As Feeding the 5000 approaches, This is Rubbish are in the midst of logistical and media preparation. Today was our first day in London. After breaking away from mid Wales we have every intention of clearly communicating why the acceptance of vast quantities of food waste generated at every stage of the supply chain should not be tolerated. The day was spent securing surplus yet completely edible fruit at a large wholesale market. At present there are large crates of bananas and apples waiting to be collected, both standing over 2 meters high; it is such industrial quantities of “waste” that is intolerable. This is Rubbish will be returning over the next three days to secure more crates of perfectly edible food that will otherwise go to waste. This food is deemed to be waste simply because it is slightly aesthetically imperfect, or more often because main buyers simply ordered too much of a certain product; such behaviour suggests that retailers, and therefore individuals seem to think that all food grows constantly and abundantly on trees. However, the food waste that was piled up in neat boxed columns today was not the guilty secret of a wasteful individual, but that of the food retail and catering supply chain. Over 50% of food waste is generated further up the supply chain than the supermarket, and seeing as The “Big Four” supermarkets had a combined share of 76.0% of the UK grocery market in November 2008, it is these supermarkets who dominate our food supply chain. These profiteering multinationals must be held accountable for the quantities of food waste that they are responsible for generating, and be regulated in a way where they will have to meet annual food waste reduction targets.
The afternoon included a jaunt across London to Trafalgar Square to have a look at the This is Rubbish pitch next to Nelson’s column and then talk with Climate campers who are currently occupying the square, acting in solidarity with Copenhagen activists and keeping the pressure on negotiations occurring in Copenhagen. It is incredibly exciting to see the public heart of London being politicised with Climate Camp nestling around the base of Nelson’s column. Next Wednesday will see a large politically conscious feast dished out to the public for free by a coalition of organisations. Feeding the 5000 is not a fee Christmas gift, but a striking illustration of the wastefulness and excess that underpins the worlds’ current socially and environmentally rapacious economic system.
This is Rubbish is looking forward to the Feeding 5000 and exposing the scale of the problem of food waste, while suggesting some achievable and positive impact solutions. We’ll be busy for next few days getting ready to blend 1000l or 1 tonne of fruit smoothies. If anyone is in London and willing to help prepare a feast of epic proportions, please get in touch – and bring a blender!
