Rory, I'm working on a thread/post called Enjoy Every Sandwich which I think you're going to enjoy. Not at all this idea, but based on eating together.

I love this idea.

If it can be connected into something were developed world participants see the results and make the connections to the developing world side of this...that is the key (to me).

Also, having entire families participate...that is perfect.

Wow. Good one. How might we start indeed?

Yes, I agree, it would be very powerful for people to see each other somehow, and to be able to directly take an interest in each other's lives. I could imagine groups connecting, and then undertaking specific projects together whether well digging, or agriculture, or local group credit circles fueled by Feast giving...

Its a huge project, but maybe something that could start small. Even having a dozen feasts would be a fine thing, and would be a way to learn some lessons and start some traditions.

This idea was first sparked with my daughter Catie on a walk. Its neat that you see how it is at its heart, a family idea.

very cool idea.

love the fact that it highlights and celebrates one of the things that everyone has in common.

difficult to see how ideologies or politics or religions could pollute the purity of a family saluting a mother.

how can the concept be pitched and simplified such that it spreads on its own, virally, across cultures, without the intervention or organisation of Rory or any other "central organiser"?

how can the idea be given wings, and fly on its own?

Greg, thanks for these very good questions.

One element of decentralized growth would have to be infrastructure. Is there now or could there be a very easy way for groups to discover this and participate? This would imply some kind of directory or "market" of groups looking for each other. If such a thing existed, then groups could make their own connections. We have the makings of such directories in wiserearth, catalytic communities, the worldwide connectory and even in undigested form, O/Net.

Along with this directory, a basic toolkit would be a key.

On the other hand, perhaps by starting small, and just doing it, people would be attracted to it. This is what I am drawn to at this point. Could we prototype a connected global event of giving and receiving in honor of motherhood? If even 3 or 4 of us (let alone 20!) could host local feasts, and we could identify communities to connect with, such as LiA, Lemonaid fund connected groups in Sierrs Leone, SOLID communities, etc, we could see if this works and learn from the experience.

Toolkits and infrastructures and other bells and whistles could grow out of it.

~ Rory said: If even 3 or 4 of us (let alone 20!) could host local feasts, and we could identify communities to connect with, such as LiA, Lemonaid fund connected groups in Sierrs Leone, SOLID communities, etc, we could see if this works and learn from the experience. ~

Sounds like a good place to start. What would that look like?

Well, we would need to figure out a date. And part of the challenge for that would be dealing with the problem of simultaneity. If we held a common feast here to raise money, how would that money get to the people we were joining with in solidarity? I really like the idea of this being an annual feast and so this poses a problem. I see two possible solutions.

1. The first annual feast raises the money that will be used for the second annual feast by those in need.
2. Somehow money is raised ahead of the feast to help our partners.

Another issue is whether to use either the US Mother's Day or the Anglican Mothering Sunday tradition as a framework for this. Pluses and minuses to both possibilities, and perhaps best to not reference either. What do you think?

Tons of action steps suggest themselves beyond this if we want to move forward

webspace

press release

kit/suggestions logo

recruitment of groups

documentation

financial channels

myth, symbols and ritual (seriously)

partnerships

Reading this at 2:30am of my first day of ned noob-dom, so my last 4 actively firing brain cells prevent me from saying anything other than "brilliant!"

... and I'll be back with something more thoughtful. I'd love to see this happen in my own community.

Love the idea Rory - I've always been drawn to the idea of simultaneous events connected through the web.

when you think of a feast in a developing country, how many people are you thinking of?

International Women's Day might be a good day to do it.

Holding the feast on International Women's Day (March 8) seems a good idea. I do think that holding it on that day might shift the focus from a mother's feast a bit, to more an appreciation of women.

Friends in other countries ask me as an American: How do you celebrate International Women's Day. I'm always a bit embarrassed to answer it is hardly noticed here.

So I think that at least in the USA a movement on International Women's Day really could take hold. First because all the rest of the world is already celebrating, and second the idea of a feast tells Americans how to go about celebrating. It's not like we have to learn anything new to catch up with the rest.

One more thing is March 8 is a special time of year in many parts of the USA. Spring is so anticipated. Some years we are blessed with foul weather, and other years harbingers of Spring are around. Whichever there is always a kind of anticipation in the air.

This idea is full of joy, so I love it very much.

Mother's Day Proclamation Arise, then, women of this day! Arise, all women who have hearts, Whether our baptism be of water or of tears!

Say firmly: "We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies, Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause. Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience. We, the women of one country, will be too tender of those of another country To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs."

From the bosom of the devastated Earth a voice goes up with our own. It says: "Disarm! Disarm! The sword of murder is not the balance of justice." Blood does not wipe out dishonor, nor violence indicate possession. As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil at the summons of war, Let women now leave all that may be left of home for a great and earnest day of counsel.

Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead. Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means Whereby the great human family can live in peace, Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar, But of God.

In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask That a general congress of women without limit of nationality May be appointed and held at someplace deemed most convenient And at the earliest period consistent with its objects, To promote the alliance of the different nationalities, The amicable settlement of international questions, The great and general interests of peace.

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mot her%27s_Day_Proclamation"

Amazing idea - on the local level here at home we have a group that meets for a meal and to talk about how to get progressive things done in our community - it's called "Politics for Breakfast".

It'd be great to see a roster of world-wide events - people breaking bread to honour our Mother(s)...!