Via-info-en October 2014

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Rome: World Meeting of Popular Movements
by La Vía Campesina 23 Oct '14

23 Oct '14

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: ------ [1] http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/2-uncategorised/1690-rome-world-meetin…

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CFS in Rome: The majority of governments remain blind to the challenges of global food security
by La Vía Campesina 17 Oct '14

17 Oct '14

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 ------------------------- [4][1] See the video [5] of Kannayian Subramaniams speech Links: ------ [1] http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/food-sovereign… [2] http://viacampesina.org/en/images/stories/foodsov/9037336579_46090b0647_z.j… [3] http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/food-sovereign… [4] http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/food-sovereign… [5] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnuZRJVWGp4&feature=youtu.be

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16th of October: World Day of Action for Food Sovereignty - Watch our video : La Via Campesina in Movement
by La Vía Campesina 16 Oct '14

16 Oct '14

[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: ------ [1] http://vimeo.com/27473286 [2] http://vimeo.com/27474387 [3] http://vimeo.com/27473807

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NON AU TTIP, CETA et autres politiques commerciales destructives
by La Vía Campesina 13 Oct '14

13 Oct '14

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 ------------------------- [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: ------ [1] http://viacampesina.org/fr/index.php/actions-et-nements-mainmenu-26/non-aux… [2] http://viacampesina.org/fr/images/stories/nonomc/fta-rome.jpg [3] http://viacampesina.org/fr/index.php/actions-et-nements-mainmenu-26/non-aux… [4] http://viacampesina.org/fr/index.php/actions-et-nements-mainmenu-26/non-aux… [5] http://viacampesina.org/fr/index.php/actions-et-nements-mainmenu-26/non-aux… [6] http://viacampesina.org/fr/index.php/actions-et-nements-mainmenu-26/non-aux… [7] http://viacampesina.org/fr/index.php/actions-et-nements-mainmenu-26/non-aux… [8] http://viacampesina.org/fr/index.php/actions-et-nements-mainmenu-26/non-aux…

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STOP TTIP, CETA and other destructive trade policies
by La Vía Campesina 13 Oct '14

13 Oct '14

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 ------------------------- [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: ------ [1] http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/stop-fr… [2] http://viacampesina.org/en/images/stories/fta/fta-rome.jpg [3] http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/stop-fr… [4] http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/stop-fr… [5] http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/stop-fr… [6] http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/stop-fr… [7] http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/stop-fr… [8] http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/stop-fr…

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October 16th, World Day of Action For Food Sovereignty and against transnational corporations
by La Vía Campesina 09 Oct '14

09 Oct '14

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: ------ [1] http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/stop-tr… [2] http://viacampesina.org/en/images/stories/stoptnc/efsa/Llamado%2016%20de%20…

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Mozambican Peasants vs. the Great African Land Grab
by La Vía Campesina 08 Oct '14

08 Oct '14

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_594… [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-conf… [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_594…

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Newsletter La Via Campesina - September 2014
by La Vía Campesina 06 Oct '14

06 Oct '14

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2015

2014

Via-info-en October 2014