France to force big supermarkets to give unsold food to charities - The Guardian (www.theguardian.com)

France to force big supermarkets to give unsold food to charities

 According to official estimates, the average French person throws out 20kg-30kg of food a year – 7kg of which is still in its wrapping. Photograph: Christopher Thomond for the Guardian

French supermarkets will be banned from throwing away or destroying unsold food and must instead donate it to charities or for animal feed, under a law set to crack down on food waste.

The French national assembly voted unanimously to pass the legislation asFrance battles an epidemic of wasted food that has highlighted the divide between giant food firms and people who are struggling to eat.

As MPs united in a rare cross-party consensus, the centre-right deputy Yves Jégo told parliament: “There’s an absolute urgency – charities are desperate for food. The most moving part of this law is that it opens us up to others who are suffering.”

Supermarkets will be barred from deliberately spoiling unsold food so it cannot be eaten. Those with a footprint of 4,305 sq ft (400 sq m) or more will have to sign contracts with charities by July next year or face penalties including fines of up to €75,000 (£53,000) or two years in jail.

“It’s scandalous to see bleach being poured into supermarket dustbins along with edible foods,” said the Socialist deputy Guillaume Garot, a former food minister who proposed the bill.

In recent years, French media have highlighted how poor families, students, unemployed or homeless people often stealthily forage in supermarket bins at night to feed themselves, able to survive on edible products which had been thrown out just as their best-before dates approached.

But some supermarkets doused binned food in bleach to prevent potential food-poisoning by eating food from bins. Other supermarkets deliberately binned food in locked warehouses for collection by refuse trucks to stop scavengers.

The practice of foraging in supermarket bins is not without risk – some people picking through rotten fruit and rubbish to reach yoghurts, cheese platters or readymade pizzas have been stopped by police and faced criminal action for theft. In 2011, a 59-year-old father of six working for the minimum wage at a Monoprix supermarket in Marseille almost lost his job after a colleague called security when they saw him pick six melons and two lettuces out of a bin.

Pressure groups, recycling commandos and direct action foraging movements have been highlighting the issue of waste in France. Members of the Gars’pilleurs, an action group founded in Lyon, don gardening gloves to remove food from supermarket bins at night and redistribute it on the streets the next morning to raise awareness about waste, poverty and food distribution.

The group and four others issued a statement earlier this year warning that simply obliging supermarket giants to pass unsold food to charities could give a “false and dangerous idea of a magic solution” to food waste. They said it would create an illusion that supermarkets had done their bit, while failing to address the wider issue of overproduction in the food industry as well as the wastage in food distribution chains.

The law will also introduce an education programme about food waste in schools and businesses. It follows a measure in February to remove the best-before dates on fresh foods.

The measures are part of wider drive to halve the amount of food waste in France by 2025. According to official estimates, the average French person throws out 20kg-30kg of food a year – 7kg of which is still in its wrapping. The combined national cost of this is up to €20bn.

Of the 7.1m tonnes of food wasted in France each year, 67% is binned by consumers, 15% by restaurants and 11% by shops. Each year 1.3bn tonnes of food are wasted worldwide.

The Fédération du Commerce et de la Distribution, which represents big supermarkets, criticised the plan. “The law is wrong in both target and intent, given the big stores represent only 5% of food waste but have these new obligations,” said Jacques Creyssel, head of the organisation. “They are already the pre-eminent food donors, with more than 4,500 stores having signed agreements with aid groups.”

The logistics of the law must also not put an unfair burden on charities, with the unsold food given to them in a way that is ready to use, a parliamentary report has stipulated. It must not be up to charities to have to sift through the waste to set aside squashed fruit or food that had gone off. Supermarkets have said that charities must now also be properly equipped with fridges and trucks to be able to handle the food donations.

The French law goes further than the UK, where the government has a voluntary agreement with the grocery and retail sector to cut both food and packaging waste in the supply chain, but does not believe in mandatory targets.

A report earlier this year showed that in the UK, households threw away 7m tonnes of food in 2012, enough to fill London’s Wembley stadium nine times over. Avoidable household food waste in the UK is associated with 17m tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.

Water Wells for Africa (WWFA)

History

————— the power of one —————

Kurt Dahlin was raised in Venice, California as one of eight children. As a young man he enjoyed outdoor adventures, one of which led him to Costa Rica on a surfing trip. A yearning for travel quietly crept into his life, and as he experienced the world he became increasingly concerned with humanitarian needs.

On one trip in September 1994 Kurt traveled around Southern Malawi, meeting community leaders and indigenous village elders. At the time, Malawi was ranked as one of the poorest countries in Africa. He was struck by the painful daily struggle to obtain safe drinking water. Young girls were walking several hours a day to find diseased water, and carry 40lbs. buckets on their heads. His heart broke and was compelled to  bring the treasure of water to a thirsty people. This experience soon shaped Kurt’s “Water Wells for Africa” (WWFA) project.

one of many

In May 1996, the Water Wells For Africa project installed its first borehole well in Mchiwa/Mulanje district, with donations from actors Charlie Sheen, Carey Elwes and Hollywood stuntman Eddie Braun. Seeing the transformation of a village through a simple well was a euphoric accomplishment for everyone involved. As the project gained momentum priority was given to the poorest communities and to the most vulnerable regions of Southern Malawi.

