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[Info EN] 10 Sept | Call to Action - For a New Trade Framework based on Food Sovereignty
by La Via Campesina 23 Aug '24

23 Aug '24

CALL FOR ACTION! READ ON THE WEBSITE [1] The 10th of September is recognized by La Via Campesina and its allies worldwide as the International Day of Action Against the World Trade Organization and Free Trade Agreements. It was on this day in 2003, outside the WTO Ministerial Meeting venue in Cancun, Mexico, that Lee Kyung Hae, a Korean peasant, sacrificed his life to protest against the devastating impact of opening national borders to free trade. At the time of his martyrdom, Lee wore a sign around his neck that read "WTO Kills Farmers." Twenty-one years later, as we commemorate his sacrifice, the world is confronted by a polycrisis of hunger, climate catastrophes, genocidal wars, extreme inequality, rising national debt, inflation, and migration. Yet, all we see is a desperate attempt to maintain the status quo, to continue with business as usual, and systematic efforts to deflect attention from the root causes of these crises by stoking racism, parochialism, patriarchy, and xenophobia. [2] CALL FOR SOLIDARITY ACTIONS! [1] ------------------------- Since its founding days, La Via Campesina has warned that free-market globalization--promoting disinvestment, privatization, and the dismantling of national regulatory networks--would lead to heightened concentration of power among political and corporate elites, in particular through transnational corporations, with devastating consequences for the world's rural communities and urban workers. Today, almost every country in the world is witnessing growing anger among its rural and urban working class, who have been systematically marginalized and invisibilized by an economic system that expanded with the blessings of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Trade Organization. It is high time for the world to follow a different economic trajectory, vastly different from the dominant model guided by neoliberal principles. We are living in a geopolitical moment that is witnessing the emergence of a multipolar order, where the hegemony of the old colonial powers is being challenged. But even within this reordering, there is little effort to rethink the exploitative economic model that has led us to the situation we face today and the power of transnational companies keep increasing. La Via Campesina is calling upon [1] all our social movement allies everywhere to organize and agitate for a new economic framework for the world. We need an alternative to the Agreement on Agriculture promoted by the World Trade Organization. The free-market logic that has guided international trade and driven capital expansion across borders must be stopped and replaced with a new framework that respects solidarity, internationalism, feminism, equity, social justice, and the protection of local economies and food sovereignty [3]. Since 2022, La Via Campesina [4] has been engaged in consultations to build an Alternative International Framework for Global Trade in Agriculture that promotes food sovereignty, aligns with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas (UNDROP), and fosters cross-border cooperation rather than competition. This year, we will broaden this consultative process to include our allies, friends in academia, governments, and diplomats. We urge all our members and allies to use the month of September to highlight the ongoing crisis in their communities and demand public policies that bring greater transparency to national and international trade, guarantee the food sovereignty of our peoples, and ensure fair prices for our produce. We, the peasants and small-scale food producers, still feed 70% of the world's population even as we struggle to meet our own production costs and feed our own families. We are the cornerstone of ensuring food sovereignty, and any government serious about ending hunger, and malnutrition, and building robust rural economies must guarantee that we have access to and control over all means of production, that our commons are protected, and that we receive fair compensation and wages for our work, alongside social security and healthcare for our communities. Free Trade Fuels Hunger! WTO Kills! A New Trade Framework, NOW! Send us details about your mobilizations plans in September to communications(a)viacampesina.org and we will be plotting them onto a global map. You can also tag us on our social networks and use the hashtag #WTOKills #NewTradeFrameworkNOW DOWNLOAD THE COMMUNICATIONS KIT [5] [6] [7] Facebook [7] [8] Twitter [8] [9] Instagram [9] [10] Spotify [10] [11] Vimeo [11] To unsubscribe from the distribution list, click here [12] Website: www.viacampesina.org TV: www.tv.viacampesina.org To subscribe to this newsletter - Click Here [13] Links: ------ [1] https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/viacampesina.org?p=eyJzIjo… [2] https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/viacampesina.org?p=eyJzIjo… [3] https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/viacampesina.org?p=eyJzIjo… [4] https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/viacampesina.org?p=eyJzIjo… [5] https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/comms.viacampesina.org?p=e… [6] https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/vimeo.com?p=eyJzIjoiTlEwQV… [7] https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/www.facebook.com?p=eyJzIjo… [8] https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/twitter.com?p=eyJzIjoiV3lH… [9] https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/www.instagram.com?p=eyJzIj… [10] https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/open.spotify.com?p=eyJzIjo… [11] https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/vimeo.com?p=eyJzIjoiZzhmbV… [12] https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/mail.viacampesina.org?p=ey… [13] https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/ee.forms.viacampesina.org?…

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[Info EN] Peasant Struggles | July 24
by La Via Campesina 20 Aug '24

