What led you to create a plant-based community cookery school? Who inspired you?
A key moment in my life came from a chat with Vandana Shiva, an Indian activist and academic. I was writing about the so-called agricultural ‘green revolution’ in Africa. That conversation sparked a passion for food that still burns bright today. Reflecting on my younger years, I became vegetarian at nine after reading about how animals were transported to slaughter, which broke my heart. Growing up in Jamaica, I discovered Rastafarian Ital food, which opened the door to veganism. My late mother, a home economics teacher, greatly influenced me. I watched her grow vegetables and cook from scratch, but as a teen, I dismissed her work as outdated. How ironic that I ended up running a cookery school! When she taught at 75, everyone adored her, and it was heartwarming to see her lead a class.
At its core, MIH is a food justice charity. What does that mean, and why is it essential?
Food justice means ensuring everyone—animals, farmers, and consumers—gets treated fairly. It’s about fair pay, safe work environments, and respect for indigenous food cultures. Everyone deserves access to nutritious food; this is a human right, not a luxury. Unfortunately, around 14.5 million people in the UK regularly experience hunger, despite it being one of the world’s wealthiest nations. This is a significant failure of past and present governments. MIH aims to challenge this broken system and promote healthy food choices for all, including animals.
It’s necessary to address the colonial roots of our flawed food system. Colonialism destroyed traditional farming practices and forced reliance on cash crops. Today, many farmers from marginalized communities struggle for land access and face food insecurity. Wealthy nations still dominate global food supply chains, and developing countries often bear the brunt of climate crisis impacts. For organizations like Made in Hackney, these issues are critical to their mission of promoting health equity and food access.
In recent years, a renewed focus on food sovereignty and ethical farming practices has gained traction. According to a 2022 survey by the Food and Agriculture Organization, 50% of adults are willing to change their diets for better health outcomes. This shows a growing awareness of the importance of food justice and sustainable practices. Social media trends reflect this too, with hashtags like #PlantBased and #FoodJustice trending as people rally for healthier, fairer food systems.
In summary, addressing food justice not only helps those in need today, but it also fosters a healthier environment for future generations. We need to recognize the intertwined nature of our food systems, community health, and global justice.
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