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Food and Thought Intercultural Mela
24 – 25 February 2006
Hamilton, Victoria
What is a mela?
Mela is a Sanskrit word for a large gathering, festival, fair or celebration. Melas have a long tradition of strengthening communities by bringing people together in a festive atmosphere to enjoy food and music as well as to discuss issues that are important to their everyday lives.
What is the Food & Thought Mela about?
A Sunday dinner with family or friends, a harvest celebration, the solitary enjoyment of a perfectly ripened peach – each are simple pleasures that bind us to our culture, our environment and to each other. At the same time, today’s global food supply is made up of complex, and often unseen, relationships between governments, corporations, farmers and consumers. This raises many questions about how we – as individuals, as communities, as nations – are connected locally and globally. How does agriculture, food and eating sustain our cultural, environmental and economic wellbeing? How can young people develop an interest in growing, preparing and sharing good food? How can local food systems contribute to building stronger communities?
Held over two days in Hamilton, Victoria, the Food & Thought Mela is a chance for people to come together, to exchange stories and to celebrate the rich diversity of our food communities. The Mela is a public event for anyone interested in the connection of food to everyday life and to the world around us. It is an opportunity to give in-depth thought to the relationship between globalisation, local communities and the food supply.
The Food & Thought Mela is a collaboration of the communities of the Hamilton region and the researchers of the Globalism Institute. Alongside our research on community sustainability in the Hamilton region and abroad, the Mela aims to create an ongoing dialogue about the diversity of the food traditions, agricultural heritage and contemporary cultures that we each bring to the table. It is a chance for researchers, practitioners and the broader community to come together, to exchange stories and experiences and to talk about the global and local issues that affect our futures. The Mela will include talks, exhibitions and public forums along with an international lunch made from local produce (tickets for the lunch must be pre-purchased).
Food has been identified as the theme for the 2006 Mela because what we eat and how we eat cuts across all aspects of our society, culture, economy and environment.
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