[please refer to the print issue for page references]

Welcome to the third issue on FOOD in our past nine years of publishing HopeDance. This issue puts more emphasis on LOCAL food production: interviews with local farmers (page18), farmer Michael Ableman’s speech at the recent Bioneers conference (page 6), the local debate of organic versus local (pages 17 and 29). The peak oil controversy has evolved into a relocalization movement (see Linda Buzzell’s piece on page 19); our reporter Katie Renz has written a feature story interviewing a number of the important players in this movement (see her story called Diet for a Peak Oil America on page 8). Liana Forest gives us another update to the Farm to School Program in SLO County (page 12). To find out what a mayor can do and is doing please check out David Rooms’ interview with Larry Robinson, mayor of Sebastopol on page 15. We have some fine photos from Michael Ableman (from his latest book Fields of Plenty) as well as some reprints from that book on page 7. We also include some stills for the insightful and epic-like film “The Real Dirt on Farmer John.” I recently saw the film at Bioneers and am pleased to bring it to both Santa Barbara and SLO (see the full- page ad on page 37). See page 36 for the films we are showing in these two months. Also, see Shepherd Bliss’ summary of the recent Bioneers on page 32. See the back cover for the new Robert Greenwald’s film on Wal-Mart (and the story about it on page 14; see page 46 to order the DVD). We also include a story about Chocolate and Child Slavery from local Cal Poly food professor and fair-trade-chocolate activist and entrepreneur Tom Neuhaus (page 10).

Not only is this issue on Food but we also have included a promised special insert on the Hurricane Tragedies with alternative perspectives, including such writers as Naomi Klein, James Howard Kunstler, Richard Heinberg, Richard Register and our own local Linda Seeley’s riveting personal story. See pages 21 to 28.

Thanks to the many people who contributed to the special insert as well as helping us replace the stolen video equipment. And thanks to the many cosponsors who have come together to help increase awareness around the Wal-Mart situation (see the list on the back cover ad).

Bob Banner
Publisher


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