Via Info EN October 2016

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[Info EN] Conclusions from the Binding Treaty Negotiations in Geneva to hold TNCs accountable for human rights violations
by La Via Campesina 31 Oct '16

31 Oct '16

BINDING TREATY NEGOTIATIONS IN GENEVA | CONCLUSIONS [1] Published on Monday, 31 October 2016 14:32 CONCLUSIONS OF THE GLOBAL CAMPAIGN ON THE UNHRC 2ND SESSION OF THE "OPEN-ENDED INTERGOVERNMENTAL WORKING GROUP ON TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATIONS AND OTHER BUSINESS ENTERPRISES WITH RESPECT TO HUMAN RIGHTS" (OEIGWG) THAT CONCLUDED ON 28TH OCTOBER 2016 ------------------------- [2]28 OCTOBER 2016, GENEVA: In the context of the Second Session of the Open Ended Inter-Governmental Working Group (OEIGWG) at the Human Rights Council with the mandate to establish a Binding Treaty on Transnational Corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights, the Global Campaign to Reclaim Peoples' Sovereignty, Dismantle Corporate Power and End Impunity expressed its engagement with this process through several activities, actions and statements. The Campaign is committed to the importance of this process as a way to allow people affected by Transnational Corporations (TNCs) around the world access to justice. The current process began in 2014 and succeeded in inserting the urgent need to create a binding tool to compel TNCs' to respect Human Rights into the UN agenda. Many years of complicity between governments and TNCs, which has led to an increase of cases of repression, convince us more than ever of our demands. The people affected by TNCs are fed up with being victims and demand justice. Therefore, we reaffirm our resistance to the capture of this process by TNCs and we demand states to safeguard the Treaty negotiations from political interference and conflicts of interest. Throughout one week, more than 100 activists, representing unions, peasant organizations, environmental organisations, youth, women, indigenous peoples, migrants and the access to medicines movements convened in Geneva to participate in and observe the proceedings within the UN. These activists represented 29 countries and shared their lived experiences in 15 activities both within and outside the formal spaces of the UN. Participants made 40 oral statements in the six panels of the session. The Global Campaign participated actively in the debate. It presented 6 precise proposals for the binding instrument : on the obligations for TNCs, extraterritorial obligations; the instrument of enforcement, the responsibility of TNCs in the global supply chains; the architecture of the global corporate law (International Financial Institutions, the World Trade Organisation and the investment and trade regime); as well as the rights of the affected communities. We are aware that during this process we will face important challenges. But we are committed to maintaining a high level of mobilization at both local and international levels. By doing so, we expect to have a concrete and positive Treaty proposal as the result of the work during the 3rd Session of the IGWG. With this objective, we call all movements and organizations - within and outside the Campaign - to join these efforts. We must pressure any governments opposing this process to change their perspective on the Binding Treaty proposal and recognize the urgent need for a legal instrument that puts people before profits, commercial interests