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[Info EN] International Seed Treaty: Let’s Not Sweep Peasants’ Rights to Seeds Under the Carpet
by La Via Campesina 30 Oct '17

30 Oct '17

VIITH SESSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL SEED TREATY : LET'S NOT SWEEP PEASANTS' RIGHTS TO SEEDS UNDER THE CARPET _ 30 October 2017 | Press Release_ KIGALI, OCTOBER 30, 2017: The 7th meeting of the governing body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) begins today in Kigali (Rwanda). At a time when patents on genetic information have been alarmingly eased by new genetic technologies, the risk that this Treaty be entirely overturned is major. Delegations from La Via Campesina and the IPC (The International Planning Committee for Food Sovereignty*) have traveled to Kigali to incite government representatives in taking the right decisions and actions if the current Treaty is to be saved from obliteration. Indifferent to the fact that peasants contribute enormously to reproducing and increasing seed diversity each year, these patents currently allow the privatization of all gene bank-saved seeds as well as those on the farm. This is contrary to the objectives of the Treaty, that aim to make seeds available to ensure healthy, adequate and local food production and to face global challenges prompted by climate change, the needed phasing out of toxic pesticides, social-economic crisis and wars. La Via Campesina urges the ITPGRFA governing body to prohibit the patenting of genetic information - and of any other measure limiting the access and use of all plant genetic resources of the Multilateral System - as well as to fully implement peasants rights to save, use, exchange and sell seeds, as specified in the preamble and Article 9 of the Treaty. ------------------------- La Via Campesina Delegation in Kigali - Rwanda To reach the delegation please contact : Marciano Silva (ES, PT) +55 49 99199 5595 or Stefano Mori: (EN, FR, ES) +39 347 596 6424 ------------------------- _* The International Planning Committee for Food Sovereignty is an autonomous and self-organised global platform of small-scale food producers and rural workers organizations and grass root/community based social movements to advance the Food Sovereignty agenda at the global and regional level. The organizations participating at the international level to the IPC are: La Via Campesina (LVC), World Forum of Fishers People (WFFP), World Forum of Fish Harvesters & Fish Workers (WFF), World Alliance Mobile Indigenous People (WAMIP), Mouvement International de la Jeunesse Agricole et Rurale Catholique (MIJARC), {The International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations - (IUF)}, URGENCI, International Indian Treaty Council (IITC), Habitat International Coalition (HIC), World March of Womens and International Federation of Rural Adult Catholic Movements (FIMARC)._

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[Info EN] The solution to the climate crisis is in our peasant struggle for Food and Energy Sovereignty!
by La Via Campesina 27 Oct '17

27 Oct '17

THE SOLUTION TO THE CLIMATE CRISIS IS IN OUR PEASANT STRUGGLE FOR FOOD AND ENERGY SOVEREIGNTY! LA VIA CAMPESINA – CALL TO ACTION _click here for German version_ [1] The next United Nations conference on climate change will take place from the 6th to 17th of November in Bonn, Germany 2017 - with Mother Earth heating up dramatically and humanity plagued by unprecedented adverse weather and rising sea levels. The capitalist system, fuelled by the profit greed, is not capable of addressing the current climate crisis. Even the COP21 Paris Agreement and its inadequate proposals to keep temperature increases below 2 degrees celsius is in limbo, with the recent pull out by U.S. President Donald Trump. This year we witnessed the increased impacts of climate change both in scale and intensity: hurricanes (Harvey, Irma, Maria, etc.), floods (India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sierra Leone, etc.), storms, droughts, heat waves and more. Hundreds of thousands of people displaced, thousands killed, and total disappearance of some island territories. In many cases, peoples have lost all the resources needed for living. The most affected: peasants, poor people, rural workers, the indigenous, the fisherfolk. We know the cause of this climate crisis: the global industrial food system is responsible for over 50% of greenhouse gas emissions through intensive use of agrochemicals, toxins, fossil energy, freight land grabbing and forest degradation through plantations, mining, logging etc. Perpetrators of the crisis, using their "monetary muscle", now lobby and push for false solutions: "climate-smart" agriculture, GMOs, REDD and REDD+, "blue carbon", and all other green economy schemes that seek the financialization of nature and its services. Multinationals pollute the climate negotiations and make them the place of economic and financial power over peoples, to the detriment of our rights. As the COP23 draws nearer, we reaffirm the importance of struggling for public policies that promote and support agroecology, local community-controlled energy systems and collective action for a just transition away from fossil fuels and against the false energy solutions that encourage corporate capture of our natural resources. Our peasant agroecology feeds the soil with organic matter, conserves and recovers biodiversity, using the knowledge of our peoples and our Mother Earth to feed us. We reject any attempt by agribusiness to co-opt agroecology and commit ourselves to defending and promoting our peasant agroecology! For Vía Campesina, our lands, our knowledge, our seeds, our rights are not negotiable! We call for the strengthening of all mobilizations against this system that engenders the current and future climate crimes. We must fight against all free trade agreements and disastrous oil, gas and mining projects as well as all exclusionary mega projects (dams, highways, airports, plantations, etc). We must urgently transform the financial, social and ecological production systems, as well as the sharing of labor and wealth, the preservation of common goods such as water, land, flora and fauna. We call upon our allies, friends and social movements to mobilize together with the civil society outside the UN climate talks in Bonn, spreading our voice and our true solutions. LET US MOBILIZE AT COP23 FOR THE CONVERGENCE OF STRUGGLES! FOR PEASANT AGROECOLOGY AND FOOD SOVEREIGNTY! Links: ------ [1] http://www.eurovia.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/DE-COP23-Call-to-Action-D…

