COOK for PEACE

Food Not Bombs is one of the fastest growing revolutionary movements in North America today and is gaining momentum all over the world. There are over 120 autonomous chapters sharing vegetarian food with hungry people and protesting war and poverty throughout the Americas, Europe and Australia. The first group was formed in Cambridge, Mass. in 1980 by anti-nuclear activists. Food Not Bombs is an all volunteer organization dedicated to nonviolence. Food Not Bombs has no formal leaders and strives to include everyone in its decision-making process. Each group recovers food that would otherwise be discarded and makes fresh hot vegetarian meals that are served in city parks to anyone without restriction. The groups also serve free vegetarian meals at protests and other events. San Francisco chapter members have been arrested over 1,000 times in the city's efforts to silence protests against the Mayor's anti-homeless policies. The Arcata, Calif. group faces civil contempt charges for sharing food and the Whittier, Calif. group has been issued tickets for feeding people. Seattle and Burlington, Vt. Food Not Bombs are being threatened by the cops. Amnesty International says it may adopt imprisoned Food Not Bombs volunteers as "Prisoners of Conscience."

Food Not bombs works in coalition with groups such as Earth First!, American Indian Movement, Anarchist Black Cross, homes Not Jails, the Free Radio Movement and other organizations creating a vision for positive social change and resistance to the new global austerity program. One collective publishes a movement-wide newsletter, "A Food not Bombs Menu," and each month San Francisco Liberation Radio produces the Food Not Bombs Radio Network program that includes 30 minutes of unreported news and information from the protest community.

We hope you will join us in taking direct action towards creating a world free from domination, coercion, and violence.