Rome: World Meeting of Popular Movements
by La Vía Campesina
ROME: WORLD MEETING OF POPULAR MOVEMENTS [1]
POPULAR MOVEMENTS´ PRESS RELEASE STATEMENT
October 27, 28 and 29th
Various movements representatives of the most postponed and excluded,
along with the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and the
Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, with the explicit support of Pope
Francis, impulse the World Meeting of Popular Movements to be held from
October 27 to 29th, 2014 in Rome.
We are very glad of this unique opportunity to let their voice be heard,
to have the opportunity to give visibility to the excluded, in the
Vatican itself. We are deeply grateful to Pope Francis for this
possibility, a new sample of his permanent support and proximity not
only to the injustice we, the excluded, suffer but also to those that
organize ourselves and fight it back.
The Meeting is primarily aimed at organizations and movements of the
excluded. We expect the participation of 100 delegates from different
backgrounds, those backgrounds bring together: a) the precarious
workers, temporary workers, migrants, and those involved in the popular
sector, informal and/ or self-employed, without any legal protection,
workers rights or recognized union; b) landless peasants and indigenous
people or those at risk of being expelled from the countryside because
of agricultural speculation and violence; c) people living in slums and
informal settlements, the marginalized, the homeless, the forgotten
without adequate urban infrastructure. Unions, social and human rights
organizations will participate as well, due to their joint efforts
accompanying the processes of organization and struggle of the above
sectors.
Many bishops and other church workers from several countries are also
invited, in order to stimulate dialogue and collaboration with the
Church. The meeting will be conducted in Spanish, French, English,
Italian and Portuguese. The meeting will conclude with an international
body promoting coordination between popular movements with the support
and collaboration of the Church.
THE WORK IS DIVIDED IN THREE DAYS:
a) The objective of the first day is to know today´s reality, struggles
and thoughts of popular movements. It will be held at the Salesianum.
b) The objective of the second day is to appreciate Pope Francis´
teaching on how to move forward and together towards an authentic human
development. Will be based at the Old Synod Hall.
c) The third and final day will be devoted to taking concrete
commitments to coordinate the excluded organizations and their
collaboration with the Church. It will be hosted at the Salesianum.
THE MAIN OBJECTIVES ARE:
· To share Pope Francis social thought, especially items that he bring
in his Apostolic Exhortation "The Joy of the Gospel" and discuss it from
the perspective of popular movements.
· To develop a synthesis of the vision of popular movements around the
causes of the growing social inequality and exclusion, increasing deeply
worldwide, mainly the exclusion of land, labor and housing.
· To reflect collectively on the organizational experiences of popular
movements as forms of solution for the above injustices dialoguing
through our practices, forms of interaction with institutions and future
prospects.
· To propose popular alternatives to address problems -war,
displacement, hunger, poverty, unemployment, insecurity, exclusion-
generated by the financial capitalism, military arrogance and the
immense power of transnational companies from the point of view of the
poor, with the prospect of building a peaceful society, free and fair.
· To discuss the relationship of Popular Movements with the Church, and
how to move forward in creating an instance of articulation and ongoing
collaboration.