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[Info EN] La Via Campesina | e-newsletter | September 2017
by La Via Campesina 19 Oct '17

19 Oct '17

La Via Campesina | e-newsletter | September 2017 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] ON 'FOOD SOVEREIGNTY DAY' LA VIA CAMPESINA LAUNCHES PUBLICATION THAT CALLS FOR A MASSIVE CHANGE IN THE CURRENT AGRO-FOOD SYSTEMS On the International Day of Action for Peoples' Food Sovereignty and against Transnational corporations, La Via Campesina officially launches its new publication "Struggles of La Vía Campesina for Agrarian Reform and the Defense of life, Land and Territories" that argues for a massive change in the current agro-food system, if we have to overcome the food, climate, poverty, financial, economic and democratic crises facing the planet and its people. With the aim of strengthening the convergence of struggles, we will demonstrate in this publication that this change must be based on an integral and popular agrarian reform within the framework of Food Sovereignty. Download the Publication [3] FEATURED ARTICLES TRANSFORMING SOCIETY AS CAPITALISM CRUMBLES: Lessons from Brazil's Peasant Movement. Rafael Soriano, a member of MST's Communications Collective, discussed this political climate with Débora Nunes, member of the National Directory of Brazil's Landless Workers Movement (MST). Read More [4] MEXICO EARTHQUAKE: CALL FOR ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE AND SOLIDARITY! The North American Region of La Via Campesina is asking for urgent economic assistance to support the peasants and indigenous peoples of Mexico to rebuild their lives, their homes, their plots and their communities. Read More [5] INDIA: PRIVATE FIRMS UNDERMINE SELF-FINANCING INITIATIVES OF RURAL PEASANT WOMEN Private firms have been harassing peasant women in a variety of ways to recover their money. Tactics include turning up at odd hours in the night, verbally abusing women in front of others, pressurizing all the women from the SHG, locking up their houses, and so forth. . Read More [6] SOCIAL MOVEMENTS FIGHT FOR WAY OUT OF GLOBAL FOOD CRISIS Heather Gies, editor at upsidedownworld.org argues that social movements organizing over the past decade offers reason for hope about the future of the food. Read More [7] 29 NEW MEMBERS ACCEPTED INTO LA VIA CAMPESINA DURING THE 7TH CONFERENCE The new members were presented by their respective regions, of which South America and Central America had the most new organisations- a total of 17. La Via Campesina now has about 186 member organisations in over 70 countries around the world. Read More [8] BRING AGRARIAN REFORM UNDER THE PRESIDENT'S DIRECT COMMAND: SPI Serikat Petani Indonesia - the Indonesian Peasants' Union - demanded that President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) must immediately strengthen the agrarian reform agency at the local-to-central level and brings the program under his direct command. Read More [9] CETA THE WRONG DEAL FOR PEOPLE SAYS NATIONAL FARMERS UNION CETA is not about trade! CETA is all about limiting the ability of governments to govern in the public interest. CETA will expand corporate interests as paramount at the expense of our democracies. Read More [10] GERMAN CORPORATIONS EXPLOITING LEGAL LOOPHOLES TO GRAB SMALL FARMS. The German LVC member AbL and the opposition green party in the German Parliament called the government to lease the land to peasants and landless to give them the chance to start farming. Read More [11] MAB PROTESTS AT THE VALE OFFICE IN RIO DE JANEIRO Approximately one thousand people denounce two years of impunity of the crime that occurred with the rupturing of the dam in Mariana, Minas Gerais (MG). Read More [12] A NEW STEP FORWARD IN THE PROCESS FOR A UN DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF PEASANTS! The resolution on peasants' rights was adopted by the UN on Friday 29th of September 2017 by 34 votes in favour, 11 abstentions and 2 against. Read More [13] FEATURED PUBLICATIONS [14] TITLE: Stop New GMOs! A beguiling refrain has been implying this for some time now, promising a series of "new breeding techniques" that would be clean, surgical, fully controlled and without any risk whatsoever. According to this refrain, these New Breeding Techniques, or NBTs, should above all not be classified as GMOs so as not to block their ongoing development. But what are these NBTs really? Download the PDF [15] [14] TITLE: Nyeleni Newsletter September edition of Nyéléni Newsletter exposes the growing global threat of privatization and commodification of water Edition: September, 2017 Download the PDF [16] FEATURED VIDEOS [17] Popular Agrarian Reform: In defence of Life and Land! Watch Video [18] [19] La Via Campesina & the context of the Civil Society Mechanism (CSM) in Committee on Food Security (CFS) Watch Video [20] 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] [21] Twitter [21] [22] Facebook [22] [23] Vimeo [23] To unsubscribe from the distribution list click here [2] For questions or comments, email LVCWEB(a)VIACAMPESINA.ORG WEBSITE: www.viacampesina.org [24] TV: www.tv.viacampesina.org [25] To subscribe to this newsletter - Click Here [2] Links: ------ [1] https://viacampesina.org/en/donations/ [2] https://mail.viacampesina.org/lists/listinfo/Via-info-en [3] https://viacampesina.org/en/press-release-food-sovereignty-day-la-via-campe… [4] https://viacampesina.org/en/transforming-society-as-capitalism-crumbles-mst… [5] https://viacampesina.org/en/mexico-earthquake-la-via-campesina-north-americ… [6] https://viacampesina.org/en/private-financial-firms-threaten-undermine-self… [7] https://viacampesina.org/en/starved-justice-sovereignty-social-movements-fi… [8] https://viacampesina.org/en/29-new-members-accepted-la-via-campesina-7th-co… [9] https://viacampesina.org/en/bring-agrarian-reform-program-under-the-preside… [10] https://viacampesina.org/en/ceta-the-wrong-deal-people-says-national-farmer… [11] https://viacampesina.org/en/german-corporations-exploiting-legal-loopholes-… [12] https://viacampesina.org/en/brazil-mab-protests-vale-office-rio-de-janeiro/ [13] https://viacampesina.org/en/new-step-forward-process-un-declaration-rights-… [14] https://www.facebook.com/viacampesinaOFFICIAL/videos/1504122602991639/ [15] https://viacampesina.org/en/new-plant-breeding-techniques-12-reasons-regula… [16] https://viacampesina.org/en/nyeleni-newsletter-oceans-water/ [17] https://vimeo.com/196906046 [18] https://tv.viacampesina.org/International-Conference-of-1065?lang=en [19] https://vimeo.com/238558151 [20] https://tv.viacampesina.org/Fifth-International-Women-s?lang=en [21] http://www.twitter.com/via_campesina [22] https://www.facebook.com/viacampesinaOFFICIAL/ [23] https://vimeo.com/viacampesina [24] http://www.viacampesina.org [25] http://www.tv.viacampesina.org

