In this issue
In praise of shared meals
The traditional Mexican family meal from Michaocán, here being prepared, is.
with the Mediterranean diet, a 2010 UNESCO world intangible heritage.
This month we commemorate the work and life of two giants of public health nutrition. Below, we publish David Picou's tribute to John Waterlow, who died last October, and whose achievements were celebrated in London and the West Indies last month. The other main contribution to this month's World Nutrition is a series of eulogies to Michael Latham, who died last month, and who in a real sense was a founder of our journal. John Waterlow and Michael Latham were very different in their style and manner, but had a great deal in common. Both were public health nutritionists (although John Waterlow might have queried the term, on the grounds that what purpose could nutrition have unless it was in the service of populations and communities as well as families and individuals). Both were socialists in the proper sense of the word, of putting society and in particular disadvantaged people first. Both were marvellous teachers who will remain much loved.
Scintillating columnists
This month as every month we offer you four news and comment-packed columns. Fabio Gomes continues his praise of Brazilian traditional food, and Brazilian poets praising Brazilian food, and learns that the colour and package of food products influence the value customers place on them. Claudio Schuftan explains why nutrition is a political issue, and also why prevention of malnutrition is – or should be – about creating a less inequitable world, and not just about people who live in poverty having a bit more cash. Geoffrey Cannon writes another bumper column. This month he has three themes. First, continued celebration of being short, with soccer and cricket stars as examples. Second, he gives reasons to believe that USAID's cosy relationships with big business is not a matter of choice, because Uncle Sam is bust. Third, he commemorates Gertrude Stein's love of good meals, food and company, including in the dark period when France was occupied by Nazi Germany. This month Reggie Annan writes a very special column, in which colleagues from the African Nutrition Leadership Programme, in which the participants eloquently, testify to their commitment to their communities, countries, and to Africa.
Up to the UN Summit
This month we continue our series of home page stories about organisations preparing for the UN Summit on non-communicable diseases, being held in New York this September, with a preliminary meeting held in Moscow as these pages were being prepared. This month's encouraging story is about the NCD Alliance, and its coming together with jointly agreed recommendations. Less encouraging is now what seems to be the sad fate of the United Nations System Standing Committee on Nutrition, for which many Association members have worked or to which they have been committed, over the years. It seems that we will now becoming accustomed to a different way of doing business, in the matter of malnutrition.
Both our home page, and WN, need more contributors. Please make a start by using the response facility at the foot of contributions, when you have something to say.
The editors
