Message of Solidarity with Cuba, in their time of national mourning
by La Via Campesina
MESSAGE OF SOLIDARITY WITH CUBA, IN THEIR TIME OF NATIONAL MOURNING [1]
We the men, women, and youth of La Vía Campesina, salute the people of
Cuba during their time of national mourning over the death of Comandante
Fidel Castro Ruz, historic leader of the Cuban Revolution and an
inspiration for struggles of emancipation of poor people of the world,
from imperialism and capital.
We would like to express our most heartfelt condolences and solidarity
with our brothers and sisters of the Asociación Nacional de Agricultores
Pequeños (ANAP) who, inspired by Comandante Fidel, have led the fight
for food sovereignty and in this way feeding the people and protecting
the natural resources.
Just a few months ago, during their national congress, the members of
ANAP celebrated the anniversary of the Agrarian Reform promulgated by
Comandante Fidel 57 years ago.
To our brothers and sisters who work on the land: we are united with you
in this time of national mourning paying posthumous homage to Comandante
Fidel and with ANAP's untiring struggle to achieve food sovereignty
through the use of a sustainable agroeconomy, because it is through this
work that ANAP continue to keep alive the revolutionary spirit of
Comandante Fidel.
To the people of Cuba, we restate our commitment to friendship, our
appreciation for their example of solidarity with the people of the
world as well as our admiration of the irrefutable accomplishments in
the construction of a socialist society.
¡Comandante Fidel Castro Ruz! ¡PRESENTE!
INTERNATIONAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE OF LA VÍA CAMPESINA
Links:
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[1]
https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/our-conferences-mainmenu-28/5-maput...
8 years, 1 month
Brutal Attack on Peasants in Mekar Jaya Village, Indonesia
by La Via Campesina
OVER 1500 POLICE PERSONNEL UNLEASH BRUTAL ATTACK ON PEASANTS IN MEKAR
JAYA VILLAGE, INDONESIA [1]
_LANGKAT NUSANTARA KEPONG, A MALAYSIAN PLANTATION COMPANY, ASSISTED BY
LOCAL POLICE OFFICIALS, UNLEASHES BRUTAL ATTACK ON PEASANTS IN MEKAR
JAYA VILLAGE IN INDONESIA TO APPROPRIATE NEARLY 554 HECATRES OF LAND!_
Over 1500 police personnel launched a despicable attack on peasant
members of SPI (Indonesian Peasants' Union), in Langkat District of
North Sumatra Province of Indonesia and exterminated hundreds of acres
of peasant land, so as to favour a foreign plantation companies. Several
protesting peasants were severly injured in this brutal attack that took
place on the 18th of November in Mekar Jaya village.
Suriono, from SPI Langkat explained, "Before the eviction and
extermination, we asked the police to sit together and discuss this
issue in the National Land Agency of Langkat District. But they refused
it". Suriono requested the large battalion of cops to leave the land as
it would only frighten the peasants and local residents.
"But instead of going away and regardless of our the explanation, they
continued bulldozing and leveling agricultural land and peasant's
housing," he said.
"This brutality notwithstanding, police officers chased the peasants
inside the village and Sadikun, a peasant member of SPI Mekar Jaya
village was arrested by the police," added Suriono.
According to the information last received several memebrs of SPI were
kicked and punched. Sadikun, a peasant suffered arrest and bruises on
the face, ZULKIFLI (IN THE PIC) had ruptured his head and had bruises on
the face. He is now hospitalized. Boimen another peasant member
suffered beatings, Legiman suffered beatings, Sari was beaten, Boiran
suffered beatings, Adi suffered beatings, Grandpa Saleh suffered
beatings, Grandma Siti Hawa suffered beatings, Rohani was beaten, Midi
suffered beatings, Siti (kid) suffered beatings, Udin beaten.
The eviction, carried with the help of large equipments contunued till
the afternoon of 21st December. We were surrounded, unable to get out of
the village, outsiders were not allowed to enter," Suriono added.
