Co-operative Numbers
“Take a census of the whole Israelite company [of fighters] by the clans of its ancestral houses, listing the names, every male, head by head”. (Numbers 1.2)
In synagogues across the world we are about to begin a new book in the Torah. It opens with a census, an overview of the numbers of the people. Taking a count at any time is painful, for it shows who is counted and who is not. Where are all the women, the younger men, the older men who might not bear arms anymore, those who might not be able to physically (or mentally) bear arms but can give back in other ways, the children? Those who are not counted, the invisible ones, usually end up becoming objects of concern or legislation, rather than people who can shape tradition or be agents in their own lives.
And it begs the question - how do we count today? And who or what? Is it mainly adults, those with citizenship, or in work, or who are physically able? And what about children and teenagers, let alone anyone who diverges from the norm, whether due to physical or mental issues? What do we need to account for in our society?
One painful count that has come to the fore in recent years is the more than 2m tonnes of food that could be eaten, but is instead wasted in the food industry.
“Research conducted by WRAP into the levels of food waste in the UK draws some alarming conclusions. That £19 billion worth of decomposing food in UK landfills is responsible for 25 million tonnes of greenhouse gases (GHGs), the equivalent of 10 million cars. It’s important to remember that when food is wasted, the resources that were used to produce it, are also wasted. Currently, 1.4 billion hectares, or 28% of the planet’s available agricultural land, is used to grow or farm food that is ultimately lost or wasted.” The Environmental Impact of Food Waste - SOFEA
At the same time the 2m tonnes of good-to-eat wasted food would make the equivalent of 1.3bn meals, which could help feed the rising numbers of people living in poverty, 14 million people, including 4.5 million children, according to the Trussell Trust, and that count was made in early 2020.
And then there’s the global count, especially at a time of pressure on global resources. How do we protect the most vulnerable societies across the globe from the effects of the war in Ukraine and its effect on grains, or the rise of the cost of gas and oil? How we use our resources, whether it is gas or food that has come into this country does matter, and if we become more efficient, and aware of our demands on the supply chains we can lessen the burden. For if we cut down on the amount of food wasted in this country, we can, in turn, cut down on the food coming into this country, which could be used elsewhere. Poverty and food waste are one way of counting.
And then there is another count that looks rather different. It comes when people band together, in smaller groups and act together, and it is not about what you don’t have, but rather what you do, and your time and hands on help is also valued, whether in a food growing scheme or helping in the weekly running of a co-op.
Food co-operatives are not a new invention, and yet they are still somewhat rare. But look at the numbers - at the Girdlestone Food Co-Op in Archway you pay £3 and you get £40 pounds worth of groceries. The Girdlestone Co-op was set up because of a count - one that looked at the cost to the environment of our way of living. A real concern about food waste and how to prevent it, as well as cutting costs on weekly bills were the driving forces behind this new co-op. And it was not about a hand-out, another foodbank (though they are also very important). A food co-op is about making the food system more sustainable, and where everyone counts. That’s a whole different way of looking at numbers.
If you are interested in the co-op idea you can read more here, or if you would like to help cut food waste with the Girdlestone Co-op please contact Monika (a Chavurah member) on monikaschwartz14@gmail.com for more information and to join the Co-op WhatsApp group.