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[Info EN] Peasants’ houses in Mekar Jaya - the ‘‘hometown of agrarian reform’’ in Indonesia - razed to the ground
by La Via Campesina 31 Mar '17

31 Mar '17

Peasants' houses in Mekar Jaya - the ''hometown of agrarian reform'' in Indonesia - razed down by a plantation firm [1] [2] It is cruelly ironical. Less than 72 hours after President Joko Widodo's orders to implement the agrarian reform through land redistribution as a step to address economic disparity and inequality, peasant families of Mekar Jaya Village in Langkat District of North Sumatera Province in Indonesia were in for a rude shock. _Langkat Nusantara Kepong Ltd (LNK)_ a Malaysian firm with interests in palm oil plantations, did exactly the opposite by evicting these families from their own lands and razing their houses to the ground. 554 hectares of land have been forcefully grabbed from peasants by this Corporation, in a series of attempts made since the 18th of November 2016. In the latest of those actions, carried out on Monday the 27th of March, seventy houses have been razed down to the ground. The affected peasant families, who are members of the Indonesian Peasants' Union (SPI), have so far been putting up a brave fight. But with nowhere to stay and their houses gone, the distress and despair is strikingly evident. [3]General Secretary of the Central Board (DPP) of SPI, Agus Ruli Ardiansyah said that over a thousand personnel from the police and fire department, descended with heavy machineries to carry out the eviction on Monday. Visibly agitated, he spoke at a press conference in Jakarta on the morning of the 28th, "We denounce LNK. It's actions certainly violate the orders of President Jokowi to immediately implement agrarian reform and land redistribution to address the economic disparity, because Mekar Jaya has previously been listed as a hometown of agrarian reform. 70 houses were destroyed. 360 families have nowhere to stay any longer," "What PT-LNK did will increase rural poverty. With its latest actions, the firm has curtailed peasants' access to livelihood. It is a direct violation of the instructions of President Jokowi to accelerate the agrarian reform. He had re-emphasized it at Mandailing Natal, on March 25, 2017, " Agus Ruli added. Zubaidah, Chairperson of SPI North Sumatra Region gives a brief history of the region and recalls 1952, when people of Paya Redas and Paya Kasih earmarked nearly 1,000 hectares of land for paddy cultivation. "It resulted in the creation of a settlement called Paya Redas, with TK Abdul Hamit as their village head from 1954 till 1964. In the 1970's trouble started when the company PTP II/PTPN II forcefully evicted peasants from nearly 500 hectares of land. Since then, up till now families in the region have been facing these threats periodically.", says Zubaidah. LNK, the firm that carried out Monday's eviction attack, is a joint venture of PTPN II and Kuala Lumpur Kepong Plantation Holdings Ltd. The Malaysian partner holds 60% of the stake in LNK. Its efforts to evict peasants from the lands which were occupied and managed over the years and over several generations, have been gathering steam lately. "PT LNK claimed that these peasants who have been living on this land are tenants who come from outside the area. On the contrary, we are the true owners of this land and these houses. We are the descendants and direct heirs of those who have lived here for generations, "said Zubaidah. At a meeting of all-affected-parties held on the 30th of March, Zubaidah made a presentation explaining the context and the current situation to the House of Representatives of North Sumatra (DPRD). Chairman of DPRD North Sumatra, F.L. Fernando Simanjuntak has ordered LNK and PTPN II to treat the community respectfully and rightfully. "We are from SPI of North Sumatra, with representatives of SPI from Mekar Jaya village here to meet the_ Commission A_ DPRD North Sumatra." "_Commission A_, represented by Fernando Simanjuntak and Sarma Hutajulu as Chairman and Secretary acknowledged that the municipal police could not evict land and peasants' houses. This means that LNK has arbitrarily carried out this action ", Zubaidah said in a press statement. EMERGENCY IN MEKAR JAYA! [4] Chairman of the Executive Branch (BPC) of SPI, Langkat Suriono asserted that the land and houses that have been bulldozed are still legally valid. "Based on the conflict settlement process and the RDP report to the Presidential Staff Office (KSP), the Ministry of Agricultural, and others, there has been no decision on the status of land and houses owned by peasants. This means that no one can carry out any activities on the land, including eviction and destruction of the homes " said Suriono. Suriono also urged LNK to respect the laws and instructions of the President Jokowi about the implementation of agrarian reform rather than straddling the law and obstructing the agrarian reform by destroying the lives and livelihoods of small peasants. "National Land Agency (BPN) or Agricultural Ministry itself has not decide on the conflict, why LNK boldly straddles the law in this country? Are they not satisfied with eliminating our source of livelihood, that they are now bulldozing our homes and evicting us from our land? "he asked ------------------------- FOR QUERIES: Zainal Arifin Faud - +6281311155365 - zainal(a)spi.or.id Links: ------ [1] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/human-rights-… [2] https://www.spi.or.id/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/penggusuran-mekarjaya.jpg [3] http://www.spi.or.id/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/penggusuran_mekar_jaya_3.jpg [4] https://viacampesina.org/en/images/2017-03-31%20Mekar%20Jaya.jpg

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[Info EN] Call to mobilise on #17April - Int'l Day of Peasant Struggles!
by La Via Campesina 24 Mar '17