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[Info EN] New Publication: Struggles of La Via Campesina for Agrarian Reform and the Defense of Life, Land and Territories
by La Via Campesina 16 Oct '17

16 Oct '17

PRESS RELEASE: ON 'FOOD SOVEREIGNTY DAY' LA VIA CAMPESINA LAUNCHES PUBLICATION THAT CALLS FOR A MASSIVE CHANGE IN THE CURRENT AGRO-FOOD SYSTEMS _ [1]HARARE, 16TH OCTOBER 2017: _Today, on the _International Day of Action for Peoples' Food Sovereignty and against Transnational corporations__, _La Via Campesina officially launches its new publication "Struggles of La Via Campesina for Agrarian Reform and the Defense of Life, Land and Territories [1]" that argues for a massive change in the current agro-food system, if we have to overcome the food, climate, poverty, financial, economic and democratic crises facing the planet and its people. With the aim of strengthening the convergence of struggles, we will demonstrate in this publication that this change must be based on an integral and popular agrarian reform within the framework of Food Sovereignty. The concepts, strategies and struggles have undergone many changes within La Via Campesina, partly as a result of the current context, but also as a result of collective processes at the grassroots level in territories that are rich in historical, cultural, political and economic diversity. In this respect, it is evident that integral and popular agrarian reform is understood to be a process for the building of Food Sovereignty and dignity for the people. Working on the basis of this conceptual framework, in which agrarian reform is presented as a defense and a recovery of land for Food Sovereignty, and as a people's process, this publication will be structured as follows: Firstly, chapters 2 and 3 present La Via Campesina's analysis of the global context we are currently facing and the form in which capital is appropriating territories. What developments have led to this unprecedented level of land grabbing, land concentration and eviction of people from their territories? To which actors do we refer when we speak of "capital"? What is the political framework that favours these processes on a global level? What are the consequences for the food and agricultural system? And how is that reflected in our territories? La Via Campesina's concept of integral and popular agrarian reform, developed in this context, will be presented in Chapter 4. How has the concept been modified from a vision of land distribution to a territorial vision? What were the most important milestones? Beginning with the question "How, in today's world, can we achieve a change in the paradigm towards Food Sovereignty and agrarian reform?" we will present, in chapter 5, the strategies of La Via Campesina, which include direct actions and bottom up praxis, alternative communications and research, and political intervention on a national and international level. While the analysis focuses more on global processes, the interviews held with leaders of La Via Campesina's member organisations from different continents and regions show the multidimensional mechanisms which specifically affect territories. They also reflect the way in which the diversity of cosmovisions in territories which are so historically, culturally, politically and economically diverse (which can also be seen in their terminology) has enriched and extended La Via Campesina's construction of visions. Because the aim of the publication is to summarise these aspects as a whole from the perspective of La Via Campesina's organisations, it is not possible to enter into each issue in depth. Therefore, at the end of each chapter we provide suggestions for further reading, which will be a useful starting point for acquiring more in depth knowledge of the issues discussed here. DOWNLOAD THE FULL PUBLICATION HERE [1] FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL NETWORKS TO GET NEWS ABOUT VARIOUS ACTIONS AND MOBILISATIONS THAT ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE PLACE AROUND THE WORLD. Follow the Hashtags: * # FoodSovereignty * #PopularAgrarianReform * #WeFeedThePeople * #16October Twitter: @via_campesina [2] Facebook: ViaCampesinaOfficial [3] Links: ------ [1] https://viacampesina.org/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/10/compressed_P… [2] https://twitter.com/via_campesina [3] https://www.facebook.com/viacampesinaOFFICIAL/

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[Info EN] La Via Campesina | e-newsletter | August 2017
by La Via Campesina 25 Sep '17

