Welcome to the February 2010 Edition
of the Laconneau Monthly Newsletter.

IN THIS ISSUE
• Film of the Month
• Book of the Month
• Political Action Forum
• Sentier de Vermont
• Fox Creek Inn Fundraiser
• Spring Festival
• Regional News
• Regional Calendars
• Contact Laconneau

FILM OF THE MONTH

Food Inc.
Starring: Eric Schlosser/Director: Robert Kenner

For most Americans, the ideal meal is fast, cheap, and tasty. Food, Inc. examines the costs of putting value and convenience over nutrition and environmental impact. Director Robert Kenner explores the subject from all angles, talking to authors, advocates, farmers, and CEOs, like co-producer Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation), Michael Pollan (The Omnivore's Dilemma), Gary Hirschberg (Stonyfield Farms), and Barbara Kowalcyk, who's been lobbying for more rigorous standards since E. coli claimed the life of her two-year-old son. The filmmaker takes his camera into slaughterhouses and factory farms where chickens grow too fast to walk properly, cows eat feed pumped with toxic chemicals, and illegal immigrants risk life and limb to bring these products to market at an affordable cost. ~Kathleen C. Fennessy

BOOK OF THE MONTH

Food Inc.: A Participant Guide: How Industrial Food is Making Us Sicker, Fatter, and Poorer-And What You Can Do About It
Edited by Karl Weber

Food Inc.: A Participant Guide explores the issues raised in Food, Inc., the film. Many experts in the field contributed to this book, including Michael Pollan (Omnivore’s Dilemma and In Defense of Food) and Anna Lappe (Hope’s Edge and Grub). The book is meant to inspire those challenged by the film and encourage them to take action and make a difference.

POLITICAL ACTION FORUM

THE CURRENT FOOD CRISIS
By Beckie Berez

I confess I am passionate about food. I believe nourishing our families and ourselves is a serious responsibility, and that good food both sustains and heals us. Throughout history, food has done more than simply provide sustenance. It has acted as a catalyst for societal organization, social transformation, geopolitical competition, industrial development, military conflict, and economic expansion. Food was the foundation for entire civilizations (1). By far the greatest transformation caused by food trade was a result of the European desire to circumvent the Arab spice monopoly. This led to the opening of maritime trade routes between Europe and Asia, the discovery of the New World, and the establishment of the colonial outposts in the Americas. But we live in an era when food has lost its place in the natural order of things. After centuries characterized by small, family-centered farms, the American agricultural landscape began to change around the start of the 20th century, with the inventions of a highly polished steel plow, silos, combines, grain elevators and the automated binder. During WWI, the manufacture of explosives led to the development of chemical fertilizers. Sarin gas, a weapon developed in 1938, just before WWII, was modified to make pesticides, insecticides, and herbicides. With these innovations, farm production increased by one-third during WWII. Then, in the 1950’s, refrigerated long-haul trucks began transporting fruits and vegetables across country. It was then that factory farming really took hold (2). What follows is a brief overview of some of the problem areas created by America’s factory-farmed food supply.

The first problem to address is the issue of food waste in the United States. The US wastes 27 percent of food available in supermarkets, restaurants, and in homes. In 1997, the USDA estimated that 96.4 billion pounds of the nation’s 356 billion pounds of edible food were never eaten. Some 12 percent of waste found in landfills is food. The USDA estimated that recovering just 5 percent of the wasted food could feed 4 million people a day; recovering 25 percent would feed 20 million (3). This would go a long way towards alleviating the problem of hunger in our country.

The second problem to address is the food crisis in developing countries. “The worldwide food crisis worsened in developing countries when the governments stopped supporting small farmers with help in purchasing seeds and fertilizer, storing grain, providing loans and distribution networks. The dismantling of the agricultural support system has made these countries more dependent on imports. This change was the result of trade policies brought on by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank”(4). These actions have served to drive many farmers off the land. Small farmers can no longer afford to farm because they are forced to buy expensive, genetically modified seeds that are not as productive as the seeds they had used traditionally. The farmers are also forced to buy more fertilizers. Changes in the agricultural support system encourage farmers to monocrop. Monocropping means that instead of growing many different vegetables, for example, the farmer will just grow one, making the farm income dependent on one crop and thus more susceptible to ruin if that crop fails. All of these factors contribute to the worsening food crisis.

