Mali: "Agroecology is in our hands! We are building it further together!" - Opening of the International Agroecology Forum
by La Vía Campesina
MALI: ‘’AGROECOLOGY IS IN OUR HANDS! WE ARE BUILDING IT FURTHER
TOGETHER!” - OPENING OF THE INTERNATIONAL AGROECOLOGY FORUM [1]
Published on Wednesday, 25 February 2015 06:24
[2]Sélingué, 24 February 2015 - Today, the sun has risen brighter then
ever in Mali to warm the more than 250 delegates of the first
International Forum on Agroecology hosted by Confederation of Peasants
Organizations [3]of Mali (CNOP) and La Via Campesina [4], at the Nyéléni
Center in Sélingué, south Mali. They are women and men, from diverse
constituencies, among them farmers, fisherfolks, indigenous people,
pastoralists and urban _consumers_ from all corners of the world,
arrived to the center in buses from Bamako and other regions of Mali.
"I decided to come here because we are building a necessary movement,
that will claim back what was always ours: our peasant knowledge of
doing agriculture ", said a woman farmer from Mali, as she was running
to attend the women caucus, this afternoon.
Over the next four days, the women and men of the conference will
debate, share experiences and celebrate agroecology with the view to
reinforcing a common vision and principles, as well as deciding on a
common strategy to claim back the concept of agroecology, "beyond just
the scientific aspect, to encompass its social, economic and political
elements", as Gilberto Schneider, from the Movimento dos Pequenos
Agricultores [3] (MPA) in Brazil, pointed out.
The Forum opened with a warm welcome to the participants by Ibrahima
Coulibaly, the president of the CNOP, who explained the reason why such
a forum was taking place now. According to Coulibaly, in spite of
agroecology now being mentioned everywhere, it is necessary to question
who really are at the center of agroecology. "We are talking about small
scale food producers, peasants, fisherfolk, pastoralists, we are who
feed the world population. It is we who are the real heroes of the
agroecology. It is we that should have a voice", he said.
Maria Noel, from Movimiento Agroecológico de America Latina y el Caribe
[5] (MAELA) in Uruguay, said that agroecology has been practiced for
centuries and it represents more than just a system of production. She
explained that it was a way of being, a way of life, which respects the
environment and provides a livelihood and income to the majority of food
producers and fisherfolk on the planet. "We have to make sure that this
concept is not captured by corporates", she said.
In fact, the industrial agriculture system based on heavy use of harsh
chemicals, which destroys both soils and forests, depletes resources,
and affects the health and wellbeing of both small holders and
consumers, is being systematically favoured by governments, which serve
the interests of multinationals and enact free trade policies dictated
by international financial institutions such as the World Bank and the
IMF. As Ibrahima Coulibaly stated: ''Humanity went too far, when we
thought that we should put the economy before all. This has weakened the
world, made it more vulnerable and resulted in climatic change: extreme
weather, droughts, and severe water shortages", he said.
Participants of the first Agroecology forum have a common understanding
that the only way to save the planet for future generations is to
practice a virtuous agriculture. Thus, people must stand together as
one, and this is possible because "we are the majority. If we say no to
industrial agriculture, it will be no!", stressed Coulibaly.
Andrea Ferrante from the Italian Association of Biological Farmers [6]
(AIAB) and La Via Campesina reiterated: "we are the answer. The answer
to feed the world lies with agroecology. We want a model that is based
on our knowledge, our way of living, not on petrol and fake answers from
the industrial world. We look at the future of our children".
The link between rural and urban actors has also being highlighted
through a need to connect responsible consumption and production, in
strong local and regional food systems based on agroecology.
It is not possible to have food sovereignty, the respect of peoples
right to culturally appropriate and healthy food, without agroecology,''
said Ferrante.
_By Communication team of the International Forum On Agroecology_
See also: Mali: La Via Campesina and allies host an International
Agroecology Forum to address Food Sovereignty [7]
TO INTERVIEW REPRESENTATIVES OF THE DIVERSE CONSTITUENCIES AT THE FORUM
PLEASE CONTAC
Boaventura Monjane: +223 92 71 90 14 (Local mobile phone) or
boa.monjane(a)gmail.com | boa.monjane(a)viacampesina.org
Links:
------
[1]
http://www.viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/sustaina...
[2] http://www.viacampesina.org/en/images/mali-agroecology.jpg
[3] http://www.mpabrasil.org.br/
[4] http://viacampesina.org
[5] http://maela-agroecologia.org/
[6] http://www.aiab.it/
[7]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/sustainable-...
9 years, 10 months
Fwd: Re: Mali: La Via Campesina and allies host an International Agroecology Forum to address Food Sovereignty
by La Vía Campesina
FYI
-------- Original Message --------
SUBJECT:
Re: [Info EN] Mali: La Via Campesina and allies host an International
Agroecology Forum to address Food Sovereignty
DATE:
2015-02-19 19:52
FROM:
Cieas Organization <cieas2009(a)yahoo.com>
TO:
"viacampesina(a)viacampesina.org" <viacampesina(a)viacampesina.org>
Dear Viacampesina
I hope This Will Find you Well Thank You for the infomation of Bamako
It was a very interesting Especial this focus to famers We have
interest to participate
To mali plaese can we participate All thore we Request Resoucies to
suport us
Thank you very much we look Foward To Hear from you
With ReGards
Solomon B Hlophe
Esaff Swaziland/ Cieas
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android [1]
-------------------------
FROM: La Vía Campesina <via-info-en(a)viacampesina.org>;
TO: via info en <via-info-en(a)viacampesina.org>;
SUBJECT: [Info EN] Mali: La Via Campesina and allies host an
International Agroecology Forum to address Food Sovereignty
SENT: Thu, Feb 19, 2015 4:09:35 PM
MALI: LA VIA CAMPESINA AND ALLIES HOST AN INTERNATIONAL AGROECOLOGY
FORUM TO ADDRESS FOOD SOVEREIGNTY [2]
Published on Thursday, 19 February 2015 22:18
MEDIA ADVISORY |LA VIA CAMPESINA
[3](Bamako, 19 February 2015) - More than 200 delegates, among them
peasants, family farmers, fisher folk, pastoralists, indigenous peoples,
agricultural workers, consumers, urban poor organizations, NGOs,
academics and other social movements will be at the Nyéléni Centre in
Mali from 24 to 27 February, to take part in the first International
Forum on Agroecology. This forum takes places at a time where the world
is facing economic crisis, the climate is changing, and the Mother Earth
is being aggressively exploited by the corporate model of death and land
grabbing.
