A Final Word: Cherishing Community
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Dispatches from Rome
USC Canada’s Faris Ahmed is in Rome providing on-the-ground dispatches from both The People’s Forum (Nov 13-17) and the UN’s World Summit on Food Security (November 16-18).
Rome, Tuesday November 17 – I leave Rome with mixed emotions, knowing that more perspective will come later.
These kinds of summits drain you and challenge your very being. When you’re physically exhausted, trying to do many things despite the logistical challenges, and are keen to make the most of a major international meeting where there is so much at stake, it takes an emotional toll.
On the one hand, there’s the bitter taste of promises unfulfilled. The many visions of a better food system, written on pieces of paper, now lay scattered in the garbage bins of Rome. On the other hand, the sweetness and serendipity of connecting with longtime friends (among the people I reconnected with were some pastoralists I used to know more than 15 years ago when I worked in India). There are the precious “AHA!” moments I had when I saw ideas and narratives connect. And finally, at the end, comes the strong yearning to return back to my community in Ottawa, even after re-engaging with my global community here.
I think of Antonio Onorati’s comments, and of the strength and hope I gained from talking to people here; renewing many relationships, and finding new ones. I also think of our friend Brian Murphy’s beautiful description of communities as “people in an open conspiracy for change (from the Latin, conspirare), or people breathing together.”
This togetherness, this solidarity is what sustains me – sustains us – and gives strength to our community in our dreams and efforts for food sovereignty, whether at global forums like these or back home in the places where we live.
Along with family and friends, this community is the most precious thing we have.
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USC Canada
was founded by
Dr Lotta Hitschmanova in 1945. Our award-winning Seeds of Survival program promotes vibrant family farms, strong rural communities, and healthy ecosystems around the world.
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