Earlier there was the Traditional Medicine systems conference, (about which we brought you a report in our May-June 2005 issue). Simultaneously many of us put our heads together for promoting sustainable consumption patterns at our National levels in South East Asia. (We hope to work with the Department of Consumer Affairs to draw up a National Action Plan soon).

At all these forums, my conviction grew stronger that India indeed is way beyond most countries in its understanding of the basic laws that govern consumer life. We as a culture have thought long and deep on how to live happy, healthy, productive and meaningful lives as individuals and as communities. How to relate to 'here and now', as well as, allow our imagination to roam free, beyond all barriers of mind, body and spirit. Our culture promotes and nurtures sustainability and has put together irrefutable strategies to heal the body and the mind. We have also learnt to pay detailed attention to aesthetics, while cultivating the pleasures of the senses.

We practice organic farming through small farms, with many traditional practices of crop rotation, soil management, natural manure, seed protection, irrigation and water-harvesting methods, which are currently being looked at, as presenting possible solutions to the global crisis related to food production and consumption.
Our traditional medicine systems, actually address food as medicine, for preventive and curative possibilities. This knowledge is visible in daily cooking practices of both our urban and rural populations.

So, how come we are in such a sad state of what look like almost irreversible poverty, hunger, malnutrition and disease patterns?
Our systems are under extreme stress, and at the receiving end of a barrage of scientific, technological and economic pressures, that are forcing out our time-tested methods of survival.

The consensus at the global Safe Food meet was that every time consumers bought food, they were actually voting with their hard-earned money. Therefore, consumers could, and maybe should, through the choices they make, push the industry and the government towards systems that deliver safe, nutritious, health-giving, rather than hazardous food choices that are ruinous for health.

It was agreed that the current food scenario is volatile and dynamic. It is changing all the time, 'reducing risks', as well as 'adding new ones'.

Our job as activists, scouting the world for consumers, is to alert consumers on both fronts, so that the entire food network is geared to delivering impeccable choices.

The important National Action recommended was along the following lines:
Create a single food safety agency. (We are on our way there)

Strengthen the regulation of genetically modified food (We are working on that, and we definitely do not need to buy the line that a developing nation like ours, with millions to feed, needs GM technologies)

Fully implement Food Quality Protection Act. (We are trying. We really are!)
Reduce the use of large-scale mechanization, chemical fertilisers and pesticides in our food chain. (Easier said than done!)

Clean up the meat, poultry and seafood industry. (How?)

Reduce waste all along the food chain. (If done, it could certainly sort out the shortages)

Effective local action that you and I could participate in as consumers:
Reduce contaminants in drinking water by rethinking waste disposal methods. Communities/Local Resident Welfare Associations, need to take both these vital areas connected to consumer health, under their care. Delhiites could start with the Yamuna, and managing household garbage.

Strengthen local eatery inspections. (In our context it would translate to some basic laws concerning access to safe water and waste disposal facilities for our street food vendors).

Improve school food. (We already have our mid-day-meal programmes. All we need are stricter food safety and nutritional norms).
Consume local and seasonal food items rather than packaged foods with insufficient labelling.
We look forward to
receiving feed-back from you on some changes we are introducing from this issue of Consumer VOICE.