AMONG OTHERS, THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING
ARE:
Articulação Dos Povos Indígenas Do Brasil (APIB) - Brasil
Asian Social Institute (ASI) and CBSCom Cooperative - Philippines
Asociación De Trabajadores Del Campo (ATC) - Nicaragua
Asociación Democracia Real Ya (Indignados) - Spain
Asociación Democracia Real YA (Indignados) - Spain
Asociación Nacional De Recicladores De Colombia (ARB) - Colombia
Asociación Nacional de Trabajadores Agropecuarios (ANTA) - El Salvador
Associacao Dos Peradores E Trabalhadores Do Sector Informal (ASSOTSI) -
Mozambique
Associação Juízes para a Democracia - Brasil
Association des Marchés Economiques Locaux du Recyclage (AMELIOR) -
France
Associazione Trentini Nel Mondo Onlus - Italy
Banca Etica - Italia
Biffins - Francia
Bigkis Lakas Pilipinas (Fishermen) - Philipines
Border Agricultural Workers - US/Mexico Border
Central de Movimentos Populares (CMP) - Brasil
Central Única dos Trabalhadores Minas Gerais - Movimiento Sindical de
Maestros (CUT)
Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Bartolomé de las Casas (Frayba) - México
Centro Memorial Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (CMMLK) - Cuba
Centro Sociale Leoncavallo - Italy
Children and Youth in Action for Sustainable Future (CYASF) -
Philippines
Comité De Unidad Campesina (CUC) - Guatemala
Condederacion De Trabajadores Por Cuenta Propia CNTCP - Nicaragua
Conf. Nacional De Mujeres Campesinas Indigenas Originarias Bartolinas
Sissa - Bolivia
Confederación de Trabajadores de la Economía Popular (CTEP) - Argentina
Confederation Paysanne (CIFTCI-SEN) - Turquia
Conseil National De Concertation Et De Coopération Des Ruraux (CNCR) -
Senegal
Consejo Cívico de Organizaciones Populares e Indígenas (COPINH) -
Honduras
Consejo Coordinador Obrero Popular (COCOPO - MLN) Mexico
Coord. Nac. de Org. de Mujeres Trabajadoras Rurales e Indígenas
(CONAMURI) - Paraguay
Coordenação Nacional De Entidades Negras (CONEN) - Brasil
Corriente Villera Independiente (CVI) - Argentina
Enhe Bizkaia (Euskal Herria)- Spain and France
ETC Group
European Coordination Via Campesina
Faith In Community Scotland - Scotland
Farm Workers Association Of Florida - USA
Federacion Nacional De Recicladores Del Ecuador - Ecuador
Federación Argentina de Cartoneros y Recicladores (FACyR) - Argentina
Federación Uruguaya de Cooperativas de Viviendas por Ayuda Mutua
(FUCVAM) - Uruguay
Forum Des Alternatives - Morocco
Frente Nacional Comunal Simón Bolívar (FNCSM) - Venezuela
Genuino Clandestino - Italy
Hermandad Obrera De Acción Católica (HOAC)
Homeless Peoples Fedreation - Philippines
Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Associations- Camboya
Industrial Workers Of The World (IWW)
International Coordination Of Young Christian Workers (ICYCW-CIJOC) -
France
Jeunesse Ouvrière Chrétienne Internationale (IYCW) Aisbl
Kagad Kach Patra Kashtakari Panchayat - India
Kagad Kach Patra Kashtakari Panchayat - Waste Pickers Collective (KKPKP)
- India
Kagad Kach Patra Kashtakari Panchayat (KKPKP) - India
Karnataka State Farmers Union (KRRS) - India
Kenya National Alliance Of Street Venders And Informal Traders
(Kenasvit) - Kenya
Korean Women Peasants Association - Korea
Korean Women Peasants Association - Korea
La Junta - Perú
Levante Popular Da Juventude - Brasil
Liga Operária Católica -
Malawi Union for Informal Sector - Malawi
Minga Informativa de los Movimientos Sociales (ALAI) - Latinoamérica
Mouviman Peyzan Papay (MPP) - Haiti
Movimento De Mulheres Camponesas (MMC) - Brasil
Movimiento de los Trabajadores Rurales Sin Tierra (MST) - Brasil
Movimiento De Trabajadores Excluidos (MTE) - Argentina
Movimiento Indígena-Campesino De Chiapas - Mexico
Movimiento Nacional Campesino Indígena (MNCI) - Argentina
Movimiento Nacional De Trabajadores Cristianos (MMTC) - Rwanda
Movimiento Nacional Empresas Recuperadas (MNER) - Cooperativa Subpga -
Argentina
National Coordination of Peasants' Organizations (CNOP) - Mali
National Family Farm Coalition (NFFC) - USA
National Slum Dwellers Federation - India
National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) - South Africa
Network for Political and Social Rights - Grece
New Zealand Council of Trade Union - New Zealand
Parlamento Xinca - Guatemala
Plataforma Afectados Por La Hipoteca (PAH * co-fundador a título
personal) - Spain
Proceso de Comunidades Negras (PCN) - Brasil
Re-Food 4 Good - International
RIMAFLOW, Fabbrica Recuperata - Communia Network - Italy
Shack Dwellers International (SDI)
Shack Dwellers International (SDI)
Shack Dwellers International/Zimbabwe Affiliate - Zimbabwe
Shehab Institution - Egypt
Sindicato Mexicano de Electricistas (SME) - Mexio
Slum Dwellers International
South African Federation of the Urban Poor - South Africa
South African Waste Pickers Association - South Africa
Spirit Of Youth Association For Environmental Services (Zabaleens) -
Egypt
Syndicate Of Informal Workers (Homenet Eastern Europe) - Bulgaria
The French Organizations Droit Au Logement/No-Vox - France
Truth Foundation - South Korea
Tunisian Forum For Economic And Social Rights - Tunisia
Turkish Peasant Confederation (CIFTCI-SEN)- Turquía
União Nacional de Camponeses (UNAC) - Moçambique
Union Of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC) - Palestina
United Steelworkers - USA
Youth Organization of The Kurds - Siria
Zambia Homeless And Poor People's Federation - Zambia
Zimbabwe Smallholder Farmer Forum (ZIMSOFF) Zimbabwe
We hope this Meeting will mark a milestone in the articulation process
of popular movements strengthening a transformative perspective,
empowering the poorest sectors and making visible the popular view about
the serious problems humanity is facing.