Zubaidah (Chairman of SPI in North Sumatera Province) condemned the
violent actions of the police. "There was no reason for the police,
whatsoever, to resort to violence. There are several peaceful means to
encourage the settlement of land conflicts, instead of violent land
eviction and extermination. With this kind of situation, peasants are
always the victims and perpetrators are often police officers, "said
Zubaidah. Zubaidah explained, land conflicts that arise in langkat is
triggered by intensified expansion of plantation companies abroad.
"This conflict was going on since 1998 against PTPN II (National
Plantation Company). Ever since Langkat Nusantara Kepong (company from
Malaysia)* took over the operational of PTPN II Kebun Lama Gohor,
efforts by the company to evict peasants from the land has intensified,"
Zubaidah added. "This conflict involves a land of 554 hectares, that
were appropriated by PTPN II Kebun Gohor Lama," she said again.
"What make us sad and hopeless, police and military force tend to
support foreign companies, not the people themselves. This is clearly
wrong. Just imagine, a village of 1,500 was surrounded by the police and
army," she said.
For that, Zubaidah stressed that the Acting Governor of North Sumatra T.
Erry Nuradi and North Sumatera Regional Police Chief immediately
intervene to resolve the agrarian conflict.
"The governor should be speeding up, doing something real to end this
land conflict so there will be no more casualties. It can be started by
revoking the license of the Langkat Nusantara Kepong Company.
Furthermore, SPI members demanded that the North Sumatera Regional
Police Chief take action against police officials who unleashed brutal
attack on peasants in Mekar Jaya village, "No need to wait for the
implementation of agrarian reform. It's a must to so we can avoid
another conflicts, that are always devastating to peasants," concludes
Zubaidah.
Watch the video of the attack here [2].
Links:
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[1]
https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/human-right...
[2] https://youtu.be/W27NFI53IXs?t=1m16s
8 years, 1 month
“Not one less, we want us alive”, Via Campesina calls for an end to violence against women
by La Via Campesina
LA VIA CAMPESINA SAYS _'NOT ONE LESS'_: NO MORE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN!
[1]
(Harare, 17 November 2016) On the 25th November, the International Day
of Struggle against violence against women; The Via Campesina will
reaffirm its commitment to the struggles for equal rights and human
dignity.
We as women carry enormous responsibilities in this world, and feed
entire nations using agroecological practices, without our economic,
social, legal and political rights being recognised, and without public
programmes to guarantee equal social and economic participation.For this
reason we are making a global call to our organisations, allies and
friends to join forces to support actions, mobilisations and activities
to denounce the different types of violence faced by women and to
criticise the capitalist patriarchal model and the encroachment of
agribusiness in our territories.
On this day of struggle we join the voices of millions of women who came
together in Latin America on 19th October to shout "Not one less, we
want us alive" to denounce the alarming growth in femicide[1] [2] and
male-chauvinist and misogynist violence against women.Femicide stems
from the structural inequality between women and men, and the domination
of men over women; gender violence is a mechanism for these factors to
reproduce oppression and discrimination against women.
There is an urgent need for both women and men to organise in a common
front to fight against all types of violence and oppression.To this end,
on 25th November we are using our international campaign "No more
violence against women", started in 2008, as a tool to denounce and
highlight this systematic violence faced by women around the world.
Now more than ever, we are pushing forward in the struggle for a new
relationship between women and men and between human beings and mother
earth.We must engage in our struggles, transform society and build a
better world through training, organisation and mobilisation, taking
into account the specific situations that we face as women in a world
where we do not have equality with men.
Food sovereignty is the political project on which we can build social
relations based on substantive equality. We need to eradicate all types
of discrimination based on ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, age,
disability or any other factor. The feminist approach of food
sovereignty helps transform reality, building on emancipation and social
justice, and it allows us to show women as the protagonists who are
improving the situation; this helps transform unequal power relations.
