April 17 : More than 130 actions all around the world
by La Vía Campesina
Of the many actions organized worldwide by various organizations and
allies to mark the celebration of the International Day of Peasant
Struggles on the 17th of April, about 131 of them were captured and
recorded. The actions, to name a few, included demonstrations,
campaigns, debates and lectures, dramas, occupation of certain spaces,
planting and exchange of seeds. These actions were captured on a Map
(http://viacampesina.org/map/17april/map.html [1]) by the La Via
Campesina, in effort to build solidarity and to provide a wider platform
for others to join the peasant struggles. This bulletin captures some of
these actions.
GLOBAL PEASANT MOVEMENT EXEMPLIFIES POWER OF ORGANIZED HUMANITY
Commemorating the International Day of Peasant Struggle
Salena Tramel, journalist and international policy and development
consultant, wrote an article commemorating the International Day of
Peasant Struggles, the 17th of April, its conception and how Via
Campesina keeps the voices of the peasants alive and heard. The article
was published by Common Dreams. The article highlights how from the
beginning, control over seeds has been at the top of Via Campesina's
list of critical issues. Its relevance has heightened as transnational
corporations have tightened the grip on a world food system
characterized by the commodification of basic resources. At present,
just ten seed companies dominate 67 percent of the world's seeds - with
Monsanto and its patents controlling 23 percent of the global supply.
While some view peasant agriculture as a bygone livelihood, and powerful
political and economic interests are out to replace it, Via Campesina is
taking calculated measures to ensure that today's peasantry does not
slip quietly into the night.
Read more … [2]
Resistance Grows in Defense of Peasant Seeds
Press Release--la Vía Campesina
(16 April 2014) This year men and women farmers of the international
peasant movement, La Vía Campesina, mobilized worldwide in favor of
peasant seeds. Since April the 17th, 1996 La Vía Campesina designated
this day as a global day of action with allies and friends. With more
than 120 actions at a local and global level in all continents, La Via
Campesina reasserts the importance of local struggles and at the same
time underlines the need for global resistance and organization between
the cities and the rural areas. Actions such as land occupations,
agro-ecological festivities, debates and seed exchanges will be carried
out until the end of April as part of the global days of action. La Vía
Campesina denounces laws and interests that seek to prohibit the use,
exchange and access to peasant seeds, a common patrimony of the people
at the service of humanity, as well as food sovereignty as part of a
commitment to end hunger in the world.
Read more … [3]
OPEN LETTER: ARIPO’S DRAFT PROTOCOL FOR THE PROTECTION OF NEW VARIETIES
OF PLANTS (“DRAFT PROTOCOL”) UNDERMINES FARMERS’ RIGHTS, LACKS
CREDIBILITY & LEGITIMACY
(9th April 2014) Various organizations from Africa and around the world,
concerned with the conservation of agricultural biodiversity for
livelihood security and food sovereignty, promoting farmers' rights and
citizen involvement in the decision-making process, prepared and signed
an open letter to members of the international convention for the
protection of new varieties of plants (UPOV). The organizations
expressed serious concerns with the ARIPO Draft Protocol that has been
submitted by ARIPO (African Regional Intellectual Property Organization)
on 6 March 2014, for the consideration of the UPOV Council at its 31st
Session in Geneva on April 11, 2014. The Draft Protocol clearly lacks
credibility and legitimacy. The organizations strongly urge the member
states to reject the Draft Protocol and send it back to the drawing
board; demand that ARIPO consult with smallholder farmers and civil
society in all ARIPO member states; and, especially, that it discuss
appropriate and equitable PVP regime that reflects conditions and
realities prevailing in ARIPO countries, the obligation of protecting
biodiversity, that is incorporate farmers' interests and rights and that
is safeguard public interests and prevent biopiracy. Read the letter …
[4]
NFU PROPOSES NEW VISION FOR CANADIAN SEED OWNERSHIP
(January 20, 2014- Saskatoon, SK): Bill C-18, the Agricultural Growth
Act favours further consolidation of the seed industry into a few
corporate hands, which will end up costing farmers more for seeds of all
types. The National Farmers Union of Canada (NFU) has nevertheless put
forward Fundamental Principles for a Farmers' Act (_“_Click here to read
the Act [5]_”_ which recognizes the inherent rights of farmers to save,
reuse, select, exchange and sell seeds, while protecting public domains
related to plant seeds. The principles build on Canada's 2002 signing of
the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and
Agriculture, by which farmers would retain their "customary" use of
seed. NFU is therefore calling upon the Canadian elected officials to
act on these principles, which give a strong message about the kind of
Canada we want - a Canada that is sovereign in regard to seed and food,"
he concluded. Read more … [6]
CANADA: A SEED ACT FOR FARMERS, NOT CORPORATIONS
NFU sign on letter: Stop Bill C-18
(10 April 2014) Canada's government is preparing to pass a new law, Bill
C-18, the Agricultural Growth Act that would put Canadian farmers under
the UPOV '91 Plant Breeders' Rights regime. This new law would give
global seed corporations vast new power to control seed - and to profit
from it on the backs of farmers. The National Farmers Union is working
hard to stop this from happening and has called on their friends and
allies to join their voice to urge the Canadian government to respect
and protect the rights of farmers and demand to government to repeal the
Bill. Read more … [7]
THE NETHERLANDS (THE HAGUE) LAND CONCENTRATION, LAND GRABBING, AND
PEOPLE’S STRUGGLES IN EUROPE: INFOGRAPHIC
(April 17th,T he Hague) The Transnational Institute published, (for the
'Hands off The Land Alliance' and the European Coordination of La Via
Campesina), a series of studies on key land issues in Europe under the
title "Land Concentration, Land Grabbing, and People's Struggles in
Europe." This collection of case studies put to rest the idea that land
grabbing is a phenomenon restricted to the Global South and showed that
millions of European farmers are being squeezed off their land, which is
increasingly being captured for large-scale production or
non-agricultural uses. To commemorate the one year anniversary of the
book's publication and to continue to spread some of its key messages,
TNI is proud to release an infographic (Click here [8]) designed to
clearly illustrate central issues in an accessible form. Read more ….
[9]
PHILIPPINES (QUEZON) LIGHTING OF TORCHES OUTSIDE OF THE OFFICE OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRARIAN REFORM
(April 17th, Quezon) Three farmer organizations, members of
PARAGOS-PILIPINAS lit of torches in the 3 crosses erected near the
farmers' camp outside of the Office of the Department of Agrarian Reform
in Quezon City, Philippines to celebrate the International Day of
Farmers' Struggles in defense of Peasants' and Farmers' Seeds. These
farmer organizations continue to struggles for land to till and own.
Members of La Via Campesina, Regional Southeast Asia visited the camp
last October 2013 in solidarity with the farmers' struggles. The
camp-out of the farmers started last October, 2012 and is almost one
year and six months now, continues to press demands for land under the
agrarian reform program of the government and VOWS not to SURRENDER
until their demands are fulfilled. Click here to see the pictures [10]
FIAN INTERNATIONAL JOINS THIS YEAR'S GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION IN DEFENSE OF
THE STRUGGLES OF FARMERS AND PEASANTS
(April 17th, Heidelberg, Germany) In a context of increasing land
concentration, Agrarian Reform continues being one crucial measure to
address the unequal distribution of natural resources and the lack of
access to land and other natural resources for millions of peasants and
agricultural workers worldwide, FIAN International joined this year's
global day of action and mobilization in defense of the struggles of
farmers and peasants on April 17th. FIAN International, on this day,
emphasized the role of agrarian reform in this process. Access to land
is at the heart of agrarian reform, which is indispensible for landless
peasants and farm workers to ensure their human right to adequate food.
