This is a very different post-election blog than the one I planned to write. I was going to call the new president’s attention to the political importance of food and farming, highlighting the fact that how we grow our food directly impacts the health of our families, the well-being of our communities and the future of our planet. All of that is still true, but the political winds have dramatically shifted.
I planned to urge the new president to be courageous in the face of pressure from powerful corporate interests, to block further consolidation of the pesticide/seed industry, and to take urgently needed steps to stand up for the health of children and families.
Now, in the face of an election that has legitimized bigotry, racism and misogyny, I’m calling on all of us to be courageous instead. In communities across the country, it’s time to stand up for social justice and work together to protect our progress — and each other.
One foot in front of the other
At this tumultuous moment in history, I feel incredibly grateful to be working with an organization that is so deeply rooted in social justice. PAN was founded as a global network more than three decades ago, with the explicit purpose of working with communities most harmed by agricultural chemicals to build power and make change. In partnership with those on the frontlines, we press hard for a system of food and farming that is healthy, nourishing, resilient and just.
Since its inception, PAN has worked to block the export of pesticides to the Global South that industrialized countries deem too toxic for use. Again and again over the years, we’ve brought community voices into UN processes, helping to ground international policy decisions in the daily reality of those most affected by continued reliance on agrichemicals.
In the U.S., we’ve partnered with farmworker advocates to win critical on-the-job protections for the people who plant, tend and harvest our nation’s food. And we’ve worked with family farmers, rural and indigenous communities to build support for safe, healthy and productive farming practices.
This work continues.
We stand for justice
In this fundamentally altered political landscape, we are more committed than ever to work for a just, resilient food system — and must be even more deeply rooted in solidarity with those on the frontlines. We continue to fight against oppression in all its forms, and stand firmly with others who are dedicated to building a just world.
I am shaken to the core by what this presidential election means for our country’s moral center. As a mom, I often speak with my kids about the importance of both kindness and integrity — and our nation just chose a leader who very clearly sets these values aside. I’m also deeply aware — and trying to digest — what this moment means for the future of our children and the planet.
As we face the uncertainty of the coming weeks, months and years, I’m very grateful to be working at PAN. I’ve been here for more than 20 years now, and every day I am inspired by the partners in our network and the incredible passion, expertise and resilience of my colleagues. We are in this work together, for justice in our food system and beyond. Please join us.