20 Aug '24

Edition: July 2024 SUBSCRIBE [1] La Via Campesina's 'PEASANT STRUGGLES' brings to you a monthly synthesis of articles and videos from our website and multimedia library. Read, share and help us globalize the struggle! [2] La Via Campesina Denounces Land Annexation by the Occupying and Apartheid State of Israel ------------------------- La Via Campesina vehemently denounces and condemns the illegal seizure of over 23.7 square kilometers (9.15 square miles) of Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank since the beginning of this year by the Israeli government amidst the ongoing genocidal war in the Gaza Strip. More than half of this land, amounting to 12.7 square kilometers in the Jordan Valley, was announced on July 2nd, marking the largest land annexation in the last 30 years since the 1993 Oslo Accords. The Jordan Valley, considered the breadbasket of the future Palestinian state, is endowed with fertile lands and rich water resources. READ THE FULL STATEMENT [3] LVC Ground Report : Kenya's Peasant Protests against the IMF ------------------------- Kenya's debt crisis is severe and well-known. As of April 2024, the country was facing loan maturities totaling KES 50 billion (USD368.32 million) per week. In January 2024, Kenya spent KES 123.53 billion (USD 910 million) on debt servicing, and another KES 66.7 billion (USD 491.34 million) in February 2024. The IMF is notorious for imposing unpopular tax measures on debt-ridden countries to prevent defaults. These measures often include debt restructuring that increases overall debt and promoting Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) that support privatization and liberalization of key state-owned enterprises. The Gen Z-led protests have directly accused the IMF, World Bank, and WTO of imposing harsh taxes and prioritizing creditor interests over the needs of the Kenyan people. Kenyan peasants have had enough of the overreach by these institutions. READ THE REPORT [4] Nepal Needs Comprehensive Land Reform, Not Land Banks [5] ------------------------- Peasant and indigenous communities in Nepal view land not as a commercial commodity but as a means of production tied to identity, culture, heritage, and sovereignty. The World Bank's concept of a Land Bank treats land as a commodity, contradicting the interests of peasants, indigenous peoples, and small-scale food producers. La Via Campesina supports and stands in solidarity with the Kanak Peoples, New Caledonia [6] ------------------------- Given the stakes of mineral and tourist resources, agricultural development is not a priority for the authorities, and most agricultural goods are imported from Australia. However, subsistence farming, practiced and exchanged among indigenous peoples, accounts for a quarter of the indigenous families' resources. Zimbabwe: Peasant Agroecology transforms Shashe community [7] Haiti : Armed Groups Target All the Spaces Where Women Are Thriving [8] India: Peasant Movements Protest Forceful Acquisition of Farmland [9] ------------------------- For the past 850+ days, small-scale farmers and allied agricultural workers' unions in Channarayapatna, Devanahalli, near the Bengaluru International Airport, have been leading a protest against the acquisition of their land for an industrial project. 'Land grabbing is rolling along as we speak and in fact intensifying' [10] ------------------------- When we say that 70% of farmland is controlled by 1% of the world's largest farms, that's a dangerous trend because they don't love the land. Land is like family: if you don't love it, you will exploit it and destroy it. That's what we're seeing around us. Indonesia: SPI Launches Oil Palm Cooperative in North Sumatra, Advancing Agrarian Reform Campaign [11] ------------------------- This June, members of the Indonesian Peasants Union (SPI) in Sei Kopas Village, Asahan Regency, North Sumatra, inaugurated a new Oil Palm Plantation Cooperative. Korean peasants protest as climate crises, crop loss, rising costs, and cheap imports pose existential threat [12] ------------------------- Angered by Yoon Suk-yeol's government policies favoring agricultural destruction and farm-related suicides, peasants nationwide gathered outside the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea on July 4th. Brazil: Environmental crisis - How long do you have to wait to start making changes ? [13] ------------------------- We don't need to cut down any more trees to plant crops or raise cattle. Zero deforestation needs to be extended from the Amazon to other biomes like the Cerrado, the Atlantic Forest, and the Pantanal. Rethinking the regulation of agricultural markets in Europe | Call for Contributions [14] ------------------------- What lessons can be learned from the successes and failures of past policies to regulate agricultural markets, in Europe and elsewhere in the world, in order to rebuild the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) on the basis of food sovereignty and enable the agroecological transition? READ ALL ARTICLES FROM JULY 2024 [15] FEATURED PODCASTS [16] For more news and updates from peasant movements worldwide, subscribe to our Monthly Newswrap Podcast. Tune in Now! [17] FEATURED VIDEO [18] Farmers have been taking to the streets all over the world in recent months. In this webinar hosted by the National Family Farm Coalition in the US , you can hear first-hand from farmers about the roots of discontent in Europe and the protests they're leading in their countries. 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 [19] and following the link to our PayPal account. [20] [21] Facebook [21] [22] Twitter [22] [23] Instagram [23] [24] Spotify [24] [25] Vimeo [25] To unsubscribe from the distribution list, click here [26] Website: www.viacampesina.org TV: www.tv.viacampesina.org To subscribe to this newsletter - Click Here [1] Links: ------ [1] https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/ee.forms.viacampesina.org?… [2] https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/viacampesina.org?p=eyJzIjo… [3] https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/viacampesina.org?p=eyJzIjo… [4] https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/viacampesina.org?p=eyJzIjo… [5] https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/viacampesina.org?p=eyJzIjo… [6] https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/viacampesina.org?p=eyJzIjo… [7] https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/viacampesina.org?p=eyJzIjo… [8] https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/viacampesina.org?p=eyJzIjo… [9] https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/viacampesina.org?p=eyJzIjo… [10] https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/viacampesina.org?p=eyJzIjo… [11] https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/viacampesina.org?p=eyJzIjo… [12] https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/viacampesina.org?p=eyJzIjo… [13] https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/viacampesina.org?p=eyJzIjo… [14] https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/viacampesina.org?p=eyJzIjo… [15] https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/viacampesina.org?p=eyJzIjo… [16] https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/open.spotify.com?p=eyJzIjo… [17] https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/open.spotify.com?p=eyJzIjo… [18] https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/www.youtube.com?p=eyJzIjoi… [19] https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/www.viacampesina.org?p=eyJ… [20] https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/www.paypal.com?p=eyJzIjoiV… [21] https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/www.facebook.com?p=eyJzIjo… [22] https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/twitter.com?p=eyJzIjoiazl3… [23] https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/www.instagram.com?p=eyJzIj… [24] https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/open.spotify.com?p=eyJzIjo… [25] https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/vimeo.com?p=eyJzIjoiZUZmMC… [26] https://click.mailchimp.com/track/click/30010842/mail.viacampesina.org?p=ey…