The next problem involves the methods now used by Corporate Industrial Agriculture. This way of farming is responsible for high-energy use. Its use of monocropping results in unhealthy soils because over time nutrients are depleted. Many foods grown by Industrial Agriculture are contaminated with harmful chemicals and contribute to food-borne illnesses. The way this food production system works, much of our food is transported for long distances and is not available to the local communities where it is grown. The food produced through Corporate Industrial Agriculture makes huge profits for corporations, but the cost to the public is exorbitant because the food produced in this manner is high in preservatives and chemicals, but devoid of most of its nutrients (5). None of this is acceptable.

Another issue created by the factory-farming system of agriculture is the effect of this system on farm workers and their families. Wages and working conditions are horrendous for many farm workers, both native and migrant. A sad fact is that many undocumented workers have come to the US because they have been driven off their own land by trade policies like the North American Free Trade Agreement and by the business practices of corporations like Monsanto, ADM, and Cargill.

In the United States, some progress is being made to improve the circumstances of farm workers. The United Farm Workers is working to win health and disability benefits as well as better working conditions for farm workers. The UFW has negotiated contracts with a variety of producers of wine, roses, mushrooms, almonds, dates, strawberries, vegetables, and citrus fruits. The names of these producers can be found at the UFW website. A current key campaign is to help to protect children from toxic pesticides, a very real danger, particularly for the children of farm workers. The Environmental Protection Agency has long ignored a law passed by Congress that requires that the agency protect children from ALL pesticide exposure, including pesticide drift. The UFW is pressuring the EPA to adopt buffers around homes, schools, parks and day care centers to counteract such exposure(6).

I have painted a bleak picture of the agricultural landscape, and I have only scratched the surface. But there is hope. There are a multitude of exciting initiatives, some that have been around for many years, some just getting started, and many that are in the planning stages. A friend recently asked if I thought any of these initiatives would make a difference. I told her, “Yes!” There is a groundswell in this country and around the world to change the direction of the farming industry. More and more farmers and communities are seeing that industrial food production is neither environmentally sustainable nor economically viable and are getting involved in working for change.

TAKE ACTION
Many people feel impotent and ask what they, as individuals, can do to promote change in the ways that food production is handled. I say, “Vote with your fork!” First and foremost, be aware of where your food comes from and what is in it. The Locavore movement challenges us to source 75-80 percent of our food within 100 miles of our homes. You can challenge yourself as three of my friends and I did a year and a half ago. We decided that we would “eat locally” for one year, and now it is second nature. We source our food from farms within 100 miles of the Washington, DC, area. We support farmers’ markets. I also belong to a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Farm. We get milk from a local dairy, pick fruits from local orchards; buy cheese from local artisans. Just a note: Farmers receive about 10 cents for every dollar spent at the supermarket, but when you buy directly from the farmer, he/she receives 70 cents out of every dollar you spend. Second, be aware of how much food is wasted in your home. Take a personal pledge to reduce the amount of food you throw away. Third, consider supporting organizations that are working to bring change. The Mid-Atlantic Gleaning Network is one such organization. They are a nonprofit organization that finds farmers willing to allow leftover crops to be harvested by volunteer gleaning teams, who then transport and distribute the produce to the poor and to food banks (7). Another organization, Slow Foods, USA, has several domestic programs to help engage people around the issues of food justice and our food system (8). One of my personal favorites is Slow Food in Schools, which supports a range of programs to improve children’s nutrition, both hands-on in the schools and in the legislative arena. Another initiative is Michelle Obama’s involvement, as reported by Tom Philpott in his article in the January 19, 2010 edition of Grist, where he writes of Michelle Obama’s vow to “move the ball” on kid’s diets. She has brought the spotlight to this issue by involving the community, and especially children, in planting and harvesting an organic garden at the White House (9).

If you would like to become better informed and more involved, the following is a list of relevant websites, current films and books which can help you to do so. Please take some time to learn more about what you can do to make a difference in the current food crisis. Then, become involved.

BECOME INFORMED
Relevant Websites
http://slowfoodusa.org. Slow Foods USA is a food movement that is taking an active role in promoting real food for all.
http://ufw.org. The United Farm Workers has information about its initiatives promoting change in IA farming practices. http://www.wasttedfood.org. This website documents food waste and ways to reduce it.
http://www.westonaprice.org/index.html. The Weston A. Price Foundation has a wealth of information on nutrition and farming practices.

Current Films
Kenner, R. & Schlosser, E. 2009. Food. Inc. [Documentary]. US: Magnolia Pictures. A film about how our food is produced. More information is available at www.foodincmovie.com. This film has been widely distributed in movie theaters and is available on Netflix.
Joanes, A. 2009. Fresh [Documentary]. Distributed by www.freshthemovie.com. A documentary about farmers making the transition to sustainable agriculture both in traditional settings and on urban farms.

