FITNESS FOREVER
The Soil’s Health is our Health :
Why Organic Farming is vital for health of the planet and people
An Illustrated talk by
Dr Vandana Shiva
founder Navdanya
Moderator: Dr Anu Jindal
Wednesday 30 March 2022
Seminar Rooms I to III, Kamaladevi Complex
Indian International Centre, New Delhi
"Our health and the health of the planet is one health. It is connected to the health of the soil, seeds and plants we grow, the food we eat, the insects and microbes on which we depend, the water and the climate which sustain life. Our health begins in healthy soils, that are living systems. Doctors are increasingly finding that the roots of multiple chronic diseases lie in the health of the gut microbiome, which is connected to the health of soil biodiversity. The soil, the gut and our brain are one interconnected biome- violence to one part triggers violence in the entire interrelated system.
Chemically produced food has far less nutritional content, however regenerative organic agriculture increases nutritional content of food. Our bodies are not machines, food is not fuel to run the machine. Food is living, and eating is not a mechanical act, but the most significant act - a spiritual act, an ecological act, an agricultural act.
Health begins in food - Annam Sarvaushadhi Let Food be thy medicine"
Dr Vandana Shiva
She later shifted to inter-disciplinary research in science, technology and environmental policy, which she carried out at the Indian Institute of Science and the Indian Institute of Management in Bangalore.
In 1982, she founded an independent institute, the Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology in Dehra Dun dedicated to high quality and independent research to address the most significant ecological and social issues of our times, in close partnership with local communities and social movements.
She founded Navdaanya, in 1991, a national movement to protect the diversity and integrity of living resources - especially native seed, the promotion of organic farming and fair trade.
In 2004 she started Bija Vidyapeeth, an international college for sustainable living in Doon Valley in collaboration with Schumacher College, U.K.
Dr. Shiva combines sharp intellectual enquiry with courageous activism, and has been recognized for her sterling work through accolades and numerous awards.
Time Magazine identified Dr. Shiva as an environmental “hero” in 2003
and Asia Week has called her one of the five most powerful communicators of Asia.
Forbes magazine in November 2010 has identified
Dr. Vandana Shiva as one of the top Seven most Powerful Women on the Globe.
Dr. Shiva has received honorary Doctorates from University of Paris, University of Western Ontario, University of Oslo, Connecticut College and University of Guelph.
Among her many awards are the Alternative Nobel Prize (Right Livelihood Award, 1993), Order of the Golden Ark, Global 500 Award of UN, Earth Day International Award, Lennon ONO grant for peace award by Yoko Ono in 2009, Sydney Peace Prize in 2010, Doshi Bridgebuilder Award, Calgary Peace Prize, Thomas Merton Award in the year 2011, The Fukuoka Award, The Prism of Reason Award in 2012, the Grifone d’Argento prize 2016, The MIDORI Prize for Biodiversity 2016, Veerangana Award 2018, The Sanctuary Wildlife Award 2018, International Environment Summit & Award 2018 and Amrita Devi Award 2021.
The series “Fitness Forever” focuses on making good health & building a strong immunity to be disease free, an integral part of our lifestyle.