JOAO PEDRO STÉDILE
Movement of the Landless (Brazil)
Via Campesina International
XARO CASTELLÓ
Workers Christian Action (Spain)
World Movement of Christian Workers (Spain)
JOCKIN ARPUTHAM
National Slum Dwellers Federation (India)
Slum Dwellers International
JUAN GRABOIS
Excluded Workers Movement (Argentina)
Confederation of Popular Economy
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Gabriela Bonus + 54 911 3269917 - Argentina - in Spanis
Carolina Palacio +39 3357192098 - Italia - in English
Elvira Corona +39 3471895632 - Italia - in Italian
Rita Zanotto +556199700420 - Brazil - in Portuguese
Isabelle Delforge +39 3511556740 - Italia - in English, French, Spanish
Links:
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[1]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/2-uncategorised/1690-rome-world-meet...
10 years, 2 months
CFS in Rome: The majority of governments remain blind to the challenges of global food security
by La Vía Campesina
CFS IN ROME: THE MAJORITY OF GOVERNMENTS REMAIN BLIND TO THE CHALLENGES
OF GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY [1]
La Via Campesina Press Release
[2](Rome October 15th, 2014) The delegation of La Via Campesina,
gathered in Rome for the 41st session of the Committee on World Food
Security (CFS), recognizes the CFS as the major international forum for
debate and decision making on agricultural and food issues. LVC urges
governments to take urgent action in favor of peasant and indigenous
agriculture, which is the only model capable of feeding the world. On
the occasion of World Food Day, we restate our commitment to struggle
for Food Sovereignty as a solution to the multiple crises affecting our
societies. We reaffirm our commitment to the recognition and enforcement
of peasant rights.
The celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Guidelines on the Right
to Food has shown a huge gap between rights and their priority, respect,
and application in reality. In this sense, LVC expressed deep
disappointment with the lack of commitment to the application of the
Guidelines.
Kannayian Subramaniam, a farmer from the state of Tamil Nadu in India
denounced the attacks in the WTO to the food reserves created in India:
"Public stock holding is vital to the food and nutrition security of any
country. It is one of the main weapons that we have against food price
volatility. Any trade measure that comes in the way of countries
assisting the poorest and most marginalised people is unacceptable to
us. The principle of coherence of human rights overrides any trade
negotiation or agreement that comes in the way of food security of our
constituent groups." [3][1] LVC confirms that it is essential to discuss
market rules within the CFS.
The adoption of Principles for responsible investment in agriculture
(rai) is not sufficient to guarantee the rights of peasant communities,
landless people and agricultural workers. It is positive that the
primary role of peasants in investment in agriculture is recognized
prior to the recognition of the role of the corporate sector. However,
the rai do not give clear and strong guidance in the interest of the
small-scale producers.
The guidelines do not contain sufficient safeguards to stop land
grabbing and other destructive actions by private capital and complicit
governments. No real progress in promoting the creation of decent work,
workers rights, and in the fight against discrimination of women was
made.
