Environment & Energy

Judi Lynn

(160,542 posts) Wed Jun 5, 2013, 05:13 PM Jun 2013

Pope Francis: Wasting food is like stealing from the poor

Pope Francis: Wasting food is like stealing from the poor
By Alessandro Speciale| Religion News Service,
Updated: Wednesday, June 5, 2:12 PM

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis on Wednesday (June 5) denounced consumerism and what he called the “culture of waste” of modern economies, especially when it comes to food.

“Throwing away food is like stealing from the table of those who are poor and hungry,” he said during his weekly audience in St. Peter’s Square.

His words came on the day the United Nations launched an anti-food waste campaign to mark World Environment Day.

According to data provided by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, approximately 1.3 billion tons of food — one third of the world’s total food production — are lost or wasted every year. In the United States, 30 percent of all food is thrown away each year.

More:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/pope-francis-wasting-food-is-like-stealing-from-the-poor/2013/06/05/d4dc167c-ce13-11e2-8573-3baeea6a2647_story.html

4 replies

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Pope Francis: Wasting food is like stealing from the poor (Original Post) Judi Lynn Jun 2013 OP

so, Mr. Pope, why don't you show us the Vatican food budget and menus? nt msongs Jun 2013 #1

Well, I agree with him and there is this Sherman A1 Jun 2013 #2

I do too... His speaking out on this issue is a good thing... hlthe2b Jun 2013 #4

Here is the actual statement, it is only one paragraph. happyslug Jun 2013 #3

msongs

(67,413 posts)

1. so, Mr. Pope, why don't you show us the Vatican food budget and menus? nt

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Wed Jun 5, 2013, 05:15 PM

Jun 2013

Sherman A1

(38,958 posts)

2. Well, I agree with him and there is this

Reply to msongs (Reply #1)

Wed Jun 5, 2013, 05:24 PM

Jun 2013

Industry Group Joins USDA Food Waste Challenge

The Food Waste Reduction Alliance (FWRA), a group comprised of leading food retail, food manufacturing and foodservice companies, has joined the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) new Food Waste Challenge as a founding partner.

The announcement came today as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Environmental Protection Agency Acting Administrator Bob Perciasepe unveiled the Food Waste Challenge.

“This is a natural extension of the Food Waste Reduction Alliance (FWRA)’s mission, which is to reduce the volume of food waste sent to landfill by addressing the root causes of waste within our operations, and securing pathways to donate safe, nutritious food or recycle unavoidable food waste,“ the FWRA said in a statement.

“Recognizing our collective opportunity to lead on the issue of food waste reduction, the Grocery Manufacturers Association, Food Marketing Institute and the National Restaurant Association announced a cross-industry initiative to address the issue in 2011, now called the Food Waste Reduction Alliance," the statement noted. "Today, the FWRA includes more than 30 manufacturing, retailing and foodservice companies, along with expert partners from the anti-hunger community and waste management sector.“

http://www.progressivegrocer.com/top-stories/headlines/national-supermarket-chains/id39236/industry-group-joins-usda-food-waste-challenge/?icid=homepage

hlthe2b

(102,285 posts)

4. I do too... His speaking out on this issue is a good thing...

Reply to Sherman A1 (Reply #2)

Wed Jun 5, 2013, 07:04 PM

Jun 2013

Credit where credit is due...

happyslug

(14,779 posts)

3. Here is the actual statement, it is only one paragraph.

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Wed Jun 5, 2013, 05:34 PM

Jun 2013

Last edited Thu Jun 6, 2013, 02:45 AM - Edit history (2)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1127&pid=45946

If you want to read what he actually said, here it is:

http://www.vis.va/vissolr/index.php?vi=all&dl=c198b568-c04e-381e-228f-51af2fbba1f7&dl_t=text/xml&dl_a=y&ul=1&ev=1

Dear Brothers and Sisters: Our Audience today coincides with World Environment Day, and so it is fitting to reflect on our responsibility to cultivate and care for the earth in accordance with God’s command (cf. Gen 2:15). We are called not only to respect the natural environment, but also to show respect for, and solidarity with, all the members of our human family. These two dimensions are closely related; today we are suffering from a crisis which is not only about the just management of economic resources, but also about concern for human resources, for the needs of our brothers and sisters living in extreme poverty, and especially for the many children in our world lacking adequate education, health care and nutrition. Consumerism and a “culture of waste” have led some of us to tolerate the waste of precious resources, including food, while others are literally wasting away from hunger. I ask all of you to reflect on this grave ethical problem in a spirit of solidarity grounded in our common responsibility for the earth and for all our brothers and sisters in the human family.

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/francesco/audiences/2013/documents/papa-francesco_20130605_udienza-generale_en.html

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