According to La Via Campesina [4], agroecology is essential to humanity,
since it builds autonomy and a better life for small scale food
producers, produces more healthy food, provides a strong base for food
sovereignty, and allows rural peoples to live in harmony with and take
care of our Mother Earth. Peasant and small scale food producers'
agroecology is considered to be the model of life, of farms with
farmers, of food producers with productive resources, of rural
communities with families, of countryside with trees and forests.
According to Ibrahim Coulibaly, a leader of the National Coordination of
Peasants Organizations [5] (CNOP) in Mali, "this forum will bring
practical responses, that will lead to concrete solutions on how
agroecology can save the planet from hunger and climate change".
Together with La Via Campesina, organizations such as More and Better
(MaB), Movimiento Agroecológico de América Latina y el Caribe (MAELA),
Réseau des organisations paysannes et de producteurs de l'Afrique de
l'Ouest (ROPPA), World Forum of Fish Harvesters and Fishworkers (WFF),
World Forum of Fisher Peoples (WFFP) and World Alliance of Mobile
Indigenous Peoples (WAMIP) are co-organizers of the forum.
The Mali forum aims at exchanging local knowledge and know-how of
farmers, sharing the innovations of peasants and small scale food
producers, training materials and territorial processes to address the
challenges of building an ecologically and socially just
food system,
as well as strengthening the synergies between the different small scale
food producer organizations, social movements and other organizations
promoting Agroecology.
CONTACTS FOR MEDIA
Boaventura Monjane - boa.monjane(a)viacampesina.org
Lamine Coulibaly laminezie(a)gmail.com - mob +22376170979
Links:
------
[1] http://overview.mail.yahoo.com/mobile/?.src=Android
[2]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/sustainable-...
[3] http://viacampesina.org/en/images/stories/nyeleni/nyeleni.jpg
[4] http://viacampesina.org/en/
[5] http://www.cnop-mali.org
9 years, 10 months
Mali: La Via Campesina and allies host an International Agroecology Forum to address Food Sovereignty
by La Vía Campesina
MALI: LA VIA CAMPESINA AND ALLIES HOST AN INTERNATIONAL AGROECOLOGY
FORUM TO ADDRESS FOOD SOVEREIGNTY [1]
Published on Thursday, 19 February 2015 22:18
MEDIA ADVISORY |LA VIA CAMPESINA
[2](Bamako, 19 February 2015) - More than 200 delegates, among them
peasants, family farmers, fisher folk, pastoralists, indigenous peoples,
agricultural workers, consumers, urban poor organizations, NGOs,
academics and other social movements will be at the Nyéléni Centre in
Mali from 24 to 27 February, to take part in the first International
Forum on Agroecology. This forum takes places at a time where the world
is facing economic crisis, the climate is changing, and the Mother Earth
is being aggressively exploited by the corporate model of death and land
grabbing.
According to La Via Campesina [3], agroecology is essential to humanity,
since it builds autonomy and a better life for small scale food
producers, produces more healthy food, provides a strong base for food
sovereignty, and allows rural peoples to live in harmony with and take
care of our Mother Earth. Peasant and small scale food producers'
agroecology is considered to be the model of life, of farms with
farmers, of food producers with productive resources, of rural
communities with families, of countryside with trees and forests.
According to Ibrahim Coulibaly, a leader of the National Coordination of
Peasants Organizations [4] (CNOP) in Mali, "this forum will bring
practical responses, that will lead to concrete solutions on how
agroecology can save the planet from hunger and climate change".
Together with La Via Campesina, organizations such as More and Better
(MaB), Movimiento Agroecológico de América Latina y el Caribe (MAELA),
Réseau des organisations paysannes et de producteurs de l'Afrique de
l'Ouest (ROPPA), World Forum of Fish Harvesters and Fishworkers (WFF),
World Forum of Fisher Peoples (WFFP) and World Alliance of Mobile
Indigenous Peoples (WAMIP) are co-organizers of the forum.
The Mali forum aims at exchanging local knowledge and know-how of
farmers, sharing the innovations of peasants and small scale food
producers, training materials and territorial processes to address the
challenges of building an ecologically and socially just
food system,
as well as strengthening the synergies between the different small scale
food producer organizations, social movements and other organizations
promoting Agroecology.
CONTACTS FOR MEDIA
Boaventura Monjane - boa.monjane(a)viacampesina.org
Lamine Coulibaly laminezie(a)gmail.com - mob +22376170979
Links:
------
[1]
http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/sustainable-...
[2] http://viacampesina.org/en/images/stories/nyeleni/nyeleni.jpg
[3] http://viacampesina.org/en/
[4] http://www.cnop-mali.org
9 years, 10 months