As mentioned by Javier Sanchez, a peasant farmer from Aragón: "We need
public policies in favor of food sovereignty, promoting agroecology,
local markets, the empowerment of women, access to the profession for
young people and access to and control over land, forests, water and
seeds. "
La Via Campesina expresses the need for the CFS to take a greater role
in the design of agricultural and international food policies. We
recognize the progress made since its reform and are committed to
further promote policies that address the needs of the most excluded
populations. LVC urges the CFS to launch processes to develop policies
that support stable markets and agroecological agriculture, which are
respectful of human and peasant rights. These policies must also
contribute to stop climate change, ensure access to resources such as
seeds and water and put the public interest before private interests.
LVC press contacts in Rome:
Annelies Schorpion (EN, ES, FR, NL):
annelies.schorpion(a)viacampesina.org, +39 3511556740
Ivan Mammana (EN, ES, FR, IT): cooperazione(a)aiab.it, +39
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[4][1] See the video [5] of Kannayian Subramaniams speech
Links:
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[1]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/food-soverei...
[2]
http://viacampesina.org/en/images/stories/foodsov/9037336579_46090b0647_z...
[3]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/food-soverei...
[4]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/food-soverei...
[5] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnuZRJVWGp4&feature=youtu.be
10 years, 2 months
16th of October: World Day of Action for Food Sovereignty - Watch our video : La Via Campesina in Movement
by La Vía Campesina
[1]Today, 16th October, we celebrate the World Day of Action for Food
Sovereignty and against Transnational Corporations. In this occasion, La
Via Campesina invites its member organisations across the world,
grassroots organisations and allied social groups to watch our video: LA
VIA CAMPESINA IN MOVEMENT. FOOD SOVEREIGNTY NOW! [1], to inspire your
actions and activities today.
The film is available in ENGLISH [1], SPANISH [2], FRENCH [3], and
other languages...
This is a Day of solidarity, resistance, and mobilization in order to
make citizens aware of the current threats to Peoples' Food Sovereignty.
_ _
_FOOD SOVEREIGNTY NOW!_
_ GLOBALIZE THE __STRUGGLE_, GLOBALIZE HOPE !
Links:
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[1] http://vimeo.com/27473286
[2] http://vimeo.com/27474387
[3] http://vimeo.com/27473807
10 years, 2 months
NON AU TTIP, CETA et autres politiques commerciales destructives
by La Vía Campesina
NON AU TTIP, CETA ET AUTRES POLITIQUES COMMERCIALES DESTRUCTIVES [1]
[2](Rome, le 11 octobre) La délégation de La Vía Campesina, réunie à
Rome pour la réunion du Comité de Sécurité alimentaire mondial
renouvelle son rejet des négociations actuelles sur divers accords de
libre échange tels le TTIP [3][1], TPP [4][2] et le CETA [5][3] Dans le
cadre de la journée mondiale d'action contre le TTIP et en solidarité
avec le 16 octobre, journée d'action mondiale pour la Souveraineté
alimentaire. La délégation participe à la 41ème session du CSA, où est
célébré le dixième anniversaire des Directives du Droit à
l'Alimentation. ´Les paysannes et les paysans, producteurs à petite
échelle, ne voient aucune raison de le célébrer puisque lesdites
directives n'ont pas été appliquées du tout. D'autre part, les
négociations commerciales, menées à l'encontre du droit à
l'alimentation, progressent à un rythme préoccupant.
La promotion de la concurrence par le biais de la suppression des droits
de douane et des normes, permet le renforcement d'un Système agricole et
alimentaire chaque fois plus sous le contrôle des multinationales. Le
paradigme du commerce néolibéral ignore complètement les normes des
droits sociaux, environnementaux et humains et ne fait que garantir les
profits et le contrôle d'un petit nombre de transnationales.
L'augmentation de la marchandisation des aliments ne respecte ni ne
garantit le droit à l'alimentation.
La nature antidémocratique et secrète des négociations confirme que ces
accords ne profitent aucunement aux personnes.
Ils détruisent les capacités des paysannes et des paysans à produire
pour leurs communautés et les capacités des citoyennes et citoyens à
décider du type d'aliments qu'ils souhaitent consommer. Ils
n'encouragent pas le changement urgent dont nous avons besoin pour
mettre fin au changement climatique.
La délégation de LVC à Rome s'est engagée à défendre des politiques
publiques de soutien à une agriculture paysanne et autochtone. Il s'agit
de l'unique modèle agricole capable d'éradiquer la faim dans le monde.
