Passages Sustainable Food and Farming Systems - PASA

PASA Board Perspective
continued from page 6
encouraged support for these two important
issues. For PASA to have an impact
we must delve into well chosen policy
debate. As for fundraising, if we want to
continue the excellent work that our
members demand, we must reach out to
the benevolent among us.
Why do we sometimes need to focus
our efforts on policy changes When
issues arise like freedom to choose a diet
of your choice, let’s pick a basic food
which has been around a few centuries,
like raw milk Or another example would
be, do we want to eat an heirloom vegetable
or an unlabeled, genetically modified,
chemically fumigated variety How
about another example, when will we
demand an intelligent global energy policy
Protecting the water we drink and
the foodsheds we cultivate must always
be our first priority. The energy industry
has not demonstrated fairness with land
owners. They have not been open and
honest about what they want to do on
our farms. I live in the middle of the
invasion. PASA must be the voice of reason
to convince our legislators that more
information is necessary and more safeguards
must be mandated. In addition,
PASA intends to draft a Marcellus Shale
drilling policy statement, based on input
at the Annual Meeting. Our board of
directors needs member input for an
intellectual discussion about PASA’s policy
statement. Members unable to attend
the Annual Meeting in March, can submit
comments on Marcellus Shale
drilling to marcellus@pasafarming.org or
mailed to PASA, Attn: Marcellus Comments,
PO Box 419 Millheim PA 16854.
We are a member organization, and
your input is important for democratic
representation.
Why is it so important for us all to
stay connected as an organization Independently
and individually, we live to
fulfill our human need to survive, but
collectively we accomplish what is necessary
for our civilization to survive. The
PASA members stand together
every day to educate, provide
leadership and foster relationships
that sustain our communities.
success of PASA members guarantees
more attacks on local, sustainable,
organic farmers by industry funded
power brokers. We must stand together
with all organizations who want a sustainable
future for their children. We
must quietly and clearly tell our stories.
We must demand policy change for our
children’s sake. We must always be ready
and willing to fight for social consciousness
and for healthy food.
If we stay committed to the PASA
mission, if we stay connected as PASA
members, and if we continue to make
sustainable decisions, we build a foundation
that you and I can be proud of!
I relish the opportunity to work with all
of you today and tomorrow, for the
betterment of our children’s food and
watersheds. ■
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
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