Cities May Look Left to Protect Their Future as Centers of Innovations and Development
It was called “re-imagining our cities,” but the summit was just as much about re-imagining Canada’s social democrats -- the New Democratic Party, now positioning itself as a national government in waiting. At one of its first public events … [Read More...]
Food Industry Named World’s Worst
Dangerously low levels of sustainability in the food industry may skyrocket to the top of the to-do and worry-about lists of business executives, government officials, and perhaps even environmentalists and shoppers. Late last month, KPMG, one of … [Read More...]
Resource Revolution
Did you hear the one about a physicist, a chemist, and an economist who were stranded on a desert island without any food, when all of a sudden a can of beans was washed ashore? The physicist identifies the pressure points in the can and proposes … [Read More...]
Revolting Food Trends of 2011-2012
Four uprisings of global significance surprised the world in 2011, and the spirit of all four will surprise those who manage the food system in 2012—which leads to my choice of year-end and year-beginning indicators that pick up the colors of … [Read More...]
Assets in the Dirt: Even if bank economists like Drummond can’t add them up, Ontario has lots we can bank on
The people of Ontario have taken two weeks of being kicked in the assets following the release of bank economist Don Drummond’s report on government overspending. The document is one-third wake-up call (we’re spending a lot of money very … [Read More...]
Designs on equality: City planning is a mechanism of discrimination – it mainly serves the able-bodied
Okay, I admit it, the Canadian Urban Institute’s new report doesn’t exactly have a catchy title. But don’t be deceived – Repositioning Age-Friendly Communities: Opportunities To Take AFC Mainstream, far from being a staid policy tract, … [Read More...]
Bare essentials: T.O. org puts women’s underpants on Haiti’s aid agenda
On the second anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti, let’s get down to a skimpy project that lays bare a whole lot about the men in charge of international emergency aid missions. This has to do with women’s drawers, and their new role in … [Read More...]
The waist in Rob Ford’s Weight Loss Challenge: Mayor Ford’s 2-pounds-a-week ambition casts will power in a heroic role that can’t prevail
Whatever happens in his 330-pound challenge, Mayor Rob Ford has a lot to gain or lose politically from the big publicity splash of his pledge to cut 50 pounds, the halfway mark for his long-term commitment to a healthier weight. The problem is, … [Read More...]
Have a Gratitudinous New Year
One of the first lessons most of us learned at our mother’s knee about table manners. Hold back before gobbling the grub, and share a moment with everyone at the table to say “grace,” or some toast for all there is to be grateful for. At the … [Read More...]
Revolting Food Trends of 2011-12
Four uprisings of global significance surprised the world in 2011, and the spirit of all four will surprise those who manage the food system in 2012—which leads to my choice of year-end and year-beginning indicators that pick up the colors of … [Read More...]
Fairly Good Success Story Hits a Snag
Fair Trade sales have skyrocketed to 70 times what they were a decade ago, but – here comes the bad news – Fair Traders are now suffering from their first serious food fight. Fair trade practices have been especially helpful for coffee … [Read More...]
Food’s a trip, Actually a Baker’s Dozen of Trips
By Wayne Roberts Citywatch: Whether it’s action or traction in the food world, cities are stepping up to the plate. The world is fast going urban, as are challenges of social, economic and environmental well-being. Citywatch is crucial to … [Read More...]
Processing Methods May Move Nutrition to Food Movement Center Stage
Take a pass on food guides, ingredient pyramids, and with any diet books that feature pro-carb, anti-carb, low-fat or packaged solutions of any sort. The emphasis of the food movement may be shifting towards nutrition and the fight against … [Read More...]
How City Food can Bridge the Urban-Rural Divide
It’s a given that better food habits can help cure what ails individual bodies that are overweight or undernourished, but what if better food habits on the part of city governments can just as effectively help cure what ails the body … [Read More...]
A Tribute to My Loving Sister Dale Roberts
Wayne’s November 19, 2011 memorial tribute to Dale Roberts: Welcome, and thank for you coming to this celebration of Dale Roberts. I hope we can share many happy memories together, and support each other through our sorrow. Dale wanted this … [Read More...]