FIAN called upon the government of the Philippines to fully implement
the CARP/CARPER and fulfill the right to adequate food of the farmers of
Hacienda Luisita [11] and Hacienda Matias [12], as well as all the
affected landless peasants and farm workers in the Philippines whose
right to food and land is still being threatened. The campaign on the
case of Hacienda Luisita in the Philippines came to an end on April 17.
Read more … [13]
PAKISTAN (MULTAN) WALK ON PEASANTS' RIGHTS
On April 17th, Multan, to commemorate the international day of peasants'
struggle, The NGO called Human Rights Commission in Pakistan organized a
walk in defense of peasants' rights. Click here to see the pictures [14]
NEPAL (KATHMANDU) ANPFA PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE MARTYRS OF MST
(April 17th, Kathmandu) In Nepal, LVC member All Nepal Peasants'
Federation (ANPFa) organized an interaction program in Kathmandu to mark
the day of International Peasant Struggles. A minute of silence in
tribute and homage to the Martyrs was observed. Honorable CA member and
ICC member of LVC com. Shanta Manavi, General Secretary of ANPFa Prem
Dangal, Constituent Assembly members, Peasant leaders, and members of
the right to food and food sovereignty groups, and media person
including youth and women peasants attended the gathering. Besides
highlighting the history and importance of observing international day
of peasant struggle by Via Campesina members, the discussions also
focused on ways and mechanisms of professionalization of agriculture in
Nepal. Read more … [15]
BANGLADESH (DHAKA AND GAZIPUR) "RESISTANCE GROWS IN DEFENSE OF SEEDS"
(April 17th), The member organization of La Via Campesina, Bangladesh
Krishok Federation (BKF), Bangladesh Kishani Sabha(BKS) and Bangladesh
Adivasi Samity organized a discussion meeting in observance of
International Peasant Struggle Day focusing on this year's theme slogan
"Resistance grows in defense of seeds". The meeting called upon the
small scale peasants worldwide to build a strong resistance struggle in
order to protect, conserve and restore indigenous seeds and genetic
resources. The meeting focused on the TNCs' efforts to take over the
peasants' seeds, which have evolved over thousands of years. The meeting
also put emphasis on the strengthening of the Global Campaign on Food
Sovereignty. Read more … [16]
(April 17th, Gazipur) In memory of the massacre of 19 Brazilian landless
peasants, the Bangladesh Agricultural Farm Labour Federation (BAFLF) and
the Bangladesh Agricultural Farm Women Labour Association (BAFWLA)
jointly observed International Day of Farmers' Struggles declared by Via
Campesina on April the 17th. This year they arranged several actions
including a human chain, procession and rally demanding farmers' right
to seeds, to stop farming GMO seeds especially BT Brinjal, to strengthen
the Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation, Govt. seed agency
and to ensure food sovereignty rights of people through actual land and
agri-reform. Following the human chain, procession and rally the BAFLF
and the BAFWLA also organized discussions at the BRRI Auditorium in
Gazipur. Mr. Mahamudul Hasan Manik, vice president of BAFLF presided
over the meeting while Golam Sorowor conducted the same. Ms. Hazera
Sultana, Member of Parliament and also honorable adviser of Bangladesh
Agricultural Farm Women Labour Association, was present as the chief
guest at the discussion meeting. The discussants urged the authorities
to fulfill farmers' demands. They also added that BAFLWA and BAFLF
should continue the struggle against Multinational seed companies and
their local agents. Among others Nasrin Sultana, the Chairperson of
BAFWLA, Mamun Hossain, Assistant General Secretary of BAFLF and others
Farmer activists took part in the deliberation. Read more … [16]
UNITED KINGDOM (LONDON). THE LAND WORKERS’ ALLIANCE WANTS TO SEE
SMALL-SCALE PRODUCERS PUT AT THE HEART OF DECISION MAKING IN
AGRICULTURAL POLICY.
(April 17th, London) Hundreds of farmers and growers from the
Landworkers' Alliance travelled to London from around the country to
protest outside the head offices of DEFRA and the National Farmers
Union, in solidarity with the April 17th - The International Day of
Peasant Struggles. Under the leadership of Owen Patterson over the past
two years DEFRA has strengthened its support of large-scale industrial
agriculture and marginalized smaller producers, while the NFU has
consistently lobbied for the interests of agribusiness and ignored the
views of smaller farmers. The land workers' Alliance wants to see
small-scale producers put at the heart of decision making in
agricultural policy. "DEFRA needs to recognize the role of small-scale
producers in contributing to the national food economy, as well as the
environmental and social services provided by these producers," says Ed
Hamer from the LWA. "As a matter of urgency we demand that DEFRA create
policies conducive to a sustainable food future for all." Click here to
see pictures [17]
THE NETHERLANDS (AMSTERDAM) : SOLIDARITY ACTIONS: MORE MONEY FOR TOMATO
PICKERS AND ATTENTION FOR THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF GMOS IN AGRICULTURE
(April 17th, Amsterdam) In solidarity with Vía Campesina and the victims
of large agricultural corporations, ASEED was involved in two small
actions: On Tuesday April 15, ASEED handed out flyers at the symposium
on "Genetic Modification, Friend or Foe" in Amsterdam, organized as the
farewell event for the retiring Professor Rudy Rabbinge. The possible
health issues were discussed, but the negative effects on biodiversity
by the increase of monocultures, the growing power of multinational
corporations and other social aspects in the agrarian reality were not
in the agenda. But these are the aspects that farmers all over the world
have to deal with as soon as GMOs are introduced. On April 16th, the
Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) formed a picket line in front of
the building where Ahold owner Albert Heijn, a supermarket chain in the
US and Netherlands, held its annual shareholders' meeting. CIW has been
campaigning over 20 years for higher wages and better working conditions
for the tomato pickers and fights against sexual abuse and slavery.
Walmart, McDonalds and Burger King have signed a legally binding Fair
Food programme, but not yet Ahold. Thus, CIW protest aimed to highlight
the issue to the shareholders to act on such irresponsible behaviour.
ASEED distributed flyers with a text on "Genetic Modifications, Friend
or Foe" to passers-by. Read more … [18]
AFRICAN BIODIVERSITY NETWORK CELEBRATES THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF
FARMERS' STRUGGLES IN DEFENSE OF PEASANTS’ AND FARMERS’ SEEDS
The African Biodiversity Network (ABN) partners have contributed to the
edition of the network's newsletter, highlighting their work in and with
communities to revive indigenous seed varieties. You can download the
newsletter here [19], and read about the hidden agenda of the Crops Act
in Kenya, the new scramble for Africa (How TNCs attempt to control
biodiversity in Africa), and also read about Community seeds and
Knowledge, an experience in Northern Kenya with local communities to
revive their indigenous seeds, the knowledge of Tharaka culture to
protect indigenous livestock varieties, the work of the Institute for
Culture and Ecology in Kenya to revive lost seeds.