and investment deals. This Saturday, concluding our week of mobilization, we will hold a demonstration in Geneva. ------------------------- SIGNATORIES: Articulación internacional de las afectadas y afectados por la VALE, Alternative Information and Development Centre (AIDC) - Southern African Campaign to Dismantle Corporate Power, Amigos da Terra Brasil, Amigos de la Tierra América Latina y el Caribe - ATALC,, Amigos de la Tierra España, Amis de la Terre France, ATM/Mining, Attac - España, Attac - Maroc, Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) - Friends of the Earth Bangladesh, BDS, CCFD, CED - Friends of the Earth Camerun, CEDIB - Bolivia, Center on Governance and Sustainability, CESTA - Friends of the Earth El Salvador, CETIM, Comunidad de Barillas - Guatemala and CEIBA - Friends of the Earth Guatemala, Confederación Sindical de Trabajadores y Trabajadoras de las Américas (CSA), Corporate Accountability International (CAI), Ecologistas en Acción, ENTREPUEBLOS, ERA - Friends of the Earth Nigeria, FASE, FIAN International, France Amérique Latine (FAL), Friends of the Earth International (FOEI), Global Forest Coalition, Grup de Treball sobre Empreses i Drets Humans (Catalunya), GTPI - Vigencia, HOMA, Indonesia for Global Justice (IGJ) - Sawit Watch - People's Coalition for the Rights to Water (KruHA-Indonesia), Indonesian Human Rights Committee for Social Justice (IHCS) - WALHI - Solidaritas Perempuan - INDIES Indonesia - Indonesia Focal Point for Legally Binding Treaty Initiative -,Institute for Policy Studies, Global Economy Project, JA! - Friends of the Earth Mozambique, Justiça Global, La Via Campesina (LVC), LAB Euskal Herria, LAFEDE.CAT, Legal Resources Center (LRC), MAB - LVC, NOVACT, Observatorio de Multinacionales en América Latina (OMAL), PACS, PENGON Palestine, "Popular Council for the Protection of the Jordan Valley - FOEI", PSI, Radio Mundo Real, REDES - Amigos de la Tierra Uruguay, "Red Sombra de Observadores de Glencore", SENTRO/TU, SUDS, Taula Catalana per la Pau i els Drets Humans a Colòmbia, Tierra Digna, Transnational Migrant Platform Europe, Transform!europe, Transnational Institute (TNI), VIGENCIA, Unión de Afectados/as por las Operaciones Petroleras de Texaco (UDAPT), HOMA, WALHI - Friends of the Earth Indonesia, War on Want, WOMIN, World March of Women. ------------------------- PRESS CONTACT: Raffaele Morgantini, +41796606514, contact(a)cetim.ch Mónica Vargas, +34662026497, m.vargas(a)tni.org ------------------------- _The Global Campaign is a network of over 200 social movements, networks, organisations and affected communities resisting land grabs, extractive mining, exploitative wages and environmental destruction by transnational corporations (TNCs) in different global regions, particularly in Africa, Asia and Latin America. It is a peoples´ global structural response to unaccountable corporate power which provides facilitation for dialogue, strategizing, exchanging information and experiences, acting as a space for visibility of resistance and deepening of solidarity and support for struggles against TNCs. The Global Campaign has been actively involved since the beginning of the process and has facilitated the gathering of more than 100 delegates from 29 countries during the Week of 24th to 28th October 2016 in Geneva._ Links: ------ [1] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/stop-t… [2] https://viacampesina.org/en/images/2016-10-31%20BindingTreaty%20Press%20Con…

