October 14, 2010

Sovereignty

Food sovereignty is the right of a population to control and determine what they eat.  Food sovereignty is at risk, for example, when shipping is interrupted, blight hits the potatoes, or a segment of the population can't afford to buy enough food on an on-going basis.  Regional government planning departments are starting to include in official community plans their positions and initiatives addressing the issue of food sovereignty.  For example, in the City of Nanaimo's OCP for 2008, food security appears as an objective, specifically increased sustainability, partnerships, and access.

Pretty much no one in the West is worried about clothing sovereignty.  We don't see any risks of having an outside party in charge of our clothing's style, fabric content, environmental impact, transportation, pricing, labour practices, manufacturing process and distribution.  That's expected.

The last time anyone my family was clothing-insecure was the Great Depression.  For one family member, there wasn't enough money to buy new shoes that fit properly.

Handspinning gets me a bit more clothing sovereignty in my life.  Or at least it would if I made myself something to keep and wear instead of eternally practicing new skills and giving the pieces away.

Ask handspinners what they like about spinning yarn and I think most will tell you they really enjoy having so much control over their projects, which usually end up as clothes.  That, and they would say they really enjoy the physical process of handspinning.  

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