25 Sep '17

La Via Campesina | e-newsletter | August 2017 Donate [1] This edition of the newsletter is the result of a collective effort of organisations, which are part of_ La Via Campesina_ movement worldwide. To subscribe click here [2] LA VIA CAMPESINA CALLS FOR A GLOBAL WEEK OF ACTION AGAINST THE WTO AND FTAS During these 20+ years of struggle against the WTO, the world's peoples have resisted its attempt to globalize everything, including the food and agricultural systems, for the benefit of the TNCs. Our struggles have been the biggest impediment to the advance of the WTO, and there is no doubt that La Via Campesina has played a decisive part. Our resistance to market liberalisation under this neoliberal regime has continued since the Uruguay round conducted within the framework of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). Ever since, La Via Campesina has mobilised against almost all of the Ministerial Conferences since Seattle (1999) and Cancún (2003) - where OUR BROTHER LEE KYUNG HAE, HOLDING A BANNER DECLARING THAT "THE WTO KILLS PEASANTS", SACRIFICED HIS OWN LIFE - and up to Bali (2013) and Nairobi (2015). This year, from the 8th to the 15th of December, a La Via Campesina international delegation will be in Buenos Aires to take an active part in the numerous civil society mobilisations, forums, and discussions. We will be there to identify the WTO as the criminal organisation that it is and to raise the flag of Food Sovereignty. We will call out all the Governments, who after having realised the weakening of WTO, have resorted to Bilateral and Regional Mega Free Trade Agreements, that threaten to annihilate our food systems, just like WTO has done it over the last two decades. Read More [3] FEATURED ARTICLES GLOBAL PEASANT MOVEMENT ASSESSES AND RESPONDS TO A HEATED POLITICAL MOMENT By going home to work the land, peasants know they are engaging in one of the most political acts of all: agriculture.. Read More [4] OLIVE HARVEST CAMPAIGN 2017 ANNOUNCEMENT This year's campaign is inviting international volunteers to stay with farmers; help them in the olive harvest, have long discussions, and experience the Palestinian culture. Read More [5] CRITIQUE OF CAPITALISM IS ESSENTIAL TO THE STRUGGLE FOR FOOD SOVEREIGNTY Ayla Fenton, a young farmer and Youth President of NFU Canada, warns that that a national food policy will do nothing to advance food sovereignty unless it challenges the capitalist structure . Read More [6] PEASANTS DEBATE ON GENDER AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION DIVERSITY "Many people in the countryside are killed for being of a different sexual orientation than the ones represented in the heteronormativemodel. We need to take a political position in support of LGBTI* comrades" Read More [7] RECLAIMING THE FOOD SYSTEM: EXPERIENCES FROM THE IALA, MARÍA CANO, COLOMBIA The IALA model is a Pan-Latin American project, promoted by the transnational peasant organization La Vía Campesina (LVC), to attain Food Sovereignty through agroecology. Read More [8] SOUTHERN AFRICA: COMMUNITIES EXPOSE CORPORATE ABUSE AT THE PERMANENT PEOPLE´S TRIBUNAL Cases of corporate abuse in Mozambique, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Tanzania and Zambia presented at the second session of hearings of the Permanent People´s Tribunal which took place from 17th to 18th August. PEASANT FAMILIES IN NE SRI LANKA FACE EVICTIO AS YAN OYA PROJECT NEARS COMPLETION Yan Oya, a mega-irrigation project in Trincomalee district of Sri Lanka has so far destroyed over 5400 hectares of farm and forest land, including 238 water bodies and displacing over 340 families, according to MONLAR - a member of La Via Campesina. Read More [9] SOLIDARITY AT THE VII INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE A compilation of several solidarity statements that were issued and motions that were made at the VII International Conference of La Via Campesina. Read [10]More [11] THE MANY COLOURS OF CORN Amrita Bhoomi, founded by farmer leader M D Nanjundaswamy, is situated at the foothills of B R Hills. Volunteers at this centre regularly visit the podu, or settlements, of the Soliga tribe who reside in these hills. Read More [12] SMALL-SCALE, AGROECOLOGICAL FARMS PRODUCE HIGH YIELDS: SURVEY _"A Matter of Scale"_ is a survey report that highlights how a diverse and vibrant sector of small farms is providing employment, attracting new entrants and incubating entrepreneurs. Read More [13] IN SUPPORT OF CÉDRIC HERROU : STOP THE CRIMINALIZATION OF MIGRANTS No one is illegal, and he/she who helps people in need should not be prosecuted, but should instead be recognized for their humanitarian contribution. Read More [13] 'AGROECOLOGY IS ALSO ABOUT HOW WE WORK WITH EACH OTHER AS PEOPLE' At the VII Conference, four young peasant delegates from Canada, the United Kingdom, Puerto Rico and Nepal explain what agroecology means to them. Read More [7] PAKISTAN: PEASANTS STRUGGLING FOR LAND RIGHTS AT OKARA BEING CRIMINALISED Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee condemns the imprisonment and continued ill-treatment of peasant leader Mehar Abdul Sattar. He has been at the forefront of the struggle for land rights at Okara Military Farms. Read More [14] SPI INDONESIA REIGNITES AND RE-IMAGINES A MOVEMENT FOR PEASANT-LED COOPS The struggle for agrarian reform can only succeed when peasant communities cultivate and manage their crops collectively. It is important for cooperatives to take back the control of the agriculture chain back from the big corporations and farm estates. Read More [15] FEATURED PUBLICATIONS [16] TITLE: Peasants Fighting for Justice: Cases of Violations of Peasants' Human Rights These cases have been compiled by the La Via Campesina's worldwide members in a unique effort to systematise the violations of the human rights of peasant men and women. EDITION: July, 2017 Download the PDF (3 MB) [17] FEATURED VIDEOS [18] Step up the fight against agribusiness, Unite for Food Sovereignty Watch Video [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 [1]here. [1] [20] Twitter [20] [21] Facebook [21] [22] Vimeo [22] To unsubscribe from the distribution list click here [2] For questions or comments, email LVCWEB(a)VIACAMPESINA.ORG WEBSITE: www.viacampesina.org [23] TV: www.tv.viacampesina.org [24] To subscribe to this newsletter - Click Here [2] Links: ------ [1] https://viacampesina.org/en/donations/ [2] https://mail.viacampesina.org/lists/listinfo/Via-info-en [3] https://viacampesina.org/en/la-via-campesina-calls-global-week-action-wto-f… [4] https://viacampesina.org/en/global-peasant-movement-assesses-responds-heate… [5] https://viacampesina.org/en/olive-harvest-campaign-announcement-2017-contin… [6] https://viacampesina.org/en/critique-capitalism-essential-struggle-for-food… [7] https://viacampesina.org/en/la-via-campesina-peasants-initiate-debate-gende… [8] https://viacampesina.org/en/reclaiming-the-food-system-instituto-agroecolog… [9] https://viacampesina.org/en/300-peasant-families-north-eastern-sri-lanka-fa… [10] https://viacampesina.org/en/summary-of-solidarity-statements-motions-vii-in… [11] https://viacampesina.org/en/vii-international-conference-youth-assembly-dec… [12] https://viacampesina.org/en/many-colours-corn/ [13] https://viacampesina.org/en/survey-shows-small-scale-agroecological-farms-p… [14] https://viacampesina.org/en/pakistan-kissan-rabita-committee-condemns-impri… [15] https://viacampesina.org/en/serikat-petani-indonesia-encourages-peasant-com… [16] https://www.facebook.com/viacampesinaOFFICIAL/videos/1504122602991639/ [17] https://viacampesina.org/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/08/Peasants-Fig… [18] https://vimeo.com/226664858 [19] https://tv.viacampesina.org/Fifth-International-Women-s?lang=en [20] http://www.twitter.com/via_campesina [21] https://www.facebook.com/viacampesinaOFFICIAL/ [22] https://vimeo.com/viacampesina [23] http://www.viacampesina.org [24] http://www.tv.viacampesina.org

