Call for Queries: The People’s Food Revolution

Submissions due July 26, 2010

The food movement, whether in Canada or around the world, has come a long way in a short period of time. People are more aware than ever that food matters for a whole range of physical, economic, social, health, environmental and spiritual needs.

Community food security and what’s often called food sovereignty are drawing together diverse groups – from rural folks and farmers to urbanites, environmentalists and those involved in public health and social justice. It has created powerful new alliances that are being replicated globally.

In this issue of Alternatives, we will investigate the people’s food movement, both domestically and globally. We want examples of what is working and what isn’t, and what these examples tell us of the challenges that lie ahead. What will a secure and resilient food system taste like? What can be done to keep the food movement a people’s movement? How will the special things about food make food movements different from other social, environmental and public health movements? How will food organizers link to people with other causes? And what is the food movement anyway?

If you can say something big, new and powerful in a small number of plain words, we want to hear from you.

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Alternatives combines the learned rigour of an academic journal with the breezy style of a magazine. We aim to publish the best environmental writing in the country – writing that is engaging, thought-provoking and insightful.

Before responding to this call for submissions, please read several back issues of the magazine so that you understand the nature of our publication. We also suggest you go through the detailed submission procedures on our website to understand the types and lengths of articles we accept.

Queries should explain, in less than 300 words, the content and scope of your article, and should convey your intended approach, tone and style. Please include a list of people you will interview, potential images or sources for images and the number of words you propose to write. We would also like to receive a very short bio. And if you have not written for Alternatives before, please include other examples of your writing. Articles range from about 500 to 2000 words in length.

Keep in mind that our lead time is several months. Articles should not be so time-bound that they will seem dated once published.

Alternatives has a limited budget of 10 cents per word for several articles. This stipend is available to professional and amateur writers and students only. Please indicate your interest in this funding in your submission.

Send submissions electronically in word format (not pdf) to Nicola Ross, Editor-in-Chief (editor @alternativesjournal.ca) by July 26, 2010.

Submission Check List

PLEASE FOLLOW THIS TEMPLATE EXACTLY WHEN PREPARING YOUR SUBMISSION:

1. Name

2. Phone, address, email, Skype

3. Do you request a stipend?

4. Length of article

5. One paragraph bio

6. 300-word-long description of your article

7. List of people you will interview

8. Ideas for images to accompany your article

9. Sample of your writing for those who have not yet written for Alternatives.