eligible private nonprofit organizations that need a one-time infusion of federal assistance to establish and carry out multipurpose community food projects.
• More information: http://www.nifa.usda.gov/nea/food/in_focus/hunger_if_competitive.html USDA has identified the Community Food Security Coalition (www.foodsecurity.org), Growing Power (www.growingpower.org), and World Hunger Year (www.whyhunger.org) as organizations that offer appropriate assistance for completing grant applications to this program. Interested groups in need of assistance should contact these organizations directly. Organizations can apply for these grants directly at www.grants.gov.

Community Outreach Partnerships Centers

• Description: Community Outreach Partnerships Centers (COPC) grants are awarded to colleges or universities for projects that revitalize distressed communities in urban areas. Project types are diverse and have included food systems work, like the creation of a local urban agricultural enterprise.
• Award Type: Competitive Grants
• Maximum Award: Up to $400,000 for 2 or 3 years to establish and operate COPCs. Grantees must match at least 50% of research activities costs and 25% of outreach activities costs with contributions from private sources or State and local governments.
• Who's Eligible: Colleges, universities and other institutions of higher education, with no restrictions on the characteristics of targeted communities.
• Timelines: HUD publishes an annual Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) and an application kit for the COPC Program.
• More information: http://www.hud.gov/progdesc/copc.cfm Application kits are available from the University Partnerships Clearinghouse 1-800-245-2691 or http://www.oup.org/

Community Service Block Grants

• Description: Administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Community Service Block Grants (CSBG) work to alleviate poverty by supporting programs that provide employment, education, housing, emergency services and nutritional counseling in low-income communities. CSBG has supported several projects relevant to local and regional food systems, including community gardens, community canneries, food buying groups, food banks, nutrition and food preparation counseling, and group meal provisions.
• Award Type: Block Grants
• Maximum Award: Varies each year. HHS distributes money as mandatory block grants to States and Indian tribes, which re-grant 90% of the funds to state and local organizations on a discretionary basis.
• Who's Eligible: States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Territories, and Indian Tribes and tribal organizations, all of whom may re-grant to organizations with demonstrated expertise in providing training to low-income individuals, families and communities or to organizations officially designated as a Community Action Agency.
• Timelines: Each July, HHS issues a notice reminding State and Indian Tribes to submit annual applications. State allocations are made in the Fall. In FY 2010, over $680 million were allocated to states, and nearly $5 million were allocated to Indian Tribes.
• More information: For general program information visit http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/csbg/aboutus/factsheets.htm. Organizations interested in accessing funds should find their regional staff contacts at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/csbg/aboutus/staffassignements.html.

Healthy Urban Enterprise Development Center Program

• Description: The 2008 Farm Bill authorized this grant program to establish and support one Healthy Urban Food Enterprise Development (HUFED) Center. The HUFED Center is meant to increase access to healthy affordable foods (including locally-produced agricultural products) to underserved communities through innovative marketing and distribution systems. USDA recently announced its grant award to the Wallace Center at Winrock International to establish and maintain the center. The HUFED Center will provide training and technical assistance for food enterprises and award sub-grants to eligible entities for healthy food enterprise development over the next several years. In providing technical assistance and grants, the HUFED Center shall give priority to applications that include projects to benefit underserved communities and develop market opportunities for small and midsized farms and ranches.
• Award Type: Sub-grants, Technical Assistance
• Who's Eligible: Nonprofit organizations
• Timelines: 2010 letters of Inquiry were due to the Wallace Center in March.
• More information: http://www.nifa.usda.gov/fo/healthyurbanfoodenterprisedevelopmentcenter.cfm or http://www.wallacecenter.org/our-work/current-initiatives/healthy-urban-food-enterprise-development-center. Contact the Wallace Center at hufed@winrock.org or 1-703-531-8810.

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Agriculture and the Green Economy

Biomass Crop Assistance Program

• Description: The Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) was established by the 2008 Farm Bill to promote the cultivation of highly energy-efficient bioenergy crops that show exceptional promise and to develop those new crops and cropping systems in a manner that preserves natural resources. BCAP provides financial assistance to producers or entities that deliver eligible biomass material to designated biomass conversion facilities for use as heat, power, bio-based products or biofuels. With the prospect of adding new on-farm income streams for producers, this program could be an important strand in a web of programs that restore the prosperity of family farms and build local and regional energy options for their communities.
• Award Type: Direct payments, cost-share payments, and matching payments
• Maximum Award: Farmers will be eligible to enter a 5-year agreement with USDA for annual or perennial crops or a 15-year agreement for woody biomass.
• Who's Eligible: Farmers and ranchers or entities that deliver eligible biomass material to conversion facilities
• Timelines: Check the Farm Service Agency (FSA) website for updates on FY 2010 Notice of Funds Availability.
• More Information: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=cops&topic=bcap