Four Billion New Reasons Why Food Will Become a Local Government Issue
Last week, the flashbulb explosion met the population explosion, as news cameras clicked at several newborns identified as the seventh billion humans in the world. Now that the global birthday party is over, it’s time for new thinking about … [Read More...]
Occupy Movement Identifies Food Movement Common Inspiration and Options
This week's blog comes to you via World Watch: Nourishing the Planet. I have been posting my articles on their site for some time and am hoping that it will encourage my readers to check out their site and vice-versa. This week I offer my view on … [Read More...]
Cold Cuts: Maple Leaf Butchers Jobs and Food Security, but No-one Speaks Out
There will be no hogs in Hogtown’s future, but neither does there appear to be any squealing. Toronto’s pre-eminence as a food processing center -- the city has long been second only to Chicago in North American food manufacturing – took a … [Read More...]
Cultivating Conservatism: why radicals in farm country went ‘PC’
A lot of people gave the middle finger to Ontario’s political system last week. Leaving aside any feelings of joy, relief or disappointment about specific election results, these fingers are the signs of a full-fledged democratic deficit that … [Read More...]
The Taste of Cohesion
This week's blog comes to you via World Watch: Nourishing the Planet. I have been posting my articles on their site for sometime and am hoping that it will encourage my readers to check out their site and visa-versa. So without further adoo, Click … [Read More...]
Jack Layton’s Afterlife Will Keep Us All Busy
The way things look now, it will be as much work keeping up with Jack’s afterlife as it was keeping up with the pace he set in his all-too-brief life down here. His death on August 21 kindled an extraordinary national wide outpouring of sorrow, … [Read More...]
What’s Not Infrastructure About Social & Environmental Infrastructure?
Economic geeks tell a joke about Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates that goes a long way to explaining why so many cities face a budgetary crisis that can result in serious tears in the city’s social fabric while undermining its ability to invest in … [Read More...]
Tribute to Jack Layton I gave to Toronto Board of Health September 13, 2011
Thank you for organizing this time to show appreciation for Jack Layton, a central figure in the success story of public health in Canada. Jack gave us many gifts during the many vibrant days of his lifetime, and left us with a monumental gift … [Read More...]
Brain fried? Try a Real Food and Outdoors Tonic; Why Local Food is Key to Calming Frayed City Nerves….
Before I outline how this could be done, I should explain why I didn’t hand in this article last week, as originally promised. I faced computer problems that Bell Telephone’s exasperating voicemail machines couldn’t respond to, on the very same … [Read More...]
See Why Jack Layton is So Beloved by Checking out The Humulity and Humor of His Roasting of Me on My Retirement From the Toronto Food Policy Council, which he initiated!
Jack was always a supporter of my work and friend. Take a look at why he is so beloved. … [Read More...]
Canadian Grieve Jack Layton, Crusader for City Health, Food, Environment and Optimism
By Wayne Roberts Jack Layton’s death on August 22 feels so cry-out-loud tragic – and has touched a chord across the country with an outpouring of national grief, leading the federal government to hold a formal state funeral in his honor - … [Read More...]
Why Cities Need a Fresh Serving of Brain Food
I’ve waited patiently the last two months to see if some city government or health official somewhere might respond to Nature Magazine’s breakthrough article on urban stressors affecting mental illness. Regrettably, there is no gravy, … [Read More...]
Jack Layton’s Winning Spirit
You don’t really get to know some people until you know them when they’re down. That’s a problem for anyone who wants to write about Jack Layton, the leader of Canada’s New Democratic Party, who’s taking a medical leave while he delas … [Read More...]
Citywatch: Slow Money
A lot of people blame fast buck artists for bringing on the 2008 economic crash, but few have yet looked to slow money artistry to get the economy moving in a better direction. For social investment promoter Woody Tasch, however, the crash was an … [Read More...]
Hop High For Local & Sustainable Craft Beer
I met a beer whisperer at a party last week. She helps beer with real personality express the good times it’s had, the food it wants to pair with, and its place in the proletarian taste division of the local and sustainable food movement. Her … [Read More...]
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