2009 World Food Day events highlight the right to food and the power of working together to help insure food security for all – every day!
Since 1981 World Food Day has been a story of concern and action at all levels in communities around the world. For 64 years the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN has been at work wherever its skills have been needed, and for 29 years the citizens of the world have been joining forces with FAO through the annual worldwide observance of World Food Day, on October 16th , to focus on FAO’s efforts and to add their own impact in a myriad of ways. The following selection of events and activities is a representative sampling of what is happening this year.
World Food Day at FAO headquarters – Rome, Italy
October 16 in FAO Plenary Hall
Program will include the official ceremony with FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf, addresses by the Secretary-General of the Ibero-American Summit, the Minister of Agriculture of the Italian Republic and the Permanent Observor of the Holy See to FAO. The newly appointed Goodwill Ambassadors will be introduced.
World Food Day at the United Nations
October 29th
World Food Day will be commemorated at UN Headquarters in New York. Participants will include UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, FAO Director-General Diouf and Goodwill Ambassador Diane Warwick.
World Food Day in Lower Manhattan, New York City
October 16th
Open House at the Action Center for World Hunger. The Center was opened on World Food Day 2008. The Center is an interactive public space that “equips, inspires and empowers visitors” to tackle global challenges to food security for all.
World Food Prize Award Ceremony and Symposium
October 12 -17
Food and Agriculture & National Security in a Globalized World will be the theme for lectures, panels and ceremonies. Dr. Gebisa Ejeta of Ethiopia will receive the World Food Prize on October 15th in Des Moines, Iowa.
26th Annual WFD Teleconference
October 16th – 12 noon to 3:00 p.m.
Global Food Crisis: Opportunities, Responsibilities and Solutions: Joy Phumaphi, Max Finberg and Rep. James McGovern. The broadcast is produced by the U.S. National Committee for World Food Day.
Seeds of Hope Benefit Luncheon
October 16th
The Hawaii Island School Garden Network is observing World Food Day with a luncheon aboard the Garden Princess in Hilo Harbor. Events include the screening of a documentary filmed in Hawaii
Bread for the World Sunday
Sundays around World Food Day
More than 2000 congregations will participate with reflections, sermons and prayers to remember the needs of hungry people.
Faces of Hunger in America
October 16
On line voting for the Palms of Life Fund competition to document hunger in the United States will start on October 16th. The competition, sponsored by Palms for Life, is open to all young filmmakers 25 years of age and under. Cash prizes are awarded.
Stand Up – Take Action to Fight Poverty
October 16th
An interactive videoconference will be part of this year’s attempt to break the Guinness World record for the UN Millennium Campaign program. It will feature participants at the University of Pennsylvania, the World Bank, St. Joseph High School in New Jersey and Byrne Creek High School in British Columbia.
Hunger, Biofuels and Climate Change
October 16th
This World Food Day briefing will be held at the U.S. Capitol Building. It is sponsored by the Friends of the Earth. This will be followed by a reception featuring the director of the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy at the Friends of the Earth conference Room.
World Food Day Action Countdown
October 1 – 16
The World Food Program will issue a daily challenge as part of WFP’s Billion to Billion Campaign -- an endeavor to involve the billion people using the internet to take action to help the billion poor people.
United Nations Week in Washington DC
October 16-25
A week long series of events commemorating the founding of FAO and the UN in 1945. There will be walks, films, panel discussions, a youth conference, a 5K race and Festival for Peace and a gala and ball.
Food Drive to Kick-Off Arkansas-Georgia Game
September 19-October 16
This will be the second annual food drive. The collection of items at the Georgia game is being held in conjunction with the third annual Southeastern Conference “Together We CAN Food Drive.”
Coalition Against Hunger
October 16th
In honor of World Food Day the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger hosts a gathering of anti-hunger advocates from across the state to discuss better service for the city’s most vulnerable residents.
Plant a New Seed Campaign
October 15th
The Rural Development Leadership Network is launching the campaign to reinforce commitment to locally grown, healthful, afford able, safe and just food for all.
Do One Thing Video Contest
October 16th
Emily’s Fund is calling for videos to highlight action on hunger. The contest is in memory of Emily Rachel Silverstein who was murdered in April 2009 and was established by her parents to continue her legacy of hope in action for a better world. The first winners will be announced on World Food Day.
Broken Bread Poverty Meals
October 16th
World Vision is a creative activism event. Participants are invited to identify, interact with and intercede for those broken by the cycle of AIDS, poverty and hunger. The simple meals are a time for reflection and rededication.
School Lunch Week
October 12-16
All-Star emphasis on health eating to be theme for 2009 School Lunch Week, an annual observance in schools across our nation.
Cans Around the Oval
September 12 – October 16
This traditional observance of World Food Day will hold its 20th event on the campus of Colorado State University in Boulder.
Fair Trade Festival
October 2-4
The sixth fair trade festival organized by World Vision will be held again in Oklahoma City. The three-day fair will feature handmade fair trade items from around the world, international food and entertainment and a learning village.
CROP Walks
October
2009 will be the 63rd observance of the Interfaith CROP Walks on the weekends around October. Thousands of walkers nationwide will be engaged in a partnership with Church World Service to raise funds to eradicate hunger and poverty. CWS works with 30 organizations in 80 countries.
Augustinian Prayer Service
October 16
Augustinians of the Midwest are encouraged to mark World Food Day in their communities and ministries. The FAO day meshes with the themes of the Millennium Development Goals. Leaders say the Day encourages everyone to move beyond the “benevolence model” of food aid and to emphasize actions that will empower people and make it possible for them to feed themselves.
University of Virgin Islands
October 18th
World Food Day activities will be held on the grounds of the St. Croix campus. A Youth Super Chef Competition and a Breadfruit Bonanza will be featured.
Knit World’s Longest Scarf
October 17 and 18
The Keep the Fleece Project is working with Heifer International to engage knitters to knit and assemble the longest ever scarf. This fundraising endeavour will contribute proceeds to Heifer. The separate knitted pieces will be joined together at the New York Sheep and Wool Festival at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck NY.
10 Things You Should Know About Child Hunger
October 16th
Save the Children is using the internet to publicize the child hunger crisis and to urge the public to observe World Food Day by making donations to help address increased cases of chronic and severe malnutrition around the world.
WORKING TOGETHER WORKS
Throughout the life of World Food Day ZIGGY, WITH A CARTOON PSA, HAS PROCLAIMED THE MESSAGE OF OUR COMMON GOAL - WORKING TOGETHER TO HELP BUILD A BETTER WORLD.
Every year The United Nations, governments, institutions, organizations and individuals, young and old, freshen the voice of caring and action with new initiatives and new energy.
This WFD logo composed of pieces of the logos of our hundreds of sponsors is a reminder that World Food Day belongs to everyone and should be used by everyone to help involve all our nation's caring citizens in showing the POWER OF THE PEOPLE!!!