Basing its efforts in Manhattan Beach, California, the Water Wells For Africa project continued to grow. By the end of 2000, the project had brought clean water to 26,000 people. In the next six years that number increased 500%. In 2006, an annual report noted the project’s next major accomplishment, “We are thrilled to say that over the past ten years our effort has led to 76 wells being opened allowing access to disease-free water in rural villages throughout Malawi.” After a decade of first-hand experience with the daily struggle for water and the drastic improvement made by water wells, Kurt Dahlin wanted to do more. He would soon kindle fresh motivation from one man.

mpungatete village

It was Feston Singano who sparked Kurt’s desire to start WWFA’s largest project at that time. Singano was the Chief Village Headman who oversaw 900 families that had been displaced due to lack of water in their ancestral lands. They would need 4 wells in order to return. Unfortunately, the Water Wells For Africa project only had funding for 1 well. However, moved by Singano’s plea, Kurt uttered what would become his new personal mantra, “I will be your beggar.” At that time Kurt vowed to do whatever it would take to help the people of Mpungatete return to their ancestral soil. It was time for the Water Wells For Africa project to seek a new direction.

More on the Mpungatate Project

WWFA incorporated

With fresh resolution Water Wells For Africa officially incorporated as a 501(c)3 nonprofit in March 2007. Many of those involved from the project’s inception helped make it reality. The dearly held values of the project fueled WWFA’s  core mission to provide adequate supply of clean and safe water to rural African communities where none existed. New support immediately began to surface.

Proven Success to Date

As of 2014, WWFA has effectively brought sustainable water to over 260,000 people. According to the annual well inspection survey, 97% of WWFA wells are in operation. This figure includes hand pumps that were installed in 1996 and 1997. Now standing as one of the earliest water projects operating in Africa, we are confident that our mission, values and work—with an emphasis on maintenance training and community leadership empowerment—will keep each project operating for a generation.

THE NEED

————— a silent emergency —————

There is more than enough fresh water in the world for domestic use, agriculture and industry, however, the poor are largely excluded from this globally recognized “human right.” The millions forced to collect water from drains, ditches and streams suffer a deprivation that threatens life, destroys opportunity and severely undermines human dignity. This is the problem, and it can all be avoided.

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a global issue

Across much of the developing world, “unclean water is an immensely greater threat to human security than violent conflict”¹. Sadly, children’s vulnerability makes them the greatest bearers of this tragedy. Each year an estimated 2.2 million children die from diarrhea² and 443 million school days are lost to water-related illnesses¹. Most notably this crisis could be prevented by the provision of three fundamental foundations of human progress: delivering clean water, removing waste water and providing sanitation.

the african burden

Rural peoples harbor the majority of this cruel, subtle crisis. The African continent faces the greatest challenge of any region of the world with roughly 1 of 3 (330 million) people not using a clean water source. Eighty-four percent of these people live in rural areas. This represents an increase of 66 million people since 1990⁵ who do not have a clean water source. Unfortunately, aid commitments for solutions targeting rural populations are declining while aid for urban solutions has increased 60% since 2000⁶. As a result, on any given day more than 50% of hospital beds in Sub-Saharan Africa are filled with water/hygiene related illnesses⁶.

women and girls

In rural settings it is traditionally women and young girls who bear the responsibility of obtaining their family’s water supply. In Sub-Saharan Africa, 68% of the rural population spends more than 1 hour per trip of water collection³. That means valuable time, sometimes upwards of 3 hours a day, is lost collecting insufficient, contaminated water. Ultimately, a woman’s opportunity in education or small business ventures are entirely inhibited with this strenuous work.

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holistic development

The solution, while surprisingly straightforward, is critical for developmental progress. When implemented—the comprehensive approach of providing water, sanitation and hygiene together—has profound impact on the communities involved. In-terms of direct economic reward, every dollar invested in water and sanitation yields a $9 return⁷. While the UN suggests that a person’s basic needs can be met with a mere 20-50 litres (4-10 gal) of safe water⁸, WWFA is committed to establishing and maintaining a holistic and integrated approach. The impact is one for life.

Give now and save lives!

In Africa many people have no clean, accessible water.

Your help will allow WWFA to drill water wells and install easy-to-maintain pumps. YOU can provide life-saving water.

Right now: in the African country of Malawi, woman and children from hundreds of villages must walk many miles each day to supply their families with water. The sources of water are often inadequate and usually contaminated.

Your donation will immediately help children stay in school instead of fetching water. You will allow people to drink and cook with bacteria-free water—often for the first time in their lives.

Once installed, our wells last decades. This means your donation today will improve peoples’ lives now and for many years into the future!

Donations are processed in U.S. dollars. Thank you!

Please take a moment to donate below and bring water to thousands of people in need.

Akon Lighting Africa

600 Million Africans still don't have access to electricity

Today, 600 million Africans still don’t have access to electricity, particularly in rural areas.

