“Everyone should have the right to a healthy, safe and affordable diet. Food should be produced ethically, without cruelty, and as locally as possible. My healthy food plan includes the creation of 1,000 new allotment plots and the expansion of farmers’ markets to every local town centre. I will also be calling on Londoners to join me in declaring London a GM Free zone, with a complete boycott on the production, consumption and sale of GM products anywhere in the Greater London area.”
London’s food supply is currently highly unsustainable and does not provide healthy food for the people who need it most. Eighty-three per cent of London’s food supply is imported from abroad and one eighth of all household waste is food related. At the same time, 41 per cent of London children live below the poverty line and are unlikely to have access to nutritious food.
The Green Party strategy for healthy food for all Londoners:
· One thousand new allotment plots by 2008
· A local farmers’ market in every town centre in London
· A GM-free London, including a ban on all GM in school meals
· A London Food Strategy to deal with both food poverty and sustainability
· Action to improve access to affordable, healthy, nutritious food in poorer areas, especially for disadvantaged groups
· Making London a fair-trade city, with full promotion of fair-trade produce
· Decent wages and conditions for those working in the food sector
· Promotion of organic and locally-grown food.
· A plan to help at least 20 per cent of London farmers to go organic by 2008.
· Support for food co-ops and community food initiatives
· Organic, vegetarian and vegan options in schools, hospitals and other public services
· Free fruit for all London’s primary school children and all junk food and drink vending machines removed from schools
Green Party Assembly Member and Chair of the revived London Food Commission, Jenny Jones is backing this radical shake-up of London’s food policies.
“Greens are working for healthier food for all Londoners, including more locally grown food, GM-free food, a greater role for home-grown food, more farmers’ markets, and real action to tackle procurement policies that promote healthy, sustainably produced food,” said Jenny.
NOTES FOR EDITORS
· Darren Johnson is 37 and was selected as the Green Party’s candidate for Mayor of London in May 2003. He was elected to the London Assembly in May 2000 where he is Leader of the Green Party Group. He was also elected to Lewisham Council in May 2002.
· The Mayoral election will be held on June 10th at the same time as the elections for the London Assembly and the European Parliament. At the last Assembly elections the Greens scored one of their best ever results in the Party’s history, securing 11.1% of the vote across London and winning three seats on the 25-member Assembly.
· Darren Johnson’s vision for a sustainable Green London can be found on his website www.johnsonformayor.org.uk