Nous demandons donc instamment au CSA d'évaluer, de contrôler et de
subordonner les décisions politiques adoptées par d'autres organismes
internationaux. Nous devons en toute urgence changer les règles du
commerce pour aller vers un modèle en accord avec la souveraineté
alimentaire en promouvant l'agroécologie et la réforme agraire.
CONTACTS PRESSE LVC À ROME:
Annelies Schorpion (EN, ES, FR, NL):
annelies.schorpion(a)viacampesina.org, +39 3511556740
Ivan Mammana (EN, ES, FR, IT): cooperazione(a)aiab.it, +39 3341667401
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[6][1] Partenariat transatlantique de commerce et d'investissement
négocié entre l'UE et les USA
[7][2] Accord de partenatiat transpacifique
[8][3] Accord économqiue et commecial global entre l'UE et le Canada
Links:
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[1]
http://viacampesina.org/fr/index.php/actions-et-nements-mainmenu-26/non-a...
[2] http://viacampesina.org/fr/images/stories/nonomc/fta-rome.jpg
[3]
http://viacampesina.org/fr/index.php/actions-et-nements-mainmenu-26/non-a...
[4]
http://viacampesina.org/fr/index.php/actions-et-nements-mainmenu-26/non-a...
[5]
http://viacampesina.org/fr/index.php/actions-et-nements-mainmenu-26/non-a...
[6]
http://viacampesina.org/fr/index.php/actions-et-nements-mainmenu-26/non-a...
[7]
http://viacampesina.org/fr/index.php/actions-et-nements-mainmenu-26/non-a...
[8]
http://viacampesina.org/fr/index.php/actions-et-nements-mainmenu-26/non-a...
10 years, 2 months
STOP TTIP, CETA and other destructive trade policies
by La Vía Campesina
STOP TTIP, CETA AND OTHER DESTRUCTIVE TRADE POLICIES [1]
[2](Rome, 11th October) The delegation of La Via Campesina, gathered in
Rome for the meeting of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS),
reiterates its rejection of the ongoing negotiations of several free
trade agreements such as the TTIP [3][1], TPP [4][2] and CETA [5][3]. We
do this within the framework of the Global Day of Action against TTIP
and in solidarity with the 16th October, the Global Day of Action for
Food Sovereignty. The delegation is participating in the 41st session of
the CFS where the 10th anniversary of the Right to Food Guidelines is
being celebrated. For small-scale farmers there is no reason to
celebrate however, as the implementation of the Guidelines has not
advanced at all. Conversely, trade negotiations, contrary to the Right
to Food, are advancing at a concerning pace.
The promotion of competition through the suppression of tariffs and
standards is strengthening an agricultural and food system increasingly
controlled by multinationals. The neoliberal trade paradigm is blind to
social, environmental, and human rights standards and only benefits the
profits and control of a few transnational corporations. The increased
commodification of food does not respect or support the right to food.
The anti-democratic and secretive nature of the negotiations confirms
the analysis that people will not benefit from these agreements.
They destroy the capacities of farmers to produce for local communities
and of citizens to decide on the food they eat. They will not support
the urgent shift we need to put a stop to climate change.
The LVC delegation in Rome is committed to pursuing policies supporting
sustainable peasant agriculture. This is the only agricultural model
capable of eradicating hunger in the world and therefore LVC urges the
CFS to evaluate, monitor and subordinate the policy decisions taken by
other international bodies. We urgently need to shift trade rules to a
model in line with food sovereignty that promotes agroecology and
agrarian reform.
LVC PRESS CONTACTS IN ROME:
Annelies Schorpion (EN, ES, FR, NL):
annelies.schorpion(a)viacampesina.org, +39 351155674
Ivan Mammana (EN, ES, FR, IT): cooperazione(a)aiab.it, +39 3341667401
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[6][1] Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiated
between the US and EU
[7][2] Trans-Pacific Partnership
[8][3] Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement negotiated between
the EU and Canada
Links:
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[1]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/stop-...
[2] http://viacampesina.org/en/images/stories/fta/fta-rome.jpg
[3]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/stop-...
[4]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/stop-...
[5]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/stop-...
[6]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/stop-...
[7]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/stop-...
[8]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/stop-...