Brownfields Development Program

• Description: Through ARRA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provided $100 million to its Brownfields Development Program. This program turns once-contaminated properties into productive community assets, awarding eligible applicants through grants in job training, assessment, revolving loan fund and cleanup programs. While not typical of this program, the following projects that foster local and regional family farm food systems could be eligible: farmland reclamation, urban greenhouses, community garden or farm sites, organic transition, rebuilding food processing and manufacturing facilities, and renovating buildings to become community food distribution centers.
• Award Type: Grants in Job Training, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund and Cleanup categories
• Maximum Award: Job Training Grants are funded up to $200,000 over two years. Brownfields Assessment Grants are funded up to $200,000 over three years or for coalitions, up to $1,000,000 over three years. Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund Grants are funded up to $1,000,000 over five years. Brownfields Cleanup Grants are funded up to $200,000 over three years.
• Who's Eligible: State, local and tribal governments; land clearance authorities; quasi-governmental agencies; regional council or redevelopment agencies; states or legislatures; nonprofit organizations
• Timelines: Most deadlines for the FY 2010 funding have passed. Check the EPA's website for information on application deadlines later this year.
• More information: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/grant_info/index.htm

 

Rural Energy for America Program

• Description: Administered by USDA's Rural Development Agency, the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) is a new 2008 Farm Bill program that amends and combines previous Farm Bill energy programs. REAP provides cost-share awards for energy audits and renewable energy technologies, as well as grants and loans for energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy systems. Eligible projects include systems that may be used to produce and sell electricity, offering exciting opportunities for additional on-farm revenue while contributing to energy needs at the local and regional level.
• Award Type: Cost-share awards, grants and loans
• Maximum Award: Varies
• Who's Eligible: Farmers and ranchers who gain 50% or more of their gross income from agricultural operations, small rural businesses, and rural electric cooperatives. For the energy audit program, the following are also eligible: state, tribal and local governments; land-grant colleges or universities and other institutions of higher education; and rural electric cooperatives or public power entities. Grants to agencies or groups who assist farmers with energy audits and assessments are also available.
• Timelines: Applications are due by June 30, 2010.
• More information: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/farmbill/index.html or contact you State Rural Development Office

Training Grants for Green Jobs and Emerging Industry Sectors

• Description: The ARRA dedicates $60 billion to "green jobs" and dedicates $750 million to a competitive grant program in job training for "high growth and emerging industry sectors." While alternative energy tops the administration's agenda, family farm-based local and regional food systems have an important role to play in green job generation. The Department of Labor (DOL) plans to use ARRA funds to prepare workers for green jobs.
• Award Type: Training Grants
• Maximum Award: Varies
• Who's Eligible: Beginning farmers, immigrant farmers, those interested in fresh food processing or marketing positions and sustainable agriculture training initiatives are potential beneficiaries of these funds.
• Timelines: Solicitations for Grant Applications administered by the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) will be published on www.grants.gov and in the Federal Register.
• More information: http://www.doleta.gov/brg/GreenJobs

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From the Ground Up: Support For Farmers and Ranchers

Beginning Farmer & Rancher Development Program

• Description: Beginning farmers are defined as producers who have 10 years or less of experience, and according to 2007 estimates they account for approximately 21% of family farmers. To address the needs of a new generation of farmers and ranchers entering the agricultural sector, the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program funds initiatives that provide beginning farmers and ranchers with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. USDA targets 25% of funding to projects that address the needs of limited resource and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, including minorities, immigrants, women, and farm workers who want to become farmers.
• Award Type: Competitive Cooperative Agreements
• Maximum Award: $300,000
• Who's Eligible: State, tribal and local governments; nonprofit organizations; colleges and universities; cooperative extensions; other appropriate partners
• Timelines: The newest Request for Applications (RFA) can be accessed at http://www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/rfas/bfrdp.html. Applications were due April 2010.
• More information: http://www.nifa.usda.gov/fo/beginningfarmerandrancher.cfm or http://www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/bfrdp/bfrdp.html. Applicants can apply directly at http://www.grants.gov.

