Weekly servings

Food Not bombs general

Food not bombs is the name that a world wide loose-knit group of independent collectives that serve free food or redistribute food go under. The original ideology is based around the idea that the structure of corporate and government food distribution and priorities allow hunger to continue in a situation of extreme abundance and waste. It is therefore important to FNB to demonstrate this by using surplus food that would otherwise go to waste for their servings. The idea of the name 'Food Not Bombs' comes from the idea that if governments and corporations around the world spent as much time, energy and resources as they do on war and armaments on more just and equitable food distribution, no one would be hungry. FNB works to call attention to poverty and homelessness in society by sharing the food in public places. Anyone who wants to cook may cook and anyone who wants to eat may eat. FNB tries to include everyone who wants to be included. Anyone can be a food not bomber.

A little history and background...

Food not bombs was initially begun in 1980 by anti-nuclear activists in a town in Massachusetts, in the United States. They were organising in opposition to a nuclear energy plant planned in the area and started using the idea that if there was more money for schools and food instead of weapons and nuclear plants for their campaign. They set up a soup kitchen outside the bank that were financially backing the nuclear plant during their annual stockbrokers meeting. They invited many homeless people down for the protest and many came and the day inspired the protesters to use distributing food as a method to organise for peace, the environment and social justice. The first food not bombers were exceptionally dedicated and started a regular network of food collection and distribution sites, sharing it at women's shelters, rehabilitation centres, immigrant support centres and such. They organised numerous different anti-war projects during their first years. An attendee at one of these protests was so inspired by their ideas and dedication that he begun a food not bombs chapter in San Francisco, and so it spread. Now food not bombs organises around the world, with local adaptations of the original ideas and methods on every continent.

This year is the 30th Anniversary of the original food not bombs, and groups, or chapters as they are sometimes called, from around the world are celebrating the anniversary in different ways.