FOCUS ON FOOD AND HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS

From K-State Media Relations:

Friday, Jan. 23, 2009

K-STATE'S 2009 SEASON FOR NONVIOLENCE TO FOCUS ON FOOD AND HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS

MANHATTAN -- Food, food systems and human relationships will be the focus of Kansas State University's eighth annual Season for Nonviolence, Jan. 30-April 4.

The community-wide event is dedicated to promoting nonviolent relationships and takes place on the 64 days between the assassination anniversaries of two world-famous peacemakers: Mahatma Gandhi, who was killed Jan. 30, 1948, and Martin Luther King Jr., who was shot April 4, 1968. The observance was started in 1998 and has grown into an international event.

"An underlying aim of nonviolence is to encourage people to change our individual and collective minds about how we deal with the inevitable conflict in our lives," said Susan Allen, director of K-State's nonviolence education programs. "One way to do this is to take into account a more complex and realistic range of response options beyond polarities like 'fight or flight.' This includes expanding the alternatives beyond commercial agriculture or sustainable agriculture, either meat eating or no meat eating, local foods or imports, and so on.

Allen said we all have a relationship with the Earth and with our food. "The more nonviolent that interaction becomes the more sustainable the relationships will be. Healthy relationships are like good nutrition; the key is balance," she said.

K-State Season for Nonviolence events, all free and open to the public, include:

* Monday, Feb. 9: Rhonda Janke, professor of sustainable agriculture at K-State, will present "Connecting the Dots at K-State: Sustainability, Food Systems and Nonviolence," at 7 p.m. in the K-State Student Union's Little Theatre. Janke will discuss sustainable agriculture and how the local food system supports nonviolence every day.

* Tuesday, Feb. 10: Carol Barta will lead the discussion "Favorite Food Books: Talk and Tasting" from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Manhattan Public Library's auditorium. Barta, who works at the library and is on the board of directors of the People's Grocery Cooperative in Manhattan, will lead a discussion about food systems authors such as Barbara Kingsolver and Michael Pollan. A local dessert will be served.

* Tuesday, Feb. 17: A showing of the film "King Corn" at 6:30 p.m. in the Manhattan Public Library auditorium. The showing is sponsored by the Manhattan Alliance for Peace and Justice.

* Wednesday, Feb. 18: A showing of the film "The Future of Food" at 7 p.m. in the Manhattan Public Library auditorium. The showing is sponsored by the People's Grocery Cooperative.

* Monday, Feb. 23: "Change How You See, Not How You Look" by Woody Winfree, founder of the I Am Beautiful Project, at 7 p.m. in Union's Forum Hall. Related to the event and as part of Eating Disorders Awareness Week, the film "The I Am Beautiful Project" will be shown at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 25, in the Union's Little Theatre. The event is organized and sponsored by K-State's Sensible Nutrition And body image Choices, or SNAC, peer education group.

* Monday, March 9: "Vegetarian or Carnivore -- Wait! There's More!" will be a panel discussion guided by K-State student Cathy Benco, senior in dietetics, Manhattan. The panel will consist of a variety of eaters including carnivores, vegetarians, vegans and lacto-vegetarians.

* Thursday, March 26: The film "Black Gold: A film about Coffee and Trade" will be shown at 7 p.m. in Hale Library's Hemisphere Room. The film follows Tadesse Meskela, general manager of the Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union in Ethiopia as he seeks a fair trade market for more than 74,000 Ethiopian coffee farmers. Summer Lewis, K-State alum and former Equal Exchange employee, will introduce the film. Fair trade tea and chocolate will be served.

* Saturday, April 4: the Local Food Fair will be 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Long's Park and feature local farmers and producers, community groups and grocery stores that support the local food economy.

During K-State's Season for Nonviolence, event organizers plan to raise $500 to buy and give a life-sustaining calf to a family in Africa through Heifer Project International.

More information and a full listing of events is available at http://www.k-state.edu/nonviolence

(From:

http://www.mediarelations.k-state.edu/newsreleases/jan09/nonviolent12309.html)

More People's Education Program Announcements

Coming in March!

"Liu Yin Chinese Health Series" Monday, March 2, 5:30-7:00 & 7-8:30 PM, People's Grocery/Deli

"Liu Yin Chinese Health Series" Wed., March 4, 7-8:30 PM, Bramlage Public Library, Junction City

"Vegetarian or Carnivore? Wait there's more!" Monday, March 9, 7 PM, KSU Union Little Theater

"Worm Composting" Wednesday, March 11, 6-7 PM, UFM

"Whole Grains for Health: Walk KS" Sunday, March 15, 4-5 PM, Manhattan Public Library Auditorium

"Chiropractic Tips & Tactics" Thursday, March 19, 9:30-10:30 AM & 7-8:00 PM, Manhattan Public Library Auditorium

"Worm Composting" Wed., March 25, 6-7:00 PM, UFM

ALL PROGRAMS ARE FREE TO PUBLIC

People's Education Program Announcements

Coming in February!!

"Sustainability, Food Systems & Nonviolence" Monday Feb 9, 7 PM, KSU Union Little Theater

" Favorite Food Books Talk & Tasting" Tuesday Feb 10, 7-8:30 PM, Manhattan Public Library

"Documentary Film: King Corn" Tuesday Feb 17, 7 PM, Manhattan Public Library

"Documentary Film: The Future of Food" Feb 18, 4 & 7 PM, Manhattan Public Library

ALL CLASSES ARE FREE TO PUBLIC!

WHOLE GRAINS & HEALTH Class - WALK KANSAS

This year People's Grocery is delighted to be a sponsor for WALK KS 09, March 8 through May 2. To inaugurate a new emphasis on grains, Sunday March 15 from 4:00-5:00 PM in the Manhattan Public Library Auditorium, Maureen Olewnik of Manhattan's American Institute of Baking (AIB) will present "Whole Grains & Health." The class is free and open to the public.

Maureen knows grains! She earned a Ph.D in Grain Science & Industry from KSU in 2003. Since then she has served as Vice President, Audit & Technical Services of AIB, with responsibilities in cereals research, food labeling and safety. Also since 03 she has been a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the World Food Logistics Organization. She is a founding board member of the Foundation for the Advancement of Grain Based Foods. For 25 years she has held membership in the American Association of Cereal Chemists International and is currently serving on their board of directors. In spite of tightly-scheduled, extensive international travel, Maureen has volunteered to share her whole grain expertise as it relates to the needs of People's Grocery members and the general public who are walking for health. Please pass the word and join us for an exciting presentation/discussion March 15, 4-5:00 PM at MPL.

Watch for fliers and a sign-up sheet in the Deli at People's Grocery.

Find out more about Walk Kansas

How does Walk Kansas work?

• Co-workers, family members, friends and neighbors form teams of 6 people who will track minutes of physical activity and food choices during the 8-week challenge.

• The physical activity goal for each team member is 2 ½ hours (150 minutes) a week, which is equal to 10 Walk Kansas miles. Strive for 30 minutes of activity a day, at least 5 days per week. More is even better!

• Walking isn’t the only activity that counts. In the Participant Pages section of this website, you will find a list of approved activities. In 2008, the Federal Government issued its first-ever Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. They recommend 2 ½ hours of physical activity, including muscle strengthening activities 2 days a week, which also count toward Walk Kansas activities. Read more about these new activity guidelines.

• Participants record daily fruit and vegetable consumption and how often they eat whole grain foods.

• Team members report progress to their team captain weekly.

• Friendly competition can be motivating, so check your team progress with others across the state.