In an interview with The Jellied Eel magazine[2],  Rosie Boycott questioned where London would get its food from if faced with a crisis.  This is a crisis she feels we are on the brink of in light of the banking collapse, wildly fluctuating oil and food prices and climate change.

Rosie commented: ‘As a society we have pathetically little resilience in the face of such threats. Peak oil is imminent.  In my lifetime we have used half of the available oil already, so our oil dependent food system cannot continue.’

Rosie Boycott, who was appointed by London Mayor Boris Johnson as his food adviser in September, underscored the importance of urban food growing [1].  Not only can this solve economic and environmental problems but also cut down on waste and fuel spent delivering food, and strengthen communities in the process:

“We need to bring food back into the heart of communities, where it has been lost – to the detriment of families, and contributing to social breakdown.” Rosie added, “There is a grassroots movement – groups of people who want to support each other and to have a reliable supply of good food.  And through food, community connections can be re-established.”
 
Rosie will be speaking at tonight’s launch [3] of The Jellied Eel, London’s first ethical food magazine. This free quarterly magazine, is available in conscientious restaurants, cafes, and good food shops around London.

Editor, Ben Reynolds, says, ‘The Jellied Eel is the first ethical food magazine for London.  We are responding not only to the wealth of interesting products and initiatives that are helping to make the Capital’s grub greener and vibrant, but also to the demand from people who want to make ethical choices.’ 

[ENDS]

For enquiries and to attend the launch on the evening of Thursday 20th November please contact Ben Reynolds on 020 7837 1228, 07939 202 711 or ben@sustainweb.org.

Notes to Editors

1. London Mayor Boris Johnson and Rosie Boycott have started to address these issues above, with an initiative to create 2012 new food growing spaces by 2012. The project, Capital Growth, run by London Food Link, will transform derelict space on rooftops, housing estates, schools, and churches into thriving gardens.  http://www.capitalgrowth.org/
2. The Jellied Eel Magazine: The free magazine for sustainable food in London is published quarterly through a partnership with London Food Link and Hand Up Media. The magazine features the latest news in efforts to expand London’s sustainability, restaurant and book reviews, recipes, and profiles on important places and people. Editorial enquiries contact ben@sustainweb.org
3. The Jellied Eel is being launched at The Ethical Emporium: A three-day bazaar featuring ethically traded and produced holiday gifts takes place at Bargehouse, Oxo Tower Wharf, London, SE1 9PH from Thursday 20th November to Saturday 23rd November. 11am to 7pm. Price £1. http://www.southbanklondon.com/attraction/bargehouse. To be added to the guest list for the Jellied Eel launch, contact Ben on 07939 202711

London Food Link is part of Sustain: The alliance for better food and farming which represents around 100 national public-interest organisations, Sustain (a not-for-profit organisation) advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, promote equity and enrich society and culture. www.sustainweb.org