24 Mar '17

CALL TO MOBILISE ON #17APRIL, _INT'L DAY OF PEASANT STRUGGLES_! [1] PEASANTS RIGHTS, HUMAN RIGHTS! ADVANCE TOWARD UN DECLARATION ON RIGHTS OF PEASANTS AND OTHER PEOPLE WORKING IN RURAL AREAS! HARARE, 23 MARCH 2017: The international farmers' movement La Via Campesina calls all its members and allies to MOBILISE ON APRIL 17, the International Day of Peasant's struggles.[1] [2] This year, we want the world to know that peasants and other people working in rural areas have been working very hard for their rights. The rights of peasants initiative, which La Via Campesina started 17 years ago, now is in advanced process within the United Nations towards a Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas. This declaration, if approved, will create an international legal instrument to protect the rights of and draw attention to the threats and discrimination suffered by peasants and other people working in rural areas. The need for a UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and other People Working Rural Areas is more urgent and evident in the 21st century. Peasants, who produce the bulk of the food consumed globally, continue to face criminalisation, discrimination, displacements and persecution despite existence of numerous international legal instruments for recognition and protection of such rights. Peasants' basic rights are increasingly very vulnerable as the economic and ecological crisis worsens. This situation is closely linked to human rights violations: expropriation of land, forced eviction, gender discrimination, the absence of right to land and lack of rural development, low income and lack access to means of production, insufficient social protection, and criminalization of movements defending the rights of peasants and people working in rural areas. For instance, in Africa, over 70% of the agricultural production and care-giving is done by women but there is little recognition of their rights in relation to asset ownership, access to credit, information and participation in policy making etc. In Brazil, despite many years of peasants struggling for comprehensive agrarian reform, fair redistribution of land remains unfulfilled. In Europe, the Common Agricultural Policy and market deregulation of the milk sector affect hundreds of thousands of family farmers. In Asia, much as in rest of the world, free trade agreements and bilateral treaties have destroyed local markets and continue to threaten local and traditional ways of farming and farmers' exchange. Land concentration is increasing as some of the affected farmers are forced to sell their land; youth participation in farming is at its lowest. We call upon the people around the world to celebrate International Day of Peasants' Struggle by continuing to work to reinforce food sovereignty, the fight against climate change and the conservation of biodiversity; to fight for a genuine agrarian reform and a better protection against land-grabbing; continue to conserve, use, and exchange our seeds; and strengthen the solidarity among ourselves. These give strength for us to defend our land against corporate interest, persecution and violence against peasants and other people working in rural areas. This year in July 2017 in the Basque Country, La Via Campesina will hold its VIIthInternational Conference to deepen our analysis of the current crisis and agree on strategic lines for action to strengthen our movement. We also call upon countries to support the UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas. We will mobilise our members and allies to pressure our governments to make the next negotiation in the 4th session of Open Ended Intergovernmental Working Group on rights of peasants and other people working in rural area at UN HR Council Geneva successful. We believe in championing the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas, humanity also wins. JOIN US ON APRIL 17TH BY ORGANISING DEMONSTRATIONS, PRESSURE TO GOVERNMENTS, PUBLIC DEBATES AND DISCUSSIONS, FILM SCREENINGS, FARMERS MARKETS, FESTIVALS, OR SOLIDARITY ACTIONS - ALL OF YOUR IDEAS AND PLANS ARE WELCOME! SHARE BY SENDING TO LVCWEB(a)VIACAMPESINA.ORG SO THAT WE CAN CAPTURE AND CIRCULATE THEM ON OUR MAP OF ACTIONS AHEAD OF TIME. PLEASE SEND US YOUR PICTURES, AUDIOS AND VIDEOS SO THAT WE CAN UPLOAD THEM ON OUR WEBSITE [3] AND OUR OUR TV [4]". ------------------------- * It is vital that our rights as peasantry are guaranteed. Access to land is essential for a decent life in the countryside and to realise Food Sovereignty for all the peoples of the world. Watch and share our new video, available here [5]! * Download high resolution poster for web and A3 printing for Poster. Click here [6] * Follow us on Social media: @via_campesina [7] and https://www.facebook.com/viacampesinaOFFICIAL * For more information about process within the UN click here [8] WE FEED OUR PEOPLES AND BUILD THE MOVEMENT TO CHANGE THE WORLD! ------------------------- [1] [9] On April 17th, 1996, 19 peasants were killed when military police in the Amazonian State of Pará in Brazil attacked a large number of members of the Landless Workers Movement (MST) who were blockading a highway in order to demand agrarian reform. Two more people died from their injuries several days later, and hundreds of others were so seriously injured that they could not go on working in agriculture. La Via Campesina, which was then in the midst of holding its second international conference at Tlaxcala in Mexico, declared April 17th to be the International Day of Farmers' and Peasants' Struggle. Links: ------ [1] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/17-apr… [2] cid:part3.4AEF4BF1.8263D3D2@viacampesina.org [3] http://www.viacampesina.org/ [4] https://tv.viacampesina.org/ [5] https://tv.viacampesina.org/International-Conference-of-1065?lang=en [6] https://cloud.viacampesina.org/s/JYu0yttChXunacM [7] https://twitter.com/via_campesina [8] http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/RuralAreas/Pages/4thSession.aspx [9] cid:part12.34CA902E.8BF775B3@viacampesina.org

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[Info EN] La Via Campesina | e-Newsletter | Feb 2017
by La Via Campesina 14 Mar '17