SYRIA (QAMISHLO, AL-HASAKA) DISTRIBUTING FLYERS ON ORGANIC FARMING AND
NATURAL SEEDS
On april 17, to celebrate the international day of peasant's struggle,
the UKSS (Union of Kurdish Students in Syria) distributed flyers on
organic farming and Natural seeds in the streets and shops of Qamishlo,
Al-Hasaka. They also produced some videos with interviews of farmers,
explaining how the use of chimicals has "dryied" their soils and
poisoned their food. The video is available here in english [20] and
arabi [21]c. Click here to see picture [22].
UNITED KINGDOM (LONDON) : FEEDING THE FUTURE
Press release of the Landworkers' Alliance
(April 17th, London) The Landworkers' Alliance (LWA) held a
demonstration outside the Head office of the Department for the
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), 17 Smith Square London, at
12.00pm. The demonstration was part of Via Campesina's international day
of peasant's struggle co-ordinated actions across more than seventy
countries. The LWA is a coalition of small-scale producer across the UK
whose interests are not currently acknowledged or represented by DEFRA.
Under the leadership of Owen Paterson over the past two years the
Department has strengthened its support of large-scale industrial
agriculture and further marginalized smaller producers in its efforts to
promote "Sustainable Intensification" as the only solution to feeding
the world. The LWA is an official member of the international peasant
farming movement La Via Campesina, and campaigns for the rights of
small-scale producers and lobbies the UK government and European
parliament for policies that support infrastructure and markets central
to our livelihoods. Read more … [23]and watch the pictures of the action
[24]
UNITED STATES (CHICAGO ) : FAMILY FARMERS AND ALLIES TO PROTEST DAIRY
PRICE FIXING AND GLOBAL CARBON TRADING
(April 9th, Chicago, Illinois) - To mark Via Campesina's International
Day of Peasant Struggle (17th April), family farmers and their allies
converged at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) - 141 W. Jackson - at
noon on Friday April 18, 2014 to expose the rampant price fixing by
commodity speculators that drives the ongoing global food and climate
crisis. Family Farm Defenders' annual protest at the CME demands greater
social responsibility and transparency from one of Chicago's most
lucrative and secretive corporations, which posts billions of dollars in
profits while rural workers and family farmers live in poverty. Dairy
farmers in particular call upon the Department of Justice (DoJ) to take
action against the food giants - including Dairy Farmers of America
(DFA) Land O'Lakes, and Dean Foods, which control close to half of all
milk production in the country. The CME defies anti-trust laws and s
silent on price fixing at the expense of working farmer families. Read
more … [25]
PALESTINE (BEIT AL-ROUSH AL-FOKA) UAWC JOINS THE WORLD IN THE DEFENSE OF
LOCAL SEEDS
(April 17th, Ramallah) On the Day of Peasants' Struggle (April 17th) the
Palestinian peasants representing Via Campesina Palestine raised their
voices to save the local seeds and abandon the genetically modified
seeds in a small village in the city of Hebron named Beit Al-Roush
Al-Foka in cooperation with the National Local Seed Bank initiated by
the Union of Agricultural work committees' (UAWC) which is the only seed
bank in Palestine. The struggle to save local seeds is an international
struggle supported by all the farmers in La Via Campesina in order to
save small-scaled farmers around the world and accomplish food
sovereignty. UAWC initiated the Palestinian Local Seeds Bank in 2010
after ten years of continuous work in the local seeds sector. It worked
on the multiplication and seed improvement of more than 36 varieties
including vegetable crops and local field crops since 2003. The local
seeds are preserved in a seed bank considered a patrimonial seed bank to
accomplish food sovereignty for the Palestinian farmers. UAWC also
enlarged the cultivation area for the local seeds and the distribution
centers, in addition to providing scientific information in partnership
with the National Center for Agriculture Research, ICARDA, and
Al-Aroub's Agricultural Center.
The struggle of Via Campesina Palestine against the GMO seeds comes from
its belief in the importance of contributing to the protection and
preservation of the hereditary seeds in Palestine in order to accomplish
food sovereignty for the Palestinian farmers and the farmers around the
world. Read more … [26]
AUSTRALIA (TOOWOMBA) FIELD VISIT TO SYMARA FARM
(Toowomba, April 17, 2014) The newly formed Family Farmers United
Network (FFUN) held a field day at Symara Farm, owned by Ray and Sam
Palmer. This was the network's first event, and was a great success.
After introductions, the group was led by Ray and Sam and taken on a
tour of their beautiful farm. From a greenhouse filled with healthy
tomato and cucumber plants, to fields of vegetables covered in cloth to
protect them from frosts, to free range chickens for eggs and meat - the
group listened intently to the information that Ray shared. The more
experienced farms offered suggestions and advice which was greatly
appreciated by the whole group. Read more ... [27]
VIDEOS, PHOTOS AND POSTERS:
SOME POSTERS MADE FOR APRIL 17 [28]
Photos of actions inBelgium,Croatia,France, United Kingdom [29]
Photos of the action in Australia. [30]
WATCH THE JAKARTA CALL. [31]
The International farmers' movement La Via Campesina launched a new
documentary on April 17 to celebrate the international day of peasant's
struggle. "The Jakarta Call" is a 38 minute film featuring the
exchanges, debates and reflections of the movement's VIth International
Conference that took place in Jakarta in June 2013. This new documentary
highlights the cultural diversity and the values of solidarity and unity
converging in this political project. It reflects the multitude of local
struggles for the defense of a food system by and for the people.
Links:
------
[1] http://viacampesina.org/map/17april/map.html
[2]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/17-ap...
[3]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/17-ap...
[4]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/biodiversity...
[5]
http://www.nfu.ca/sites/www.nfu.ca/files/Fundamental%20Principles%20of%20...
[6]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/biodiversity...
[7]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/biodiversity...
[8]
http://www.tni.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=4379&qi...
[9]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/17-ap...
[10]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/17-ap...
[11] http://www.fian.org/library/multimedia/hacienda-luisita-timeline/
[12] http://www.fian.org/library/multimedia/hacienda-matias-timeline/
[13]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/17-ap...
[14]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/17-ap...
[15]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/17-ap...
[16]
http://www.viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/1...
[17]
http://www.viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/1...
[18]
http://www.viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/1...
[19]
http://www.viacampesina.org/downloads/pdf/en/ABN%20-%20SEEDS%20NEWSLETTER...
[20] http://tv.viacampesina.org/Syrian-students-in-defense-of?lang=en
[21]
http://tv.viacampesina.org/%3F%3F%3F%3F%3F-%3F%3F%3F%3F%3F%3F%3F?lang=en
[22]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/17-ap...
[23]
http://www.viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/1...
[24]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/17-ap...
[25]
http://www.viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/1...
[26]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/17-ap...
[27]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/17-ap...