In far too many parts of Africa, night-time economic activities are practically non-existent. Women cannot make productive use of their time to carry out the most basic household tasks. Children who help the women cannot study at night without proper light and complete their homework by candle light, an additional expense for parents. Moreover, without access to electricity, over 3.5 million Africans die every year from harmful pollutants or fires in the home produced by costly and toxic solid fuels.


“Electricity is more than light. This is a true change in our daily life”, A mother, Yelimané, village, Mali

To meet these challenges, Akon Lighting Africa seeks to provide a concrete response at grass roots level to Africa’s energy crisis and lay the foundations for future development. Launched in February 2014 by international music star, Akon, leader Thione Niang and entrepreneur Samba Bathily, this initiative aims to develop an innovative solar-powered solution that will provide African villages with access to a clean and affordable source of electricity.

“Thanks to solar electricity we can now forget about kerosene, that is harmful and so expensive”,Inhabitant, Thiambokh Village, Senegal

In less than one year, thanks to a private-public partnership model and a well-established network of partners (including SOLEKTRA INT, SUMEC and NARI), a wide range of quality solar solutions, including street lamps, domestic and individual kits, have been installed in 14 African countries.

As a result, a number of households, villages, community houses, schools and health centres located in rural areas have been connected to electricity for the first time ever. Local jobs, primarily for young people, have also been created in these communities, whether for installation of equipment’s or for maintenance.

“Now I can recharge my phone at home, I do not have to walk for hours or to pay for that”, Inhabitant, Village, Niger

The highly positive results observed since the start of the project show that a local presence and practical solutions are key to resolving energy issues in Africa. Akon Lighting Africa’s roadmap fully reflects its founding members’ vision for Africa: to deliver concrete results to populations.

Next steps for Akon Lighting Africa: Launch of the first Solar Academy in Africa

New York, 21 May 2015 – As the second United Nations Sustainable Energy for All Forum (SE4A) paid tribute in its closing session to the progress generated by the Akon Lighting Africa initiative, its founders Akon, Thione Niang and Samba Bathily were already looking to the future and next steps. They have just announced the creation of a “Solar Academy” to develop skills and expertise in this field in Africa. This professional training center of excellence is a first on the continent and targets future African entrepreneurs, engineers and technicians. It will open its doors this summer in Bamako, Mali and welcome any Africans wanting to help develop the use of solar power.

This project is being introduced under the patronage of Solektra international, a partner of Akon Lighting Africa, in collaboration some European experts who will supply training equipment and programs.  It aims to reinforce expertise in every aspect of installing and maintaining solar-powered electric systems and micro-grids in particular, which are really taking off in rural Africa.  With its 320 days sunshine a year, the continent is perfectly suited to the development of solar power, particularly since 622 million Africans still do not have access to electricity.

“We have the sun and innovative technologies to bring electricity to homes and communities.  We now need to consolidate African expertise and that is our objective” explained Samba Bathily at the SE4All. “We are doing more than just investing in clean energy.  We are investing in human capital.  We can achieve great milestones and accelerate the African transformation process on condition that we start training a new generation of highly qualified African engineers, technicians and entrepreneurs now” he added.

With 70% of the population aged under 35, Africa is the continent with the youngest population today.  One of the biggest challenges it faces is training and creating sustainable employment.  “We expect the Africans who graduate from this center to devise new, innovative, technical solutions. With this Academy, we can capitalize on Akon Lighting Africa and go further,”Thione Niang said.  Indeed, Akon Lighting Africa adopted a sustainable business model from the outset – providing training and creating jobs enabling local populations to embrace technical solutions and become self-sufficient.  The Solar Academy will help to extend this business model and promote inclusive growth throughout Africa.

www.akonlightingafrica.com

@AkonLighting

https://www.facebook.com/AKON

Please address all press queries or interview requests to:

Célia Grémy (Paris) – celia.gremy@gmail.com – +33 6 10 87 53 19

Julien Lavaud (Paris) – jlavaud@apcoworldwide.com – + 33 6 22 35 18 06

Anne-Elvire Kormann-Esmel (New York) – aesmel@apcoworldwide.com – + 33 6 46 41 77 84

Nothing but Nets.net

Saving Lives

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Advocate for Nets

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The U.S. Government is the largest contributor to programs that combat malaria through its support for The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the President’s Malaria Initiative, as well as the work of UN agencies like the World Health Organization, UNICEF and UNHCR. Our government is a leader in malaria prevention in part because of the efforts of citizens like you who care enough to raise their voices on this important issue.

Your voice is critical in this fight. You have the power to make a huge impact by encouraging your members of Congress to continue funding efforts that improve malaria prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and research and development, and to keep building on the amazing progress that has already been made.

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Curry just broke the record of three-pointers for a single season - a record previously held by Ray Allen! With 272 shots made, he'll send 816 bed nets and 816 families will be able to fully protect their children from malaria because of his amazing talent and big heart. 

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Steph Curry is committed to the fight against malaria. Will you join him? Send a net and save a life today!

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Every 60 seconds, a child dies from malaria — which is easily prevented through the use of an insecticide-treated net.

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