Held at the University of West London on 1st December 2023, this event was dedicated to advancing sustainability and fostering awareness of the environmental impacts of our individual food choices. Its key objective was to educate and inspire individuals to embrace sustainable habits in their daily lives, placing special emphasis on making mindful decisions concerning food consumption.
The film
One of the event’s highlights was the film screening of “Eating Our Way To Extinction“, which provided valuable insights into the environmental impact of different food sources, and which stressed how the biggest contribution we can make as individuals to both the climate and ecological crises is to reduce or eliminate the consumption of meat and fish from our our diets, and focus instead on plant-based solutions. Despite its serious message, the film is an extremely engaging documentary comprising inspiring photography, interviews, infographics, and investigations into the impact of intensive animal farming. The film can be viewed on youtube here.
The Discussion
The film was thought-provoking and impactful, and sparked discussions among the attendees of tangible solutions for improving the food system in Ealing. After the film, attendees stayed in the University of West London’s “Heart” space to discuss what they thought of the film, while trying out some plant-based food for inspiration. The following points were provided by attendees in response to the question of what we could do in Ealing to make our choices around food more sustainable.
- Encourage ‘growing your own’ initiatives and gardening in schools
- Increase vegetarian and vegan options at restaurants in Ealing
- Establish a community kitchen or farm
- Advocate for plant-based options in school meals to reduce meat consumption
- Improve green waste and composting options
- Utilise the Olio app to distribute surplus food
- Organise vegan festivals in Ealing with involvement from local celebrities and young people to share recipes, stories and
Highlights from the evening:
This was the first of four events planned in collaboration with Ealing Transition, ActforEaling, the University of West London, and the Ealing Food Partnership. Abbie Pascoe-Apaw, Food Partnership Lead for Ealing Council, shared her thoughts:
“The event effectively advocated for sustainability and increased awareness regarding the environmental consequences of food choices. We appreciate the attendees’ support and involvement, and eagerly anticipate incorporating their recommendations to enhance the impact of future events. By collaborating, we aim to cultivate a more sustainable and environmentally aware community in Ealing.”
If you are feeling inspired, you can check out our further ideas for protecting diversity and eating more sustainably here.