The capitalist system that has generated poverty and exclusion
throughout history affects women in a more perverse and violent way,
particularly the poorest, who live in rural areas and on the outskirts
of cities.The climate crisis and abusive exploitation of natural
resources are taking us towards an ecological disaster and oppression of
the peoples of the world. We believe that all of us, women and men, must
come together in a joint struggle to save the planet and change the
system.
There is now evidence that states do not take the political approach of
reducing and eradicating violence against women. This violence is
manifested in sexual abuse, harassment in organisations and on the
street, rape, and institutional, psychological and structural violence.
We call on states to ensure that legal frameworks for the safety,
protection and freedom of women are respected. We will continue the
struggle to occupy decision-making spaces in all national structures
with the same capacity and legitimacy as men.
We also demand that churches, the media and states should not seek to
control our bodies using religious fundamentalism and trying to limit us
to the home. We raise a shout of resistance against all forms of
exploitation of our bodies and our territories!
We pledge that we will struggle together as women and men for social and
gender justice until each woman can move freely and without fear, in the
home, in the community and around the world.
During this day of action we want to demonstrate unity and our capacity
to mobilise in different territories. Please send us messages, photos,
videos and audio recordings to share on our website www.viacampesina.org
[3]
NO MORE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN!
NOT A MINUTE OF SILENCE FOR OUR DEAD - A LIFETIME OF STRUGGLE!
GLOBALISE THE STRUGGLE - GLOBALISE HOPE!
-------------------------
MORE INFORMATION:
Photos and audio: See our new collection of "No more violence against
women!" postcards (Spanish) [4]
"No more violence against women" manual (Spanish), here. [5]
Video: Basta de Violencia contra las Mujeres! [6]
Follow us on social networks: Facebook [7], Twitter [8]
-------------------------
[1] [9] "Femicide is one of the most extreme forms of gender violence,
which in its various forms includes all misogynist violence against
women, that violates their human rights, attacks their security and puts
their lives at risk. It culminates in the murder of some girls and
women. Femicide happens because the authorities fail to act, they are
negligent or they collude with aggressors, and in this way carry out
institutional violence against women by blocking their access to justice
and contributing to impunity".
Links:
------
[1]
https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/women-mainm...
[2] cid:part3.33AD8F0E.9E1CD19E@viacampesina.org
[3] http://www.viacampesina.org/
[4] http://tv.viacampesina.org/Cunas-Radiales-Basta-de-Violencia?lang=es
[5]
http://www.viacampesina.org/downloads/pdf/sp/Cartilla_Basta_de_Violencia_...
[6] http://tv.viacampesina.org/Basta-de-violencia-contra-las-72?lang=es
[7] https://www.facebook.com/viacampesinaOFFICIAL
[8] https://twitter.com/via_campesina
[9] cid:part10.EEB9DCA9.3B64F713@viacampesina.org
8 years, 1 month
La Via Campesina | e-Newsletter | October, 2016
by La Via Campesina
La Via Campesina | e-Newsletter | October, 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]
PAN-EUROPEAN FORUM IN ROMANIA WRAPS UP: FOOD SOVEREIGNTY TAKES ROOT IN
EASTERN EUROPE
-------------------------
Cluj-Napoca, October 31st - The fight back against industrial
agriculture and for a just and sustainable future for farming and
peasant farmers took a leap forward this week as the largest-ever
European Forum on food sovereignty concluded.
After five days of discussions, the groundwork has been laid to take
back n, relocalise our food systems and multiply food sovereignty
platforms across the continent by the participants from more than 40
countries who gathered at the second Nyéléni Forum on Food Sovereignty.
A huge diversity of people involved in the food system were present,
including farmers, food and agricultural workers, trade unionists,
researchers, activists, fisherfolk, pastoralists, indigenous peoples,
consumers, and human rights defenders.
A major accomplishment of this forum was the convergence of Eastern
European and Central Asian organisations with their Western European
counterparts. Read More [3]
NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
REPRESSION IN BRAZIL - POLICE INVADES MST SCHOOL
-------------------------
These acts are the latest in a series of authoritarian and repressive
measures that have targeted the MST in recent months, like the murders
of two of its members by police seven months ago in the state of Paraná.
