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:
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[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
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/
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
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
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/
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
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
_PRESS RELEASE_
LA VIA CAMPESINA'S VIITH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE: PEASANTS FROM OVER 70
COUNTRIES MEET TO BUILD FOOD SOVEREIGNTY
We feed our peoples and build the movement to change the world!
19 JULY, 2017: The VIIth International Conference of La Via Campesina,
the world's largest peasant movement, begins today in Derio, a quiet
town in the Biscay province of the Basque country and will continue
until 24th July . Over 450 peasant movement representatives from all
over the world will gather to continue the struggle against capitalism
and to propose concrete ways to build an alternative world based on
dignity and Food Sovereignty.
This conference, that is held every four years, is a unique and vibrant
gathering of peasant movements and is the highest and most significant
decision-making space of La Via Campesina.
"It is unique because we are a movement that is diverse and yet united
in our struggles. We are the people who work the land and feed the
world, but our territories are continuously under attack. We face
increased criminalisation. This conference is a step forward in
internationalising our struggles, creating a strategy to counter the
global forces of capital and building a movement for change", - SAYS
ELIZABETH MPOFU, a woman peasant farmer from Zimbabwe and the General
Coordinator of La Via Campesina.
"La Via Campesina continues to grow. We now have about 200
organisations. We are an international political model" - SAYS UNAI
ARANGUREN European International Coordination Committee Member of La Via
Campesina
The VIIth International Conference was preceded by the IVth
International Youth Assembly [1] (16th -17th July) and the Vth
International Women's Assembly [2] (17th - 18th July), which gave space
to young peasants and women of the movement to voice their unique
challenges and proposals in this struggle.
The Youth Assembly echoed how they are the worst affected by migration.
The need for social movements to invest in peasant youth and promote
agrarian reform that would grant young peasants access to and control
over land and territories, and scale up training on peasant
agroecological practices is today more urgent than ever. Youth also
extended solidarity to the '_March in Defense of Food Sovereignty and
Mother Earth_', organised by the Movement for Land in Euskal Herria.
The Women's Assembly drew attention to the increasing instances of
violence that women are subjected to at home, in the farms and elsewhere
in the patriarchal society. They also committed to continue their
struggle to build a movement for change with feminism and food
sovereignty.
During the intense four-day program [3], the peasant movement will
reflect on and debate various topics including Food Sovereignty, peasant
agroecology, autonomous training networks, migrant rights, trade,
climate justice and criminalisation of social movements and alliance
building_. _The draft _UN Declaration for the Rights of Peasants and
Other Working people in Rural Areas - _an initiative of La Via Campesina
which has reached an advanced stage of negotiation at the UN Human
Rights Council, will be discussed. New strategic lines of action will be
defined, setting the tone of the struggle for the next 4 years, and new
members and leadership will be welcomed.
On Sunday, 23th July, La Via Campesina, EHNE Bizkaia _(the local host
and member organisation of the global movement in the Basque Country)_
and allies will march with local peasants to Bilbao in solidarity with
the struggle to defend their land and territories against big
infrastructural projects.
On Monday, 24th, field visits will be organised for all conference
participants. Longer field visits around the Basque Country, from 26th
to 28th July, are planned for a few selected representatives from the 9
regions of La Via Campesina.
-------------------------
For Interview requests, contact the Media team:
* Ainara Frade: +34 671417531 prentsa(a)ehnebizkaia.eus (Languages: EUS,
ES, EN)
* Viviana Rojas Flores: +34 6616 41838 |+593 9952 13177 |
viviana.rojas(a)viacampesina.org (Languages: ES, PT)
* Andres Arce: +34 6616 41528 | +32 4895 52297 | andres(a)eurovia.org
(Languages: EN, FR, ES)
* _Website: __www.viacampesina.org_ [4]
* _Facebook: ViacampesinaOfficial [5]_
* _Twitter: @via_campesina [6]_
_Download the program agenda here_ [3]
Links:
------
[1] https://viacampesina.org/en/future-hands-young-peasants/
[2]
https://viacampesina.org/en/fifth-international-womens-assembly-feminism-fo…
[3]
https://viacampesina.org/en/event/viith-international-conference-la-via-cam…
[4] http://www.viacampesina.org/
[5] https://www.facebook.com/viacampesinaOFFICIAL/
[6] https://twitter.com/via_campesina
La Via Campesina | e-Newsletter | May, 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]
THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS!
[3]"We feed our peoples and build the movement to change the world!" -
is the call that will carry hundreds of delegates of the international
peasant movement La Vía Campesina, to the Basque Country from the 16th
to the 24th of July to celebrate their VIIth Conference.
The International Conference of La Via Campesina (LVC), held every four
years, is the movement's highest decision-making forum - gathering
representatives from member organisations of peasants, small and medium
size producers, landless people, indigenous people, migrants and
agricultural workers - from all over the world. Collectively
representing over 200 million people, these delegates will decide common
strategies and host internal debates for the growing global movement.