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[Info EN] La Via Campesina joins the mobilization at the UN in favor of a Binding Treaty to dismantle corporate power
by La Via Campesina 26 Oct '16

26 Oct '16

LA VIA CAMPESINA JOINS THE MOBILIZATION AT THE UN IN FAVOR OF A BINDING TREATY TO DISMANTLE CORPORATE POWER [1] [2]Members of La Via Campesina are participating in mobilizations being held in Geneva as part of the GLOBAL CAMPAIGN to Dismantle Corporate Power and in the ongoing negotiations of the Open Ended Inter Governmental Working Group (OEIWG), at United Nations, to come up with a LEGALLY BINDING TREATY for countries to prosecute and hold to account Transnational Corporations that engage in human rights violations. This is a HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY to give concrete tools to the affected communities seeking justice for the crimes of transnational corporations. The voluntary guiding principles (UNGPs) have remained a dead letter and were captured by corporate responsibility processes that do not recognize the power imbalances on the ground. The growing and systemic impunity with which TNCs are operating result in attacks on rural communities while companies accumulate benefits and grab land, waters and territories. On Monday the 24th of October, a delegation comprising members of La Via Campesina denounced the coup government in Brazil, and marked their protest by joined a walkout from the meeting room, with around hundred people , as soon as the Brazilian Ambassador began her intervention. In the morning of the 25th, two members of the delegation LVC delegates intervened expressing the following messages. _ROGERIO HÖHN FROM THE MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE AFFECTED BY DAMS_ in Brazil spoke of the rights of people affected by corporate crimes and the need for remedial processes that recognize affected people as actors and as subjects. He also stressed that the Treaty must strengthen the primacy of human rights. He also denounced the violations by the transnational corporation Vale and lack of access to justice for the affected communities one year after the Mariana dam break, as well as the criminalisation of the resisting communities by Vale. [3] A Caravan of Affected People, will be going from the coast up to Mariana, starting November 2 that will count with the participation of more than 400 people. FEDERICO PACHECO OF THE UNION OF LAND WORKERS OF ANDALUSIA intervened to denounce the actions of transnationals pushing a model of industrial agriculture that pollutes the environment, monopolizes and privatizes the commons, and exploits workers and producers. He denounced the political and legal frameworks, such as the FTAs that give primacy to the interests of TNCs rather than human rights of peoples. He encouraged states to move forward with the Binding Treaty to counter this growing power in the agriculture and food sector. La Via Campesina expresses its disappointment and denouncement of the position of the EU that continues to defend the interests of big corporations against the rights of affected communities, peasants and agricultural workers. ------------------------- This week the delegation of LVC will participate in several parallel events and actions organized by the Global Campaign to reclaim the sovereignty of peoples, to dismantle corporate power and put an end to impunity in the Tent of civil society at the Plaza of Nations and within the UN: 25/10: 9h - 12h: Extractivism and transnational impunity (tent Palais des Nations) 16h45 - 18h15 Workshop: Architecture of corporate impunity and global supply chains: threats to workers, migrants, farm workers and communities (tent Palais des Nations) 26/10: 13 - 15h: Side event (Room XXIII): Arguments in favor of the Treaty: to ensure the full exercise of human rights in Brazil and access to justice for people affected by the actions of transnational corporations 15h - 16h30 Workshop: Struggles to ensure access to rights and against TNCs: Peasant Rights and Right to health (tent Palais des Nations) 27/10: Rally in defense of popular sovereignty at the embassies (morning) 13h - 14h30: Palais des Nations Side Event: Architecture of impunity and the rights of affected communities 29/10: 12h - Final Public Action ------------------------- Updated information of activities Global Campaign to reclaim the sovereignty of peoples, to dismantle corporate power and end impunity: http://www.stopcorporateimpunity.org/week-peoples-mobilisation-geneva/ PRESS CONTACT: Annelies Schorpion: annelies.schorpion(a)viacampesina.org, 0032474847280 (in Geneva) Abhilash Babu: abhilash(a)viacampesina.org Follow us on Twitter [4], Facebook [5] Links: ------ [1] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/stop-t… [2] https://viacampesina.org/en/images/2016-10-25%20-%20TNCs%20Geneva%20Scaled%… [3] https://viacampesina.org/en/images/2016-10-25%20LVC%20Delegate%20Geneva%20T… [4] https://twitter.com/via_campesina [5] https://www.facebook.com/viacampesinaOFFICIAL/

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[Info EN] Connecting Smallholders to Markets: An Analytical Guide
by La Via Campesina 26 Oct '16

26 Oct '16

[1] YEAR: 2016 SUMMARY: This publication is the fruit of two years of collective efforts by the Civil Society Mechanism (CSM) working group coordinated by La Via Campesina together with ROPPA that has been specifically dedicated to following the discussions and negotiations on 'Connecting Smallholders to Markets' in the Committee on World Food Security (CFS). The working group includes over 50 participants from different regions and constituencies. This publication presents interesting case studies and public policy recommendations. EDITION: Civil Society Mechanism Download publication here [1] Publication also available in French [2] and Spanish [3] Links: ------ [1] http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/cfs/Docs1516/cfs43/CSM_Connecting_Sm… [2] http://viacampesina.org/fr/images/stories/pdf/SmallholdersandMarketFR.pdf [3] https://viacampesina.org/es/images/stories/pdf/CSM_Connecting_Smallholder_t…

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[Info EN] La Via Campesina | e-Newsletter | September 2016
by La Via Campesina 14 Oct '16