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[Info EN] Mexico Earthquake: Urgent call for economic assistance and solidarity!
by La Via Campesina 22 Sep '17

22 Sep '17

MEXICO EARTHQUAKE: LA VIA CAMPESINA NORTH AMERICA CALLS FOR ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE AND SOLIDARITY! In recent days, several disasters have hit Mexico leaving devastation and much suffering mainly in rural and indigenous areas where many of our brothers and sisters of La Via Campesina are. The situation is particularly serious in Chiapas, Oaxaca, Guerrero and other states. In some places there have been floods and destruction of plantations and the collapse of houses and other buildings. Many sisters and brothers have stayed in the street. But in addition there have been deaths and many families today heal their wounded. The earthquake of September 19 in Mexico City has aggravated the situation. In a number of areas, such as Xochimilco, Tlalpan, Contreras and others where migrant families live mainly in the big city in search of means of subsistence, they have lost everything they had, including their dwellings and plots. Many children and old people have lost their lives and many more are seriously injured or missing. Therefore, we call for international solidarity with the people of Mexico. The North American Region of La Via Campesina is asking for urgent economic assistance to support our sisters and brothers, peasants and indigenous peoples of Mexico to rebuild their lives, their homes, their plots and their communities. Today our sisters and brothers in Mexico urgently need the broadest material solidarity of our organizations, our regions and our allied movements. As we pointed out in Derio during our Seventh International Conference: "It is time to build a fraternal world of solidarity among peoples." CONTRIBUTE ONLINE BY CLICKING HERE [1] We thank you in advance for your attention to this urgent call for solidarity and we encourage you to mobilize your members and your allies and friends to donate in support of the people of Mexico and particularly of La Via Campesina Mexico. On behalf of the North American Region, Joan Brady and Carlos Marentes, Mr. Coordinators _A USGS map shows the earthquake that struck Mexico late Sept. 7, 2017_ Links: ------ [1] https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/lvcmexicosolidarity2017

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[Info EN] Nyéléni Newsletter: Advancing Food Sovereignty (June Edition)
by La Via Campesina 19 Sep '17

19 Sep '17

NYÉLÉNI NEWSLETTER: ADVANCING FOOD SOVEREIGNTY This year marks the tenth anniversary of the historic International Forum on Food Sovereignty that was held Mali in 2007. Nyéléni has since become a space of praxis, to convene, synergise and build forces to strengthen the different conditions for food sovereignty. As the paradigm of food sovereignty has expanded, so too have threats against it. These threats are being confronted at multiple fronts and levels by the growing global movement for food sovereignty. The recurring crises the world is facing are inherent to capitalism which is adept at re-inventing itself to maintain structural power. Tinkering with the wiring of the capitalist model will do little good. What is needed is deep systemic change, a complete paradigm shift from competitiveness to solidarity, from extractivism to respect and from exploitation to dignity. This is the paradigm of food sovereignty, which the global movement is advancing through diverse knowledge, capacities, resources and social bases. Click here to download the June English edition [1] or read it directly in the website at www.nyeleni.org [2] ! Links: ------ [1] http://www.nyeleni.org/ccount/click.php?id=113 [2] http://www.nyeleni.org/

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[Info EN] La Via Campesina calls for a Global Week of Action against the WTO and FTAs as the 11th Ministerial Conference draw closer
by La Via Campesina 10 Sep '17