[28] http://tv.viacampesina.org/Some-posters-made-for-April-17?lang=en
[29] http://tv.viacampesina.org/April-17-Belgium-Croatia-France?lang=en
[30] http://tv.viacampesina.org/April-17-in-Australia-Queensland?lang=en
[31] http://tv.viacampesina.org/The-Jakarta-call?lang=en
10 years, 8 months
April 17, watch the Jakarta Call on Via Campesina TV
by La Vía Campesina
"The Jakarta call" [1]
On April 17, International Day of Peasant Struggle, watch and make
public the new documentary La Via Campesina : "THE JAKARTA CALL IS NOW
AVAILABLE ON VIA CAMPESINA TV". [1]
"The Jakarta Call" is a 38 minutes film featuring the exchanges, debates
and reflections of the movement's VIth International Conference that
took place in Jakarta in June 2013. This new documentary highlights the
cultural diversity and the values of solidarity and unity converging in
this political project. It reflects the multitude of local struggles for
the defence of a food system by and for the people
SYNOPSIS:
Vía Campesina, the international peasant movement that brings together
over 200 millions members through 164 organizations in 73 countries, is
celebrating in Jakarta, Indonesia, the first two decades of its
struggles. For 10 days, women and men organize, discuss, share, debate,
expound and propose…
How to transform the world? Propositions from peasant organisations from
all around the world burst forth: food sovereignty, agro-ecology, social
and climate justice, solidarity, seeds, water, struggles by women,
youth, indigenous and migrants, agrarian reform benefitting those who
work the land…
"People's mobilisation, confrontation with oppressors, active
resistance, internationalism and local engagement are all necessary
components for social change." Successfully listening to and
understanding each other when coming from different realities, cultures
and languages is already the first step towards changing the world. Over
the past 20 years, Vía Campesina has become one the world's biggest
social movement - a fertile ground to nurture struggles and solidarity.
A documentary by La Via Campesina, ZinTV and AlbaTV.
Links:
------
[1] http://tv.viacampesina.org/The-Jakarta-call?lang=fr
10 years, 8 months
“Sunflower Revolution” in Taiwan : STOP Police Brutality, NO to Free Trade Agreements NOW!
by La Vía Campesina
“SUNFLOWER REVOLUTION” IN TAIWAN : STOP POLICE BRUTALITY, NO TO FREE
TRADE AGREEMENTS NOW! [1]
APPEAL FOR INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY OF TAIWAN RURAL FRONT (TRF) AND
TAIWAN FARMERS UNION (TFU)
(March 25, 2014, Taiwan) Taiwan Rural Front (TRF) and Taiwan Farmers
Union (TFU), member of La Via Campesina in East and Southeast Asia,
launch an emergency appeal for international solidarity against current
administration's rush for cross-strait free trade agreement and
excessive use of police force.
Pressure on the Ma administration has been mounting since the ruling
Chinese Nationalist party (KMT) pushed to bypass full legislative review
of the controversial Cross Straits Service Trade agreement (CSSTA) on
March 17.
Enraged by the politicking of the ruling party, nearly three hundred
young Taiwanese stormed the legislature on March 18 and declared
indefinite occupation of its main chamber. The occupy movement quickly
gained momentum as over ten thousand Taiwanese flocked all sides of the
legislature building in support of students' cause. Represented by an
alliance consisted of students, lawyers and civil organizations, the
movement has since demanded that1) the CSSTA be retracted, 2) a formal
monitoring mechanism for all cross-strait agreements be established, and
3) negotiations of any sort between Taiwan and China be halted before
such monitoring mechanism exists.
However, president Ma rejected all three demands on March 23 and ordered
violent suppression of another group of protesters who had occupied the
cabinet since March 22. Serious clash between police and protesters
happened in the early hours of March 24. Launching 6 waves of attack in
5 hours, police first ordered journalists to leave and evicted those who
had refused to leave by force. And besides firing high-pressured water
cannon at peaceful protesters, riot police also swung batons at
protesters and used their PVC shields to hit sitting students on the
legs. Even members of the medical team were beaten up. Nearly two
hundred protesters, including students and several TRF members, suffered
injuries from violent beating, dragging and pushing. 61 people were
arrested for trespassing.
In light of the serious police crisis, Taiwan Peasants Union and Taiwan
Rural Front urgently seek international solidarity from all members of
Via Campesina, to join hands with us in rejecting free trade agreements
and condemning police brutality and repression of people's rights of
assembly and speech by government of Taiwan.
We insist that: FIRST, international human rights standards require that
in dispersing assemblies, police must avoid the use of force or, where
that is not practicable, must restrict any such force to the minimum
necessary. Any decision to disperse an assembly should therefore be
taken only as a last resort and in line with the principles of necessity
and proportionality. Police brutality against peaceful protestors shown
on March 24 apparently breached such international protocol.
SECOND, it has been proven that trade liberalization is the direct cause
of the widening gap between the rich and the poor in Taiwan. Ma
administration repeatedly claims that South Korean people welcomed and
have benefited from the Korea-U.S. FTA (KORUS FTA). But our sisters and
brothers from KWPA and KPL taught us otherwise: KORUS FTA does not
simply lower or eliminate tariffs; it is also an unfair trade pact with
toxic provisions. Free Trade Agreement is unfair trade, and joining
CSSTA will only push 99% of Taiwanese further into the neoliberal
international trade regime, which is a race to the bottom in prices,
wages, and environmental degradation. We demand that Taiwan government
to take immediately action to stop all free trade negotiations and
agreements that are harmful to farmers, consumers, and the environment!
For solidarity message please sent to: nikar2009(a)gmail.com your message
will translate and inspire our struggle in Taiwan.
Links:
------
[1]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/stop-...
10 years, 8 months
April 17: Resistance Grows in Defense of Peasant Seeds
by La Vía Campesina
APRIL 17: RESISTANCE GROWS IN DEFENSE OF PEASANT SEEDS [1]
PRESS RELEASE—LA VÍA CAMPESINA
[2](Harare, April 16, 2014) This year millions of men and women farmers
of the international peasant movement, La Vía Campesina, mobilize
worldwide in favor of pasant seeds. Since April 17, 1996 (1) la Vía
Campesina designated this day as a global day of action with allies and
firends.
With more than 100 actions at a local and global level (see map [3]) in
all continents, la Via Campesina reasserts the importance of local
struggles and at the same time underlines the need of a global
resistance and organization between the cities and the rural areas.
Actions such as land occupations, agroecological festivities, debates
and seed exchanges will be carried out until the end of the month as
part of these global days of action.
La Vía Campesina denounces laws and interests that seek to prohibit the
use, exchange and access to peasant seeds that we consider a heritage of
the people at the service of humanity, as well as food sovereignty as
part of a commitment to end hunger in the world.
Historically, men and women farmers, and indigenous peoples have
conserved and cared for seeds. La Vía Campesina says NO to all attempts
to criminalize and make illegal our practices for caring for, producing
and sharing seeds.
To defend our seeds means to defend the rights of men and women farmers.
Seeds in hands of peasant farmers guarantee a dignified and autonomous
future in agriculture.
In addition, on this 17 of April, la Vía Campesina will present its new
documentary, "the Jakarta call". This 38 minute video shows the
exchanges, debates and discussions carried out during la Vía Campesina's
6th international conference which took place in Indonesia in 2013. It
shows the cultural diversity, values, solidarity and unity that come
together in this political project in defense of a peasant food system
in which seeds play a central role in the struggle for food sovereignty
and in the construction of a more just society.