14 Oct '16

-------- Original Message -------- SUBJECT: La Via Campesina | e-Newsletter | September 2016 DATE: 2016-10-14 11:46 FROM: Ndabezinhle Nyoni <nyoni.ndabezinhle(a)viacampesina.org> TO: viacampesina(a)viacampesina.org La Via Campesina | e-Newsletter | September, 2016 Donate [1] This edition of the newsletter is the result of a collective effort of organisations, which are part of_ La Via Campesina_ movement worldwide. To subscribe click here [2] LA VIA CAMPESINA EUROPE IN SOLIDARITY WITH COLOMBIAN FARMERS ------------------------- _PRESS RELEASE: BRUSSELS, 5TH OCTOBER 2016_ _The Peace Process continues: La Via Campesina Europe in solidarity with Colombian farmers_ Veronique Léon, European farmer and former national secretary of the Confédération Paysanne in France, participated in the international solidarity mission to Colombia from the 19th to the 24th of September. Their aim was to support the movement of farmers who are demanding that the peace agreements, made with the national government following the mobilisation of the past years, are respected. This goal is not put into question by the victory of the "no" vote in this weekend's referendum on the peace agreements signed by FARC-EP and the government of Juan Manuel Santos. Read more... [3] NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD "NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US", SAY PEASANTS AS THE FARMERS' RIGHTS CONSULTATION BEGINS IN BALI ------------------------- _AT FARMERS' RIGHTS GLOBAL CONSULTATION IN BALI, GLOBAL PEASANTS' MOVEMENT LA VIA CAMPESINA TO DEFEND PEASANT-SEED SYSTEMS AND INSIST PEASANT PARTICIPATION IN DECISION MAKING._ Bali, 27 September 2016: A delegation comprising peasants, women and men, indigenous people and youth from various regions of the world will represent La Via Campesina at the Farmers' Rights Global Consultation, to be held between 27-30 of September in Bali, organized by the Government of Indonesia with support from The Government of Norway and The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA). Read more... [4] "OUR RIGHTS, OUR NEEDS, OUR IDENTITIES HAVE BEEN DEFINED ON BEHALF OF US, BUT NOT BY US", TANMAY JOSHI, A YOUNG FARMER FROM INDIA ------------------------- At the recently concluded Global Consultation on Farmers' Rights in Bali, organsied by the Ministry of Indonesia with the support of the Ministry of Norway and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), Tanmay Joshi, a young farmer from the state of Maharshtra in India spoke passionately. Here is the full text of this speech. Read more... [5] SOCIAL MOVEMENTS CALL FOR 'UNITY BEYOND BORDERS' AT THE SOUTHERN AFRICA TRIBUNAL ON TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATIONS (TNCS) ------------------------- The Southern African People's Solidarity Network hosted a Permanent Peoples' Tribunal on Transnational Corporations in Manzini, Swaziland between the 16th and 19th of August. The tribunal was held on 16th and 17thfollowed by discussions until the 19th about building a 'Peoples-Driven Southern African Development Community (SADC) committed to the total liberation of all'. Read more... [6] BAYER-MONSANTO DEAL LATEST IN AGRIBUSINESS MERGER AND ACQUISITION TREND ------------------------- _MEDIA RELEASE_ (Saskatoon - Sept. 19, 2016) Bayer's September 14 announcement that it will buy Monsanto for $66 billion comes just days after fertilizer companies PotashCorp and Agrium confirmed their $30 billion dollar merger deal. Meanwhile, the Chinese agro-chemical giant, ChemChina is in the process of buying Sygenta for $43 billion. Dupont and Dow expect to complete their $68 billion merger by the end of this year. "Mergers and acquisitions are not investments in new productive capacity," said Terry Boehm, Chair of the NFU's Seed and Trade Committee. "These transactions are a way for large corporations to restructure their existing assets to obtain higher profits and greater control by eliminating competition within the market." Read more... [7] DEMONSTRATION ANTI-TTIP/CETA THE 20.09: PEASANT MOVEMENT CALLS TO MOBILIZE ------------------------- _LE MAP, FUGEA AND ECVC PRESS RELEASE_ Brussels, 15th of September 2016 The European Coordination Via Campesina (ECVC), the Fédération Unie de Groupements d'Eleveurs et d'Agriculteurs (FUGEA) and the Mouvement d'Action Paysanne (MAP) are calling on all citizens to demonstrate against the free-trade agreements TTIP and CETA. The rally starts at 17h00 on Tuesday, September 20th, in the European quarter. The agriculture and food block, lead by the d19-20 alliance, will be the last of the parade. Participants will meet in advance at 16h30 at the corner of Rue de la Loi/Rue du Commerce. Read more... [8] RIPESS SUPPORTS INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST WTO AND FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS ------------------------- _RIPESS PRESS RELEASE, 10TH SEPTEMBER, MONTREAL_ The Intercontinental Network for the Promotion of Social Solidarity Economy (RIPESS) supports the International Day Against WTO and Free Trade Agreements as called for by the international peasants movement Via Campesina. RIPESS reaffirms our commitment to opposing on-going global free trade agreements such as, but not limited to, CETA, TTIP, TPP, TISA and RCEP. Read more... [9] GENDER DIVERSITY IN THE PEASANT MOVEMENT ------------------------- _SELF-DETERMINED AND IN THE COUNTRYSIDE*_ The global peasant movement La Via Campesina is slowly beginning to open up to the subject of gender diversity. By Paula Gioia, member of the coordinating committee of ECVC Food Sovereignty is also connected to gender relations - and to respecting different ways of life and the rights of LGBTTQI*. The movement of landless peasants in Brazil is showing this and providing important inspirations for debates in Europe. Read more... [10] PEASANTS' RIGHTS ARE UNIQUE AND REQUIRE URGENT PROTECTION, SAYS ELIZABETH MPOFU ------------------------- _HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL, 33RD SESSION, ITEM 5 – HUMAN RIGHTS BODIES AND MECHANISMS – GENERAL DEBATE ON THE REPORT OF IGWG ON RIGHTS OF PEASANTS AND OTHER PEOPLE WORKING IN RURAL AREAS (A/HRC/33/59)_ President of the Council, Chair-Rapporteur of the Open ended Working Group, Delegates and Colleagues, I am Elizabeth Mpofu, the International Coordinator of La Via Campesina. Together with International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL), we would like to strengthen further our commitment to the establishment of the draft declaration on peasant's rights, as I want to remind us on following: The term Peasant that we want is inclusive is as defined in Article 1 and its meaning signifies a special relationship of peasants with land which defines their social and economic rights political identity, including also their cultural and religious life in rural areas. Read more... [11] DEFEND THE ZAD – A CALL FOR INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY ------------------------- _OCTOBER 8TH & 9TH 2016_ For over 50 years, farmers and locals have resisted the building of a new airport for the French city of Nantes (which by the way already has one). Now in these rich fields, forests and wetlands, which multinational Vinci want to cover in concrete, an experiment in reinventing everyday life in struggle is blossoming. Radicals from around the world, local farmers and villagers, citizen groups, trade unionists and naturalists, refugees and runaways, squatters and climate justice activists and many others, are organising to protect the 4000 acres of land against the airport and its world. Government officials have coined this place "a territory lost to the republic". Its occupants have named it: la zad (zone a défendre) zone to defend. Read more... [12] ITPGRFA: AT CONSULTATION ON FARMERS' RIGHTS, LA VIA CAMPESINA DEMANDS A WORKING GROUP IN THE TREATY COMPRISING PEASANTS' ORGANISATIONS, TO HELP IMPLEMENT PEASANTS' RIGHTS ------------------------- At the global consultation on Farmers' Rights organized by Government of Indonesia and supported by the Ministry of Norway and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), held in Bali from September 27-30, a delegation representing the global peasant movement La Via Campesina joined the civil society in demanding participation of indigenous people and peasant organisations in all decision-making processes concerning them. It called upon the Treaty to set up a working group on Farmers' Rights, with adequate representation of peasant organisations and indigenous peoples organisations. Read more... [13] LA VIA CAMPESINA AND ALLIES PUSH FOR THE DECLARATION ON PEASANTS' RIGHTS IN GENEVA ------------------------- Representatives of La Via Campesina at the UN, pushing for the Declaration on peasant's rights (Geneva, September 22, 2016) This week, representatives of La Via Campesina and supporting organizations (FIAN, CETIM, CELS and IADL) are at the United Nations Human Rights Council of Geneva, in order to lobby for the Declaration of the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas. At the top of the agenda: increasing support for the report of the President of the Working Group on Peasant's Rights and Other People Working in Rural Areas, Bolivian Ambassador Nardi Suxo. Read more... [14] NEW PUBLICATIONS SMALLHOLDERS' MARKETS ------------------------- _THE NEW EDITION OF THE NYÉLÉNI NEWSLETTER IS NOW ONLINE! _ Bulk of the food consumed in the world is produced by smallholders and workers, and channeled through "territorial markets", which reflect the huge diversity of contexts that characterise small-scale food production and distribution. Territorial markets are an important