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[Info EN] Peasant Struggles | June 24
by La Via Campesina 19 Jul '24

19 Jul '24

*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|* Edition: June 2024 SUBSCRIBE [1] La Via Campesina's 'PEASANT STRUGGLES' brings to you a monthly synthesis of articles and videos from our website and multimedia library. Read, share and help us globalize the struggle! [2] La Via Campesina: Climate Catastrophes require urgent global attention and response! Enough of False Promises and False Solutions! ------------------------- In the face of this grave crisis, La Via Campesina has been calling on states and governments to adopt concrete and resilient alternatives for affected populations. It insists that the fight against climate change must have political will but also ensure that communities have control over their territories, not transnational corporations. It's urgent to change the system and transform food systems, identifying the responsible parties and their responsibilities, and implementing clear solutions such as the UN Declaration of Rights of Peasants (UNDROP), Peasant Agroecology and Food Sovereignty, which create dignified conditions, healthy nutrition, and regenerate life and nature. READ THE FULL STATEMENT [3] On June 25th, over 400 Kenyan officers arrived in Haiti as part of a neo-colonial strategy to undermine Haitian sovereignty. The deployment of Kenyan police forces in recent weeks has not prevented recent incidents of insecurity, such as the takeover of a police station in Port-au-Prince and attacks on food transporters on provincial roads, such as National Route 1 where gangs massacred civilians in the agricultural areas of Lower Artibonite, resulting in numerous casualties. READ THE REPORT [4]. Urgent Appeal to Save the Revolution and the Sudanese People [5] ------------------------- This war has resulted in an appalling humanitarian tragedy, costing the lives of over twenty thousand people, injuring another fifty thousand, and displacing over 8.5 million from their homes. In addition, the war has led to the almost total destruction of infrastructure, the looting of markets and farms, and the disruption of livelihoods, catastrophically worsening living conditions. Sri Lanka: Social movements decry large-scale land grab in Kilinochchi [6] ------------------------- The People's Alliance for the Right to Land, an umbrella network of social movements, civil society organizations, and land rights activists in Sri Lanka, has warned of a large-scale land grab in Kilinochchi district for mineral exploration purposes. Tokyo Cement Company's controversial project involves acquiring 3,000 acres of land for limestone excavation and cement factory construction. Neoliberalism and repression of social movements explain the rise of the far right in Europe [7] ------------------------- The far right has no answers to the multiple social crises facing rural areas in Europe. Everything they are proposing - which includes combating migration, limiting the rights of migrant workers, rolling back environmental measures, and so forth - will not improve the situation of people living in rural areas. UK: The Landworkers' Alliance's Top Five Demands for the New Government [8] ------------------------- As part of its efforts to put food and farming higher on the political agenda, the Landworkers' Alliance has set out its top five demands for the next government. Emphasizing the urgent need for sustainable practices and increased support for farmers, the Alliance's demands highlight critical issues impacting the sector. Uganda: Making a business case for agroecology and empowering small-scale farmers [9] ------------------------- Members of the Eastern and Southern Africa Small-scale Farmers' Forum (ESAFF) explain how the new Agroecology Business Hub (ABH) is helping tackle three key factors for small-scale food producers; Access to Credit, Linkages to Local Markets and Building Capacities. Another Blow to Kenyan Government as High Court Extends Ban on GMO to October 2024 [10] ------------------------- The statement by KPL also noted that the matter was significant because it touched on very critical issues affecting the Kenyan society; the right to quality and acceptable food, the right to health and not in the least, the economic & social rights of peasant farmers who produce over 80% of the food consumed locally in the country La Via Campesina mobilizes for the defense of Democracy in Bolivia! [11] ------------------------- We stand in solidarity with and join the resistance of our Cloc - Vía Campesina Bolivia Organizations. We call on all our organizations worldwide to remain vigilant against these destabilizing strategies in Bolivia and the region. Landless Women Building Free Territories: 40 Years of Struggle for Agrarian Reform in Brazil [12] ------------------------- To think about the MST's organizational process is to think about the meaning of women's protagonism. The MST's organicity is only the way it is due to the feminist outlook addressing topics of human existence, like education, health, child care, the fight against gender-based oppressions, building agroecology, food sovereignty. READ ALL ARTICLES FROM JUNE 2024 [13] FEATURED PODCASTS [14] For more news and updates from peasant movements worldwide, subscribe to our Monthly Newswrap Podcast. Tune in Now! [15] [14] Chengeto Sandra Muzira, a young peasant from the Zimbabwe Smallholder Organic Farmers Forum (ZIMSOFF) and a member of the International Coordination Committee of La Via Campesina, recently spoke on IFAD's Farms-Food-Future podcast. She highlighted the importance of sustainable land use in agroecological practices. Tune in Now! [16] FEATURED PUBLICATION [14] NYÉLÉNI NEWSLETTER: CHALLENGING THE FINANCING BEHIND GREEN AND BLUE GRABBING This edition of the newsletter explores some of the varied and bewildering array of new schemes that financialize oceans, soils, seaweed, and forests. DOWNLOAD NOW [17] 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 [18] and following the link to our PayPal account. [19] [20] Facebook [20] [21] Twitter [21] [22] Instagram [22] [23] Spotify [23] [24] Vimeo [24] 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 [1] Links: ------ [1] https://mail.viacampesina.org/lists/listinfo/Via-info-en [2] https://viacampesina.org/es/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/Banner-web-E… [3] https://viacampesina.org/en/la-via-campesina-climate-catastrophes-require-u… [4] https://viacampesina.org/en/ground-report-haiti-in-struggle-kenyan-troops-i… [5] https://viacampesina.org/en/urgent-appeal-to-save-the-revolution-and-the-su… [6] https://viacampesina.org/en/sri-lanka-social-movements-decry-large-scale-la… [7] https://viacampesina.org/en/eu-elections-neoliberalism-and-repression-of-so… [8] https://viacampesina.org/en/uk-the-landworkers-alliances-top-five-demands-f… [9] https://viacampesina.org/en/uganda-making-a-business-case-for-agroecology-a… [10] https://viacampesina.org/en/blow-to-government-as-kenyan-court-extends-ban-… [11] https://viacampesina.org/en/la-via-campesina-mobilizes-for-the-defense-of-d… [12] https://viacampesina.org/en/landless-women-building-free-territories-40-yea… [13] https://viacampesina.org/en/2024/06/ [14] https://open.spotify.com/episode/6scnxNpj9GKJwuDf7dnugn [15] https://open.spotify.com/episode/4GqEI4b1marCCVOtZPTp2f [16] https://viacampesina.org/en/peasant-agroecology-and-sustainable-land-use-pr… [17] https://nyeleni.org/DOWNLOADS/newsletters/Nyeleni_Newsletter_Num_56_EN.pdf [18] http://www.viacampesina.org/ [19] https://www.paypal.com/uk/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&SESSION=IK5Hgl6MlPxD… [20] http://www.facebook.com/ViaCampesinaOFFICIAL [21] https://twitter.com/via_campesina [22] http://www.instagram.com/la_via_campesina_official [23] https://open.spotify.com/show/5FYiTT1dNlt8HgUHVUR3pv [24] https://vimeo.com/viacampesina