Read More [4]
BINDING TREATY NEGOTIATIONS IN GENEVA
-------------------------
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) held in the last week of October 2016. Read More [5]
ROGERIO HÖHN INTERVENES AT #BINDINGTREATY NEGOTIATIONS
-------------------------
The time has come to unite our struggles in Southern Africa - the
campaigns, networks, movements and organizations that are combating
transnational corporations - the way they are exploiting our destinies,
natural heritage and human rights, dismantling public services,
destroying the commons, fomenting violence and endangering food
sovereignty in every corner of the continent. Read More [6]
#CFS43: SUMMARY OF INTERVENTIONS MADE BY LVC DELEGATION AT CFS PLENARY
IN ROME
-------------------------
A delegation of peasants, representing La Via Campesina, took part in
the CSM Forum, the Civil Society Mechanism for relations to the UN
Committee on World Food Security, in Rome this October.. Read More [7]
KARNATAKA WOMEN MAKING INROADS INTO THE FARMERS' MOVEMENT
-------------------------
Women members of Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha (KRRS) are increasingly
coming to the forefront of the farmers' movement in the State. Read More
[8]
SRI LANKA: FIRST PEOPLE'S TRIBUNAL ON AGROCHEMICAL COMPANIES
-------------------------
A number of representatives from Sri Lanka's agricultural hubs,
including Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Kurunegala and Moneragala, gave
evidence before the tribunal; highlighting the issues faced by the
people due to the activities of the multinational agrochemical
companies. Read More [9]
EUROPEAN PLAN FOR SHEEP MEAT: RECOGNIZE AND DEFEND THE ROLE AND
EXPERTISE OF EUROPEAN SHEEP FARMERS
-------------------------
Essential to a serene future for sheep farming is the preservation of a
network of local abattoirs and the development of innovative slaughter,
mobile and at the farm. The relocation of activities is a major
economical, environmental and societal issue. Read More [10]
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.
Read More [11]
MST ASKS FOR MORE LAND REFORM AND FOR A STOP IN THE CRIMINALIZATION OF
THE MOVEMENT
-------------------------
On Friday, November 4th, MST was on the criminalization spotlight. A
violent action by the police, codename "Castra", spanned three States,
Paraná, São Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul. Read More [12]
HONDURAS MISSION IN GENEVA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF LETTER
SEEKING JUSTICE FOR THE MURDER OF COMMUNITY DEFENDERS
-------------------------
On Thursday, 27th October 2016, organizations and social movements of
the Global Campaign to Dismantle Corporate Power and End Impunity,
delivered a letter to the Permanent Mission of Honduras in Geneva
seeking justice in the murders of community defenders in the Central
American country. Read More [13]
LINKS TO THE FULL TEXT OF INTERVENTIONS AT #BINDINGTREATY NEGOTIATIONS
-------------------------
At the Binding Treaty Negotiation in Geneva, JULIA FERNANDES on behalf
of International Association of Democratic Lawyers and MAB intervened to
highlight human rights violations by TNCs [14] in Brazil. FEDERICO
PACHECO of the Union of Land Workers of Andalusia intervened to denounce
the actions of transnationals [15] pushing a model of industrial
agriculture.
CETA IS A BAD DEAL FOR ROMANIAN PEASANTS AND AGROECOLOGICAL FOOD
PRODUCERS!