source of employment and critical in battling hunger and poverty. These markets increasingly face threats from corporate led super/hyper-markets, procurement, storage, certification and food safety systems. Corporations use neoliberal trade and investment agreements, and sophisticated marketing systems to control how food is produced, priced, distributed and consumed. Protecting and strengthening the markets of smallholders are crucial aspects of food sovereignty and restoring societal control over the economy. Click here to download the English edition [15]or read it directly in the website at www.nyeleni.org [16]! OPINION: AGROECOLOGY FOR GENDER EQUALITY ------------------------- _FARMING MATTERS | 32.3 | SEPTEMBER 2016_ [17] How to attribute important social change to agroecology? Elizabeth Mpofu argues that agroecology builds social cohesion, providing the foundation for gender equality. There are no recipes in agroecology. Instead, its manual is in the heart and minds of those who practice it, which is evident in their interactions with the environment and other people. Harmony with nature and nutrition takes precedence over profits. This anchors our culture, shapes our identity and sets the parameters for our transformation as a society. Read more... [18] [19] HANDS ON THE LAND FOR FOOD SOVEREIGNTY AND CLIMATE JUSTICE ------------------------- Frontline communities and social movements around the world explain why we need to keep our hands on the land for food sovereignty and climate justice! This includes the false solutions they are presented with against climate change, and the real solutions and ways forward that small-scale food producers promote. Hands On The Land for Food Sovereignty and Climate Justice! www.handsontheland.net [20] [21] A COMMON RIGHT: MONGOLIA ------------------------- Meet Hajekber Serikbol, a pastoralist community leader in the Western Foothills of Mongolia. They call themselves the "friendship community" and are part of 200-500 million nomadic custodians that take care of our planet, managing rangelands that cover a quarter of the world's land surface. This film is part of the Global Call to Action Initiative, aimed at doubling the global area of land legally recognized as owned or controlled by Indigenous Peoples and local communities by 2020. Film and Photo by: Jason Taylor/Land Rights Now/Global Call to Action YOU ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE AUTONOMY OF OUR MOVEMENT ------------------------- As a supporter who has contributed financial resources to La Via Campesina, and as an activist who joins us on the streets and in the fields, your support is always welcome and put to good use. You can renew your contribution to La Via Campesina by clicking on the Donate button on our home page [22] and following the link to our PayPal account. [23] [24] Follow us on twitter [24] [25] Find us on Facebook [25] [26] Subsribe our Vimeo Channel [26] To unsubscribe from the distribution list, questions or comments, write to VIACAMPESINA(a)VIACAMPESINA.ORG WEBSITE: www.viacampesina.org TV: www.tv.viacampesina.org To subscribe to this newsletter - Click Here [27] Links: ------ [1] https://viacampesina.org/en/donations/ [2] http://ttps://mail.viacampesina.org/lists/listinfo/Via-info-en [3] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/human-rights-… [4] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/biodiversity-… [5] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/biodiversity-… [6] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/stop-t… [7] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/stop-t… [8] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/10-yea… [9] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/10-yea… [10] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/2-uncategorised/2150-gender-diversity… [11] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/human-rights-… [12] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/2145-d… [13] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/biodiversity-… [14] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/human-rights-… [15] http://www.nyeleni.org/ccount/click.php?id=100 [16] http://www.nyeleni.org/ [17] http://www.agriculturesnetwork.org/magazines/global/making-the-case-for-agr… [18] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/women-mainmen… [19] https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Oqa2iIF52QI [20] http://www.handsontheland.net/ [21] https://vimeo.com/177945999 [22] http://www.viacampesina.org/ [23] https://www.paypal.com/uk/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&SESSION=IK5Hgl6MlPxD… [24] http://www.twitter.com/via_campesina [25] https://www.facebook.com/viacampesinaOFFICIAL/ [26] https://vimeo.com/viacampesina [27] https://mail.viacampesina.org/lists/listinfo/Via-info-en