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[Info EN] La Via Campesina Urges UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to support a Food Sovereignty-Based Global Trade Framework
by La Via Campesina 14 Jul '24

14 Jul '24

*|MC:SUBJECT|* *|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|* Afficher ce courriel dans votre navigateur <https://viacampesina.org/fr/kit-de-presse-8e-conference-internationale-de-l…> La Via Campesina Urges UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to support a Food Sovereignty-Based Global Trade Framework 4 July 2024 *In an open letter* addressed to Ms. Rebeca Grynspan Mayufis, Secretary-General of UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), La Via Campesina extends regards for UNCTAD’s 60th anniversary, recalling its founding ideals for fair global trade. The letter points to current times, reveals failures in global trade governance, and urges UNCTAD to embrace new solutions promoting food sovereignty and social justice worldwide. Here is the full text of the letter: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ To: *Rebeca Grynspan Mayufis,* *Secretary-General,* *UN Trade and Development* Greetings, >From La Via Campesina, one of the world’s largest networks of small-scale food producers, comprising 180 peasant and indigenous peoples’ organizations in 81 countries, we convey our best regards and wishes for the 60th anniversary of the UN Trade and Development, UNCTAD. *We recall the noble intentions behind the creation of UNCTAD*: the drive for independence among many Southern countries and the aspiration to overhaul the world trade order inherited from colonization, aiming for trade that benefits people, particularly in the Global South. However, we find ourselves in extraordinary times that betray these intentions, and we hope that UNCTAD @ 60 is mindful of the realities confronting humanity today. Global geopolitics is shifting towards multipolarity, a consequence of the longstanding hegemonic foreign policy of Western superpowers and of the increasing power of transnational companies. This policy dictated global trade rules crafted to benefit and expand the economic interests of a small oligarchy, enabling them to firmly control the finite resources of countries around the world. This multipolar world emerges amidst recurring climate catastrophes, stemming from an extractivist model of industrialization initially devised in the Global North and systematically exported to the South. Structural adjustment programs, free trade agreements, and economic partnership frameworks perpetuate this model, exacerbating the loss of lives, livelihoods, and exacerbating global hunger and malnutrition. *We contend that globalization has failed to deliver on its promise of inclusivity and prosperity, both for people and the planet.* La Via Campesina emerged in 1993 as a response to globalization’s perceived cover for the neocolonization of our territories. We warned against the expansion of capital, commodification of resources, and the erosion of rural economies, advocating for cooperation over competition in international trade. Repeatedly, we sounded alarms against institutions like the World Trade Organization, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund, which promoted privatization, deregulation, and financialization of ecosystems. We cautioned against the commodification of seeds and crops, dismantling of public food programs, and the rise of factory farms and global agrifood transnational companies foreseeing the concentration of the global food chain and its catastrophic consequences. *Since 2023, protests have erupted in nearly 90 countries, led by marginalized groups disillusioned by the false promises of globalization.* Governments of the Global South, long deceived by these promises, are awakening to the reality of their resentment. The desire to integrate into the WTO, once seen as a solution, has proven illusory, as the trade order has consistently favored transnational corporations and Northern oligarchies. Even those Southern governments that have demonstrated the political will to implement public agricultural policies that promote better market regulation, price support and poverty reduction programmes are being insidiously trapped by the global financial institutions into huge external financial debts – limiting their ability to implement meaningful public policies. Extraordinary times demand extraordinary solutions, from the people. In 2016, we *cautioned <https://viacampesina.org/en/lvc-declaration-on-trade-markets-and-developmen…>* UNCTAD against neoliberalism’s “free trade paradigm” and “market-driven development” schemes, which consolidate corporate control over food systems. Since the early 1990s, UNCTAD shifted its activities from trying to build a fair international trade system to try to support Southern countries in WTO negotiations. Its premises was that WTO could be beneficial to Southern countries if they were able to get organized and get the best of it. La Via Campesina believes that this strategy has failed. *The WTO has continued to be the tool of Northern oligarchies in order to increase market access for transnational corporations. It has never been beneficial for the people, in particular in Southern countries. *We call on UNCTAD and all member countries to recognize this failure and to reconnect with its original mandate: creating a fair international trade framework towards people’s sovereignty and social justice. Today, as UNCTAD marks its 60th year, we remind you that true solutions must arise from those most affected by decades of neoliberal policies: peasants, small scale-farmers, agricultural workers, indigenous peoples, workers, rural and urban women, urban poor, in particular those in Southern countries *We call on UNCTAD to heed the voices from the ground clamoring for food sovereignty.* Food Sovereignty embodies the right of peoples to healthy, culturally appropriate food produced sustainably. It places the needs of small-scale food producers, distributors, and consumers at the forefront, rather than the interests of markets and corporations. *In 2022, La Via Campesina embarked on the creation of a global trade framework in collaboration with peasant and indigenous peoples’ organizations across 80 countries. This framework is grounded in the principles of Food Sovereignty, Internationalism, and Solidarity.* It aims to address the social and ecological crises gripping our world today. This framework empowers each country to determine its agricultural and food policies, safeguarding and nurturing local food systems through various regulatory measures such as minimum support prices, public stocks, and supply management. The goal is to stabilize agricultural prices over the costs of production and combat speculation. Moreover, it pledges to prevent any country from being forcibly excluded from international agricultural trade. It advocates for regulated international trade in agricultural inputs, aiming to reduce dependency on these inputs and transition towards peasant agroecology. This framework strives for international trade free from geopolitical pressures and prohibits practices like dumping and export subsidies for agricultural and food products. It upholds the highest standards of human rights, including the right to food, UNDROP, UNDRIP, and ILO regulations protecting workers’ rights. It defends the rights of agricultural workers, women, fisherfolk, pastoralists, indigenous peoples, migrant workers, and others in the food system. Additionally, it condemns the use of food as a weapon in international conflicts. *We invite UNCTAD and its member states to collaborate with us in building this framework.* We propose a participatory process within the UN, with active involvement from the Food and Agriculture Organization. Our goal is to create a society where hunger is eradicated, and social justice prevails. A delegation from La Via Campesina eagerly awaits the opportunity to discuss our proposals further. Together, we can pave the way for a future where no one goes hungry, and where equity and justice prevail. We anticipate your response. *La Via Campesina* *04 July 2024, Bagnolet* Twitter <http://www.twitter.com/viacampesinaFR> Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/ViaCampesinaOfficial> Website <http://www.viacampesina.org> Instagram <http://instagram.com/la_via_campesina_official> Pour se désinscrire de la liste de distribution, poser des questions ou faire des commentaires, écrivez à *viacampesina(a)viacampesina.org* <mailto:viacampesina@viacampesina.org> Site web : www.viacampesina.org Pour s'abonner à cette lettre d'information - Cliquez ici <https://mail.viacampesina.org/lists/listinfo/Via-info-fr>