For more information please visit: www.viacampesina.org [4]
E-mail: viacampesina(a)viacampesina.org
FOR INTERVIEWS PLEASE CONTACT:
Guy Kastler (interviews in French) : + 33 6 03 94 57 21
Elizabeth Mopfu (interviews in English) + 263 772 443 716
Eberto Díaz (Interviews in Spanish) : + 57 31 03 01 75 34
Please also refer to our publication: Our Seeds, Our Future [5] and A
Publication on April 17 and the struggle for seeds [6]
(1) On April 17, 1996 in Brazil, military police forces assassinated 19
peasants in Eldorado dos Carajás (Pará). The farmers were members of the
Movement of Rural Landless Workers (MST). On that day, 1500 men and
women occupied and blocked the highway BR-150 in Eldorado dos Carajás
with the goal of putting pressure on the state and federal government to
carry out agrarian reform. Around 4PM 155 military police forces of the
state surrounded the MST demonstrators, throwing tear gas and they fired
guns at them. Therefore, in addition to the 19 massacred, three more
died later and 69 were injured. State authorities, police, the army and
landowners were responsible in the planning and execution of this
massacre.
Links:
------
[1]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/17-ap...
[2] http://viacampesina.org/en/images/stories/17april/INGLESscaled.jpg
[3] http://www.viacampesina.org/map/17april/map.html
[4] http://viacampesina.org/
[5] http://viacampesina.org/downloads/pdf/en/EN-notebook6.pdf
[6]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/biodiversity...
10 years, 8 months
Canada : A Seed Act for Farmers, Not Corporations
by La Vía Campesina
CANADA : A SEED ACT FOR FARMERS, NOT CORPORATIONS [1]
Dear Friends,
Canada's government is preparing to pass a new law, Bill C-18, the
_Agricultural Growth Act_, that would put Canadian farmers under the
UPOV '91 Plant Breeders' Rights regime. This new law would give global
seed corporations vast new power to control seed - and to profit from it
on the backs of farmers.
The National Farmers Union is working hard to stop this from happening.
You can more learn about this law and its inpacts in this article :NFU
Proposes New Vision for Canadian Seed Ownership [2]
You can help by SIGNING ON TO THE LETTER BELOW IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE
FARMERS OF CANADA.
To sign on, please send your organization's name, location and contact
information to Stephanie Wang, NFU International Program Committee
Coordinator at wang(a)nfu.ca
SOLIDARITY LETTER
We stand with Canadian farmers in opposing measures that threaten
farmers' long-standing rights over seeds. Like family farmers around the
world, Canadian farmers have a long tradition of selecting, saving and
reusing their own seed as well as exchanging seeds with other farmers
and buying from local seed growers. We believe that family farmers, not
private institutions and corporations, can best conserve and enhance the
genetic pool of plants, to feed people in an increasingly changing
climate and environment while ensuring a resilient agriculture through
cultivating seed diversity and adaptability.
We denounce the amendment of Canada's Plant Breeders' Rights Act (PBR)
to conform with the UPOV '91 Convention as proposed by the Growth
Agricultural Act (Bill C-18) as it will result in a further
privatization, uniformization and monopolization of seeds by PBR holder.
While the latter benefit from the new right to collect royalties at
various stages of the crop production, farmers will loose their
historical right to seeds autonomy.
Canada has no obligation under international trade agreements or
treaties to conform with UPOV'91.
We join our voice to the Canadian family farming movement and urge the
Canadian government to respect and protect the rights of farmers and
demand to:
*
STOP Bill C‐18 and REJECT UPOV'91.
*
Re‐establish and increase funding for public plant breeding institutions
and public researchers and resume public plant breeding to the variety
level.
*
Reorient Canada's agricultural laws towards the principles of Food
Sovereignty - healthy food, ecological sustainability and democratic
control.
*
Adopt a new Seed Law based on the NFU's Principles for a Farmers' Seed
Act.
SIGNATORIES
Border Agricultural Workers Project, US
Farmworkers Association of Florida, US
Union paysanne, Quebec, Canada
Links:
------
[1]
http://www.viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/biodiver...
[2]
http://www.viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/biodiver...
10 years, 9 months
[La Vía Campesina] Coming soon on your screen on April 17 : A new Via Campesina documentary: "The Jakarta Call"
by La Vía Campesina
COMING SOON ON YOUR SCREEN ON APRIL 17 : A NEW VIA CAMPESINA
DOCUMENTARY: "THE JAKARTA CALL"
The International farmers' movement La Via Campesina is launching a new
documentary on April 17 to celebrate the international day of peasant's
struggle. "The Jakarta Call" is a 38 minutes film featuring the
exchanges, debates and reflections of the movement's VIth International
Conference that took place in Jakarta in June 2013. This new documentary
highlights the cultural diversity and the values of solidarity and unity
converging in this political project. It reflects the multitude of local
struggles for the defence of a food system by and for the people.
WATCH THE TEASER ON VIA CAMPESINA TV [1]
SYNOPSIS:
Vía Campesina, the international peasant movement that brings together
over 200 millions members through 164 organizations in 73 countries, is
celebrating in Jakarta, Indonesia, the first two decades of its
struggles. For 10 days, women and men organize, discuss, share, debate,
expound and propose…
How to transform the world? Propositions from peasant organisations from
all around the world burst forth: food sovereignty, agro-ecology, social
and climate justice, solidarity, seeds, water, struggles by women,
youth, indigenous and migrants, agrarian reform benefitting those who
work the land…
"People's mobilisation, confrontation with oppressors, active
resistance, internationalism and local engagement are all necessary
components for social change." Successfully listening to and
understanding each other when coming from different realities, cultures
and languages is already the first step towards changing the world. Over
the past 20 years, Vía Campesina has become one the world's biggest
social movement - a fertile ground to nurture struggles and solidarity.
A documentary by La Via Campesina, ZinTV and AlbaTV.
More information on the VI international conference of La Via Campesina
: DOWNLOAD THE REPORT OF THE CONFERENCE. [2]
Links:
------
[1] http://tv.viacampesina.org/Teaser-The-Jakarta-Call?lang=es
[2] http://www.viacampesina.org/dl/click.php?id=56
10 years, 9 months
[La Vía Campesina] E-newsletter April 2014. Special issue Peasants'seeds in resistance
by La Vía Campesina
Peasant seed systems are the root of food sovereignty and
sustainability
"_Hunger is a social problem … to resolve … we must start by choosing
peasant seeds as the basis for food sovereignty_." Paul Nicholson, a
farmer from Basque Country.
The majority of peasants and smallholder farmers subsist on peasant seed
systems, and farm-saved seeds. These systems mostly in developing
countries, despite being resilient, are facing new and renewed onslaught
from the transnational agribusinesses working together with the
so-called developed nations through bilateral agreements and
multilaterally in the World Trade Organisation (WTO). In Africa,
legislation is being drafted to pave way for increased use of industrial
seeds, while the "second tidal wave of Green Revolution" sweeps over the
continent driven by the winds of "addressing hunger through improved
agricultural productivity". In Latin America, countries such as
Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil etc,
peasants and farmers' struggles against GMOs continue and major
encouraging victories have been won. The seed laws being drafted
globally are based on the UPOV91 Convention, a legal framework of
property rights which includes "protection" of genetic material,
certification and trade which excludes non-commercial seeds. The Free
Trade Agreements (FTAs) which have been displacing millions of
small-scale farmers are being used to open borders to industrial seeds.