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[Info EN] 16th October: For Peoples’ Food Sovereignty and against transnational corporations
by La Via Campesina 14 Oct '16

14 Oct '16

16TH OCTOBER: FOR PEOPLES' FOOD SOVEREIGNTY AND AGAINST TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATIONS [1] Published on Friday, 14 October 2016 16:04 [2]PRESS RELEASE (Harare, October 13, 2016) On October 16th, La Via Campesina's _International Day of Action for Peoples' Food Sovereignty and against transnational corporations (TNCs)_, we continue the struggle to end corporate control of our food and reject free trade agreements. Through their extensive and clandestine lobbying, TNCs have put in place legal, economic and trade policy frameworks to legitimise their greed for profits and destruction of nature. For example, the Investment Court System (ICS) or State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) and the Free Trade Agreements (such as in the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership [TTIP], Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreements [CETA], North American Free Trade Agreement [NAFTA], Trans Pacific Partnership [TPP], Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership [RCEP]) are all biased in their favour to ensure full control of the world agricultural production and distribution. Patents and intellectual property regimes are their tools to achieve this. In this process, peasant seeds, the foundation of agriculture, are rendered illegal. Biodiversity is eroded and replaced by uniform crops. Grabbing of land from peasants, particularly in developing countries, is carried out in the pretext of "feeding 9 billion people by 2050" through their advanced and destructive technologies. However, the peoples of the world are fighting back to roll back corporate capture, occupying lands, growing their own seeds and fighting at international level as well. At the UN, La Via Campesina and its allies continue to struggle for the adoption of the UN Declaration on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas to ensure recognition and protection for the very group[1] which contribute greatly to the realisation of right to food sovereignty around the world. A binding treaty to push back the power of TNCs [3] and hold them accountable for the crimes they commit is a necessary next step. From 12 to 16 October 2016, an International Monsanto Tribunal [4] in The Hague, Netherlands will be held alongside the People's Assembly to hear and evaluate cases against Monsanto [5] and other companies and determine criminal liability. Since 2015, we have witnessed unprecedented levels of consolidations by the few agri-food corporations in the form of mergers and acquisitions such as Monsanto-Bayer, Dow-DuPont, ChemChina-Syngenta, Agrium Inc. and Potash Corp. With these consolidations, merely four corporations will control over two-thirds of the world's supply of agricultural inputs, giving them the ability to hold the world agriculture at ransom for profits. Hunger and poverty will worsen as these corporations which earn big profits through secrecy, narrow food diversity and impunity tighten their control over sovereign state agricultural policies. As we celebrate this day, we push forward for a radical transformation towards a fair and decent food system for all, based on principles of food sovereignty, which recognizes peoples' needs, accords dignity and respects nature, and put people above profits! CONTACT: Andres Arce Indacochea: +3248955297 FOOD SOVEREIGNTY NOW! FOR THE LAND AND PEOPLES' FOOD SOVEREIGNTY IN SOLIDARITY AND STRUGGLE! ------------------------- [1] Peasants produce over 70% of the food consumed globally. Links: ------ [1] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/food-sovereig… [2] https://viacampesina.org/en/images/16%20October%20Call%20poster%20EN.png [3] http://www.stopcorporateimpunity.org/week-peoples-mobilisation-geneva-switz… [4] http://www.monsanto-tribunal.org/main.php?obj_id=281601562 [5] https://www.viacampesina.org/downloads/pdf/en/Monsanto-Publication-EN-Final…