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[Info EN] EMERGENCY: Declare Gaza a Famine-Stricken Area and End the Genocide NOW !
by La Via Campesina 09 Jul '24

09 Jul '24

*|MC:SUBJECT|* *|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|* Afficher ce courriel dans votre navigateur <https://viacampesina.org/fr/kit-de-presse-8e-conference-internationale-de-l…> EMERGENCY: Declare Gaza a Famine-Stricken Area and End the Genocide NOW ! 2 July 2024 Bagnolet: june 26 , 2024 Here below is the latest petition to declare Gaza Strip a FAMINE ZONE and to end the genocidal war waged by the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian people. Every action counts at this moment. We ask all our members, allies, and friends to read the petition and sign it. *We must act NOW. Read our declaration from La Via Campesina and sign the petition.* *La Via Campesina, the international peasant movement, representing over 200 million peasants, calls on all social movements, civil society organizations, human rights defenders and activists to support the appeal to the United Nations and the Palestinian Authority to immediately declare Gaza a famine-stricken area due to famine, <https://viacampesina.org/en/recognize-gaza-as-a-famine-zone-la-via-campesin…> environmental pollution, and the spread of diseases and the severe restriction of the humanitarian aid.* The United Nations and the Palestinian Authority must adopt this declaration and coordinate global and local efforts in partnership with Palestinian civil society to develop an immediate plan to address these impacts, elevate emergency relief levels for citizens in the sector, and push toward accountability and prosecution of the occupation for committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. The Israeli genocide in Gaza has been ongoing for more than eight months and has intensified in Rafah, home to over a million internally displaced people. The actions and policies imposed by the Israeli occupation on the people of Gaza are causing untold suffering from severe food shortages, a continuous decline in nutrition levels, widespread malnutrition among children, and increased mortality rates due to diseases caused by hunger and malnutrition, along with the difficulty of accessing medical and healthcare services. The environmental pollution resulting from the destruction of sewage systems, the inability of municipalities to remove waste, the presence of thousands of bodies under the rubble, and the weak humanitarian response and provision of necessary aid to those in need, has worsened the situation and suffering of the people of Gaza. *According to the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) Gaza Strip Targeted Analysis, May 31, 2024 report <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf36bU49jjyXFVoCsU_Wjjh8FazVEKZyNM…>* *all three Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) thresholds for Famine (food consumption, acute malnutrition, and mortality) were likely met or surpassed in northern Gaza in April. This situation will persist through at least in July if there is not a fundamental change in how food assistance is distributed and accessed after entering Gaza.* While food aid and informal market supplies increased in March and April, it is unlikely that over 80 percent of the northern Gaza population averted catastrophic hunger. Amid severe hunger, disease, and inadequate nutrition treatment and prevention, it is possible that acute malnutrition and mortality levels were above the IPC thresholds in April. Many children have died from hunger-related causes and government decision makers should act urgently to mitigate loss of life. The situation in southern Gaza is critical too because of the ongoing Israeli military offensive in Rafah which is seriously disrupting food distribution channels and worsening access to food, bringing *the south into Emergency (IPC Phase 4) and Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) between May and July*. The report asserts that food and nutrition assistance have been key to preventing Famine (IPC Phase 5) in the south to date, and it is possible a sustained, large-scale disruption of assistance would lead to Famine in the period beyond July. We, therefore, call on all organizations, movements, human rights defenders, and supporters to sign this petition <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf36bU49jjyXFVoCsU_Wjjh8FazVEKZyNM…> to urge the United Nations and the Palestinian Authority to declare Gaza a famine-stricken area and take the necessary measures to protect its inhabitants. SIGN THE PETITION <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf36bU49jjyXFVoCsU_Wjjh8FazVEKZyNM…> *Long live the struggles of the Palestinian people! * *La Via Campesina* This post is also available in Español <https://viacampesina.org/es/urgente-declarar-gaza-zona-afectada-por-la-hamb…> and Français <https://viacampesina.org/fr/urgent-declarez-gaza-comme-zone-de-famine-et-me…>. Twitter <http://www.twitter.com/viacampesinaFR> Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/ViaCampesinaOfficial> Website <http://www.viacampesina.org> Instagram <http://instagram.com/la_via_campesina_official> Pour se désinscrire de la liste de distribution, poser des questions ou faire des commentaires, écrivez à *viacampesina(a)viacampesina.org* <mailto:viacampesina@viacampesina.org> Site web : www.viacampesina.org Pour s'abonner à cette lettre d'information - Cliquez ici <https://mail.viacampesina.org/lists/listinfo/Via-info-fr>

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[Info EN] La Via Campesina mobilizes for the defense of Democracy in Bolivia!
by La Via Campesina 08 Jul '24

08 Jul '24

*|MC:SUBJECT|* *|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|* Afficher ce courriel dans votre navigateur <https://viacampesina.org/fr/kit-de-presse-8e-conference-internationale-de-l…> La Via Campesina mobilizes for the defense of Democracy in Bolivia! 28 June 2024 *Bagnolet, June 27, 2024*: In response to the failed coup attempt against the Plurinational State of Bolivia on June 26, La Vía Campesina and its member organizations worldwide call for the defense and stability of democracy, and respect for constitutional rights. Likewise, we repudiate military and imperialist actions that clearly interfere in political power, attacking the democratic values of a sovereign country and defying the will of its people. Such actions promote the destruction of the Plurinational State, which has a growing and stable economy based on a productive community social economic model. The Constitution of Bolivia cannot be trampled upon, nor the people’s mandate disobeyed, for the sake of transnational and imperialist economic interests! We stand in solidarity with and join the resistance of our Cloc – Vía Campesina Bolivia Organizations. We call on all our organizations worldwide to remain vigilant against these destabilizing strategies in Bolivia and the region. As social and peasant movements, we acknowledge the significant efforts of the Government of Bolivia, led by Luis Arce, in supporting various initiatives for peasant rights and social justice. As President Luis Arce stated, “We need the people to mobilize against the coup d’état. We cannot allow coup attempts to return. We salute the organizations for their mobilization for democracy. Long live Bolivia. Long live democracy!” Mobilize to defend democracy and oppose imperialism! This post is also available in Español <https://viacampesina.org/es/la-via-campesina-movilizada-por-la-defensa-de-l…> and Français <https://viacampesina.org/fr/la-via-campesina-mobilise-pour-la-defense-de-la…>. Facebook <https://viacampesina.org/#facebook>Twitter <https://viacampesina.org/#twitter>WhatsApp <https://viacampesina.org/#whatsapp>Telegram <https://viacampesina.org/#telegram> Twitter <http://www.twitter.com/viacampesinaFR> Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/ViaCampesinaOfficial> Website <http://www.viacampesina.org> Instagram <http://instagram.com/la_via_campesina_official> Pour se désinscrire de la liste de distribution, poser des questions ou faire des commentaires, écrivez à *viacampesina(a)viacampesina.org* <mailto:viacampesina@viacampesina.org> Site web : www.viacampesina.org Pour s'abonner à cette lettre d'information - Cliquez ici <https://mail.viacampesina.org/lists/listinfo/Via-info-fr>

