Contrary to assumptions associated with the term "slow", advocates of the Slow movement stress activity, rather than passivity. The focus, therefore, is on being selective in our activity, and fully appreciating how we spend our time.
The Slow movement is not organized and controlled by a singular organization per se. A principal characteristic of the Slow movement is that it is propounded, and its momentum maintained, by individuals that constitute the expanding global community of Slow. Although it has existed in some form since the Industrial Revolution its popularity has grown considerably since the rise of Slow Food and Cittaslow in Europe, with Slow initiatives spreading as far as Australia and Japan.
Opposed to the culture of Fast Food the movement known as
Slow Food seeks to encourage the enjoyment of regional produce,
traditional foods, which are often grown organically and to
enjoy these foods in the company of others. It aims to defend
food and agricultural biodiversity.
The movement claims 83,000 members in 50 countries, which are
organized into 800 Convivia or local chapters. Sometimes
operating under a logo of a snail, the collective philosophy is
to preserve and support traditional ways of life. Today, 42
states in the U.S. have their own convivium.
In 2004, representatives from food communities in more than 150
countries met in Turin under the umbrella of the Terra Madre
(Mother Earth) network.
The Slow movement advises some ways of slowing down:
 | Get a Slow hobby, a leisurely pursuit like reading,
writing, knitting, yoga, painting or gardening. |
| Spread out your chores; do one load each day instead of
all your laundry at once, or dust one day and vacuum the
next. |
| Stop watching the clock; on weekends try waking up to
your body's natural rhythms rather than an alarm, and leave
your watch at home |
| Shop at a farmers' market |
| Prepare a sit-down meal and savor it without watching
TV, or reading. Enjoy the conversation if you're dining with
others, or peaceful solitude if eating alone. |
| On vacation slow down; don't try to cram every sight
into your must-see list. Visit "slow cities" with local
restaurants where you can eat slow |
| Prune your to-do list; make time for the people and
activities that you enjoy |
| Start a kitchen garden by the kitchen door. |
| Visit a farm in your area. |
| Trace your food sources. |
| Join a CSA. |
Objectives of Slow Food Movement
The Slow Food movement incorporates a series
of objectives within its mission, including:
| forming and sustaining seed banks to preserve heirloom
varieties in cooperation with local food systems |
| developing an "ark of taste" for each eco-region, where
local culinary traditions and foods are celebrated |
| the preservation and promotion of local and traditional
food products, along with their lore and preparation |
| the organization of small-scale processing (including
facilities for slaughtering and short run products) |
| the organization of celebrations of local cuisine within
regions (e.g. the Feast of Fields held in some cities in
Canada) |
| Taste Education |
| educating consumers about the risks of fast food |
| educating citizens about the drawbacks of commercial
agribusiness and factory farms |
| educating citizens about the risks of monoculture and
reliance on too few genomes or varieties |
| Various political programs to preserve family farms |
| Lobbying for the inclusion of organic farming concerns
within agricultural policy |
| Lobbying against government funding of genetic
engineering |
| Lobbying against the use of pesticides |
| Teaching gardening skills to students and prisoners |
| Encouraging ethical buying in local marketplaces
Slow Food USA - Organization devoted to preserving traditional foodways and educating people about food as a center of community. Local Convivia - Slow Food Spokane River, Spokane Events Find a group in Idaho |
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