14 Mar '17

La Via Campesina | e-Newsletter | February, 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] MARCH OF THE WOMEN ------------------------- For the women of La Via Campesina from all over the world, 8th of March is a day of struggle, resistance and denunciation of the capitalist system, transnational corporations (TNCs), patriarchy and masochism. These oppress, exploit and violate women. It's also a day of solidarity with women's struggles. Here is a glimpse of our actions worldwide. For more visit our Facebook Album [3] NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD INDONESIA BARGAINING POSITION IN EU CEPA IS QUESTIONABLE ------------------------- Zainal Arifin Fuad, from Serikat Petani Indonesia / Indonesian Peasant Union, argued that the flow of free trade and agricultural products from EU will marginalize the agricultural products from Indonesian farmers. Read More [4] UAWC APPEAL AGAINST LAW TO LEGALIZE WEST BANK SETTLEMENT SPOTS ------------------------- This law would allow the Israeli occupation to authorize thousands of Israeli settlements units, and 53 Israeli spots, as well as, to confiscate 8,000 dunums from privately owned Palestinian lands. Read More [5] FOOD SOVEREIGNTY WITHIN A NEW AGRICULTURAL POLICY! ------------------------- CAP hasn't addressed the near extinction of small farmers in many regions of Europe (90% of farms have been lost in the last 30 years in certain regions), or the abusive use of antibiotics in high concentration animal farms. Read More [6] "CETA IS A FALSE SOLUTION TO ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL WOES" - NATIONAL FARMERS UNION ------------------------- Farmers in Europe understand that CETA is another threat to their livelihood. In Canada, some farmers will see immediate income pressures as CETA comes into effect. Read More [7] CROFTERS GATHER TO DISCUSS BREXIT IMPLICATIONS ------------------------- The event aimed at setting a 'crofting agenda' for the upcoming Brexit negotiations and a post-Brexit agricultural policy that is fit for crofting. Read More [8] CONDEMNATION OF THE MURDER OF SULEIMAN HAMMAD, PALESTINIAN FARMER ------------------------- La Vía Campesina strongly condemns the brutal and intentional murder of our comrade Suleiman Hammad, an 85-year-old Palestinian farmer who on February 8th, 2017 was run over by an Israeli settler, while walking to work on his land near Al-Khader Village, south of Bethlehem. Read More [9] INDIAN FARMERS' GROUPS WRITE AN OPEN LETTER TO ROBERTO AZEVEDO, DIRECTOR GENERAL, WTO ------------------------- Director General of World Trade Organisation (WTO), Roberto Azevedo, is in Delhi, on 8-9th of February 2017. Indian farmers's groups have written an open letter citing numerous instances of violations of their rights brought about by ujnust policies of the trade body. Here is the full text: Read More [10] DEFEAT DIVSEEK: FAO REFUSES TO COLLABORATE IN BIOPIRACY DivSeek was set up with money from the World Bank to carry out the genetic sequencing of all the seeds held in the genebanks of the various countries of the planet. It then publishes these sequences accompanied by information on the characters of interest of the plants concerned. Read More [11] RESOLUTION: CALL TO ACTION IN SUPPORT OF STANDING ROCK SIOUX TRIBE ------------------------- The North American Region of La Via Campesina sends its most sincere solidarity to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and the water defenders in their heroic struggle to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) and in defense of Mother Nature and their sacred land. Read More [12] "WE WANT TO COME OUT STRONGER AND HAVE OUR RIGHTS RESPECTED" Andalusian Inmaculada Ibáñez, member of the women's articulation group and leader of the women's faction of the Coordinadora Agricultores Ganaderos (a major farmer organisation in Spain), spoke with Radio Mundo Real. Read More [13] STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY WITH PALESTINE ACTIVIST WHO WAS PREVENTED FROM TRAVELING ------------------------- The International Women's Articulation of La Via Campesina, issued a statement following the unfair decision of the Israeli forces to prevent comrade Meriam Ismael from leaving Palestine. Read More [14] TAKING AGROECOLOGY TO SCALE _ZERO BUDGET NATURAL FARMING PEASANT MOVEMENT IN KARNATAKA, INDIA_ This paper, produced as part of the self-study process, specifically examines Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF), a grassroots peasant agroecology movement in Karnataka, India. ZBNF ends reliance on purchased inputs and loans for farming, positioning itself as a solution to extreme indebtedness and suicides among Indian farmers. A [15]CCESS THE FULL VERSION OF THE PAPER [15] [16] We are the women's strike. Solidarity is our weapon. Watch Now [17] [18] Marco Aurelio, from MST (Brazilian Landless Workers Movement), spoke to Newsclick on current developments in Brazil. Since the constitutional coup in September 2016, that deposed President Dilma Rousseff, Brazil's rightwing politicians have been busy cutting allocations in social sectors, revising labour laws and undermining the progressive Constitution. Social movements such as MST have been in the forefront in creating broad based progressive platforms to oppose the Temer Government. With the rightwing increasingly losing legitimacy, Former President Lula of the Workers Party is widely expected to win the 2018 elections. Watch Now [19] [18] PODCAST: _ZoominKorea_'s Julian Cho and Hyun Lee explore these questions in our pilot podcast, which includes an exclusive interview with women farmers in Seongju and Gimcheon-Lee Hae-kyoung, Kim Jong, Yoon Geum-soon and Ham Soo-yeon-who have been on the front lines of the fight against the THAAD deployment. Listen in [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] Follow us on twitter [21] [22] Find us on Facebook [22] [23] Subsribe our Vimeo Channel [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://www.facebook.com/pg/viacampesinaOFFICIAL/photos/?tab=album&albu… [4] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/stop-f… [5] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/news-from-the-regions-mainmenu-29/223… [6] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/food-sovereig… [7] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/stop-f… [8] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/news-from-the-regions-mainmenu-29/223… [9] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/news-from-the-regions-mainmenu-29/223… [10] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/10-yea… [11] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/biodiversity-… [12] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/stop-t… [13] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/women-mainmen… [14] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/women-mainmen… [15] http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03066150.2016.1276450 [16] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOdRtcJxQeo [17] https://tv.viacampesina.org/SolidarityIsOurWeapon?lang=en [18] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZ7bqKtHMek [19] https://tv.viacampesina.org/Brazil-Right-Wing-Government?lang=en [20] https://tv.viacampesina.org/PODCAST-South-Korean-Women-Farmers?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] Women of the World, Mobilise this #March8
by La Via Campesina 27 Feb '17

27 Feb '17

WOMEN OF THE WORLD, MOBILISE THIS #MARCH8 [1] For the women of La Via Campesina from all over the world, 8th of March is a day of struggle, resistance and denunciation of the capitalist system, transnational corporations (TNCs), patriarchy and masochism. These oppress, exploit and violate women. It's also a day of solidarity with women's struggles. As peasant women, we are fully committed to the struggle for food sovereignty as a solution for systemic change. This includes our struggle for access to land, water, health and seeds. We use agroecology as a political practice which envisions a world built on the principles of justice and equity. In recent times, we have seen an increase in violence against women. Our struggles and resistances are being criminalised in a context of growing conservatisms, dismantling of public policies and violations of long-fought-for women's rights. The recent grab of power by right-wing governments and heteropatriarchal forces around the world has further imposed an environment where women are violated, oppressed and in some cases assassinated with impunity. In this system, women suffer violence in different ways every day. There are patriarchal forces that confine and bind women in the private sphere, i.e. the home, to care for others. These forces constantly keep us, women, away from political sphere or the social and public life. Therefore, it is necessary for us, peasant women of the world, to take the street on this 8thof March, to mobilise, take action and defend our rights, lands, seeds, healthy food and to raise our voices to say Stop Violence Against Women, in ways that suit each organisation's struggles, goals and local contexts. We are committed to building alliances for the struggles of peasant women against capital and heteropatriarchal violence. Therefore, we also support and join the International Women Strike this 8th of March. STOP VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN! GLOBALISE THE STRUGGLE, GLOBALISE HOPE! ------------------------- TAKE ACTION * Send in your posters, photographs, videos, event plans, press invitations to lvcweb(a)viacampesina.org * You can also create short videos. To know more click here [2] * To download posters, social media cards and more click here [3] CONTACTS: * Rashmi Munikempanna (India) - rashmi.munikempanna(a)gmail.com | +91 8762805428 * Iridiani Seibert (Brazil) - iridianigs(a)yahoo.com.br | +55 61999662804 * Mily Treviño-Sauceda (US) - milyliderescampesinas(a)msn.com | +19515451917 Links: ------ [1] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/women-mainmen… [2] https://cloud.viacampesina.org/s/YOBf5NNWxuaSPm3/download [3] https://cloud.viacampesina.org/s/YwJIqtryII1Z5cs

