Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

Food Not Bombs is a global movement of volunteers who seek to end poverty, hunger, and war by distributing surplus food to those in need. Currently, Food Not Bombs has hundreds of autonomous chapters throughout the world that share free vegetarian food with hungry people as a means of protesting war and poverty. As a grassroots organization its activity has spread not only throughout the United States, but into Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia as well. In its 25-year history, Food Not Bombs has fought to end hunger and support an end to globalization of the economy, restrictions to the movements of people, and the exploitation and destruction of the earth. Food Not Bombs was founded in Cambridge, Massachusetts after a group of anti-nuclear activists began spray painting the slogan “Money for Food Not for Bombs” on the side of a nuclear power plant. The slogan was later shortened and put into action as an all-volunteer organization dedicated to non-violent social change. The action began by recovering food that would otherwise have gone to waste, collecting it from grocery stores, bakeries, and sometimes even dumpsters. The food was then prepared into fresh hot vegetarian meals to be served outside in public spaces. The group later began providing meals at rallies, protests, and other events. As nuclear power protesters, the first organizers in Cambridge wanted ... log in or subscribe to read full text