#brussels #parisattacks #refugeecrisis #refugees #brusselsattacks #Molenbeek

#brussels #parisattacks #afghanistan #refugeecrisis #refugees

Wendell Berry reads part of Welsh poet RS Thomas' poem "Lore"

#wendellberry #rsthomas #ellamcsweeney #farming #poetry #poems #wales

Wendell Berry reads his poem "The Peace of Wild Things" while sitting in his house in Henry County, Kentucky. Recorded as part of BBC Radio 4 doc on Berry for The Food Programe - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b066tk2c

#wendellberry #kentucky #poetry #poems #farming #food #ellamcsweeney #bbc #bbcradio4 #fooodprogramme

Wendell Berry has been described as 'An American Hero' but his work and teaching have inspired and influenced leaders, writers and campaigners around the world. Ella McSweeney had no hesitation in choosing him as her 'Food Hero' and travels to meet him at his farm in Kentucky. She explains why his work affected her so profoundly, even thousands of miles away in Ireland.

As a leading and respected farmer, writer, campaigner, philosopher and poet, he wrote that "Eating is an agricultural act" yet argues we have become disconnected from the land by the industrialisation of the food chain, that the growth of agribusiness has driven many small farms out of business with a loss of their 'moral fibre and wisdom' and is destroying rural communities. He argues we must acknowledge the impact of agriculture to society.

Yet despite his widespread influence he lives at a different pace to the majority - using horses to work the land and refusing to get a computer.

For those unfamiliar with his work Ella will explain just how significant he's been on politicians and game-changers and, for those who know him already, a chance to hear his thoughts on how to feed ourselves without destroying the land and plant we have.

Ella also visits the city of Louisville to see how people are putting his thoughts into action in projects that provide access to fresh food and but also unite communities otherwise divided.

Presented by Ella McSweeney

Produced by Anne-Marie Bullock.

#bbc #bbcradio4 #ellamcsweeney #wendellberry #farming #food #louisville #america #foodpolitics #foodpolicy #kentucky

sound of weanling sale at ballina mart, co. mayo

Ella hears from the Irish who are involved in the food business in New York - Pat Coleman who runs Food Ireland near the Bronnx. #rtecountrywide #rteradio1 #rte #radio #newyork #irishfood #ireland #irish #farming #food #butter #foodireland #ellamcsweeney #damienoreilly

#ireland #irish #pigs #pig #food #farming #irishfarming #irishfarmers #carlow #irishpigsociety #irishpigs #breed #pig #pork #rte #rteradio #rteradio1 #countrywide #rtecountrywide #damienoreilly #ellamcsweeney

Ella meets dairy farmer & cheese producer Keeley Mc Garr of Keeley's Cheese Company in New York (www.keeleyscheeseco.com) and hears how Ireland inspired her, and how @cornell university is helping her develop her products. (For RTE Radio 1's Countrywide)

With rising levels of obesity in Ireland, particularly among younger people, should a fast food restaurant be allowed to be built beside a school? That's the question that residents of Navan are facing with the news that a fast food outlet has been given planning permission beside a secondary and primary school in the town, despite objections by both schools and the HSE, among others. The principal of St Joseph's school has now appealed to An Bord Pleanala.

The development will bring with it 40 jobs and there are people who support it. Ella McSweeney travelled to Navan to hear from all sides…

RTE Radio 1's Countrywide

#rte #rteradio #radio #obesity #schools #fastfood