Royal Festival Hive

Taking It Slow

A report just in from Becky Shaw, who organises the Slow Food Market at Southbank Centre, and has been a friend of the hive since back in the day: 

"I've just come back from Turin, Italy, where I attended the Slow Food Movement's bi-annual international festival, Terra Madre, meaning 'Mother Earth'.   

There were 8000 delegates from 153 countries: food producers, chefs, bee-keepers and farmers - some of whom hadn't even left their villages before - all funded by the movement to attend this 5 day event, to exchange ideas and discuss how to continue to champion traditional, sustainable methods of food production, which is under threat of eradication due to the industrialisation and homogenisation of food production.  The only winners of the industry that food has become are the large corporations who dominate it; the rest of us, be it small producers, farmers, seed guardians, consumers and indeed the planet itself - we are all losers...unless we do something NOW to reverse this cynical trend. There were many beekeepers at Terra Madre, and stalls selling their wonderful produce as well as an exciting 'Honey Bar' where it was possible to have a go at honey tasting:

The Slow Food Movement is gaining momentum (there are currently 85,000 members worldwide) through its philosophy of 'Good, Clean and Fair' -  values which people are realising need to be upheld in our current global and financial climate. 

The opening ceremony at Terra Madre was at the Olympic stadium, where speakers included the Mayor of Turin, the Minister of Agriculture for Italy, the UN Assistant Assistant Secretary General who read a personal message from Ban Ki-Moon, and a personal video message from HRH Prince of Wales.  And at the Closing Ceremony, the enigmatic food activist and Slow Food President Carlo Petrini announced that the movement has been invited for the first time in its 20 year history to attend the G8 summit to advise on sustainable food production and the continutation of biodiversity. This amazing and committed organisation can only go from strength to strength. "

Becky Shaw Artistic Programming Department Southbank Centre

To find out more, and to join a local Slow Food convivium, go to: http://www.slowfood.org.uk/ 

Elections

Truth Is The Light

The hive has been enjoying the autumn sunshine, although the weather is definitely starting to turn and preparations are being made for winter. 

John is getting ready for the National Honey Show this week. Apparently it’s quite easy to get to from Waterloo but it’s a little far for the bees to go so I’ve said I’ll take some pictures. I’ve just had a look at the schedule and at 4pm on Saturday there is a prize giving with presentation of cups and trophies by Lord Gisborough, President of the Yorkshire Beekeepers Association. I’m there. The whole event is sponsored by the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers whose motto is “Truth Is The Light”. 

Meanwhile, from across the channel comes news that Parisian bees are doing well, although their rural counterparts seem to be suffering in a similar way to countryside dwelling bees everywhere. At the end of the article, French artist Olivier Darne says "Bees are dying everywhere but in cities. The bees are speaking to us."