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[Info EN] Peasant Struggles | May 2024
by La Via Campesina 27 Jun '24

27 Jun '24

*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|* Edition: May 2024 SUBSCRIBE [1] La Via Campesina's 'PEASANT STRUGGLES' brings to you a monthly synthesis of articles and videos from our website and multimedia library. Read, share and help us globalize the struggle! [2] 'Recognize Gaza as a famine zone' La Via Campesina issues Solidarity Statement with the Palestinian People ------------------------- We urgently call upon the international community to recognize the dire situation in Gaza as a famine zone. The ongoing siege and the strategic use of starvation by the Israeli occupation as a weapon of war have pushed Gaza to the brink of a humanitarian disaster. This situation must be addressed immediately to prevent further loss of life. Moreover, we reiterate our call for an immediate ceasefire and the unrestricted delivery of humanitarian aid to the region. The continued refusal of the Israeli government to agree to ceasefire proposals, despite Palestinian acceptance, is indefensible and exacerbates the suffering of countless innocent civilians. READ THE FULL STATEMENT [3] Inhumane sanctions on Niger lead to an acute shortage of essential items and food: PFPN [4] ------------------------- Little has changed in Brazil's context of rural violence. According to a report called Conflicts Booklet (Caderno de Conflitos), published by the Pastoral Land Commission (Comissão Pastoral da Terra), 973 rural conflicts occurred in the first half of 2023, most of which (791) were struggles for land. Brazil: MST reaches out to families affected by Rio Grande do Sul floods. Urges international support [5] ------------------------- The MST, along with partner entities, has been conducting the Landless Solidarity Campaign in Rio Grande do Sul to aid the over 2.1 million people affected by the heavy rains and floods in the state to date. 'World Bank Out of Land!' - 80+ organizations denounce World Bank's 2024 Land Conference [6] ------------------------- Over 80 organizations from around the world accuse the World Bank of facilitating land grabbing and the financialization of nature. Amendments to Agricultural Law would derail food self-sufficiency goals: Nouminren, JAPAN [7] ------------------------- Since the 1960s, Japan's food self-sufficiency rates have steadily declined. Nouminren points out that years of progressive liberalization and market reforms have led to increased dependency on agricultural imports. EU Agriculture and Food Chain Observatory: ECVC recommendations [8] ------------------------- Full text of the ECVC letter sent to the head of unit E in DG AGRI, to express ECVC's recommendations to the DG AGRI Unit E on the informal European Commission expert group on Agriculture and Food Chain Observatory. Italy: GMOs Gaining Entry with 'No Public Discussion, No Serious Risk Assessment', warns ARI [9] ------------------------- In a press release issued on May 14, 2024, Associazione Rurale Italiana (ARI) has raised multiple red flags against the decision to greenlight the planting of GMO rice. Agroecology Clubs: ESAFF Uganda makes efforts to integrate agroecology in school curriculum [10] ------------------------- ESAFF Uganda recognized the agroecology knowledge gap in the agriculture curriculum for academic intuitions, thus the first Agroecology Clubs were established in 2019 during the first National Organic Week. Korean Peasant Unions condemn import of agricultural products through Hanaro Mart [11] ------------------------- The protesters demanded that all imported agricultural products within Hanaro Mart be immediately removed and no longer sold La Via Campesina in the Arab and North Africa Region | Declaration from regional meeting 2024 [12] ------------------------- On May 10 and 11, 2024, the regional meeting of the LVC in the Arab and North Africa Region (ARNA) was held in Hammamet, Tunisia. Read the full text of the Declaration. Pakistan: Wheat imports result in huge losses for peasants. Nationwide protest announced [13] ------------------------- Peasant Unions in Pakistan held countrywide protest on May 21 against the wheat crisis, which they allege has been deliberately created by the former caretaker prime minister and some bureaucrats. As Conference on Biodiversity (COP16) draws near, CLOC to attend 'Ecoovida 2024' in Colombia [14] ------------------------- Within the framework of COP16, the CLOC-Via Campesina will attend an alternate space with social movements - The International Meeting Economies for Life (Ecoovida) 2024, organized by the Government of Colombia in Cali from October 22 to 26, 2024. 24-31 May: CLOC Via Campesina organized the VI Continental School of Women [13] ------------------------- This School strengthens the organizational processes of the Women's Articulation of CLOC, construction of peasant and popular feminism, and the fight against all forms of violence and oppression. READ ALL ARTICLES FROM MAY 2024 [15] FEATURED PODCASTS [16] For more news and updates from peasant movements worldwide, subscribe to our Monthly Newswrap Podcast. Tune in Now! [16] 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 [17] and following the link to our PayPal account. [18] [19] Facebook [19] [20] Twitter [20] [21] Instagram [21] [22] Spotify [22] [23] Vimeo [23] 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 [1] Links: ------ [1] https://mail.viacampesina.org/lists/listinfo/Via-info-en [2] https://viacampesina.org/es/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/Banner-web-E… [3] https://viacampesina.org/en/recognize-gaza-as-a-famine-zone-la-via-campesin… [4] https://viacampesina.org/en/inhumane-sanctions-on-niger-lead-to-an-acute-sh… [5] https://viacampesina.org/en/brazil-mst-reaches-out-to-families-affected-by-… [6] https://viacampesina.org/en/world-bank-out-of-land-80-organizations-denounc… [7] https://viacampesina.org/en/amendments-to-agricultural-law-derail-food-self… [8] https://viacampesina.org/en/ecvc-recommendations-on-agriculture-and-food-ch… [9] https://viacampesina.org/en/italy-gmos-gaining-entry-with-no-public-discuss… [10] https://viacampesina.org/en/agroecology-clubs-esaff-uganda-makes-efforts-to… [11] https://viacampesina.org/en/korean-peasant-unions-condemn-import-of-agricul… [12] https://viacampesina.org/en/la-via-campesina-in-the-arab-and-north-africa-r… [13] https://viacampesina.org/en/pakistan-wheat-imports-result-huge-losses-for-p… [14] https://viacampesina.org/en/as-conference-on-biodiversity-cop16-draws-near-… [15] https://viacampesina.org/en/2024/05/ [16] https://open.spotify.com/episode/6scnxNpj9GKJwuDf7dnugn [17] http://www.viacampesina.org/ [18] https://www.paypal.com/uk/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&SESSION=IK5Hgl6MlPxD… [19] http://www.facebook.com/ViaCampesinaOFFICIAL [20] https://twitter.com/via_campesina [21] http://www.instagram.com/la_via_campesina_official [22] https://open.spotify.com/show/5FYiTT1dNlt8HgUHVUR3pv [23] https://vimeo.com/viacampesina

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[Info EN] LA VIA CAMPESINA SOLIDARITY STATEMENT WITH THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE
by La Via Campesina 31 May '24