10 Sep '17

SEPTEMBER 10, THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ACTION AGAINST WTO AND FTAS Today, La Via Campesina is calling upon social movements and civil society organisations of the world to mobilise and organise our resistances against the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), build solidarity alliances and prepare for a worldwide week of action in December, coinciding with the 11th International Ministerial that is scheduled to take place in Argentina. For the first time since its inception, the World Trade Organization (WTO) is planning to meet in Latin America. From the 10th to the 13th of December, Mauricio Macri's government will host the WTO's 11th Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Entrepreneurs, ministers, chancellors, and even presidents will be there. To do what? To demand more "freedom" for their companies, more "ease of doing business" for exploiting workers, peasants, indigenous people, and taking over land and territories. In other words, less "restrictions" on transnational wastage. Since its beginnings in 1995 as derivative of General Agreement on Tariff and Trade (GATTs), the World Trade Organization has promoted the most brutal form of capitalism, better known as trade liberalization. At successive Ministerial Conferences, the WTO has set out to globalize the liberalisation of national markets, promising economic prosperity at the cost of sovereignty. In more or less the same terms, by its "liberalization, deregulation and privatization", which is called Package of Neoliberalism, WTO has encouraged the multiplication of free trade agreements (FTAs) between countries and regional blocs, etc. On this basis and by making use of governments that have been co-opted, the world's largest transnational corporations (TNCs) are seeking to undermine democracy and all of the institutional instruments for defending the lives, the territories, and the food and agricultural ecosystems of the world's peoples. In the previous Ministerial Conference (MC) in Nairobi in 2015, WTO had made six decisions on agriculture, cotton and issues related to LDCs. The agricultural decisions cover commitment to abolish export subsidies for farm exports, public stockholding for food security purposes, a special safeguard mechanism for developing countries, and measures related to cotton. Decisions were also made regarding preferential treatment for least developed countries (LDCs) in the area of services and the criteria for determining whether exports from LDCs may benefit from trade preferences. This year, with Macri Inc. in the Casa Rosada (Government House in Argentina), the coup leader Michel Temer in the Palacio del Planalto (the oficial workplace of the president of Brazil), and Brazilian Roberto Azevedo as its Director General, the WTO wants to return to the subject of agriculture, to put an end to small-scale fishing, and to make progress with multilateral agreements such as the misnamed General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). Notwithstanding the misleading protectionist statements coming from Washington and London, the WTO will meet again to try to impose the interests of capital at the cost of Planet Earth, of the democratic aspirations of the world's peoples, and of life itself. During these 20+ years of struggle against the WTO, the world's peoples have resisted its attempt to globalize everything, including the food and agricultural systems, for the benefit of the TNCs. Our struggles have been the biggest impediment to the advance of the WTO, and there is no doubt that La Via Campesina has played a decisive part. Our resistance to market liberalisation under this neoliberal regime has continued since the Uruguay round conducted within the framework of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). Ever since, La Via Campesina has mobilised against almost all of the Ministerial Conferences since Seattle (1999) and Cancún (2003) - where our brother Lee Kyung Hae, holding a banner declaring that "The WTO kills peasants", sacrificed his own life - and up to Bali (2013) and Nairobi (2015). This year, from the 8th to the 15th of December, a La Via Campesina international delegation will be in Buenos Aires to take an active part in the numerous civil society mobilisations, forums, and discussions. We will be there to identify the WTO as the criminal organisation that it is and to raise the flag of Food Sovereignty. We will call out all the Governments, who after having realised the weakening of WTO, have resorted to Bilateral and Regional Mega Free Trade Agreements, that threaten to annihilate our food systems, just like WTO has done it over the last two decades. We are calling upon all of our member organisations - in each and every country - to mobilise during this "Week of Action Against the WTO" (from the 8th to the 15th of December); within their social and political contexts, they should find the right time and form the best alliances in order to denounce the WTO and the numerous bilateral and regional Free Trade Agreements. We insist that agriculture should not be part of any of the WTO negotiations! WE SAY ONCE AGAIN: NO TO WTO! NO TO FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS! FOR THE FOOD SOVEREIGNTY OF OUR PEOPLES! GLOBALIZE THE STRUGGLE! GLOBALIZE HOPE! You can email the details of your solidarity actions to lvcweb(a)viacampesina.org or tag us on our official Facebook or Twitter pages facebook.com/viacampesinaOfficia [1]l Twitter: @via_campesina [2] / @via_campesinaES [3] / @viacampesinaFR [4] Links: ------ [1] https://www.facebook.com/viacampesinaOFFICIAL/ [2] https://twitter.com/via_campesina [3] https://twitter.com/via_campesinaSP [4] https://twitter.com/viacampesinaFR

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[Info EN] VII International Conference - Special Edition Newsletter
by La Via Campesina 25 Jul '17