10 years, 2 months
October 16th, World Day of Action For Food Sovereignty and against transnational corporations
by La Vía Campesina
STOP TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATIONS!
OCTOBER 16TH, WORLD DAY OF ACTION FOR FOOD SOVEREIGNTY AND AGAINST
TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATIONS [1]
Published on Thursday, 09 October 2014 23:20
_FOOD SOVEREIGNTY IS THE RIGHT OF THE WORLD’S PEOPLES TO PRODUCE AND TO
CONSUME HEALTHY FOOD. FOOD CANNOT BE REDUCED TO A COMMODITY IN THE HANDS
OF THE TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATIONS._
[2]The international peasant and family farmer movement, La Via
Campesina, is calling upon its member organisations across the world,
and on grassroots organisations, allied social groups, and concerned
consumers to be part of the World Day of Action for Peoples' Food
Sovereignty and against transnational corporations, this coming October
16th, 2014.
Every year, La Via Campesina organises this Day of solidarity,
resistance, and mobilisation in order to make citizens aware of the
current threats to Peoples' Food Sovereignty.
To this end, we believe that it is important, and absolutely necessary
,to strengthen the alliance between those who work in the countryside
and those who work in the city. The human right to food should not only
refer to availability; it should also ensure that the available food is
wholesome, healthy, and culturally appropriate.
In 1996, in Rome, La Via Campesina introduced Food Sovereignty as the
right of the world's peoples to decide upon their own food and farming
policies, giving preference to local production and distribution systems
- in the hands of peasants and family farmers - that meet the needs of
the population.
Today, taking advantage of the triple alliance between states, banks,
and communications media, transnational agri-business gives widespread
advertising coverage to the large-scale agricultural model, which, it is
argued, is very highly productive and is able solve the food crisis. In
reality, however, at this very moment, more than a billion people in the
world suffer from hunger and starvation, while the transnational
corporations, solely motivated by profit, continue to speculate with
food.
Agribusiness drives millions of peasants and family farmers, women and
men, off their land and away from their territories, leaving the
countryside without farmers, leading to a concentration of control over
natural resoures such as land and water, and destroying biodiversity.
Moreover, companies such as Monsanto, Cargill, Bunge, Dupont, and AMD,
among others, have taken over and are monopolising world trade in grains
and seeds, criminalising the ancestral practice of saving, and
exchanging seeds. Agribusiness encourages the indiscriminate use of
toxic agricultural chemicals, which both degrade the soil and threaten
the lives of farmers, farmworkers, and urban consumers.
On this World Day of Action taking place on October 16th, we peasants
and farmers, women and men, of La Via Campesina reaffirm the urgent need
for Comprehensive Agrarian Reform as a means of attaining Food
Sovereignty; and we endorse agro-ecological production as the
alternative farming practice that is consistent with our plans for the
future as peasants and family farmers, which also mitigates the effects
of climate change and cools the planet down.
Therefore, on this October 16th - the World Day of Action for Food
Sovereignty and against Transnational Corporations - we will be
mobilising: taking over land, holding forums; organising agro-ecological
festivals; occupying the streets of towns and cities. We will raise our
voices in order to express our resistance to landgrabbing and to the use
of toxic agricultural chemicals and genetically-modified seeds - and to
call for Comprehensive Agrarian Reform and Food Sovereignty , which
together imply a radical transformation towards a fair and decent food
system for the world's peoples.
_FOOD SOVEREIGNTY NOW!!_
We would like to record all of the actions taking place in your
organisations everywhere in the world: photographs; forums; marches;
video screenings; seed exchanges; agro-ecological festivals. Please send
your information to: lvcweb(a)viacampesina.org
Links:
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[1]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/stop-...
[2]
http://viacampesina.org/en/images/stories/stoptnc/efsa/Llamado%2016%20de%...
10 years, 3 months
Mozambican Peasants vs. the Great African Land Grab
by La Vía Campesina
MOZAMBICAN PEASANTS VS. THE GREAT AFRICAN LAND GRAB
Maputo -- With a shimmering coastline stretching for more than 1,500
miles along the Indian Ocean, heartland game parks rivaling the
Serengeti and a cornucopia of natural resources -- located mostly in
land used by humble farming communities -- Mozambique is getting quite a
lot of attention these days as one of Africa's most upcoming investment
hubs and in vogue destinations. Investors have not wasted any time in
carving out their stake in the country two decades into the relative
stability following a 16-year civil war on the heels of independence.
