By Zahirah Mohammed, CCSJ/AMMR, Administrative Facilitator
There are over 7.5 billion persons on Earth (US Census Bureau, International Data Base). Each individual is created in God’s image and likeness, unique, loved, and cherished.
The Sanctity of Life and Dignity of the Human Person is the cornerstone of our Church’s social teachings. It is “a social doctrine which points out with clarity the sure way to social reconstruction,” (Pope St John XXIII, Mater et Magistra). “This teaching rests on one basic principle: individual human beings are the foundation, the cause and the end of every social institution,” (Pope St John XXIII, Mater et Magistra).
These social institutions, the economy, government, religion, family, and education are all interconnected, as we are also by our shared dignity as human persons. However, it is in education and knowledge that the foundation of our social institutions lies, just as the dignity of persons is the foundation of our Church.
It is by combining dignity in our everyday lives through education and these social institutions, we are able to recognise injustices, and create/implement action to help alleviate social ills and promote the dignity of persons.
International Youth Day was celebrated on August 12. The theme was: Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health.
This calls for meaningful participation by youths to educate and innovate on best practices and solutions for transforming all aspects of the global food sector. This is vital in promoting the dignity of persons who may be unable to do so themselves.
According to a 2017 report, The Global Food System: An Analysis, by Metabolic, “the food system is the largest contributor to environmental and humanitarian impacts.” Moreover, they note that we produce more than enough food for the global population, “yet over 795 million people remain undernourished.”
This is because “the food system is the largest contributor to the depletion of biodiversity…the agri-food sector is the world’s largest economic sector… therefore deeply entwined with poverty” (Metabolic).
“Thus, the global food system directly impacts our ability to reduce global poverty as it is a key contributor to the growing disparity between the rich and poor, contributing to food security and nutrition, labour and livelihoods, food safety, preservation of culture and heritage, and animal welfare.”
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We may not be able to help millions of people, but we can contribute to this year’s International Youth Day, whether young or old, by searching for new ways to promote sustainable and resilient food systems that we can implement at home and within our communities.
For more information and solutions to supporting the transformation of global food systems, visit https://foodsystems.community/
I call on the local food sector, small or large, to reimagine their food systems and the role they play in contributing to social ills such as climate change, and substandard living wages, especially where Venezuelan migrant workers are concerned.
Without inclusive labour policies and regulatory controls in place, these persons are vulnerable in the workplace and there is often a lack of accountability on the part of employers.
Venezuelan migrants have expressed interest in being a part of the agriculture and manufacturing industries. However, without proper labour policies, this population is at risk of being exposed to horrendous working conditions and being taken advantage of by employers.
As consumers, we should make responsible environmental and social choices e.g., choose products that aren’t tested on animals; reject plastic/Styrofoam takeaway and utensils.
Moreover, in getting from “field to fork,” the authorities that are responsible for the functioning of these entities should reassess the contributions of our food systems in Trinidad and Tobago, to our overall economic, social, and environmental impact. For more information, read about the Sustainable Food Systems Programme: https://www.oneplanetnetwork.org/
I encourage you to share knowledge about food systems and be more responsible as consumers. Advocate for action for transformation of our global food system and practices.
“All human beings, therefore, are ends to be served by the institutions that make up the economy, not means to be exploited for more narrowly defined goals. Human personhood must be respected with a reverence that is religious” (#28, Economic Justice for All, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops).
We must all play our part in helping to promote the dignity of our brothers and sisters, as their dignity, is inextricably linked to ours. Everything is interconnected.