25 Jul '17

VII International Conference - Special Edition Newsletter Donate [1] _This edition carries highlights of the VIIth International Conference of La Via Campesina that is took place in Derio, Basque Country from 19-24 July. It brings you moments and reflections from the International Youth Assembly and the International Women's Assembly that were held earlier in the week._ EUSKAL HERRIA DECLARATION Delegates of La Via Campesina, representing our organizations and movements, are gathered in the Basque Country to celebrate our 7th International Conference from the 16th to the 24th of July of 2017. Euskal Herria is a beautiful land of solidarity, struggle, and resistance, with its own language, where the tradition of good food produced by peasants and local fisherfolk remains strong. We, the peasants, rural workers, landless, indigenous peoples, pastoralists, artisanal fisherfolk, rural women and other peoples who work in the countryside around the world, declare that we feed our people and build the movement to change the world. Read More [2] [3] FEATURED ARTICLES For an extensive collection of articles, click here [4] VII INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE: WOMEN'S ASSEMBLY DECLARATION We are building a feminism out of our peasant and popular identity as a tool for our organisations and in the social emancipation process for men and women. Read More [5] LA VIA CAMPESINA'S VII INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OPENS WITH THE RINGING OF BELLS Solidarity, equality, social struggles and food sovereignty were the key words during the first day of La Via Campesina's VII International Conference taking place in Derio, in the Basque Country from 19 to 24 July. Read More [6] PEASANT YOUTH SHARE VISIONS OF HARVESTING FROM BETTER EDUCATION In the words of a young Brazilian representing MPA: "We have to use our strengths--creativity, energy, connectivity, and all the provocative communication tools that are uniquely ours to achieve the goal of nourishing ourselves through agroecology. Read More [7] VII INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE: YOUTH ASSEMBLY DECLARATION We reaffirm our struggle for land, territories and our collective right to the resources required to practice peasant agroecology as a way of life. We reaffirm our capacity, commitment and right to fulfil our essential role in building Food Sovereignty. More [8] 25 YEARS OF FEMINISM IN LA VIA CAMPESINA : REFLECTIONS FROM WOMEN'S ASSEMBLY AT THE VII INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE In this seventh Conference of La Vía Campesina, the proposal of women peasants is to achieve consensus on what the movement understands by "peasant and popular feminism. Read More [9] _PRESS RELEASE: _STEP UP THE FIGHT AGAINST AGRIBUSINESS, UNITE FOR FOOD SOVEREIGNTY VIIth International Conference ends with a powerful declaration to step up resistance against transnational agribusiness, large scale land-grabbing, criminalisation of people's struggles, rising xenophobia, racism, and patriarchy. Read More [10] FEATURED VIDEOS [11] Shepherds in traditional dress made enormous bells on their backs chime in unison with every step they made. In the Basque country, these bells are used in rituals to awaken the land to Spring so that it can be cultivated or used as pasture. Watch Video [12] [13] The Vth International Women's Assembly of La Via Campesina included approximately 150 women peasants from all continents - representing peasant movements from 79 countries. Watch Video [14] [15] The Fourth International Youth Assembly of La Via Campesina kicked off on 16th of July, with nearly 100 young peasants from 47 countries echoing the slogan " Invest in the Peasant Youth: Sowing Present to Harvest Future" Watch Video [16] [17] Peasant members of La Via Campesina and allies took our a march for food sovereignty and in defense of Mother Earth. Voices from Europe, Asia Africa and Americas. Watch Video [18] VII INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE: IN IMAGES Explore the slideshow on Via Campesina TV [19] Browse La Via Campesina's Facebook Album [20] VII CONFERENCE: IN THE MEDIA VII CONFERENCE: MEDIA MENTIONS EiTB [21] Couverture Journée d'ouverture [22] Al Mayadeen [23] GARA [24] Telesur [25] Al Jazeera [26] Naiz [27] La Jornada [28] Radio Mundo Real [29] RMOL [30] Pressenza [31] Food Tank [32] ARGIA [33] LAVANGUARDIA [34] PIKARA MAGAZINE [35] FEATURED PODCASTS (ONLY EN/FR) Radio Mundo Real worked with the Communications Group of VII International Conference to produce a series of podcasts in Derio. Due to limited resources available, these podcasts could only be made available in Spanish and French. For those interested, here is the link to follow: Listen Now [36] 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] [37] Twitter [37] [38] Facebook [38] [39] Vimeo [39] To unsubscribe from the distribution list click here [40] For questions or comments, email LVCWEB(a)VIACAMPESINA.ORG WEBSITE: www.viacampesina.org [41] TV: www.tv.viacampesina.org [42] To subscribe to this newsletter - Click Here [40] Links: ------ [1] https://viacampesina.org/en/donations/ [2] https://viacampesina.org/en/viith-international-conference-la-via-campesina… [3] https://viacampesina.org/fr/declaration-de-euskal-herria/ [4] https://viacampesina.org/en/who-are-we/our-conferences/7-derio-2017-our-con… [5] https://viacampesina.org/en/vii-international-conference-womens-assembly-de… [6] https://viacampesina.org/en/la-via-campesinas-vii-international-conference-… [7] https://viacampesina.org/en/peasant-youth-share-visions-harvesting-better-e… [8] https://viacampesina.org/en/vii-international-conference-youth-assembly-dec… [9] https://viacampesina.org/en/25-years-feminism-la-via-campesina/ [10] https://viacampesina.org/en/step-up-fight-agribusiness-unite-food-sovereign… [11] https://www.facebook.com/viacampesinaOFFICIAL/videos/1504122602991639/ [12] https://tv.viacampesina.org/La-Via-Campesina-s-VII?lang=en [13] https://www.facebook.com/viacampesinaOFFICIAL/videos/1501642156573017/ [14] https://tv.viacampesina.org/Fifth-International-Women-s?lang=en [15] https://www.facebook.com/viacampesinaOFFICIAL/videos/1498743133529586/ [16] https://tv.viacampesina.org/Young-people-have-a-great?lang=en [17] https://www.facebook.com/370162609843998/videos/675299499330306/ [18] https://tv.viacampesina.org/March-for-Food-Sovereignty-Bilbao?lang=en [19] https://tv.viacampesina.org/-RADIO-PICTURES-?lang=en [20] https://www.facebook.com/pg/viacampesinaOFFICIAL/photos/?tab=albums [21] https://www.facebook.com/viacampesinaOFFICIAL/videos/1506408192763080/ [22] https://www.facebook.com/viacampesinaOFFICIAL/videos/1500619023341997/ [23] http://www.almayadeen.net/news/reports/60983/%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%AA%D8%AA%D8%A7… [24] http://www.naiz.eus/eu/hemeroteca/gara/editions/2017-07-20/hemeroteca_artic… [25] http://www.telesurtv.net/english/opinion/Campesino-Movements-Say-Climate-Ju… [26] http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2017/07/decisions-170708080110456.… [27] http://www.naiz.eus/es/iritzia/articulos/conferencia-internacional-de-la-vi… [28] http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2017/07/21/opinion/016a1pol [29] http://radiomundoreal.fm/vii-conferencia-via-campesina?lang=es [30] http://dunia.rmol.co/read/2017/07/21/299903/Tegakkan-Kedaulatan-Pangan-Di-S… [31] https://www.pressenza.com/fr/2017/07/paysan-ne-s-de-plus-de-70-pays-se-retr… [32] https://foodtank.com/news/2017/07/seventh-international-conference-la-via-c… [33] http://www.argia.eus/albistea/eguneroko-jatekoa-erostea-ekintza-politikoa-d… [34] http://www.lavanguardia.com/lacontra/20170721/424270812302/los-migrantes-al… [35] http://www.pikaramagazine.com/2017/07/conferencia-via-campesina/ [36] https://radioteca.net/userprofile/LVC/ [37] http://www.twitter.com/via_campesina [38] https://www.facebook.com/viacampesinaOFFICIAL/ [39] https://vimeo.com/viacampesina [40] https://mail.viacampesina.org/lists/listinfo/Via-info-en [41] http://www.viacampesina.org [42] http://www.tv.viacampesina.org