Read More [3]
NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
ONE STEP CLOSER TOWARDS A UN DECLARATION
The proposed UN Declaration on the rights of peasants and other people
working in rural areas discussed in the Fourth Session of the OEIWG
(held in May 2017) is the fruit of the efforts mobilized for the past
several years by La Via Campesina, FIAN and CETIM along with State
parties and other civil society organisations.
Read the Full Statement [4]
EXCHANGE OF SEEDS BETWEEN PEASANTS IS AT THE HEART OF THE COLLECTIVE
SYSTEMS OF CONSERVATION: LA VIA CAMPESINA AT THE UN
Depriving peasants of their rights to conserve, exchange, use and sell
their seeds, is an unacceptable attempt against human rights. Read More
[5]
LA VIA CAMPESINA EMPHATICALLY DEFENDS FOOD SOVEREIGNTY IN GENEVA, AT THE
UN
Food Security is about economic rights, and food sovereignty is about
human rights. Peasants should have the right to define their own food
and agriculture systems. Peasants should have the right to produce
healthy and culturally appropriate food, through ecologically sound,
socially just and sustainable methods. Read More [6]
BRAZIL: NEW MASSACRE IN PARÁ-BRAZIL EXPOSES FRAGILITY OF THE STATE IN
SOLVING LAND CONFLICTS
Ten squatters - one woman and nine men - were murdered in the morning of
the last Wednesday (24), in the camp Nova Vida, located in the farm
Santa Lúcia, city of Pau D'Arco, in Pará (Amazon Region, in Brazil).
Read More [7]
LA VIA CAMPESINA CALLS FOR AN IMMEDIATE END TO EU-JAPAN FREE TRADE
AGREEMENT
When it comes to farmers and food systems, agribusiness TNCs from Europe
- which already export about 5.3 billion euros in agri-food commodities
to Japan - expect the deal to end tariffs and regulations on Japan's
agricultural products and processed foods, worsening the already
disastrous effects of the corporate food system_._ European food
companies want to sell whatever they can in Japan and the EU claims that
the exports to Japan could solve the problems in its dairy and pork
sector. Read More [8]
WHEN THE RIGHT TO LAND IS IN OUR HANDS, WE SEE A FUTURE WHICH IS MORE
JUST, EQUAL
Henry Saragih, while speaking at the UN emphasised that the right to
land will democratize the economy in rural areas. "This means that we
put peasants and other people working in rural areas as subject, to
defend and to develop rural economies.", he said. Read More [9]
FREE, PRIOR AND INFORMED CONSENT IS MUST TO TACKLE AGRARIAN CONFLICTS
On May 15, while intervening during the discussions on Article 1 till 4
of the draft declaration, Geeta Devarajan representing La Via
Campesina's South Asian movements cited the issue of displacements in
rural areas and emphasised on the need for free, prior and informed
consent. Read More [10]
"WE NEED PEASANTS' RIGHTS NOW, NOT ANY LATER!" - CHORUS GROWING IN
GENEVA
Al Abudi Ubai Fahmi from Palestine "...[These rights] are fundamental to
the lives of peasants and rural population who feed and contribute to
the world. We still remember how food crisis 2007-2008 exposed the
neglect faced by peasants agriculture and rural population. Read More
[11]
RIGHTS VIOLATION DOCUMENTATION IMPORTANT EVIDENCE FOR OUR STRUGGLE
La Via Campesina Southern and Eastern Africa (LVC SEAf) members and
allies from African, Asian and European countries met in South Africa
(April 18-21) to discuss the draft UN Declaration on the Rights of the
Peasants. Read More [12]
A STATEMENT ON PALESTINIAN PRISONERS AND THE RE-ARREST OF ABDULRAZEQ
FARRAJ
The Israeli occupation government continues its repressive policies
against the Palestinian prisoners and people; the latest violation was
the re-arrest of Abdulrazeq Farraj, journalist and UAWC's administrative
director from his house, at the midnight, in front his family. Read More
[13]
PEASANT NETWORKS AND THE FUTURE OF FOOD
The industrial food chain, dominated by transnational corporations that
control food from seeds to supermarkets, uses 75% of the land and 80% of
the water and fuel used in agriculture. Read More [14]
LA VIA CAMPESINA: VIITH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE - PRESS KIT
The international peasant's movement La Via Campesina invites
journalists from around the world to cover our VIIth International
Conference, which will be held in Derio, Bizkaia (Basque Country), 16th
- 24th July 2017. This will be preceded by the IVth International
Assembly of LVC Youth and the Vth International Assembly of LVC Women_._
Download the English edition [15]
[16]
A PLACE AT THE TABLE" BY LANWORKERS' ALLIANCE
_Duration: 4 Mins_
The Landworkers' Alliance launched its post-Brexit policy
recommendations outside Defra's offices -17 Smith Square, London - on
Friday 21st April. Featuring a dining table promoting the high-quality
fresh produce of our members, the launch highlights the need for
small-scale and family farmers to be offered a 'place at the table' in
upcoming negotiations over the future of UK agriculture policy. (_Video
by Jason Brooks for Lanworkers' Alliance). _To know more and to
download the report click here [17] Watch Now [18]
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.
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