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[Info EN] La Via Campesina condemns of the murder of Suleiman Hammad, Palestinian farmer
by La Via Campesina 13 Feb '17

13 Feb '17

CONDEMNATION OF THE MURDER OF SULEIMAN HAMMAD, PALESTINIAN FARMER [1] LA VÍA CAMPESINA strongly condemns the brutal and intentional murder of our comrade Suleiman Hammad, an 85-year-old Palestinian farmer who on February 8th, 2017 was run over by an Israeli settler, while walking to work on his land near Al-Khader Village, south of Bethlehem. We send our condolences and solidarity to his family and our sister organization, the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC) of Palestine. We urge all people, social movements, and governments to pressure international institutions to help stop the systematic violation of the Right to Life of Palestinian farmers and bring an end to the Israeli Occupation of Palestine. WHAT YOU CAN DO? > * Write a statement against the constant violation of the Right to Life of Palestinian farmers. > * Break the international community's silence and act immediately to protect the Palestinian farmers and put pressure to end the Israeli Occupation. > * Organize protests in front of the Israeli Embassies to stop the Israeli violation against our farmers' rights. > * Other ideas? Keep us posted! Links: ------ [1] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/news-from-the-regions-mainmenu-29/223…

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[Info EN] La Via Campesina | e-Newsletter | New Year Edition 2017
by La Via Campesina 02 Feb '17