Books
Katz, S. The Revolution Will Not Be Microwaved. Yes!Books, 2006. An inside look at America’s underground food movement.
Krupp, R., Lifting the Yoke: Local Solutions to America’s Farm and Food Crisis. Self-published by Ron Krupp. To order, email Ron Krup at woodchuck37@hotmail.com. Website: www.liftingtheyoke.com. Phone: 802.658.9974
Smith, J. Seeds of Deception. Yes!Books, 2003. About the safety of genetically engineered foods. Standage, T. An Edible History of Humanity. Walker & Co. 2009.

Footnotes
1. Standage T. An Edible History of Humanity. Walker & Co., 2009.
2. Krupp, R. Lifting the Yoke. Whetstone Books, 2009, pp. 20-21
3. www.wastedfood.org
4. Op.cit., Krupp, R.
5. www.ufw.org
6. Ibid.
7. www.midatlanticgleaningnetwork.org
8. www.slowfoodsusa.org
9. www.grist.org

SENTIER DE VERMONT

The Laconneau Sentier de Vermont

February 21 – February 27, 2010

ONLY ONE SPACE LEFT!!!

This February, we will once again offer The Sentier de Vermont, a full residential retreat at the beautiful Fox Creek Inn at Chittenden in the heart of Vermont’s Green Mountains from Sunday, February 21 to Saturday, February 27. The Inn will be closed to all other guests during the period of our stay.

Each day will start with a group meditation followed by breakfast. The group will then meet for teaching until midday. Afternoons will be spent either hiking or visiting some of the interesting local sites. The group will meet again for an evening meditation before dinner. After dinner for those interested there will be group discussions and traditional music, should the mood take us.

For those of you unfamiliar with it, there will also be instruction in voie d’épée, Laconneau’s own traditional form of exercise.

Retreat Fee: $1990.00

Accommodation: will be two people sharing. (Limited Single occupancy is available for a small supplement on a first come basis.) All rooms are fitted with private bathroom and shower.

Meals: Dinner and breakfast are included in the fee. All food will be in keeping with Tradition dietary rules.

For information or to make a reservation: Please contact Alex at (770) 235-5447 or alex@laconneau.org. As space is limited to twelve people, a deposit of $500.00 is required at time of booking. All reservations will be on a first come basis.

LACONNEAU FUNDRAISER

A Weekend for Two at the Fox Creek Inn in Chittenden, Vermont
To Benefit the Laconneau Scholarship Fund*

Bed and breakfast at the beautiful Fox Creek Inn
from Friday night to Sunday morning on the weekend of your choice
(Please use by March 2011, excluding fall foliage and holiday weekends.)

Cost of Raffle Tickets: $25 each
Only 100 tickets total to be sold
Drawing Date: March 1, 2010

Results to be published in the April, 2010 newsletter

Nestled in a private valley on seven acres and surrounded by the Green Mountain National Forest, Fox Creek Inn is the perfect getaway to experience a Vermont country inn. The location assures peace and tranquility, yet is close to many local attractions and outside activities. guests at the inn receive highly personalized attention. Meals at the inn are prepared with the freshest local ingredients and are designed to suit all tastes and dietary needs.

For more information on the Fox Creek Inn, access the website at: www.foxcreekinn.com/

* Donations to the Laconneau Scholarship Fund cover the costs of Laconneau classes for women in need of assistance. NOTE: Donations are not tax-deductible.

LACONNEAU SPRING FESTIVAL

Laconneau Spring Festival
Friday, April 30 - Sunday, May 2, 2010
Artemis House, Greenville, NC

Spring Festival marks the beginning of summer. As with the Autumn Festival, this is a time between dark and light, night and day, winter and summer. We are holding the Spring Festival in full accord with the principles of our Tradition. Come join us at Artemis House in Greenville, North Carolina for this wonderful weekend of council discussion, workshops, feminine spirituality and festivities. Lend your voice to the power and love of other sisters such as yourself who feel a burning need to see change in this world.

The fee for the festival is $275.00. Please also budget for $20.00 per day to cover lunches and other expenses. Housing is available in the homes of the Greenville sisters and in hotels in the area. Please contact Elaine at carolinas@laconneau.org for more details.

REGIONAL NEWS

France News:
Laconneau will be offering the Sentier des Cathares in September and October of 2010. Details will follow in subsequent newsletters.

News from the Carolinas:
The Greenville circle will begin our community outreach this month by helping the First Born Community Development Center in Grimesland, NC, to collect for their food pantry. Toni Britt-Tyer has volunteered to help coordinate these efforts. Needy families can come to the Center to pick up food; volunteers deliver food to people who do not have transportation to the Center. We will begin collecting food at all Laconneau events to help feed the hungry in our community, and we will help distribute food at the center and deliver food to people in the community, as well. We welcome help from anyone who would like to volunteer for this project.