31 May '24

LA VIA CAMPESINA SOLIDARITY STATEMENT WITH THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE (Bagnolet, May 24, 2024) The genocide war committed by the Israeli occupation against Gaza has now reached 230 consecutive days. The Palestinian people continue to endure a brutal genocide that has escalated into one of the most severe humanitarian crises in recent history. The unyielding assault has resulted in the loss of tens of thousands of lives, with countless more injured or displaced, their homes and communities reduced to rubble amidst relentless bombings. In a ground breaking development, we commend the initiative of Karim Khan, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, who has formally requested the court's judges to issue arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and his Minister of War, Yoav Gallant. This marks a historic step toward achieving accountability for the high-ranking officials responsible for orchestrating widespread atrocities against the Palestinian people. This move by the ICC represents a critical advancement in the long pursuit of justice for Palestine, signalling to world leaders that impunity for war crimes will not be tolerated. Among the backdrop of this relentless genocide war, La Via Campesina stands firmly in solidarity with the Palestinian people, whose resilience in the face of such adversity is nothing short of heroic. The Palestinian spirit of resistance, manifested in their steadfast refusal to surrender their rights and dignity, inspires all who stand against oppression and strive for justice worldwide. We urgently call upon the international community to recognize the dire situation in Gaza as a famine zone. The ongoing siege and the strategic use of starvation by the Israeli occupation as a weapon of war have pushed Gaza to the brink of a humanitarian disaster. This situation must be addressed immediately to prevent further loss of life. Moreover, we reiterate our call for an immediate ceasefire and the unrestricted delivery of humanitarian aid to the region. The continued refusal of the Israeli government to agree to ceasefire proposals, despite Palestinian acceptance, is indefensible and exacerbates the suffering of countless innocent civilians. La Via Campesina salutes the enduring struggle of the Palestinian people as they courageously fight for their legitimate rights to freedom and self-determination. We stand with the peasants and agricultural workers of Palestine, who face the harshest conditions under occupation, including land confiscation, home demolitions, and the destruction of their livelihoods. Their unyielding fight for justice and the restoration of their land highlights the profound impact of grassroots resistance against oppressive forces. Today, as La Via Campesina gathers in solidarity, we pledge to amplify the voices of those fighting on the frontlines in Palestine and to mobilize international support for their cause. Let the struggle of the Palestinian people serve as a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit against overwhelming odds. Together, we call for a future where justice prevails, and Palestine is free. Long live the struggle for freedom, justice, and dignity in Palestine and around the world!

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[Info EN] Peasant Struggles | April 2024
by La Via Campesina 16 May '24

16 May '24

*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|* Edition: April 2024 SUBSCRIBE [1] La Via Campesina's 'PEASANT STRUGGLES' brings to you a monthly synthesis of articles and videos from our website and multimedia library. Read, share and help us globalize the struggle! [2] #17April: BUILD SOLIDARITY! ENOUGH WITH THE GENOCIDE, EVICTIONS AND VIOLENCE! ------------------------- 17 April is the International Day of Peasant Struggles. A moment when we, La Via Campesina, commemorate the 28th anniversary of the El Dorado de Carajás Massacre in Brazil and denounce the impunity with which peasant and indigenous people are harassed, attacked and criminalized around the world. Every year, our movement dedicates this day to mobilize in support of the ongoing struggles of peasants, rural communities, indigenous groups, pastoralists, fisherfolk, migrants, and rural workers. As a global peasant movement, we persistently denounce and resist various forms of oppression--genocides, wars, hunger, evictions, persecution, criminalization, and systemic violence--within a geopolitical landscape dominated by the advancing forces of imperialism, neocolonialism, and exploitative capitalism. Our efforts, that also found a full consensus at the recetly concluded 8th International Conference, encompass a diverse set of initiatives, including the UN Working Group to monitor the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas, the efforts to broaden the global movement for Food Sovereignty by actively contributing towards the Nyéléni Global Forum for Food Sovereignty in 2025, a host of global solidarity campaigns, and our sustained advocacy for an alternative trade framework based on Food Sovereignty. READ THE FULL STATEMENT [3] THE ELDORADO DO CARAJÁS MASSACRE: 28 YEARS OF IMPUNITY [4] ------------------------- Little has changed in Brazil's context of rural violence. According to a report called Conflicts Booklet (Caderno de Conflitos), published by the Pastoral Land Commission (Comissão Pastoral da Terra), 973 rural conflicts occurred in the first half of 2023, most of which (791) were struggles for land. ESAFF UGANDA STANDS IN SOLIDARITY ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEASANT STRUGGLES [5] ------------------------- ESAFF Uganda joined the global community in commemorating the International Day of Peasant Struggles, a day that honors the resilience and sacrifices of small-scale farmers worldwide. PALESTINE: URGENT GLOBAL ACTION AGAINST THE USE OF STARVATION AS GENOCIDE IN GAZA [6] ------------------------- La Via Campesina and Union of Agricultural Work Committees called upon the people of the world to join global actions in solidarity with Palestine on the 13th of April - the Global Mobilisation Day. Many actions were held including _Global Fasting_- a symbolic action to encourage all of us to pause and reflect on what is happening in Gaza. UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL APPOINTS NEW WORKING GROUP ON PEASANTS' RIGHTS (UNDROP) [7] ------------------------- On the 5th of April 2024, the UN Human Rights Council officially appointed the five experts to the working group; a significant milestone in advancing the implementation of the rights enshrined in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas. THE PROTRACTED STRUGGLE FOR LAND RIGHTS AND AGRARIAN REFORM IN INDRAMAYU, INDONESIA [8] ------------------------- In 1979, the state-owned sugar company PG Rajawali II earmarked the land for sugarcane plantations, igniting a prolonged dispute between peasant families and the corporation. Some were forcefully evicted, others reluctantly entered partnerships with the sugar company, while a resilient few refused to yield. MOZAMBIQUE: ZAMBEZIA PROVINCIAL UNION OF PEASANTS FIGHTING FOR THEIR RIGHTS [9] ------------------------- The peasants in Mozambique commemorated the International Day of Peasant Struggles, the 17th of April, by carrying out various activities to highlight their struggles. UPC-Z has been training advocacy agents and the community leaders in conflict management as a way to strengthen conflict measurement skills within their communities. KOREA: PEASANT MOVEMENTS HOLD DIALOGUE WITH EUROPEAN COUNTERPARTS ON FARMERS' PROTESTS [10] ------------------------- European farmer protests persist, drawing global attention. While marking the International Day of Peasant Struggles, Korean farmers held a cross-continental dialogue titled 'Why are European Farmers Protesting?' to study the context of this protest that resonates with the lived realities of Korean peasants. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: PEASANTS DENOUNCE EVICTIONS IN EL SEIBO AND MONTE GRANDE [11] ------------------------- LVC members in the country joined the struggle of the peasants of El Seibo who were dispossessed by landowners with the support of government officials in that area. They also stood with the peasants of Monte Grande, involuntarily evicted from their lands due to the construction of the dam. TUNISIA: MILLION RURAL WOMEN STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE LAND STRUGGLES IN SILIANA [12] ------------------------- In 2021, peasants in Siliana, notably in Henshir Laqasba, contested land speculation. A prolonged sit-in by workers and farmers led to arrests. Among nine peasants facing trial is also the peasant leader of the 'Million Rural Women and Landless Association'. The trial continues since 2021. HAITI: ANOTHER FOREIGN INTERVENTION WILL NOT SOLVE THE CRISIS. [13] ------------------------- The new transition plan proposed by CARICOM, seemingly endorsed by the Core Group and involving PHTK stakeholders, is unlikely to resolve the crisis. Similar past interventions introduced leadership and policies supposedly to alleviate the crisis but, only made it worse. A solution from its people is already there. READ ALL ARTICLES FROM #17April2024 [14] GLOBAL ACTIONS - FULL GALLERY [15] FEATURED PUBLICATION This edition of the Nyéléni newsletter, prepared by FIAN and AFSA, explores how the 'corporate diet' based on UPP is being imposed in different regions of the world and what this means for people's health and food sovereignty. It further provides examples of resistance, from the recovery of traditional crops to the struggle for effective regulatory measures. What is clear is that to reclaim sovereignty over our plates we must look beyond our plates and reshape the food system as a whole. Download the newsletter [16] FEATURED VIDEOS [17] #17April #LaViaCampesina reaffirms its solidarity and steadfast opposition to all violations of human rights and peasants' rights. Our ongoing struggle aims to combat neocolonialism, patriarchy, and capitalism. We are firmly committed to a just transition towards peasant agroecology, considering it as a crucial pillar in the pursuit of climate justice. These principles lie at the heart of our global fight for Food Sovereignty. FEATURED PODCASTS [18] [19] 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 [20] and following the link to our PayPal account. [21] [22] Facebook [22] [23] Twitter [23] [24] Instagram [24] [25] Spotify [25] [26] Vimeo [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 [1] Links: ------ [1] https://mail.viacampesina.org/lists/listinfo/Via-info-en [2] https://viacampesina.org/es/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/Banner-web-E… [3] https://viacampesina.org/en/international-day-of-peasant-struggles-build-so… [4] https://viacampesina.org/en/the-eldorado-do-carajas-massacre-28-years-of-im… [5] https://viacampesina.org/en/esaff-uganda-stands-in-solidarity-on-the-intern… [6] https://viacampesina.org/en/global-action-against-the-use-of-starvation-as-… [7] https://viacampesina.org/en/press-release-un-human-rights-council-appoints-… [8] https://viacampesina.org/en/video-the-protracted-struggle-for-land-rights-a… [9] https://viacampesina.org/en/mozambique-zambezia-provincial-union-of-peasant… [10] https://viacampesina.org/en/korea-peasant-movements-hold-dialogue-with-euro… [11] https://viacampesina.org/en/dominican-republic-peasants-denounce-evictions-… [12] https://viacampesina.org/en/tunisia-million-rural-women-stand-in-solidarity… [13] https://viacampesina.org/en/haiti-another-foreign-intervention-will-not-sol… [14] https://viacampesina.org/en/tag/17-april/ [15] https://padlet.com/lvcweb/17april-international-day-of-peasant-s-struggles-… [16] https://nyeleni.org/DOWNLOADS/newsletters/Nyeleni_Newsletter_Num_55_EN.pdf [17] https://vimeo.com/941181867 [18] https://open.spotify.com/episode/5x6waf1KyiZGwsDi2hdLoo?si=J35KAionQxKM1c36… [19] https://open.spotify.com/episode/4S4EPRT96ia1H4zp12HZMY?si=nx7T_-zHSze0OqiS… [20] http://www.viacampesina.org/ [21] https://www.paypal.com/uk/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&SESSION=IK5Hgl6MlPxD… [22] http://www.facebook.com/ViaCampesinaOFFICIAL [23] https://twitter.com/via_campesina [24] http://www.instagram.com/la_via_campesina_official [25] https://open.spotify.com/show/5FYiTT1dNlt8HgUHVUR3pv [26] https://vimeo.com/viacampesina