02 Feb '17

La Via Campesina | e-Newsletter | New Year Edition 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] REMEMBERING KATHY OZER, A FIGHTER FOR FAMILY FARMERS ------------------------- Kathy didn't just talk and study and explain. She worked! She organized! She advocated for those in need, and while we will feel her loss for some time, we are blessed she came our way. Her work will not be in vain. It will be on-going. She taught us well. Read the full statement issued by NFFC [3] VIA CAMPESINA CONDEMNS RECENT CRIMINALISATION OF TRADITIONAL SEED EXCHANGE IN TANZANIA ------------------------- [4]The recent reports that Tanzanian farmers would face heavy penalties or a long prison sentence if they continue their traditional seed exchange beyond government prescribed areas does not come as a surprise to La Via Campesina Southern and Eastern Africa (LVC SEAf) and its allies. This confirm our fears and what we have been lobbying against:- Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA),[1] the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition (NAFSN)[2] and the Common Markets for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)[3] and Southern Africa Development Community (SADC)[4] seed harmonisation regulatory systems. The consultations with the smallholder farmers and their various associations was very limited and done on the last minute following an outcry by the Civil Society Organisations. We highlighted that seed policy harmonisation path to promote commercial seed industry will lead to criminalisation of traditional farmer saved seed systems whose foundation is among things underpin by ability to exchange their seeds without restrictions. Read the full statement [4] NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD INDONESIAN PEASANTS' UNION (SPI) DENOUNCE WTO PANEL RULING THAT FAVOR US AND NZ. ------------------------- Denouncing the ruling, Henry Saragih, General Chairperson of Indonesian Peasant's Union and member of ICC (International Coordination Committee) of La Via Campesina, has warned that this would hamper the efforts of the Indonesian government to strengthen and develop self-sufficiency in food and meat production. Read More [5] MILK CRISIS: DEREGULATION NOT IN THE INTEREST OF PRODUCERS AND CONSUMERS ------------------------- European milk producers (ECVC and the European Milk Board - EMB) met again in Brussels for a symbolic action on the occasion of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting. Read More [6] COMMISSION AND COUNCIL ONLY ADD TO THE DAIRY OVERFLOW WITH THEIR MILK POWDER ------------------------- On January 23rd, the European Coordination Via Campesina (ECVC), along with the European Milk Board (EMB), demonstrated in front of the Justus Lipsius building - Rue de la Loi 175, 1000 Brussels, against the placement of milk powder resulting from public intervention, and in defence of the restoration of regulatory instruments on milk production in the EU. Read More [7] DEMONETISATION IN INDIA: FARMERS' GROUPS WRITE AN OPEN LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER ------------------------- Several farmers' groups in India have written a joint letter to the Prime Minister of India, highlighting the severe distress that exists in the countryside after the Indian Government withdrew nearly 86% of the currency in circulation overnight, in a supposed crackdown on corruption and 'black economy. Bharatiya Kisan Union, a member of La Via Campesina is also a signatory to the letter. Read More [8] "AGROECOLOGY IS A WAY OF LIFE" An in-depth interview with students of agroecologic school EDUCAR - Five young landless people on how they experience this educational process. Read More [9] PROMOTE PEASANT AGROECOLOGY AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO MIGRATION: LVC IN DHAKA ------------------------- La Via Campesina insisted throughout the PGA event in Dhaka that peasant agroecology is a solution to climate change and the need to call upon the nation states who are participating in Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) to rethink the development model they are pursuing. Read More [10] COP22: MARRAKECH DECLARATION ------------------------- For real alternatives to preserve environmental balances and recognise climate justice, For a fair and sustainable future for all peoples. Read More [11] JUSTICE FOR NICINHA AND THE RIVERSIDE COMMUNITIES OF THE BRAZILIAN AMAZON ------------------------- Mother, fisherwoman, activist of Brazil's Movimento dos Atingidos por Barragens (MAB - Movement of People Affected by Dams) and a courageous woman who was not afraid to denounce the human rights violations committed by the Sustainable Energy of Brazil Consortium (ESBR) against the communities on the banks of the Madeira River, Nicinha was criminally silenced. Read More [12] WOMEN PASTORALISTS: NEGLECTED IN THE 21ST CENTURY ------------------------- In her last regular column for Farming Matters, Elizabeth Mpofu makes a plea for governments to listen to pastoralists, particularly the women among them. Read More [13] "3% OF THE FARMS CONTROL 50% OF THE ARABLE LANDS IN THE EU": KAYA THOMAS ------------------------- At the FAO Workshop on the Implementation of Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure (VGGT), held in Budapest Hungary, Kaya Thomas from Arbeitsgemeinschaft bäuerliche Landwirtschaft (AbL) /ECVC spoke at length about land fragmentation, collapsing rural infrastructure and contradictory land laws. Here is the full text of her speech that she delivered on behalf of CSOs and social movements. Read More [14] TOWARDS A POPULAR VOTE ON FOOD SOVEREIGNTY IN SWITZERLAND ------------------------- Uniterre's quest to write food security into the Swiss constitutionOn the back of La Via Campesina's 4th international meeting in Maputo, the idea to incorporate food sovereignty into the Swiss Constitution took form under the Uniterre committee, a member of European Coordination Via Campesina. Read More [15] FREE TRADE, RURAL CANADA AND HOW TO KEEP CANADA FROM BEING TRUMPED ------------------------- The once mighty farmer cooperative handlers and processors have been dismantled and absorbed into a handful of transnational corporations. 80% of Vancouver's terminal capacity used to be owned and operated by prairie Pools. Now the private trade owns it all. With the Canadian Wheat Board gone there is no real economic participation by farmers beyond the farm gate, nor any referee to discipline the railroads | writes _Jan Slomp_ (President of the National Farmers Union. He farms near Courtenay, BC. Read More [16] DEMONSTRATION IN BERLIN: _WE ARE FED UP WITH AGRO INDUSTRY!_ ------------------------- Free trade agreements such as CETA, TTIP and EPAs with African countries will further liberalize the markets and lead to even greater export dependency. The agricultural policies in Berlin and Brussels need to be held responsible for that. We are farmers, food producers, beekeepers, bakers, gardeners, animal, environmental and nature activists, development workers, critical consumers and committed young people, calling on you to join us as we fight for a more rural and ecological agriculture on the 7th international "We are fed up!" demonstration. Read More [17] TRAINING CAMP ON ECOLOGICAL AGRICULTURE IN KARNATAKA, INDIA ------------------------- Thousands of farmers came together to attend a class on ecological farming at the Muruga Matha, a religious institution in southern Karnataka, where a five-day intensive study camp on a chemical-free farming method called Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) took place. Read More [18] WHAT DO LOVE LETTERS HAVE TO DO WITH FARMING? ------------------------- Shifting to agroecology and sustainable agriculture isn't just about a change in production models, its as much about changing the relationships we have - including between genders. Read