Moreover, some national governments have set up discriminatory
agricultural support systems which exclude farmers who do not use
certain industrial seeds to qualify for government credit and support
programs. This is despite the evidence that the monoculture and
industrial farming methods are not providing sufficient affordable food
and cause mounting environmental damage. If we lose the fight, not only
nature will suffer grave consequences but humanity!
Below are summaries of selected articles and videos published between
2012 and 2014 to further provide compelling evidence of why we should be
defending and struggling for the use and protection of traditional
seeds, and continue to fight against transnational corporations (TNCs).
SELECTED ARTICLES
ON APRIL 17 WE DEFEND OUR SEEDS AND FIGHT AGAINST THE SEED INDUSTRY
This year the 17th of April, international day of peasant struggles, is
dedicated to the defense of seeds. This article explains why seeds are
an essential basis for achieving food sovereignty because almost
everything in agriculture depends on them: What we can plant and how it
is grown; the quality and nutrition of our food, our ability to account
for different tastes and cultural preferences; and also the wellbeing of
our communities, our ecosystems and the planet. Moreover, it explains
why this is not so much the defense of seeds in general but the _peasant
seeds_ in particular, which remain in the hands of the peasant and
family farmers of the world. Examples of how to defend and struggle for
seeds among the organizations in the 73 countries that make up La Vía
Campesina, are highlighted. READ MORE and Globalize struggle! Globalize
hope!
NO AGRO-BIODIVERSITY WITHOUT PEASANTS, SAY GRAIN
The world is witnessing an explosion of popular initiatives and
experiences to use, save and develop agro-biodiversity. At GRAIN we also
see this happening. Seed saving projects, seed festivals, community seed
initiatives and exchange networks are mushrooming everywhere. This is
both extremely encouraging and dearly needed. We can't count on
governments to help us with the tremendous task of keeping biodiversity
alive. They tend to move in the opposite direction as they facilitate
the corporate takeover of seed and animal breeding, and promote
industrial farming. We can only save agro-biodiversity if we save
peasant farming. Global farmer movements such as La Via Campesina are
trying to do precisely that by advocating food sovereignty. Food
sovereignty promotes the use of agro-ecology, biodiversity, local
markets and indigenous knowledge. It pushes for agrarian reform, fights
against the industrial food system and global trade and puts local food
producers centre stage again. Unless we all join and win the battle
against the industrial food system and for food sovereignty, local
agro-biodiversity initiatives won't stand a chance of surviving. At
most, they will become isolated pockets of interesting experiments in a
world of uniformity, controlled by corporations. READ MORE … [1]
SEED LAWS IN LATIN AMERICA: THE OFFENSIVE CONTINUES, SO DOES POPULAR
RESISTANCE
GRAIN reports that as the world's agribusiness corporations pursue their
attempts to privatize and monopolize our seeds, and make traditional
age-old practice of saving and breeding seeds a crime, popular
resistance by peasants, farmers and social movements to such control has
increased. This resistance has borne fruit in nearly every country in
Latin America where campaigns and struggles for traditional seeds have
been prevalent:
*
In Argentina, the draft of the Seeds Act being discussed in secret never
emerged from the Ministry of Agriculture to be tabled in Parliament.
*
In Chile, societal mobilization helped secure a majority of senators to
vote against the "Monsanto Bill."
*
In Colombia, peasant mobilization put a temporary stop to Resolution
9.70.
*
In Venezuela, there are firm commitments to keep the principles upheld
by Hugo Chávez from being betrayed.
*
And in Mexico, societal campaigning prevented the Federal Plant
Varieties Act from being revised for compliance with UPOV 91. READ MORE…
[2]
Karnataka farmer develops non-Bt cotton seed bank
Jayashree Nandi of The Times of India, New Delhi published an article on
a peasant farmer, Nagappa, who after three years of relentless efforts,
managed to revive 13 varieties of indigenous cotton and 11 other
varieties of non-Bt cotton on his farm. Nagappa, used to grow Bt cotton,
a genetically modified variety developed by an American company, was
finding it difficult to grow this variety as it did not allow
mixed-cropping and in times low rainfall, the yields were low. This
compelled him to search for native varieties from different states and
through careful selection has developed new varieties. He is developing
a seed bank of these indigenous varieties which are difficult to find
even at research institutions.
His efforts have been applauded by others and are seen as a step towards
reviving biodiversity and liberating farmers from the monopoly of seed
companies, and require government support. READ MORE [3]...
NGOS PETITION AGAINST PLANT BREEDERS BILL IN GHANA
Thirty seven international non-governmental organizations petitioned the
Ghanaian Parliament over the Plant Breeders Bill, which is heavily
tilted in favor of commercial breeders and undermines farmers' rights.
The Bill does not allow farmers to sell and exchange seeds. Farmers' use
of farm saved seed on its own holdings is limited to "personal use" and
regulations by the Minister and may be subject to payment of royalties.
These organizations which signed the petition are concerned with the
conservation of agricultural biodiversity for livelihood security and
food sovereignty, promoting farmers' rights and self-determination and
citizen involvement in the decision-making process. READ MORE [4] On
this article by Ghana News Agency
FARMERS MOBILIZE IN BRUSSELS: “RECLAIMING PEASANTS' RIGHTS OVER OUR OWN
SEEDS”
PRESS RELEASE - EUROPEAN COORDINATION VIA CAMPESINA
(Brussels, 20 January 2014) At the start of the year devoted to family
farming by the UN to feed the world, peasants from all over Europe held
a demonstration in front of the European Parliament on Monday January 20
2014. They called for reclaiming recognition of peasants' rights to
select, preserve, use, exchange and sell our own seeds. They also
declared that they seeds are essential if peasants are to feed the
world, and could overcome the challenge of discontinuing the use of
toxic pesticides, protection of the environment and the struggle of
adapting to climate change. Only peasant family farming helps to cool
the planet. GMOs must be banned. Co-existence alongside them is not a
viable option. Intellectual property rights on living organisms, which
allow industry to lay claim to all the world's seeds, must also be
stopped. We call on the European institutions to enshrine these
peasants' rights in all regulations. READ MORE … [5]
THE GLOBAL STRUGGLE FOR PEASANTS SEEDS: A STRUGGLE FOR OUR FUTURE
In November 2013, La Via Campesina' launched its publication _"Our
Seeds, Our Future"_ capturing ten experiences of peasant seed selection,
saving, improvement, and re-use. These experiences in recovering and
reproducing knowledge to improve peasant agricultural food production
mirror what obtains in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. This marks
a critical moment for the future of the planet's seed diversity. While
industry pursues legal and institutional battles to further control and
monopolize global seed supplies, the evidence is growing in support of
diversified peasant seeds and agroecology as fundamental to producing
healthy food while mitigating environmental and climate impacts.