-------------------------
Free trade agreements such as the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement
(CETA) are designed to benefit big corporates while eliminating millions
of family and smallholder farmers Read More [16]
HAITI - NEITHER HYBRIDS, NOR GMO'S, BUT FARM SAVED SEEDS
-------------------------
Interview with Jean-Baptise Chavannes, spokesperson of Mouvement Paysan
de Papaye, Haïti (Farmer Papaya Movement), by Frédéric Guérin and Claire
Chauvet, Inf'OGM administrators, about Haiti's situation in general
after the devastating hurricane Matthew, and about agriculture, farmers
and international aid. Read More [17]
16TH OCTOBER: FOR PEOPLES' FOOD SOVEREIGNTY AND AGAINST TRANSNATIONAL
CORPORATIONS
-------------------------
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. Watch the Slideshow [18]
THE HAGUE – MONSANTO TRIBUNAL: PEASANTS OF THE WORLD STANDING TOGETHER
FOR JUSTICE
-------------------------
An International Monsanto Tribunal [19]was held in The Hague,
Netherlands, alongside a People's Assembly, to hear cases against
Monsanto and other agribusiness corporations and put forward real
solutions to societal and environmental challenges. Read More [20]
CONNECTING SMALLHOLDERS TO MARKETS: AN ANALYTICAL GUIDE
Year: 2016
Summary: This publication is the fruit of two years of collective
efforts by the Civil Society Mechanism (CSM) working group coordinated
by LVC 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 [21]
[22]
At the tribunal against Monsanto and the popular assembly which took
place from 12 to 16 October 2016 in The Hague. Several social movements
and civil society organizations, explain why a binding treaty to end the
impunity of multinationals is now needed. Watch Now [23]
Video Credit: ZIN TV
[24]
MY FATHER BAEK NAM-GI
In the memory of #BrotherBaek [25] - peasant friends and Baek Namgi's
family in South Korea have put together a short video, to inform the
larger public of the state oppression on protesting peasants and
demanding that those responsible be held to account. Please watch and
share. Watch Now [26]
Video Credit: ZIN TV
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 [1]here.
[1]
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To unsubscribe from the distribution list, questions or comments,
write to VIACAMPESINA(a)VIACAMPESINA.ORG
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To subscribe to this newsletter - Click Here [30]
Links:
------
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[2] http://ttps://mail.viacampesina.org/lists/listinfo/Via-info-en
[3]
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[4]
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[5]
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[6]
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[7]
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[8]
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[9]
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[10]
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[11]
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[12]
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[13]
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[14]
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[15]
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[16]
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[17]
https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/biodiversit...
[18] https://tv.viacampesina.org/October-16-Actions-around-the?lang=en
[19] http://www.monsanto-tribunal.org/main.php?obj_id=281601562
[20]
https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/stop...
[21]
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[22] https://vimeo.com/188736942
[23] https://tv.viacampesina.org/Campagne-pour-un-traite?lang=en
[24] https://www.youtube.com/watch?sns=fb&v=KV-NrJBNlEs
[25]
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[26] https://tv.viacampesina.org/My-father-Baek-Nam-gi?lang=en
[27] http://www.twitter.com/via_campesina
[28] https://www.facebook.com/viacampesinaOFFICIAL/
[29] https://vimeo.com/viacampesina
[30] https://mail.viacampesina.org/lists/listinfo/Via-info-en
8 years, 1 month
Brazil: MST asks for more Land Reform and for a stop in the criminalization of the Movement
by La Via Campesina
HUMAN RIGHTS
BRAZIL: MST ASKS FOR MORE LAND REFORM AND FOR A STOP IN THE
CRIMINALIZATION OF THE MOVEMENT [1]
Published on Monday, 07 November 2016 23:06
[2](NOVEMBER 7, 2016) MST DENOUNCES AN "ESCALATION IN THE REPRESSION OF
THE STRUGGLE FOR LAND, DOMINATED BY THE INTERESTS OF AGRIBUSSINES ALLIED
TO THE VIOLENCE OF A STATE OF EXCEPTION".
On this Friday, November 4th, MST was on the criminalization spotlight.
A violent action by the police, codename "Castra", spanned three States,
Paraná, São Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul. The main target of the
operation was to arrest and criminalize leaders from two camps held by
militants in Central Paraná State. The camps are named "Dom Tomás
Balduíno" and "Herdeiros da Luta pela Terra" (Land Struggle Heirs).