More [19] AGROECOLOGY CAMP IN PUERTO RICO ------------------------- The goal of the encampment was to bring people together to work and learn with one another and study agroecology as a tool of struggle within the current political context. The methodology of the encampment consisted of farm work in the mornings, followed by facilitated discussions on topics including the agrarian history of Puerto Rico, agroecology as a tool for social struggle and gender dynamics within social movements. Read More [20] CALL FOR MORATORIUM ON NEW GENETIC EXTINCTION TECHNOLOGY AT UN CONVENTION ------------------------- At the 2016 UN Convention on Biodiversity held in Cancun Mexico in December 2016, international conservation and environmental leaders called upon governments to establish a moratorium on the controversial genetic extinction technology called gene drives.. Read More [21] REMOVAL OF IMPORT DUTY ON WHEAT WILL DESTROY FARMERS: WARNS BKU, INDIA ------------------------- Bharatiya Kisan Union opposes the removal of import duty on wheat and is instead demanding the government to hike it to 40%. Read More [22] INDONESIA PEASANTS' UNION PROTEST AGAINST CHEAP IMPORT OF POTATOES ------------------------- A large number of small farmers and peasants in Indonesia took out a massive protest against the cheap imports of potatoes, which has thrown the local varieties out of the market and has caused distress to local farmers. Read More [23] "THERE CAN BE NO DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF PEASANTS WITHOUT THE RIGHT TO LAND" ------------------------- Henry Saragih (Serikat Petani - Indonesia, La Via Campesina) and Ramona Duminicioiu (Eco Ruralis - Romania, European Coordination Via Campesina) spoke at the Palais des Nations in Geneva about the reasons why the Right to Land and other Natural Resources is crucial for the Declaration of the Rights of Peasants. Read More [24] DAIRY AND POULTRY IN INDIA—GROWING CORPORATE CONCENTRATION, LOSING GAME FOR SMALL PRODUCERS ------------------------- This case study prepared by Ashelsha Khadse was part of a report What's at Steak, published by Global Forest Coalition at the 13th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, held in Cancun, Mexico in December 2016. Read More [25] GRAPHIC NARRATIVE: TOGETHER WE CAN COOL THE PLANET! Year: 2016 Summary: Based on the video Together we can cool the planet! [26] co-produced by La Vía Campesina and GRAIN in 2015, we have created a comic book [27] to support training activities of social movements and civil society organisations around climate change. This comic book looks at how the industrial food system impacts our climate and also explains what we can do to change course and start cooling the planet. Download the Publication (English) [27] THE NEW EDITION OF THE NYÉLÉNI NEWSLETTER IS NOW ONLINE! Social movements, use agroecology to challenge existing power structures, to resist the multiple attacks on our Mother Earth, and as a tool for the social, economic, cultural, political and ecological transformation of communities and territories. Click here to download the English edition [28] or read it directly in the website at www.nyeleni.org [29] [30] Inspiring visuals from the mass mobilisation against Free Trade Agreements in Europe Watch Now [31] [32] HONEY AT THE TOP is a film about the Sengwer forest people of the Cherangani Hills, Kenya, being evicted from their ancestral land in the name of conservation. Facing international pressure from organisations like the World Bank, a corrupt Kenya Forest Service who are burning their houses, and attempts to turn the forest into a commodity through carbon offsetting schemes, the Sengwer fight to hold onto their culture and resist the evictions. Watch Now [33] [34] _DO NOTHING_, a film by Deadend Left and Amrita Bhoomi follows the story of a couple - KM Raje Gowda and Kalpana who move from chemical farming into Zero Budget Natural Farming (a method developed by Subhash Palekar in India). This is a portrait not just of their farm but also peeks into the Green Revolution, Pesticide Companies, Prof MD Nanjundaswamy's fight against TNCs via Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS). Watch Now [35] [36] After the earthquake April 7, 2016, a mute and silent plot of eviction, displacement and dispossession of the island of Muisne, has been weaving the government of the self-proclaimed "Citizen Revolution" in Ecuador. The declaration, 'high risk zone for its inhabitants' and 'area for the promotion of tourism', is a cruel irony that shows the government opacity and their shady interests. _"WE'RE NOT LEAVING, WE'RE STAYING HERE"_ has been the response of the people, women and men, of the island that multiplies resistance and calls organization for defense of homes and land, that cradle of mangrove that was born. Watch Now [37] 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] [38] Follow us on twitter [38] [39] Find us on Facebook [39] [40] Subsribe our Vimeo Channel [40] To unsubscribe from the distribution list, questions or comments, write to VIACAMPESINA(a)VIACAMPESINA.ORG WEBSITE: www.viacampesina.org TV: www.tv.viacampesina.org To subscribe to this newsletter - Click Here [2] Links: ------ [1] https://viacampesina.org/en/donations/ [2] https://mail.viacampesina.org/lists/listinfo/Via-info-en [3] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/news-from-the-regions-mainmenu-29/222… [4] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/human-rights-… [5] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/10-yea… [6] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/food-sovereig… [7] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/food-sovereig… [8] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/news-from-the-regions-mainmenu-29/221… [9] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/sustainable-p… [10] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/news-from-the-regions-mainmenu-29/221… [11] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/-clima… [12] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/human-rights-… [13] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/women-mainmen… [14] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/agrarian-refo… [15] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/food-sovereig… [16] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/food-sovereig… [17] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/2222-c… [18] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/sustainable-p… [19] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/youth-mainmen… [20] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/sustainable-p… [21] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/biodiversity-… [22] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/news-from-the-regions-mainmenu-29/220… [23] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/news-from-the-regions-mainmenu-29/220… [24] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/human-rights-… [25] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/publications-mainmenu-30/2210-dairy-a… [26] https://tv.viacampesina.org/Together-we-can-cool-the-planet-801?lang=en [27] https://www.grain.org/attachments/4105/download [28] https://viacampesina.org/en/images/stories/pdf/2016-12-14-Nyeleni_Newslette… [29] http://www.nyeleni.org/ [30] https://vimeo.com/200014663 [31] https://tv.viacampesina.org/Stop-CETA?lang=en [32] https://vimeo.com/132069480 [33] https://tv.viacampesina.org/Honey-at-the-Top?lang=en [34] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTWUu_HB4z0 [35] https://tv.viacampesina.org/Do-Nothing-a-film-on-Zero-Budget?lang=en [36] https://vimeo.com/198361627 [37] https://tv.viacampesina.org/Musine-We-re-staying?lang=en [38] http://www.twitter.com/via_campesina [39] https://www.facebook.com/viacampesinaOFFICIAL/ [40] https://vimeo.com/viacampesina