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[Info EN] Step up the fight against agribusiness, Unite for Food Sovereignty: says La Via Campesina
by La Via Campesina 24 Jul '17

24 Jul '17

Press Release | 24 July 2017, Derio, Basque Country STEP UP THE FIGHT AGAINST AGRIBUSINESS, UNITE FOR FOOD SOVEREIGNTY: SAYS LA VIA CAMPESINA _"WE FEED OUR PEOPLES AND BUILD THE MOVEMENT TO CHANGE THE WORLD"_ On Saturday, July 22nd at Derio in the Basque Country, La Via Campesina, the international peasant movement representing over 170 organizations and movements in 72 countries, closed its VIIth International Conference, with a powerful declaration to step up resistance against transnational agribusiness, large scale land-grabbing, criminalisation of people's struggles, rising xenophobia, racism, and patriarchy. After four days of collective discussions and reflections on Food Sovereignty, peasant agroecology, autonomous training networks, migrant rights, trade, climate justice and criminalisation of social movements and alliance building, the Euskal Herria Declaration [1]"We feed our peoples and build the movement to change the world" [1]noted with concern the rise of finance capital combined with unbridled monopolisation of natural resources and the unprecedented promotion of dangerous technologies pushed by mega-mergers to dominate the food system with the blunt violation of human rights and nature for profit. The Declaration, which sets broad strategic direction on how to build a movement to change the world through feminism and food sovereignty, also emphasised the urgent need to build wider alliances at the local, regional, and international levels and the need to unify against the new blend of capitalism and right-wing populism. Peasant agroecology, popular agrarian reform, including strengthening and developing local markets, coupled with building and forging stronger relationships between the urban and countryside, were put forward to build food sovereignty for the peoples of the world. To do this, the VIIth International Conference highlighted the importance of continuing and scaling up the political, ideological, organizational, and technical training based on the movement's own concepts, to shape its identity and ideas to transform society. Solidarity among people is part of the foundation to changing the world. On the closing day of the conference, La Via Campesina delegates collectively defined the internal functioning (regulations, processes etc) to guide solidarity. ACCORDING TO UNAI ARANGUREN, International Coordination Committee Member from Europe of La Via Campesina, two words define La Via Campesina: "solidarity and hope". In a show of solidarity, close to 1,600 people marched through the streets of Bilbao on Sunday as part of a public action - organised by EHNE Bizkaia - that reached the city's Plaza Nueva where La Via Campesina delegates delivered speeches, issued statements of support, and celebrated with local music and dance. "_After fruitful debates, we're here closing the VIIth Conference of La Via Campesina and have come to the city to ask civil for society's cooperation and commitment to fight with us for the rights to food, land, water, and seeds. "_ SAID UNAI ARANGUREN. Two key reports were presented in Derio: (i) Peasants fighting for justice: cases of violations of peasants' human rights, which focuses on the continuing instances of attack and assault on the peasant movement and (ii) the Agrarian reform and the defense of life, Land and territories, which brings out how the struggles for agrarian reform have transformed itself with new strategies to face the changing face of corporate agribusiness in the countryside. GLOBALISE THE STRUGGLE! GLOBALISE HOPE! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ For media queries contact the press team * Ainara Frade: +34 671417531 prentsa(a)ehnebizkaia.eus (EUS, ES, EN) * Viviana Rojas Flores: +34 6616 41838 |+593 9952 13177 | viviana.rojas(a)viacampesina.org (ES, PT) * Andres Arce: +34 6616 41528 | +32 4895 52297 | andres(a)eurovia.org (EN, FR, ES) Website: www.viacampesina.org [2] Facebook: ViacampesinaOfficial Twitter: @via_campesina Links: ------ [1] https://viacampesina.org/en/viith-international-conference-la-via-campesina… [2] http://www.viacampesina.org

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