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[Info EN] #ITPGRFA: At Consultation on Farmers’ Rights, La Via Campesina demands a working group in the Treaty
by La Via Campesina 04 Oct '16

04 Oct '16

PRESS RELEASE ITPGRFA: AT CONSULTATION ON FARMERS' RIGHTS, LA VIA CAMPESINA DEMANDS A WORKING GROUP IN THE TREATY COMPRISING PEASANTS' ORGANISATIONS, TO HELP IMPLEMENT PEASANTS' RIGHTS [1] Published on Monday, 03 October 2016 17:48 [2]At the global consultation on Farmers' Rights organized by Government of Indonesia and supported by the Ministry of Norway and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), held in Bali from September 27-30, a delegation representing the global peasant movement La Via Campesina joined the civil society in demanding participation of indigenous people and peasant organisations in all decision-making processes concerning them. It called upon the Treaty to set up a working group on Farmers' Rights, with adequate representation of peasant organisations and indigenous peoples organisations. Expressing disappointment at the fact that despite its 15 yearlong existence the treaty has done little to implement farmers' rights, the delegation of peasants comprising women, men, youth and indigenous people demanded that their recommendations from the Bali Consultation be taken to the next meeting of the Governing Body of ITPGRFA. The recommendations will include a demand to create a permanent process to implement Farmers' Rights, to work on a process to create national laws and legislations to implement Farmers' Rights and also ways to support the peasant seeds systems in each country, depending on their local cultural, social, political and economic context. La Via Campesina, the global peasants' movement, representing over 200 million small holder peasants in 73 countries, also took note of the fact that it was the initiative of the Government of Indonesia and Government of Norway that ensured that peasants of La Via Campesina and the International Platform for Food Sovereignty were made part of this process for the first time. At a similar consultation held in the past, peasants of La Via Campesina were not made part of the consultation process that discussed Farmers' Rights. Given this background, La Via Campesina appreciates and acknowledges this important contribution that the two Governments have made to the Treaty process. At the same time, La Via Campesina expressed disappointment at the industry blocking peasants' demand to reject Intellectual Property Rights and patent laws, during the three-day long consultation. These laws directly attack the rights of peasants to use, save, exchange and sell their own local varieties of seeds. It called upon the treaty to urge the member countries to stop criminalization of peasants and indigenous communities on the basis of such laws. 75% of the food produced in the world are produced by small holder farmers who operate in the local, informal peasant seed systems. An international mobilization is urgently required to support and protect the peasant seed system. All the countries and governments should also put in place public policies to work and support the peasant seeds systems. It is important to protect the peasant seeds systems against the global free market systems propagated by Seed Companies producing mostly genetically modified seeds. While at the consultation, La Via Campesina ran into a wall during discussions on contamination by genetically modified and patented seeds, it is a terrifying reality that the 3 major seed companies are announcing mergers and strategic collaborations, controlling two-thirds of the global seeds and pesticides markets. This new monster is a new threat for traditional peasant systems and peoples' food sovereignty. La Via Campesina is shocked at the announcement made at the end of the Bali meeting by one of the biggest global gene(germplasm) banks of maize and wheat, of the Treaty's Multi-Lateral System - the CYMMIT. This gene bank signed a partnership agreement with DuPont, the second largest seed company at global level, in order to create new hidden GMOs which will contaminate all its peasants' seeds in its freezers or fields, thereby allowing privatization of seeds by patents. In the days leading up to the Governing Body meeting of the Treaty in October 2017, La Via Campesina will strengthen its mobilizations in its member countries and will work locally to strengthen peasant seeds systems and will monitor the progress that the civil society made to the Treaty Secretariat and its Governing Body. ---Ends--- ------------------------- For media queries write to abhilash(a)viacampesina.org To see interventions made by Via Campesina at the Treaty Consultation - visitwww.twitter.com/via_campesina [3] or visit www.viacampesina.org [4] Links: ------ [1] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/biodiversity-… [2] https://viacampesina.org/en/images/2016-10-03%20FAO%20Bali.JPG [3] http://www.twitter.com/via_campesina [4] http://www.viacampesina.org/

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Via Info EN October 2016