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[Info EN] Demonitisation in India: Farmers' Groups write an open letter to the Prime Minister
by La Via Campesina 09 Jan '17

09 Jan '17

DEMONITISATION IN INDIA: FARMERS' GROUPS WRITE AN OPEN LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER [1] [2]Several farmers' groups in India have written a joint letter to the Prime Minister of India, highlighting the severe distress that exists in the countryside after the Indian Government withdrew nearly 86% of the currency in circulation overnight, in a supposed crackdown on corruption and 'black economy'. Three months since the decision to partially demonitise all bills worth 1000 INR and replace all bills worth 500 INR, the move has been widely criticised by economists of all leanings as chaotic and unwarranted. India is a predominantly cash-based economy. The government's drive to turn India into a cashless society,one where digital banking and plastic transactions would become the norm, has taken much of the rural society by surprise where digital infrastructure necessary to facilitate such a transition is barely existent. While mobile phone usage in India is impressively common, number of smartphone users are only a fraction of that number. More so, much of the rural population are out of the formal banking system due to lack of adequate infrastructure in the forms of bank branches and ATMs. The crackdown, announced abruptly on 8 November 2016, was intended to catch currency hoarders by surprise and thereby obliterate the black economy. The government had estimated that nearly 20% of the total cash in circulation were hoarded as 'black money' and this surprise step would effectively force the hoarders to either destroy those cash or come clean. At the time of publishing this article, reports indicate that nearly 97% of the cash currency have returned to the banks, effectively raising doubts about the claims that '20% of currency were being hoarded as cash'. Critics say that most of those who involve in money laundering and tax evasion have parked their assets in tax havens or in real estate properties and that this crackdown would do nothing to retrieve that back. Effectively, the rural agricultural economy which is heavily dependent on cash is in tatters. The English version of the open letter, reproduced below, gives a sneak peak into the distress that has dawned upon Indian farmers and farm workers, who were already reeling under back-to-back droughts and price crash on their produce due to cheap imports and agricultural dumping brought about by free trade agreements. Bharatiya Kisan Union, a member of La Via Campesina is also a signatory to the letter. ------------------------- DATE: 5 JAN 2017 DEAR PRIME MINISTER, Namaste! The signatories to this open letter to you represent lakhs of farmers of this country across various states and regions. We have been deeply distressed at the hardships that rural India in general, and farmers including agricultural workers have been going through from the time that you brought in demonetization of 86% of India's currency on November 8th 2016, in the name of curbing black money in our economy. Right from the beginning, it was clear that our rural and agrarian contexts/economies were not kept in mind and measures not taken specifically for these vulnerable and critical groups in this entire demonetization episode. We also listened to your address to the nation attentively and carefully on 31st December 2016 evening, hoping to hear some good news that will signal an end to the hardships. We had hoped that you will share some evidence on the gains from this "surgical strike" on the economy. We have however been disappointed. On the agriculture front, you talked about the government taking care of the interest on agri loans from DCCBs and Primary Societies for 60 days, by paying directly into the bank accounts of farmers. NABARD will be re-capitalising cooperative banks and societies to a tune of Rs. 41000 crores, you said. You also said that 3 crore Kisan Credit Cards will be made into RuPay Debit cards within three months so that they can be used by farmers anywhere. We find all of these inadequate when the entire season has been affected badly for the farmers. We also find that this is a rehash of what already exists. A reality check against these three major measures that you announced to ameliorate the sufferings of farmers shows the following: * When the entire agricultural season suffers due to an adverse effect on timely operations because of the demonetization move, postponing the loan repayment period by 60 days or the government bearing the interest for those 60 days to a tune of Rs. 333 for Rs.50000/- crop loan (usual short term loan amount for the average farmer covered by institutional credit) is a pittance against the hardship inflicted, that too in a good year. It is bad enough that farmers suffer natural disasters of all kinds, without having to face such surgical strikes in years when they could have recovered some losses. * The provision for RuPay and other debit cards against KCC existed since 2012 and 5.66 million such cards have already been issued in 2013-14 itself. A natural extension of this move by the UPA government should have actually covered 3 crore farmers by now and it would be surprising if that did not happen in the natural course of scaling up of this measure. * About the infusion of 41000 crore rupees of low interest credit to cooperative banks and societies by NABARD: this is not new, and in 2015-16, NABARD sanctioned credit limits aggregating 71497 crores under short term refinance portfolio and Rs. 48,064 crores in long term refinancing. This is the unutilized last quarter funding that was in any case available. * Given all the above, given that no clear benefits have been created from the demonetization move and our collective sacrifice, and given that there are no clear timelines indicated on when full cash availability will be restored, we are forced to conclude that farmers' hardships do not seem to matter to the government at all. In fact, your timing of the demonetization move had shown a dismaying disregard to farmers' livelihood cycles / agricultural seasonal calendars. Selling of kharif produce was affected as were the rabi season agricultural operations. Showing higher rabi sowing in 2016-17 against a bad season last year (2015-16) is not the measure to indicate that demonetization has had no impact on this Rabi. Estimating the contraction in rabi operations vis-à-vis a good year, without the demonetization impacts, would be the right thing to do. In villages all over India, we have come across numerous tales of hardship and woes, ranging from agricultural workers not being paid in time by farmers owing to shortage of cash, to farmers cutting back on investments on the crop management in this season, to farmers not being able to sell their produce with traders citing their own difficulties and importantly, loanee farmers from cooperative banks not even being able to repay their loans! Even timely repairs of machinery are becoming difficult. The thrift and credit activity in self help groups and their federations has also been affected. The difficulties of producers of perishable produce are particularly acute. There are also the hardships of returning migrant workers, who are unable to find work outside villages in other sectors. The biggest negative impact of this entire demonetization process so far is the destruction that is taking place of the rural cooperative banking sector,, whereas there is a dire need to actually strengthen rural banking and agricultural credit in numerous ways, including removal of political interference. The DCBs were not allowed to exchange or deposit invalidated 500 and 1000 rupee notes. This affected 12 crore customers of 33 State Cooperative Banks and 367 District Cooperatives Banks, even though all these SCBs and 349 DCBs are on the core banking platform. About 5 crore farmers, despite having fulfilled due KYC norms and having received kisan credit card loans, are unable to repay loans and reports suggest that loan offtake has come down drastically. If the current trends continue, cooperative banks are headed towards decimation. For those farmers/agricultural workers operating Jan Dhan Yojana accounts, the norms have been inequitable in terms of withdrawal limits. Coming to the policy dream of moving India to a cashless/less-cash digital economy, we can only say that farmers and other rural Indians would like basic infrastructure and services like uninterrupted power supply to be ensured, in the first instance, before such dreams can become a reality. Such services will directly contribute to our livelihoods and add to the economic growth of the country. It appears that "war on black money" and demonetization are being used to forcibly integrate the rural masses into certain techno-financial regimes. While these assure profits for the corporate sectors that run these techno-financial systems, they imply tremendous hardships on the average rural person, whose access to such systems is limited and for whom such systems will serve little purpose. The implementation of such a system does not take into account the gap between metropolitan financial systems and that of the rural and agrarian economies, and reflects a lack of intimate knowledge about rural economies. In the final reckoning, the current demonetisation will have introduced new forms of corruption (as already evident in the commission system for old notes, the transfer of large amounts of new currency to hoarders and income-tax evaders), punitive financial systems that will ensure huge profits to the corporate financiers, and will intensify the pauperisation of the rural masses, especially small and marginal farmers who form the bulk of the farming population. Like other sections of society, we had remained silent since you had sought sacrifices for 50 days from all citizens, till December 30th, in anticipation of some major benefits to be gained by the economy. However, it is unclear what the objective was for this entire exercise and how it has been achieved. History will remember this scheme as the most hurtful one since independence, in the name of resolving the problems of corruption, black money, and terrorism. During the Pre-Budget consultation on agriculture held by the Finance Minister on 19th November 2016, one of the important demands of various farmer unions to the government was to find ways of exempting farming transactions from demonetization rules. However, no positive intervention was taken up in this regard, other than to allow farmers to purchase some inputs like seeds from public sector bodies using demonetized notes. That was an extremely inadequate response from the government. There has also been an additional 60 days provided for repayment of farm loans, in addition to extension of timelines for crop insurance premium. All of these would have been helpful only if cash flows were actualizing and were getting enhanced, which is not the case right now. Meanwhile, the latest NCRB figures on farm suicides in 2015 highlight yet again, the deep distress in Indian agriculture, affecting both farmers and agricultural workers, with a vast majority of the farmers' suicides being related to indebtedness/bankruptcy. This nation cannot afford to put any more burden on its *anna daatas* who are keeping the country fed. At this juncture, we seek from you the following actions to ameliorate the hardships being faced by farmers: >From the black money netted (non-return of demonetized notes back to the banking system, or from the taxes and revenues collected by the current crackdown and new tax amnesty measures), each farm household (we are using an expansive definition of a farmer here to include agricultural workers too) should be paid through Direct Benefit Transfer Rs. 10,000/- at least. This would amount to around Rs.1.2 lakh crores of rupees, which is less than the projections made initially about the outcome of this war against black money. Cooperative Banks be immediately brought on par with other banks, first and foremost. All restrictions on deposits and withdrawals from the cooperative banks should be withdrawn. All withdrawal and deposit curbs on farmers should be withdrawn fully even in the context of Jan Dhan Yojana accounts. Announce a loan waiver immediately to all farmers, owing to the massive disruptions caused in the agricultural activities in this season. With increased NABARD funding, enhance soft loans to Joint Liability Groups and Self Help Groups. Provide for village level funds to finance and support women farmers. Further, in the kisan credit scheme, the scale of finance should be increased, interest rates should be lowered and agriculture credit expanded for more coverage. Given that the cash crunch is expected to continue, set up an MGNREGS-like mechanism to fund agricultural operations so that all agricultural operations continue smoothly even as workers get paid by government into their accounts, from where withdrawals should be allowed unconditionally. Double the allocation of MNREGA. Adequate arrangements be made from now itself for Rabi season sales and marketing to take place unhindered. Adequate cash flows be ensured with traders and other agencies so that farmers do not suffer in any way. Government should step in to procure as much as it can, including dals like arhar which are at present seeing a crash in the markets, and pay these amounts into farmers accounts immediately. ------------------------- SINCERELY, * Yudhvir Singh, General Secretary, All India Coordination Committee of Farmers Movement (AICCFM) * Virendra Kumar Shrivastava, President, Laghu Simant Krishak Morach, Uttar Pradesh * Virendra Dagar, State President, Bhartiya Kissan Union (BKU), Delhi Rural * Vijay Jawandhia, Shetkari Sanghathana, Maharashtra * Vidyadhar Olkha, State President, Bhartiya Kissan Union (BKU), Rajasthan * Sukhdev Singh Gill, State President, Bhartiya Kissan Union (BKU), Himachal Pradesh * Satnam Singh Cheema, State President, Bhartiya Kissan Union (BKU), Uttarakhand * Rusikulya Rayat Sangha * Ratan Singh Mann, State President, Bhartiya Kissan Union (BKU), Haryana * Rajveer Singh Gadaun, State President, Bhartiya Kissan Union (BKU), Uttar Pradesh * Poguri Chennaiah, Rashtriya Vyavasaya Vruthidarula Union (A Federation of Unions of agri.workers,marginal farmers & Fisher people in India) * Paschima Odisha Krushak Sangathan Samanvaya Samiti * Nallagounder, Uzhavar Ulaippalar Katchi (Tamil Nadu Farmers Association) * Mahila Kisan Adhikaar Manch (MAKAAM) * Krushak Bikash Mancha * Kiran Vissa, Raithu Swarajya Vedika * Kavitha Kuruganti, ASHA-Kisan Swaraj * K. Sella Mutthu, President, Tamil Nadu Farmers Association * Jayant Verma, Vice President, All India Agragami Kissan Sabha * Jagdish Singh, State President, Bhartiya Kissan Union (BKU), Madhya Pradesh * Gurnam Singh, President, Bhartiya Kissan Union, Haryana * Dr Sunilam, Kisan Sangharsh Samiti * Dhan Singh Sherawat, Bhartiya Kissan Union (BKU), Maharashtra * Deshi Bihan Surakshya Mancha, Odisha * Com Hannan Mollah, General Secretary, All India Kisan Sabha * Ch. Rakesh Tikait, National Spokesman, Bhartiya Kissan Union (BKU) * Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, State President, Bhartiya Kissan Union (BKU), Punjab * Adi Krushak Sangathan Links: ------ [1] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/news-from-the-regions-mainmenu-29/221… [2] http://media.indiatimes.in/media/content/2016/Dec/cf267b4a-826e-45f9-bfcc-d…