On a note, MST denounces a "surge in the repression of the struggle for
land, dominated by the interests of agribussines allied to the violence
of a State of Exception".
"We remind the public that we have always acted in an organized and
peaceful manner for the advancement of Land Reform. We reclaim the land
for it's social function and that it be destined to settling the 10.000
families that are currently camped in Paraná State."
In São Paulo, 10 vehicles from the Civil Police broke into the National
School Florestan Fernandes (ENFF), in the town of Guararema. Two
militants were arrested.
According to the reports, police officers arrived at around 9:25 am,
closed the school gate and jumped over the reception window, taking
shots aiming at sky. The shards of collected bullets prove that none of
them were rubber, but lethal.
In Mato Grosso do Sul, three police vehicles with Paraná plates broke
into CEPEGE, "Geral Garcia" Research Center and Professional School, in
Sidrolândia. The police operation was searching for MST militants from
Paraná that allegedly were there. The police remained there until
approximately 9AM, when they left with no arrests. During the operation,
police prohibited the use of mobile phones.
Militants that were in CEPEGE at the moment were performing cleaning and
maintenance tasks.
HERE IS THE FULL NOTE:
MORE LAND REFORM AND A STOP TO MST CRIMINALIZATION
Once more the Landless Rural Workers' Movement is a victim of
criminalization constructed by the repressive apparatus of the State of
Paraná. The violent operation, codename "Castra", took place this
Friday, November 4th 2016, in Paraná - municipalities of Quedas do
Iguaçu, Francisco Beltrão and Laranjeiras do Sul; and also in the States
of São Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul.
The aim of the operation is to capture and criminalize leaders from 'Dom
Tomás Balduíno' and 'Herdeiros da Luta pela Terra' encampments, located
in the central region of Paraná state. Until now 6 leaders were arrested
and they are still looking for other workers, under several accusations,
including criminal organization.
Since May 2014, approximately 3,000 encamped families are occupying
areas that were before occuppied by Araupel Company. Those areas were
illegally occupied by the company and because of that the Federal Court
of Public Land declared that they belong to the Union, so they must be
devoted for Agrarian Reform.
Araupel Company became a powerful economical and political empire by
illegally occupying public land and constantly using violence against
rural workers and peasants that occupy land, many times acting in
collusion with the civilian and military police apparatus, they have
even fund political campaigns of public authorities, like the one of the
Chief of Staff of the Beto Richa's government, Valdir Rossoni.
We highlight that this action is part of a continuous process of
persecution and violence that MST has been facing in several states and
in Parana. On April 7th, 2016, in the land illegally occupied by Araupel
Company the families organized in the Dom Tomas Balduíno encampment were
victims of an ambush made by the Military Police and security personnel
hired by the company. In the attack, were there more than 120 gunshots,
Vilmar Bordim and Leomar Orback were executed, there were also countless
people bullet wounded. In the same large state in 1997, gunmen hired by
Araupel killed in another ambush two Landless Movement workers. Both
cases remain unpunished.
We denounce the escalation on violence and repression against the
struggle for land, where agribusiness interests associated with the
violence of the State of Exception predominate.
We remember that we always act in an organized and pacific way so the
Agrarian Reform advances. We demand that the land fulfills its social
function and that it is destined for the settlement of the 10,000
families encamped in Paraná.
We keep fighting for our rights and we join those who fight for
education, health, housing, more rights and more democracy.
STRUGGLE AND BUILD POPULAR AGRARIAN REFORM.
CURITIBA, NOVEMBER 4TH, 2016.
MORE INFORMATION: HTTP://MST.ORG.BR/
Links:
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[1]
https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/human-right...