This publication is instructive and each experience proves that farmers
are not only safeguarding traditional knowledge, but are also birth new
knowledge and new techniques for improving seeds and sustainable
agricultural methods. Farmers are thus originators, the scientists, who
study problems and challenges obtaining in their localities and finding
crucial solutions and answers to address them. They have done this over
centuries, before the conception of capitalism, and will continue to do
so, avoiding dependence on purchased industrial seeds and other
agro-inputs. READ THE NEW PUBLICATION OUR SEEDS OUR FUTURE [6]
Defending peasant seeds is fighting for our right to life
LA VIA CAMPESIAN- AFRICAN DECLARATION ON PEASANT SEEDS
La Via Campesina together with African men and women farmers issued a
declaration on Peasant Seeds. The declaration was issued on the 13th of
November 2013, in Harare where members of La Via Campesina had gathered
to discuss and prepare strategies to defend African peasant seeds
against the current corporate and institutional attacks. The attacks
through reforming of seed laws by SADC, COMESA and ARIPO in line with
UPOV91 convention which seeks to set the stage for privatization and
monopolization of seeds in the continent. Moreover, these laws seek to
do away with peasant seed systems, and criminalise any exchange of farm
saved seeds. The declaration calls upon the policymakers to uphold the
seed rights of peasant and small farmers to sow, conserve, sell and
exchange seeds. It rejects, among other things, the green revolution
technologies and calls for the ban of GMOs. CLICK HERE [7]to read the
declaration and for more of the issues discussed in the meeting CLICK
HERE [8]to read more
THE INTERNATIONAL SEED TREATY: A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF FARMERS'
RIGHTS
PRESS RELEASE OF LA VIA CAMPESINA
Last year (2013) on the 28th of September, the Governing Body of the
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and
Agriculture, also known as the seed treaty, adopted a resolution calling
on states to implement and support Farmers' Rights, i.e. the rights of
peasants and farmers over their own seeds. This followed the concerted
pressure of regional groups from Latin America and the Caribbean, and
Africa and the Middle East, along with many Asian and European
countries, and in spite of opposition from a handful of industrialized
nations. The resolution acknowledges the important role played by
farmers in the conservation and development of seeds, and welcomes the
participation of farmers' organizations and civil society in its work.
The Governing Body also notes that patents and plant variety protection
(PVP) can "interact" with Farmers' Rights, implicitly acknowledging that
they are currently opposed to them in many countries.
La Via Campesina welcomed this development and will be vigilant that
this new resolution will be upheld. READ MORE ON THE TREATY [9] and for
the press release of La Via Campesina issued before this crucial
resolution CLICK HERE [10]
The European Commission organizes the pollution of our fields by
industrial patented seeds
PRESS RELEASE OF THE EUROPEAN COORDINATION VIA CAMPESINA (ECVC)
(Brussels, Tuesday, May 7) The European Commission adopted a proposal on
Seed Regulations in early May. The proposal represented an assault on
farmers' and gardeners' rights, as it opened wide the door to
unrestricted commercialization of patented plants, extolling patents and
property rights of the agribusiness industry and reinforced the
bureaucratic control over such issues.
This goes against the reasons put
forward by the Commission to reform the existing legislation, namely a
need for administrative simplification and protection of biodiversity.
The European Coordination Via Campesina called on the European
Parliament and the European Council to amend this proposal, and to
endorse the right of farmers to produce and exchange their seeds as
opposed to endorsing patented seeds and ownership of living organisms by
industry. READ MORE ON THIS PRESS RELEASE [11]
GMOS IN MEXICO: A CRIME AGAINST PEASANT AND INDIGENOUS MAIZE; A CRIME
AGAINST HUMANITY
LA VIA CAMPESINA- PRESS RELEASE
In Mexico City, November 20, 2012, the multinationals Monsanto, DuPont
and Dow are expecting a positive response from the Mexican Government to
sow 2.4 million hectares of GM maize in Mexico, a surface area
equivalent to that of El Salvador. The situation is extremely alarming
since Mexico is the world's centre of maize diversity, with thousands of
varieties (each one the product of different climates, soils, ecosystems
and cultures) in the fields of peasant and indigenous communities. Maize
is currently one of the world's three main food staples, so the
contamination of Mexican maize by dangerous GMOs is a threat to the
entire planet. These hybrid varieties are dependent on pesticides and
other inputs, which peasants must purchase. For years, the Mexican
Government has been jeopardizing the Mexicans' food sovereignty by
opening agriculture to free trade, flooding us with cheap, low quality
maize and leaving thousands of peasants in poverty. Now they want to
poison us with GM maize.
La Via Campesina organizations united with Mexican civil society and men
and women peasants to oppose Monsanto's demands and it called upon its
members to organize a major actions and campaigns including filing
complaints at Monsanto, DuPont and Dow and with the governments that
support them; filing complaints with bodies such as the FAO and the
United Nations Convention on Biodiversity (CBD); pressuring Mexican
embassies throughout the world; organizing demonstrations and other
actions; disseminating the information through all possible media. The
people and peasant communities of Mexico resist the multinationals.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE. [12] The National Union of Autonomous Regional
Peasant Organizations (UNORCA) published a Maize Manifesto in which they
appealed to the Mexican against issuing of commercial permits to grow
GMO maize. CLICK HERE TO READ THE MAIZE MANIFESTO [13]
VIDEOS
Last January 20, in Brussels, peasants from all over Europe, members of
the European Coordination Via Campesina (ECVC) protested outside the
European Parliament to demand recognition of their rights to select,
retain, use, exchange and sell their seeds. Plant local seeds, Harvest
global future [14] is the video of the mobilization
Interview with José-Manuel Benitez [15] : this interview was realized on
January 20, 2014, during the mobilization of the farmers of the European
Coordination Via Campesina in front of the European Parliament.
Resistant seeds [16]: A trip between Europe and Africa through
agro-ecological practices of resistance, in disobedience to the laws
that through patent rights prohibit storage, exchange and reuse of
traditional seeds. This video was produced by Crovecia
The film entitled "10 Years of Failure, Farmers Deceived by GM corn"
[17] shows the dire situation of corn farmers in the Philippines who
have adopted GM corn.
Argentina : the bad seeds. [18] On the consequences on public health of
the soy production in Argentina.
The World According to Monsanto [19]is a 2008 documentary film directed
by Marie-Monique Robin. Originally released in French as Le monde selon
Monsanto, the film is based on Robin's three-year long investigation
into the US agricultural giant Monsanto corporation's practices around
the world.
Of Peoples, seeds, Indigeneous breeds, forests and fields [20] :
Journeys of adivasis, dalits, pastoralists, small and marginal farmers
across 11 districts in Andhra Pradesh, India, towards Food Sovereignty
and Manchi Jeevitham as a way of life.
Links:
------
[1]
http://www.grain.org/article/entries/4911-no-agrobiodiversity-without-pea...
[2]
http://www.grain.org/article/entries/4808-seed-laws-in-latin-america-the-...
[3]
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Karnataka-farmer-develops-non-Bt...
[4] http://www.spyghana.com/ngos-petition-plant-breeders-bill/
[5]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/biodiversity...
[6] http://viacampesina.org/downloads/pdf/en/EN-notebook6.pdf
[7]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/biodiversity...
[8]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/biodiversity...
[9]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/biodiversity...
[10]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/biodiversity...
[11]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/biodiversity...
[12]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/biodiversity...
[13]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/biodiversity...
