The Oxfam America Club will kick start a week of celebrating World Food Day with a free screening of “Dirt! The Movie” Oct. 14 at the Kenworthy.
The week will continue with tables for World Food Day outside the Idaho Commons on Oct. 16. Oxfam will end the week Sunday with a fun run that will donate money to the Idaho Food Bank.
“We want to break the barrier between the students and the community,” said Amaya Amigo, UI chapter president of Oxfam America.
Amigo said the goal of the movie is to inform people about land and dirt and what it really means.
“What we’re getting from it, and what we’re doing to it,” Amigo said.
“Dirt! The Movie” is inspired by William Bryant Logan’s book “Dirt: The Ecstatic Skin of the Earth,” and focuses on the political and socioeconomic concerns of where food comes from, and the importance of the material that uses it.
One topic of concern for Oxfam this year has been the recent growth of land grab, which is the unethical acquisition of land from poorer communities and people.
Amigo said large corporations are taking land from people all over the world. A talk and short video from Oxfam will show prior to the film and will elaborate the group’s stance on the issue.
The free screening is open to anyone, and students of any major are encouraged to come. Topics related to agriculture, political science, international studies, environmental science, and more are addressed in the documentary film. There will also be tables at the screening to provide information for anyone who is interested in joining the club.
The 5K Fun Run will be held on Oct. 20, with an entry fee of $5 that goes to the Idaho Food Bank. The theme of the run is “Run 5 Feed 15”, because each runner’s donation creates 15 meals for those in need. The run will start near Patty’s Kitchen and follow Paradise Path. People can walk or run, and anyone is encouraged to join. There will be prizes for the winners that include gift cards from local businesses.
Oxfam America is a non-profit, non-government organization that helps fight hunger, poverty and social injustice.
The UI chapter is focusing on the Grow Campaign this year, which encourages people to eat less meat, cook smart, and eat locally and seasonally.
Kathryn Blowers can be reached at [email protected]