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[Info EN] International Day of Peasant Struggles: Build Solidarity! Enough with the genocide, evictions and violence!
by La Via Campesina 17 Apr '24

17 Apr '24

*|MC:SUBJECT|* *|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|* International Day of Peasant Struggles: Build Solidarity! Enough with the genocide, evictions and violence! 17 April 2024 Peasants' Rights <https://viacampesina.org/en/what-are-we-fighting-for/human-rights/> * This article is available in * Español <https://viacampesina.org/es/en-el-dia-internacional-de-las-luchas-campesina…> * Français <https://viacampesina.org/fr/en-cette-journee-internationale-des-luttes-pays…> 17 April 2024, Bagnolet | Declaration by La Via Campesina ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *17 April 2024 – Today is the International Day of Peasant Struggles.* A moment when we, La Via Campesina, commemorate the 28th anniversary of the El Dorado de Carajás Massacre in Brazil and denounce the impunity with which peasant and indigenous people are harassed, attacked and criminalized around the world. Every year, our movement dedicates this day to mobilize in support of the ongoing struggles of peasants, rural communities, indigenous groups, pastoralists, fisherfolk, migrants, and rural workers. As a global peasant movement, we persistently denounce and resist various forms of oppression—genocides, wars, hunger, evictions, persecution, criminalization, and systemic violence—within a geopolitical landscape dominated by the advancing forces of imperialism, neocolonialism, and exploitative capitalism. Our efforts, that also found a full consensus at the recetly concluded 8th International Conference, encompass a diverse set of initiatives, including the UN Working Group to monitor the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas, the efforts to broaden the global movement for Food Sovereignty by actively contributing towards the Nyéléni Global Forum for Food Sovereignty in 2025, a host of global solidarity campaigns, and our sustained advocacy for an alternative trade framework based on Food Sovereignty. These actions exemplify La Via Campesina’s response to the crisis-ridden context we confront. On this International Day of Peasant Struggles, our member organizations worldwide are engaged in a myriad of activities. These include demonstrations of denunciation and solidarity, seed exchanges, planting of traditional crops, sale of agroecological products, conferences with other social movements, and various other actions. These efforts nourish global processes and propel collective demands for Food Sovereignty and social justice. Below is a succinct overview of the most notable struggles at the global level. *Neocolonialism’s Grip: Genocides, Wars, Crises, and Starvation Across the Globe* Across various nations, the pernicious effects of neocolonialism are starkly evident. In *Palestine*, UAWC farmers are urgently calling for a ceasefire amidst the genocide perpetrated by Israel in Gaza, a crime against humanity which has resulted in the loss of over 33,000 lives and has left hundreds of thousands, particularly children and women, in dire conditions of starvation. Actions such as denunciation, sustained solidarity, and humanitarian aid contributions are needed to assist the affected families. Similarly, *Sudan* grapples with a brutal civil war, supported by imperialist and regional forces, ravages the country with the aim of plundering its resources. This conflict, ignored by the international community, has displaced more than 6 million people, destroyed infrastructure and aggravated famine. Sudanese peasants calls for an end to this foreign intervention to allow the people to determine their destiny and preserve unity. In *Haiti*, the country is facing a worsening crisis of hunger and insecurity, akin to a slow genocide. Criminal gangs disrupt food distribution, driving up prices amid fuel shortages. Despite these challenges, peasants bravely supply urban centers, traveling dangerous routes, where they often face robbery, kidnapping and murder. Haitian peasant organizations advocate for a people-driven political transition free from colonial interference. Meanwhile, *Cuba*, the peasantry strongly denounces the inclusion of the country on the US terrorist list, together with the severe economic blockade, which drastically affects its sovereignty. In the framework of the 65th anniversary of the Agrarian Reform, peasant families and farm workers ask the States to advocate for Cuban rights to national and food sovereignty, which will allow them to continue feeding the population. In Ecuador, the peasantry is struggling against the escalating militarization and breach of international law, particularly highlighting the presence of the Southern Command in South America under the influence of the U.S. government. Furthermore, rural communities in *Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali*, constituting 80% of the population, bear a disproportionate burden of neocolonial sanctions imposed by ECOWAS, the West African Economic and Monetary Union, and the European Union. In response to this threat to the right to food in Sahelian communities, our member organizations are actively engaging in advocacy efforts at the UN, seeking to liberate countries from neocolonial influence. *Assassinations and persecution of those who defend land, territories and life persist* In *Argentina*, a leader of the peasant organization MOCASE was murdered by an armed gang associated with land usurpation in the northern region of the country. Peasants demand justice and condemn the pervasive violence and frequent evictions inflicted upon them by powerful groups connected to agribusiness. At the same time, peasant farmers in *Tanzania* are facing repeated arrests and imprisonment for farming on ancestral lands claimed by powerful businessmen. The government’s actions to transfer village lands into block farms for export crops are displacing thousands of farmers and threatening water access. Similar conflicts are erupting nationwide, reminiscent of the failed ProSavana project in *Mozambique*. Despite challenges, Tanzanian farmers are organizing resistance to defend their lands against corporate agriculture and potential new waves of land grabs. In *Australia* the small-scale farmers are denouncing the introduction of a neoliberal biodiversity market which further commodifies nature, provides incentive to concentrate land ownership, and threatens the loss of farmland. Also in *Guatemala*, indigenous-peasant organizations condemn ongoing evictions in territories and remain committed to advancing food sovereignty within the country. *Panama*‘ s peasant organization persists in its challenge to extractivism in all its forms, especially opposing mining activities. They highlight the crucial role of promoting democracy in the upcoming elections to address the plight of marginalized communities affected by exploitative practices, which has claimed the lives of dozens of indigenous and peasant leaders. Also in *France*, the draft agrarian orientation law promoted by the government is facing backlash from peasant organizations. Criticized for accelerating a social plan that fuels the disappearance of farmers, the bill is condemned for promoting the concentration of land and resources, disadvantaging the majority. Meanwhile, in *Thailand*, our member organization’s battle against the impact of dams, highlighted especially by the adverse effects of the Sirinthorn dam on local communities, underscores the urgent need for fair compensation, sustainable land management practices and environmental justice. In *Indonesia*, peasants in Kutai Barat, East Borneo and Tanjung Jabung Barat, Jambi are criminalized for mobilizing to defend their land and food production ; this is in a context in which the peasantry is demanding support at the national level for the minimum price of the rice they produce. *Mobilizations continue against public policies that impoverish the peasantry and fuels hunger* Peasant struggles in *Sri* *Lanka* persist against national debt and the IMF, with recent victories seen in their campaign against microfinance credit firms. Following sustained advocacy efforts, the government has reversed a proposed amendment. In *Bangladesh*, BAFLF continues its fight for improved wages for farm laborers on state-owned university farms, while in *Pakistan*, PKRC grapples with mounting debt and soaring prices. In *Nepal*, ANPFA intensifies its battle against proposed ‘land banks,’ which it views as a threat to commons and indigenous lands. On the other hand, Peasant communities in *Uganda* are struggling with the negative impacts of Large Scale Land Based Investments (LSLBI), which often fail to benefit local areas as promised. Particularly in regions like Northern Uganda, small-scale farmers, especially those in the coffee sector, face challenges engaging with large-scale investors, resulting in marginalization and limited benefits. In Zimbabwe, escalating food prices and currency devaluation worsen food insecurity, affecting millions regionwide. Concurrently, flooding and water scarcity exacerbate the crisis, underscoring the pressing need for sustainable agricultural solutions. In *Belgium* and across *Europe*, farmers are demanding fair prices and incomes, urging an end to negotiations on unfair trade agreements such as the EU-Mercosur deal. While some progress has been achieved, recent EU proposals have been inadequate. With European elections looming, peasants are determined to press for their rights and seek support for agroecological practices and the preservation of peasant seeds. In the same vein, as *India* gears up for upcoming elections, peasant organizations are intensifying their calls for improved prices and legal assurances regarding minimum support prices. Concurrently, they persist in their resistance against GMOs and advocate against regulatory relaxations for GM maize field trials. *Agrarian reform gains traction as UNDROP is put into action* In *Brazil*, peasant communities, inspired by the enduring spirit of the April Red, born 28 years ago after the massacre of Eldorado do Carajás, continue to tirelessly campaign for agrarian reform and food sovereignty. Their steadfast dedication to these causes remains a focal point in ongoing struggles, both regionally and globally. Continuing the struggle, *Colombia* recently reached a milestone by securing recognition for peasants as rights-holders with special constitutional protection. The movement vigorously advocates for agrarian reform, leveraging the UN-endorsed Peasant Rights Declaration as a political tool. As a further step towards implementing UNDROP for agrarian reform and ensuring equitable access to commons. This country hosted an International Conference on Global Land Grabbing with the participation of an international delegation from La Via Campesina. This event marks one of many actions the movement is taking globally to implement UNDROP in diverse countries and communities. Standing in solidarity against all violations of human and peasant rights, continuing the struggle against neocolonialism, patriarchy, and capitalism, and unwaveringly committing to agroecological transition for climate justice —these are the core principles driving the food sovereignty global struggle championed by La Via Campesina and its member organizations. On this International Day of Action of peasant struggles, we unite and raise our voices: *Build Solidarity! Enough with the genocide, evictions and violence!* ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Facebook <https://viacampesina.org/#facebook>Twitter <https://viacampesina.org/#twitter>WhatsApp <https://viacampesina.org/#whatsapp>Telegram <https://viacampesina.org/#telegram> *Webinaire de l'Articulation des Femmes de La Via Campesina : "Les femmes palestiniennes en résistance contre le génocide et la faim"* Chères, chers ami·es, camarades, allié·es et membres de La Via Campesina, Nous sommes ravi·es de vous inviter à notre prochain webinaire intitulé "Les femmes palestiniennes en résistance contre le génocide et la faim", qui mettra en lumière les besoins humanitaires urgents et les défis auxquels font face les femmes et les enfants à Gaza en pleine crise humanitaire. Israël mène une guerre génocidaire contre les Palestinien.nes, prenant pour cible les civil.es (de manière disproportionnée les femmes et les enfants), les bâtiments résidentiels, les hôpitaux, les écoles, les lieux de culte, les terres agricoles et toutes les infrastructures sociales de base. Israël a imposé un blocus total à Gaza, empêchant les 2,3 millions de Palestinien.ne.s de Gaza d'avoir accès à la nourriture, à l'eau, à l'électricité et au carburant. L'entrée de l'aide humanitaire est également restreinte. Les agriculteur.rices et les pêcheur.euses n'ont pas accès à leurs terres et à la mer. Nous vous réservons également un temps important de 45 minutes pour interagir avec les femmes palestiniennes, poser des questions et partager des propositions pour les soutenir collectivement. Invitées palestiniennes : • Tahrir Jaber, membre de l'Union des Comités de la Femme Palestinne • Sammer Abu Safiya, militante féministe originaire de la bande de Gaza • Samah Abu Naama, membre des Comités de Travail Agricole et militante féministe et coopérative Ouverture du webinaire : Torkia Chebi, présidente de l'association tunisienne Million Rural Women and the landless , Tunisie Clôture du webinaire : Khadija Rhamiri ICC et membre de FNSA Morocco Date : 21 Mars 2024 Heure : 7h00 Quito, 13h00 Europe, 14h00 Palestine Lieu : En ligne https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85403722501 En solidarité indéfectible La Via Campesina In unwavering solidarity *La Via Campesina* *Invitación al seminario web de la Red de Mujeres de La Vía Campesina: Las mujeres palestinas en resistencia contra el genocidio y el hambre* Queridxs amigxs, camaradas, aliadxs y miembrxs de La Vía Campesina, Nos complace invitarles a nuestro próximo seminario web titulado "Las mujeres palestinas en resistencia contra el genocidio y el hambre", que pondrá de relieve las urgentes necesidades humanitarias y los retos a los que se enfrentan las mujeres y los niños de Gaza en plena crisis humanitaria. Israel está perpetrando un genocidio contra lxs palestinxs, atacando a civiles (afectando desproporcionadamente a mujeres y niñxs), edificios residenciales, hospitales, escuelas, lugares de culto, tierras agrícolas y toda la infraestructura social básica. Israel ha impuesto un bloqueo total a Gaza, impidiendo que lxs 2,3 millones de palestinxs de Gaza tengan acceso a alimentos, agua, electricidad y combustible. La entrada de ayuda humanitaria también está restringida. Los agricultores y pescadores no tienen acceso a sus tierras de cultivo ni al mar, respectivamente. También hemos reservado 45 minutos importantes para fomentar el diálogo con las mujeres palestinas, a través de preguntas y propuestas para apoyarlas colectivamente. *Invitadas palestinas :* * Tahrir Jaber, integrante de la Unión de Comités de Mujeres Palestinas * Sammer Abu Safiya, activista feminista de la Franja de Gaza * Samah Abu Naama, integrante de los Comités de Trabajo Agrícola y activista feminista y cooperativista Apertura del seminario web: Torkia Chebi, Presidenta de la asociación tunecina Millones de Mujeres Rurales y Sin Tierra, Túnez Clausura del seminario web: Khadija Rhamiri, CCI de LVC, y parte de FNSA Marruecos Fecha: 21 de marzo de 2024 Hora: 7:00 Quito, 13:00 Europa, 14:00 Palestina Ubicación: En línea https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85403722501 En solidaridad inquebrantable *La Vía Campesina*

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