The cash-strapped Mozambican state technically owns all of the land
within its borders, offering leases that are renewable up to 99 years to
foreign governments and corporations for agribusiness or extractive
industrial megaprojects. One such example is ProSavana [1], a Japanese
and Brazilian-led development project with the blessing of the
Mozambican government. ProSavana has earmarked land in the Nacala
Corridor spanning three provinces and affecting 19 districts for
monocrops such as soy for export.
ProSavana, not unlike related land deals for coal and gas extraction,
comes with hefty promises of economic growth marked by mass job creation
and export potential. But under the surface, investments all too often
uproot lives and livelihoods for those who depend on small-scale
farming, fishing and pastoralism -- more than 70 percent of the
population in the case of Mozambique. Many point to these projects as
undisputed resource grabs [2] woven into the fabric of a greater
neocolonial project in Mozambique and throughout Africa.
"The idea of mass job creation is a myth," said Vicente Adriano, staff
researcher for the Mozambican Peasant's Union (UNAC) [3], "The bottom
line is that these projects create dependency within the class that has
been historically, and continues to be, neglected by government policies
and development plans." As a social movement, UNAC members pride
themselves on being a revolutionary bunch. "Mobilization through
resistance creates alternative forms of political sovereignty," Adriano
offered.
It was in that spirit that UNAC brought both its lead organizers and
vulnerable farmers from each of Mozambique's ten provinces together in
Maputo on October 1st and 2nd for its third annual peasant-led
international conference on land. The conference came as the culmination
of a series of regional Mozambican gatherings, where delegates shared
concerns and discussed crosscutting strategies as means of opposition to
land and resource grabs.
"Our land is being occupied without our consultation," shared Helena
Terra, a peasant from the central region, an area marked by small-scale
vegetable and grain production that is now threatened by massive
foreign-owned eucalyptus crops and coal exploration in residential
areas. Terra explained that the once potable water in her village was
now polluted by industrial activity, and unsafe for consumption. Water
is not her only concern. In 2015, new coal projects seek to displace at
least a hundred families -- but with the help of fellow UNAC organizers,
Terra is undertaking legal measures to attempt to recover the land.
"United as farmers, we have to solve these problems ourselves, and not
wait for outsiders," said Augusto Mafigo, UNAC's president. The
agricultural group's tactics -- from agroecology for food sovereignty to
agrarian reform -- are grounded in political education and horizontal
learning exchanges among its members, as well as with other African and
international movements. Last week's conference featured a presentation
from the Venezuelan ambassador, representing a country that has been
working to radically reorient its food system to serve its poor
majority. Another example was an intervention on seed saving and
agrarian transformation from neighboring Zimbabwe Small Holder Organic
Forum (ZIMSOFF) [4], which UNAC works closely with through their joint
participation in Via Campesina [5].
Now the largest transnational agrarian movement in the world, Via
Campesina has member organizations in 73 countries -- representing over
250 million peasants -- that fight for access to and control over land
and its resources. "Via Campesina is a connection to what people want,
as opposed to the very different reality of what is happening on the
ground," said Renaldo Chingore, a leader in both UNAC and Via Campesina
at the Africa regional level. Ten years ago, UNAC became Via Campesina's
first African member. Today it plays a headlining role in supporting its
regional and global growth, at a time when Africa is a priority for
outreach and expansion -- due in large part to land and resource grabs
such as those in Mozambique redefining the norm.
Against such policies and sizeable odds, peasants throughout Africa are
determined to hold onto -- quite literally -- the roots of their
ancestors. UNAC's experience in the Mozambican field may just provide a
game plan for doing so.
First published on:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/salena-tramel/mozambican-peasants-vs-th_b_5...
[6]
Links:
------
[1] https://www.prosavana.gov.mz/index.php?num_lang=2
[2]
http://www.grain.org/article/entries/4703-leaked-prosavana-master-plan-co...
[3] http://www.unac.org.mz
[4] http://www.esaff.org/Zimbabwe/
[5] http://viacampesina.org/en/
[6]
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/salena-tramel/mozambican-peasants-vs-th_b_5...
10 years, 3 months
