F
Terms: Freedom, Food Security and Insecurity
Freedom
Definition:
The United Nations has a list of 30 Basic Human Rights which define freedom:
18. Freedom of thought and religion
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this
right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either
alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his
religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.
19. Freedom of opinion and expression
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right
includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive
and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of
Frontiers. - 30 Basic Human Rights List Universal Declaration of Human
Rights
The other freedoms discussed in this document prepared by the United Nations include the following: free and equal in dignity and rights, freedom to be treated humanely, right to work and own property, freedom to move, and freedom to assemble.
“Freedom is the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint, and the absence of a despotic government.” What is Freedom, Live Science
Sources:
Basic Human Rights United Nations
What is Freedom? - Live Science 2012
Resources:
Food Security and Insecurity
Phonetic Pronunciation: Food in-si-kyur-uh-tee
Definition:
Food insecurity exists when people do not have adequate physical, social, or economic access to nutritious food. People worry about running out of food, may be forced to compromise on food quantity and/or quality, as well as may need to skip meals because they lack the means to get food. (3) People are food secure when they have the means to access nutritious, affordable and culturally appropriate food. There is no need to worry about when their next meal will be or if they will be able to afford food for themselves and/or their families. (3) Food security is “a condition that exists when all people, at all times, are free from hunger” (World Food Programme, 2009)
History:
The idea of ‘food security’ came into international focus when it started to be a concern at a world wide level rather than country, province, village or household level only. The League of Nations’ Health Division conducted a survey in 1935 reporting on ‘Nutrition and Public Health’. The report demonstrated that there was an acute food shortage in poorer countries, marking the first account of the extent of malnutrition and hunger in the world. (Simon, 2012)
Current Usage:
Conflict is currently the biggest contributor to food insecurity in the world, with climate change being the next leading cause of the steep rise in global hunger. Conflict disrupts food production, forces people from their homes and sources of income, and often hinders humanitarian access to people in most need. 70% of food-insecure people live in fragile or conflict-afflicted countries. (7)
Examples:
A situational example is: As conflict continues in the Middle East, disruptions to food production, widespread displacement from homes and livelihoods, and limited humanitarian access have left 45 million people facing food insecurity.
A sentence example is: "Families facing food insecurity often have to make tough decisions, like having to choose between paying rent or buying groceries."
Perspective:
The mainstream understanding of food insecurity is very policy-based and institutional. It is defined by global bodies like the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization who frame it as a lack of reliable access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food, focusing heavily on availability, access, utilization and stability. (3)
In contrast, academics in Critical Food Studies offer insight that food insecurity is not simply about quantity, but also dignity, cultural appropriateness and autonomy. Looking at food insecurity through a lived-experience can offer insight into the factors that have contributed to high levels of food insecurity, such as systemic inequality (like colonialism, poverty, racism, geographic isolation). (8)
Did You Know?
Women and children are disproportionately affected by food insecurity worldwide. In Canada, single mothers are among the most vulnerable, particularly those in Black and Indigenous communities, regardless of whether their incomes fall below or above the poverty line. (4)
Sources:
(1) What is Food Insecurity? | Action Against Hunger Canada
(2) Food insecurity a critical social issue | Maple Leaf Foods
(4) The Daily — Study: Food insecurity among Canadian families, 2022
(5) Canadian Income Survey, 2023
(6) A global food crisis | World Food Programme
(7) Conflict and hunger | World Food Programme
Resources:
(8) Perspective: Food Insecurity – Food Studies: Matter, Meaning, Movement