[14] http://tv.viacampesina.org/Plant-local-seeds-harvest-global?lang=en
[15]
http://tv.viacampesina.org/Peasants-seeds-interview-with-Jose?lang=en
[16] http://tv.viacampesina.org/Resistant-seeds?lang=en
[17] http://tv.viacampesina.org/10-Years-of-Failure-Farmers?lang=en
[18] http://tv.viacampesina.org/Argentina-the-bad-seeds?lang=en
[19] http://tv.viacampesina.org/The-World-According-to-Monsanto?lang=en
[20]
http://tv.viacampesina.org/Of-peoples-seeds-indigenous-breeds?lang=en
10 years, 9 months
[La Vía Campesina] La Via Campesina Call in Solidarity with the Bolivarian Revolution and the Venezuelan Peasant Movement
by La Vía Campesina
CALL TO ACTION IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE BOLIVARIAN REVOLUTION AND THE
VENEZUELAN PEASANT MOVEMENT [1]
(Managua, the 29th of March, 2014) We, Vía Campesina Internacional, the
international peasant movement that brings together over 200 million
families in 77 countries, express our solidarity with the Venezuelan
people, their peasant movement Bolivarian Revolution - currently the
victim of an imperialist crusade that, together with reactionary
right-wing forces, conspires within Venezuela and abroad in an attempt
to retake the power they lost legitimately, democratically, and
repeatedly at the ballot box. Those of us who struggle for social
justice, land reform, and food sovereignty consider the Bolivarian
Revolution a reference for social transformation and inclusion. As
women, youth, rural workers, fisherfolk, indigenous peoples, and
migrants, we reject all media-backed attempts at coup d' états that look
to place into the collective imagination a set of demonstrators that are
frustrated with the consequences of an economic war being imposed on
Venezuela by powerful oligarchical, fascist, and imperialist sectors,
all aimed at destabilizing the government of President Nicolás Maduro.
Since the physical loss of President Hugo Chavez, leader in the Latin
American integration process, the North American empire and its allies
in the region have underestimated the courageous Venezuelan people. The
imperialists wrongly think that by using physical, economic and media
violence they can took back the clock and once again dominate a region
that now has important spaces of integration, such as ALBA, UNASUR and
CELEC, among others. It is no coincidence that the attempted
destabilization is taking place only a few days after the successful
conclusion of the CELAC summit in Havana, and one year before the
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela takes on the presidency of the Moviment
of Non-Aligned Countries. It is in this context that the Via Campesina
International, with hundreds of thousands of women and men organized in
the Latin American Coordination of Rural Organizations (CLOC), we will
continue to mobilize ourselves in defense of the processes of
transformation and struggle that Latin American peoples are building.
We are conscious of the fact that powerful transnational interests are
looking to revert the advances that have been achieved by the Bolivarian
Revolution and its peasant movement--including an agrarian reform that
has permitted the democratization of land access for thousands of
peasant and indigenous families, and that at the same time has resulted
in important increases in national food production, the cultural
recuperation and promotion of traditional agroecological practices,
access to credit, marketing, among others--we reaffirm our commitment to
the Ezequiel Zamora National Peasant Front (FNCEZ) and the Ezequiel
Zamora National Agrarian Coordination (CANEZ), member organizations of
the Via Campesina Internation in the sister republic. These
organizations' struggle for land, food production by and for the
Venezuelan people, and the consolidation of peoples' power in the
countryside is also our struggle.
Finally, we manifest our unconditional commitment to and solidarity with
the peoples' cause and the Bolivarian Revolution, sure that the efforts
of the corporate-owned media--to manipulate public opinion and minimize
the advances of the organized people of Venezuela--will not succeed. We
will continue united and on our feet in struggle with our sister people
and her struggle to defend her social achievements.
International Coordinating Commission (ICC) of the Via Campesina
International, gathered in Managua, the 29th of March, 2014.
Links:
------
[1]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/36-news-from-the-regions/1579-call-t...
10 years, 9 months
[La Vía Campesina] 17th of APRIL: Call to mobilization / European Coordination Via Campesina
by La Vía Campesina
17TH OF APRIL 2014
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FARMERS' STRUGGLES IN DEFENCE OF PEASANTS' AND
FARMERS' SEEDS To strengthen the call made by La Via Campesina [5]
worldwide, the European Coordination Via Campesina would like to
strongly encourage people to organise activities throughout Europe on
the theme of seeds on 17TH OF APRIL 2014, TO MARK THE INTERNATIONAL DAY
OF FARMERS' STRUGGLES.
This theme is particularly important [1] since on the 11th of March the
European Parliament rejected the European Commissions' regulation
proposal for the marketing of seeds (PRM), published in May 2013. This
vote has taken place in the context of a Europe dominated by trade
negotiations with the USA, known as TAFTA, and the European Parliament
election campaign until May 2014 (more information HERE [6]).
BUT THE FIGHT IS FAR FROM OVER!
Last month's mobilisation was just a warm up:
we have not won the battle yet,
as the same issues will arise again in the near future.
Whichever direction the European institutions take (continuing with the
current proposal, reconsidering the text or to shifting it to TAFTA
negotiations), seed regulation will be revised over the coming months.
This means we must fight another battle for seed regulation guaranteeing
the fundamental rights of farmers over their seeds, and we cannot afford
to loose.
These actions will follow on from the action that took place in
Brussels 20th of January, in defence of farmers' seeds_ in your own
country_ and in preparation for the next stage of mobilisation. YOU CAN
WATCH HERE THE VIDEO FROM THIS MOBILISATION [7].
On the 17th of April, mobilise!
Plant local seeds, Harvest global future!
HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE TO THE INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT?
* TELL US ABOUT your mobilisation, no matter what your focus is, and
send us your videos, pictures and other actions at:
lvcweb(a)viacampesina.org [1]
> Please put your country in brackets [ COUNTRY ] at the beginning of the e-mail subject.
> Please feel free to pass on the MAP of all activities reported in the world to be published on viacampesina.org [1]
* SPREAD the ECVC [7]VIDEO call for mobilisation in defence of peasant
seeds.
* AT THE EUROPEAN LEVEL, we propose a JOINT ACTION: a short video with
brief statements from each ECVC member organization.
> This video will be published on the ECVC website and will be published on the ECVC website [2] and on Via Campesina TV [3] and will express our collective vision as European peasants and farmers committed to food sovereignty.
> You can find the guidelines for participating in this small but exciting project, HERE [4].
* Subscribe to our special mailing list by sending a blank email
to:via.17april-subscribe@viacampesina.net
[1] According to the FAO (the United Nations organization for Food and
Agriculture) crop biodiversity has declined by 75% since the start of
the century. The seed industry has made farmers dependent: their crops
can be contaminates by patented genes and the industry is trying to
prevent them replanting their crops from a year to another, unless they
pay royalties and exchange seeds. However, today, only peasant seeds
allow farmers to adapt to climate change and provide healthy and
nutritious food for the entire European population. For these reasons,
La Via Campesina launched a major international campaign for the
recovery of seeds by farmers (see HERE [8] for more info).
Links:
------
[1] http://viacampesina.org
[2] http://www.eurovia.org
[3] http://tv.viacampesina.org/?lang=en
[4] http://www.eurovia.org/spip.php?article978&lang=en
[5]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/17-ap...
[6] http://www.eurovia.org/spip.php?article825&lang=en
[7] http://tv.viacampesina.org/Plant-local-seeds-harvest-global?lang=en
[8] http://viacampesina.org/downloads/pdf/en/EN-notebook6.pdf
10 years, 9 months