[2] https://viacampesina.org/en/images/MST%20Nov%202016.jpg
8 years, 2 months
Via Campesina at COP 22: false solutions to the climate crisis may constitute crimes against humanity
by La Via Campesina
Via Campesina at COP 22: false solutions to the climate crisis may
constitute crimes against humanity [1]
Published on Monday, 07 November 2016 17:22
[2]PRESS RELEASE
>From November 7th to November 18th, 2016, the 22nd Conference of the
Parties (COP 22) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change will take place in Marrakech, Morocco. It is there that the 196
signatories to the Paris Agreement will decide upon steps to implement
the Agreement that they adopted in December 2015. Peasants and
small-scale farmers from Via Campesina will be in Marrakech for the
duration of the Conference; they will draw attention to the disastrous
effects that application of the Agreement could have, both on peasant
agriculture and on the climate.
Approximately 40 people, from Morocco and all over the world, the
majority of which are youth, will make up the Via Campesina delegation
in Marrakech. The international peasant movement has decided to hold a
training course on climate justice for its membership, with a focus on
young people, from November 8th to November 12th. Some close allies
from NGOs and social movements have also been invited to participate. It
will serve as a great opportunity for Via Campesina to strengthen its
links with small-scale farmers organizations from North African and
Middle Eastern countries and to better understand the reality of peasant
agriculture in that region. This decision is a clear way of stating that
forward-looking solutions to the climate crisis are in the hands of
young peasants and small-scale food providers whose farming practices
reflect their interest in agroecology and peasant agriculture.
Many multinational corporations see COP 22 as an opportunity to further
introduce carbon sequestration initiatives to the North African and
Middle Eastern countries that have been particularly affected by climate
change--with increased greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the
current intensive model of production. For this reason, the Via
Campesina delegation will be available throughout the COP to present an
alternative vision. The delegates will explain that the failure to
attack the climate crisis at its roots--especially regarding the use of
pesticides, chemical fertilisers and other inputs in
agriculture--constitutes a serious threat to food sovereignty and to the
survival of countless farming families. They will give testimonies about
peasant practices that help to preserve and regenerate forests and are
an important counter to the destruction done by multinational
corporations who plant monoculture for biofuels and other purposes.
The delegates will also explain the risk of increasing land grabbing, a
phenomenon that is expanding widely. There is tacit support for land
grabbing in the text of last December's agreement, which reduces
agriculture to a 'land use sector' in order to highlight its potential
for capturing carbon.
Payment for Ecosystem Services, REDD, REDD+, and their spin-off programs
such as climate-smart agriculture , together with the Paris Agreement,
are underpinned with an approach that places the commercial and
financial interests of multinational corporations and the world economy
ahead of respect for human rights. It is encouraging that the
International Criminal Court in The Hague has recently recognised that
human rights violations involving environmental destruction and, in
particular, illegal dispossession of land fall within the domain of
crimes against humanity. In Marrakech, the Via Campesina will again task
itself with denouncing the false solutions and initiatives which can
more properly be considered crimes against Humanity than commitments to
finding a solution to the climate crisis. The Via Campesina will ensure
that the voice of its youth delegation is heard, and that the solutions
that it proposes are evaluated in a way that is commensurate with their
importance and effectiveness, rather than being treated as marginal.
_Agenda of the Via Campesina delegation:_
- On November 6th, La Via Campesina will take part to a press conference
organized by the members of the Democratic Network to Accompany COP 22
(Réseau démocratique pour l'accompagnement de la COP22).
- From November 8th to November 12th, there will be a seminar on climate
justice and the struggles for climate justice in North Africa and the
Middle East.
- On November 12th, there will be a Field Visit in the nearby of Agadir
on water and land access issues.
- On November 13th, La Via Campesina, together with the FNSA (Fédération
Nationale du Secteur Agricole du Maroc), will take part in the large
international march for Climate Justice organised by the members of the
Democratic Network to Accompany COP 22 (Réseau démocratique pour
l'accompagnement de la COP22).
CONTACT FOR PRESS:
Hakech Mohamed: 00 212.691.008.705
Links:
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[1]
https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/-cli...
[2] https://viacampesina.org/en/images/2016-01-27-NFU%20pic.jpg
8 years, 2 months