Laconneau offered two courses in the month of January. On Saturday, January 23, a Level II Intermediate Course was held. On Sunday, January 24, a Level I Beginner's Course was held. Both courses were offered at Artemis House in Greenville, NC and were well attended.

The Simpsonville circle’s outreach efforts included sponsoring two children at the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind and providing holiday gifts for them. The circle also gave food, blankets, and personal hygiene supplies to a United Way program that provides Emergency Backpacks for homeless individuals in Spartanburg County, SC. They donated food and clothing to another United Way Program for needy families in Spartanburg County. A financial contribution was given to a family in need in Simpsonville, SC.

In Florence, SC, a donation was given to Harvest Hope, the regional food distribution center in Florence County, and clothing and household items were given to the area Good Will center.

Georgia News:
The Georgia circle is sponsoring a food drive in partnership with the Atlanta Community Food Bank & the Georgia Mountain Food Bank on an ongoing basis. To participate, please contact Deb at Georgia@laconneau.org.

The Georgia circle will be hosting a Medieval Dinner on Saturday February 6th 2010 at 6:00PM in Gainesville to benefit the Laconneau Scholarship Fund.

The Georgia circle will be hosting Meditation, Dinner and a Film Screening of Blessed is the Match on Tuesday February 16th, 2010 at 6:30PM in Gainesville. The film is a documentary feature about World War II-era poet and diarist, Hannah Senesh, who became a paratrooper, resistance fighter and modern-day Joan of Arc.

Meditations are held on an ongoing basis in Decatur, Marietta and Gainesville. Women’s Circles are also regularly held in Gainesville. Please check the Georgia calendar for specific times and dates.

The Georgia circle continues to welcome all women who desire to work together to heal our communities, our country and our world. Please contact Deb at for additional information regarding Courses, Women’s Circles and all Georgia Laconneau events/activities at Georgia@laconneau.org or by phone at 770-718-6078.

Pennsylvania News:
In January, the Philadelphia circle hosted a Level I Beginner’s Course to begin the New Year. The class was well-attended and brought women from many different areas of the city. We look forward to upcoming events to continue to build and strengthen our community.

On Tuesday, February 9, the Philadelphia circle will host a book discussion of Half the Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide. The book describes in detail the brutal treatment of women across the globe, as well as the power and resilience of women who undergo such abuse, yet work to transform their lives in spite of it.

The Philadelphia circle welcomes all women to our classes, meditations, and film screenings as we continue to build a strong foundation for this community of women. The only way to bring balance back to our world is through empowering all women. To bring true feminine values back to this world, each woman must find the strength that lies within her own heart to stand up for everything she knows to be right. A strong core within our community can help form the foundation of any woman’s choice to fully empower herself. If you would like to attend any events or if you would like more information, please contact Anna at Pennsylvania@laconneau.org.

Washington, DC News:
On Thursday, February 4th, 2010, the Washington circle will host an informal evening with Jehanne de Quillan from 7:30-10:00PM. All community members are welcome.

The evening of Friday 5th and all day Saturday 6th, 2010, the Washington Circle will host The Magdalene Seminar. A Level I Beginner’s Course will take place on Sunday 7th, 2010.

An eight-course Medieval Dinner and live troubadour music fundraiser is planned for Saturday,
February 20th in Washington, DC.

FRANCE: Upcoming Events

Thursday, September 30 – Saturday, October 9. 2010
Sentier des Cathares
Southern France

GEORGIA: February Events

Monday February 1, 2010
Meditation 6:30PM
Marietta, GA

Wednesday February 3, 2010
Meditation 7:00PM
North Decatur, GA

Saturday February 6, 2010
Medieval Dinner 6:00PM
Gainesville, GA

Monday February 8, 2010
Meditation 6:30PM
Marietta, GA

Monday February 15, 2010
Women’s Circle 6:30PM
Gainesville, GA
For students who have completed the Level I Course

Tuesday February 16, 2010
Meditation, Dinner & Film Screening 6:30PM
Blessed is the Match
Gainesville, GA

Sunday, February 21 - Saturday, February 27, 2010
Sentier de Vermont
Chittenden, Vermont

Monday February 22, 2010
Meditation 6:30PM
Marietta, GA

Sunday February 28, 2010
Women’s Circle 6:30PM
Gainesville, GA
For students who have completed the Level I Course

