FORUM2021 Sacred Food ~ Blessed Earth explores the ancient, respectful and regenerative ways of farming practices and our spiritual relationship to food by focusing on the Earth as an interconnected web of life.
A moral and spiritual voice is essential in the transition away from the industrialized, fossil fuel and chemical intensive, global agriculture system which is degrading our Earth, contributing to the climate crisis and to the extinction of species, as well as creating severe health issues for all living beings.
FORUM2021 is a call to all spiritual and religious leaders and activists for a return to local, biodiverse organic food systems which regenerate soil, water and biodiversity while providing healthy sustenance for all.
In solidarity with other NGO’s offering a strong critique of the fall UN Food Summit, FORUM2021 explores the potential of local regenerative agriculture, highlights the growing organic farming movement and offers an interfaith moral call to redressing the harm caused by agribusiness, the industrialization of the world’s food production system.
#Support local farmers, support your health, protect the Earth
Opening Prayer & Welcome
Chief Arvol Looking Horse, 19th Generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe Bundle for the Great Sioux Nation.
Welcome from the Temple of Understanding
Chris Wang, Temple of Understanding Board Member
Chief Oren Lyons Keynote Address
Chief Oren Lyons , Faithkeeper of the Turtle Clan, Member Chief of the Onondaga Council of Chiefs and the Grand Council of the Iroquois Confederacy, the Haudenosaunee Peoples.
Dr. Vandana Shiva Keynote Address
Reclaiming Ancient Wisdom to Protect Our Future
Dr. Vandana Shiva, Founder, Navdanya Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology (India) and President of Navdanya International. World-renowned environmental thinker, activist, feminist, philosopher of science, writer and science policy advocate.
International Activists on Regenerative Farming Panel
Darcy Neill, (Moderator), Temple of Understanding Board Member
Kathryn Manga, Project Coordinator, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (Peasant Movement of the Philippines, Philippines
Adelita San Vicente Tello, Director of Primary Sector & Renewable Natural Resources, Ministry of Environment & Natural Resources, Mexico
Daniel Wanjama, Coordinator, Seed Saver Network, Kenya
Scientists on the Impact of Industrialized Agriculture Dialogue
Tyrone Hayes, Professor of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley.
TBA
Faith-Based Farming in the United States Panel
Rev. Susan Hendershot, (Moderator), Interfaith Power & Light, USA
Edgar Hayes & Anne Rader, Freedom Farm Community NY
Clayton Harvey, Ndée Bikíyaa (Peoples’ Farm), AZ
Shani Mink, Jewish Farmer Network, NC
Leah Penniman, Soul Fire Farm, NY
Sacred Food from an Interfaith Perspective
Rev. Jim Antal, Denominational leader, climate activist, author and public theologian. Special Advisor on Climate Justice to the General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ.
Mary Evelyn Tucker, Senior Lecturer & Research Scholar, Yale University, School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and Divinity School, Department of Religious Studies.
Global Interfaith Prayer Service
Prayers and Offerings:
Rev. Dr.Michael Bos, Imam Saffet Catovic, Samir Chatterjee and Steve Gorn, Rabbi Ephraim Isaac, Chief Arvol Looking Horse, Grandmother Mona Polacca, Rev. John Vaughn, and more to be announced!