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[Info EN] 170 Global Groups Call for Moratorium on New Genetic Extinction Technology at UN Convention
by La Via Campesina 27 Dec '16

27 Dec '16

170 GLOBAL GROUPS CALL FOR MORATORIUM ON NEW GENETIC EXTINCTION TECHNOLOGY AT UN CONVENTION [1] At the 2016 UN Convention on Biodiversity held in Cancun Mexico this month, international conservation and environmental leaders called upon [2] governments to establish a moratorium on the controversial genetic extinction technology called gene drives. Gene drives, developed through new gene-editing techniques- are designed to force a particular genetically engineered trait to spread through an entire wild population - potentially changing entire species or even causing deliberate extinctions. The statement urges governments to put in place an urgent, global moratorium on the development and release of the new technology, which poses serious and potentially irreversible threats to biodiversity, as well as national sovereignty, peace and food security. Over 170 civil society organisations from six continents have joined the call [2]. Among them were environmental organizations including Friends of the Earth International; trade unions such as the International Union of Food Workers representing over 10 million workers in 127 countries; the largest global organization of small-scale famers La Via Campesina International, and organics movements like the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements; the international indigenous peoples' organization Tebtebba; scientist coalitions including European Network of Scientists for Social and Environmental Responsibility and Unión de Científicos Comprometidos con la Sociedad (Mexico); as well as ETC Group and Third World Network. Also read [3] the briefing by Civil Society Working Group on Gene Drive. _(This article is an abridged, slightly edited version of what appeared on ETC Group website, early this month. To read the original article, click here [4])_ Links: ------ [1] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/biodiversity-… [2] http://www.synbiowatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/CBD-Gene-Drive-Sign-o… [3] http://www.synbiowatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/case-for-gene-drive-m… [4] http://www.etcgroup.org/content/160-global-groups-call-moratorium-new-genet…

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[Info EN] Forward, to 2017!
by La Via Campesina 22 Dec '16

22 Dec '16

WISHING EVERYONE THE POWER TO CONTINUE OUR FIGHT INTO 2017, FIERCELY AND FEARLESSLY!

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[Info EN] La Via Campesina and GRAIN Comic book: Together we can cool the planet!
by La Via Campesina 13 Dec '16

13 Dec '16

COMIC BOOK: TOGETHER WE CAN COOL THE PLANET! Published on Tuesday, 13 December 2016 16:54 LA VÍA CAMPESINA, GRAIN Based on the video Together we can cool the planet! [1] co-produced by La Vía Campesina and GRAIN in 2015, we have created a comic book [2] to support training activities of social movements and civil society organisations around climate change. This comic book looks at how the industrial food system impacts our climate and also explains what we can do to change course and start cooling the planet. La Via Campesina and GRAIN have pointed out that the industrial food system is responsible for half of all greenhouse gas emissions. In the Americas, Asia, Europe and Africa, we have been denouncing the false solutions to climate change such as GMOs, the "green economy" and "climate-smart agriculture". We say loud and clear: it is peasants and small farmers, along with consumers who choose agroecological products from local markets, who hold the solution to the climate crisis. We must all rise to the challenge! Click here to download the comic book in pdf format. [2] And share the video, available from: https://www.grain.org/e/5310 More information is available from: http://tv.viacampesina.org [3] http://viacampesina.org [4] http://www.grain.org [5] Visit GRAIN's page on food and climate at: https://www.grain.org/article/categories/526-food-and-climate Follow us on Facebook y Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/viacampesinaOFFICIAL [6] @via_campesina [7] https://www.facebook.com/GRAIN.org [8] @GRAIN_org [8] Links: ------ [1] https://tv.viacampesina.org/Together-we-can-cool-the-planet-801?lang=en [2] https://www.grain.org/attachments/4105/download [3] http://tv.viacampesina.org/ [4] http://viacampesina.org/ [5] http://www.grain.org/ [6] https://www.facebook.com/viacampesinaOFFICIAL%0d@via_campesina [7] https://twitter.com/via_campesina [8] https://www.facebook.com/GRAIN.org%0d@GRAIN_org

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