Focus on Food
Film and Discussion Series
Eating lies at the heart of our biological and social lives, yet we often don’t think about the human, animal, and environmental implications of our food choices. Please join us for this special series exploring some of the ethical issues involved in food production and consumption.
If you have a favourite dish prepared using local, sustainable, and organic ingredients, please feel free to bring some to share with the group. For information on what’s in season, where to buy sustainable products, and recipe ideas, see Foodland Ontario and Greenbeltfresh.ca.
Sunday July 10, 2011 | Focus on the Food System
Screening – Food Inc.
Food, Inc. exposes America’s industrialized food system and its effect on our environment, health, economy and workers’ rights. Featuring interviews with such experts as Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation), Michael Pollan (The Omnivore’s Dilemma, In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto) along with forward thinking social entrepreneurs like Stonyfield’s Gary Hirshberg and Polyface Farms’ Joel Salatin, Food, Inc. reveals surprising—and often shocking truths—about what we eat and how it’s produced.
Time: 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Location: Lower Social Room, Noor Cultural Centre
Sunday July 17 | Focus on Animals
Screening – Jamie’s Fowl Dinners
Speaker – Fahim Alwan
Renowned chef Jamie Oliver hosts a gala dinner to demonstrate the processes involved in intensive production of eggs and chicken. Jamie’s Fowl Dinners also features Bill Oddie (comedian, author, and naturalist), Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall (celebrity chef), and Ricky Gervais (comedian).
Fahim Alwan is the founder, owner, and operator of BlossomPure Organic, an organic and ethical meat, dairy, and grocery company in the GTA.
Time: 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Location: Lower Social Room, Noor Cultural Centre
Sunday July 24 | Focus on Labour
Screening – El Contrato
Speaker – Joshua Phillips
El Contrato follows a poverty-stricken father from Central Mexico, along with several of his countrymen, as they make their annual migration to southern Ontario to pick tomatoes. For 8 months a year, the town’s population absorbs 4,000 migrant workers who toil under conditions, and for wages, that no local would accept. Yet despite a fear of repercussions, the workers voice their desire for dignity and respect.
Joshua Phillips is the Managing Partner at Green & Chercover. His practice is concentrated in labour law, professional discipline, civil litigation and appellate work, with a particular emphasis in the educational, police and cultural sectors. He recently represented the Canadian Civil Liberties Association as an intervenor in Attorney General of Ontario v Michael Fraser et al, a Supreme Court of Canada case dealing with collective bargaining rights for agricultural workers.
Time: 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Location: Lower Social Room, Noor Cultural Centre
Sunday September 11 | Focus on Health
Screening – The Genetic Takeover, or Mutant Food
Speaker – Dr. Georgina Wilcock
National Film Board documentary The Genetic Takeover examines the proliferation of genetically modified plants in our daily diet. This revolution has occurred without consumer awareness of the potential risks to our health and to the environment, despite the concern of many scientists and farmers of the absence of independent, adequate testing. In response to consumer demands, many European and Asian countries have instituted mandatory labeling of genetically modified foods, but North America has been slow to react.
Georgina Wilcock is a medical doctor with specialist training in Obstetrics and Gynecology. She is currently a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada and works full time at the Scarborough Hospital. She ran for the Green Party of Canada in the 2008 federal election, and now serves as their Health Critic.
Time: 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Location: Lower Social Room, Noor Cultural Centre
Date: TBA| Focus on Access
Screening – Dive!
Speaker – Councillor Joe Mihevc
This film follows a group of dumpster divers – people who hunt the alleys, backstreets, and trash piles of America’s grocery stores in search of good food they have tossed away. For a country that throws away 96 billion pounds of food every year, and in which almost 15% of households are food insecure, this film brings to light the inadequacies of our food system.
Joe Mihevc has served as Councillor for the former City of York and the new City of Toronto for the last 21 years. His deep concern for social issues has led him to be an advocate for strong neighbourhoods, healthy communities, a clean environment, and safe streets.
Time: 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Location: Lower Social Room, Noor Cultural Centre