Farm Service Agency's Farm Loan Programs

• Description: Many existing and aspiring farmers and ranchers lack the sufficient assets or repayment capacity to qualify for commercial loans. The Farm Service Agency's (FSA) Farm Loan Program offers direct and guaranteed loans to producers to purchase land, construct or refurbish buildings, purchase equipment or livestock, establish permanent crops or finance annual crops. Loans can be used to refinance debts in some cases. In addition, the program targets some funding for beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
• Award Type: Direct and guaranteed loans for ownership and operation.
• Maximum Award: $300,000 for direct loans; $1,094,000 (adjusted annually) for guaranteed loans.
• Who's Eligible: Farmers and ranchers who are not ready to obtain financing from commercial lending sources. Targeted funds are available for beginning farmers and ranchers and for socially-disadvantaged farmers who are women, African Americans, American Indians, Alaskan Natives, Hispanics, Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders. Retiring farmers may use this program to transfer land to new generations of farmers.
• Timelines: Program is ongoing
• More information: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=fmlp&topic=bfl

Farm Storage Facility Loan Program

• Description: On-farm storage can help farmers maximize profits. It can be especially critical for producers growing fruits and vegetables for fresh markets, allowing them to store and preserve produce rather than harvesting just before leaving for market. USDA's Farm Storage Facility Loans program finances the purchase, construction, or refurbishment of farm storage facilities and new cold storage buildings, including prefabricated buildings with a useful life of at least 15 years. Financing may also cover site preparation and cooling and electrical equipment.
• Award Type: Direct loans
• Maximum Award: $500,000, with terms of 5,7, 10 or 12 years. Down payment and security requirements vary with loan sizes, and interest rates are fixed with rates comparable to Treasury Securities.
• Who's Eligible: Individuals and businesses that produce eligible commodities, including fresh fruits and vegetables as well as hay and renewable biomass. Applicants must meet additional requirements.
• Timelines: Check with your local FSA for specific application deadline information
• More information: To read more about eligible commodities, facilities, upgrades, cost items, and other requirements, visit: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=prsu&topic=flp-fp

Farmers' Market Promotion Program

• Description: The Farmers' Market Promotion Program (FMPP) was created through an amendment of the Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act of 1976 and is administered by the Agricultural Marketing Service. In the 2008 Farm Bill, the FMPP became mandatory for the first time and now has $30 million in funds for fiscal years 2009-2012. The grants authorized by the FMPP are targeted to help communities support local food systems and farmers through the improvement or expansion of domestic farmers markets, roadside stands, community supported agriculture programs and other direct producer-to-consumer market opportunities. A minimum of 10% of funds are set-aside for new electronic benefits transfer (EBT) programs that expand farmers market access to low-income individuals participating in federal nutrition programs.
• Award Type: Competitive Grants
• Maximum Award: $100,000. Applicants are limited to no more than one grant in a fiscal year, and starting in FY 2011, grantees cannot receive grants in two consecutive years.
• Who's Eligible: Agricultural cooperatives, producer networks, producer associations, local governments, non-profit corporations, public benefit corporations, economic development corporations, regional farmers market authorities, and Tribal Governments.
• Timelines: Applications were due April 15, 2010.
• More information: See http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/FMPP for FY 2010 guidelines.

Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

• Description: This flexible grant program, administered by USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service, provides state assistance for the production of specialty crops. Funds are used to enhance the competitiveness of fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and nursery crops. This program is a tool to strengthen local and regional food systems by increasing the viability of "buy local" programs, establishing premium markets for organic produce, improving the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of distribution systems, bolstering marketing programs and establishing producer cooperatives for specialty crop growers.
• Award Type: Block Grants to State Departments of Agriculture
• Maximum Award: Varies by state
• Who's Eligible: Departments of Agriculture in all fifty states, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico who often re-grant to local organizations.
• Timelines: Application Timelines are due July 29, 2010.
• More information: http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/SCBGP Interested parties should contact their state department of agriculture.

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Knowledge Is Power: Research and Information Services

Agriculture and Food Research Initiative

• Description: The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) is a new, overarching competitive grant program to provide funding for fundamental and applied research, extension and education to address the food and agricultural sciences. Grants address priorities in the following broad research areas: plant health and production and plant products; animal health and production and animal products; food safety, nutrition, and health; renewable energy, natural resources, and environment; agriculture systems and technology; and agriculture economics and rural communities. Several of the programs under AFRI can be creatively harnessed to build strong local and regional food systems.
• Award Type: Competitive Grants, which may have terms of up to 10 years
• Maximum Award: Varies
• Who's Eligible: State agricultural experiment stations, colleges and universities, university research foundations, other research institutions and organizations, Federal agencies, national laboratories, private organizations or corporations, individuals, and any group consisting of two or more of the aforementioned entities.
• Timelines: For updates on deadlines for various AFRI programs, visit: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/afri/afri_program_deadline_dates.html
• More Information: http://www.nifa.usda.gov/fo/agriculturalandfoodresearchinitiativeafri.cfm

Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas

• Description: Funded by USDA's Rural Business-Cooperative Service, the Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA) program provides information to farmers, ranchers and other individuals on a variety of sustainable agricultural practices, encouraging their adoption as a way to maintain or improve profits, produce high quality food and reduce adverse environmental impacts of farm operations. A number of high quality publications have been issued by ATTRA. ATTRA can also provide technical assistance for producers interested in developing marketing cooperatives.
• Award Type: This is not an award program, but offers valuable information and technical assistance
• Who's Eligible: Farmers, ranchers, market gardeners, extension agents, researchers, educators, farm organizations, and others involved in commercial agriculture. Particularly emphasis is given to economically disadvantaged or traditionally underserved communities.
• More information: http://www.attra.org

Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program

• Description: The Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP) is a matching grant program that provides funds to State Departments of Agriculture and other appropriate State agencies to explore barriers, challenges and new market opportunities for food and agricultural products and to encourage research and innovation that improves the performance of the marketing system. FSMIP funds support a wide range of applied research projects. The program's broad flexibility lends itself to a variety of programs that can bolster food systems based on family farm agriculture.
• Award Type: Matching funds for State Departments of Agriculture and other State agencies
• Maximum Award: Approximately 25 projects are funded each year, and the average grant is $50,000. In recent years, grants have ranged from $25,000 to $135,000.
• Who's Eligible: State Departments of Agriculture, who may re-grant to local organizations
• Timelines: Application deadlines for FY 2010 have passed.
• More information: http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/FSMIP.

Small Business Innovation Research Program

• Description: Eleven federal agencies participate in the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program each year. USDA's program is administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and awards competitive grants to qualified small businesses to support research endeavors that address scientific problems and opportunities in agriculture. SBIR does not award funds to establish businesses. Instead, it aims to stimulate private sector technical innovation, strengthen small businesses, increase private sector commercialization of USDA-supported innovations, and encourage innovation in women-owned and socially- or economically-disadvantaged small businesses.
• Award Type: Competitive Research Grants
• Maximum Award: SBIR Phase I grants are limited to $80,000 and a duration of 8 months and are open to any small business meeting SBIR eligibility requirements. SBIR Phase II grants are limited to $350,000 and for 24 months and are only open to previous Phase I awardees.
• Who's Eligible: Small businesses, with no more than 500 employees. See the NIFA website for more information on eligibility requirements.
• Timelines: Application deadlines for FY 2010 have passed. Phase I awardees will be announced in May 2010. Future deadlines for the program will be announced on the NIFA website.
• More information: http://www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/sbir/sbir.html

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education

• Description: The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program is a competitive grant-making and outreach program with the mission of advancing sustainable innovations to the whole of American agriculture. The sharing of project results is a cornerstone of the SARE program, with field days, workshops and conferences in every region, and an Outreach office producing an ever-growing library of books, bulletins, online resources and a vast archive of know-your-farmer profiles of SARE grantees. SARE is uniquely grassroots, with four regional offices administering the program and local experts guiding SARE through administrative councils. Some regions offer Graduate Student, Sustainable Community Innovation and Planning grants.
• Award Type: Competitive grants
• Maximum Award: Varies by program; awards range between $30,000 - $150,000+
• Who's Eligible: Nonprofit organizations, researchers and individual producers
• Timelines: Deadlines vary by program. Contact regional offices for details.
• More information: http://www.sare.org

Corporation for National and Community Service Volunteers

• Description: The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) is an independent government agency that runs the AmeriCorps Volunteer in Service to America (VISTA) and Learn and Serve America (LSA) programs. Communities and organizations across the United States have utilized both of these programs to help launch local and regional food systems projects.
• Award Type: Volunteers, whose compensation and living expenses are supported by CNCS
• Maximum Award: For VISTA, grants may cover the full volunteer stipend, but not the administrative expenses of operating the program. LSA funds draw from non-competitive grants to State Education Agencies based on a statutory formula.
• Who's Eligible: Nonprofit organizations, colleges and universities, local, state, or federal agencies
• Timelines: Varies
• More information: http://www.americorps.gov/for_organizations/apply/vista.asp or http://www.learnandserve.gov.

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