Georgia Calendar Online: http://www.laconneau.com/CalendarAtlantaGA.html

Georgia Region Coordinator: Deb - georgia@laconneau.org

NORTH CAROLINA: February Events

GREENVILLE, NC

Friday, February 5, 2010
Young Women’s Dinner 6:30PM
Greenville, NC

Friday, February 12, 2010
Women’s Circle 7:00PM
Artemis House Greenville, NC
For students who have completed the Level I Course

Sunday, February 14, 2010
Meditation, Lunch & Book Review 12:00PM
The Slave Next Door
Artemis House Greenville, NC

Thursday, February 18, 2010
Meditation, Dinner & Film Screening 6:30PM
Flow: For Love of Water
Artemis House
Greenville, NC

Sunday, February 21 – Saturday, February 27, 2010
Sentier de Vermont
Chittenden, Vermont

Sunday, February 28, 2010
Women’s Circle 7:00PM
Artemis House
Greenville, NC
For students who have completed the Level I Course

ASHEVILLE, NC

Saturday February 13, 2010
Women’s Circle 7:00PM
Brevard, NC
For students who have completed Level I Course

Sunday, February 21 – Saturday, February 27, 2010
Sentier de Vermont
Chittenden, Vermont

Saturday February 27, 2010
Women’s Circle 7:00PM
Brevard, NC
For students who have completed Level I Course

North Carolina Calendar Online: http://www.laconneau.com/CalendarGreenvilleNC.html

Carolinas Region Coordinator: Elaine – carolinas@laconneau.org

PENNSYLVANIA: February Events

Thursday, February 11, 2010
Book Discussion 7:30PM
Half the Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide
Philadelphia, PA

Monday, February 15, 2010
Meditation 7:30PM
Philadelphia, PA

Sunday, February 21 - Saturday, February 27, 2010
Sentier de Vermont
Chittenden, Vermont

Saturday, February 27, 2010
Women’s Circle 7:30PM
Philadelphia, PA
For students who have completed the Level I Course

Philadelphia Calendar Online: http://www.laconneau.com/CalendarPhiladelphiaPA.html

Philadelphia Region Coordinator: Anna - Pennsylvania@laconneau.org

SOUTH CAROLINA: February Events

Monday, February 15, 2010
Women’s Circle 7:00PM
Simpsonville, SC
For students who have completed the Level I Course

Sunday, February 21-Saturday, February 23, 2010
Sentier de Vermont
Chittenden, Vermont

South Carolina Calendar Online: http://www.laconneau.org/CalendarSC.html

Carolinas Region Coordinator: Elaine – carolinas@laconneau.org

WASHINGTON, DC: February Events

Thursday, February 4, 2010
Community Evening 7:30PM
Washington, DC

Friday, February 5, 2010
Magdalene Seminar 7:30PM
Washington, DC

Saturday, February 6, 2010
Magdalene Seminar (Continued) 10:00AM
Washington, DC

Sunday, February 7, 2010
Level II Intermediate Course 10:00AM
Washington, DC

Friday, February 12, 2010
Film Screening & Dinner 6:30PM
We Shall Remain, Part II
Washington, DC

Saturday, February 13, 2010
Women’s Circle 7:30PM
Washington, DC
For students who have completed the Level I Course

Saturday, February 20, 2010
Mediaeval Dinner 7:00PM
Washington, DC

Sunday, February 21, 2010
Meditation & Tea 3:30PM
Falls Church, VA

Sunday, February 21 - Saturday, February 27, 2010
Sentier de Vermont
Chittenden, Vermont

Saturday, February 27, 2010
Women’s Circle 7:30PM
Washington, DC
For students who have completed the Level I Course

Washington, DC Calendar Online: http://www.laconneau.com/CalendarWashingtonDC.html

Washington, DC Region Coordinator: Lorely - dc@laconneau.org

CONTACT LACONNEAU

In France: Jehanne - jehanne@laconneau.org

In California: Alex - alex@laconneau.org

In the Carolinas: Elaine - carolinas@laconneau.org In Georgia: Deb - georgia@laconneau.org

In Pennsylvania: Anna - pennsylvania@laconneau.org

In Washington, DC: Lorely - dc@laconneau.org

Contact Information Online: http://www.laconneau.com/Contact.html

Laconneau Newsletter Archive: http://www.laconneau.com/NewsletterArchive.html

Please visit our website, http://www.laconneau.org, for the complete calendar, further articles, Laconneau’s history and additional information.

You are receiving this newsletter because you attended a Laconneau course or seminar. If you would prefer not to receive the monthly newsletter, please email Alex at alex@laconneau.org to request removal from our mailing list.