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[Info EN] La Via Campesina | e-Newsletter | September 2016
by La Via Campesina 14 Oct '16

14 Oct '16

-------- Original Message -------- SUBJECT: La Via Campesina | e-Newsletter | September 2016 DATE: 2016-10-14 11:46 FROM: Ndabezinhle Nyoni <nyoni.ndabezinhle(a)viacampesina.org> TO: viacampesina(a)viacampesina.org La Via Campesina | e-Newsletter | September, 2016 Donate [1] This edition of the newsletter is the result of a collective effort of organisations, which are part of_ La Via Campesina_ movement worldwide. To subscribe click here [2] LA VIA CAMPESINA EUROPE IN SOLIDARITY WITH COLOMBIAN FARMERS ------------------------- _PRESS RELEASE: BRUSSELS, 5TH OCTOBER 2016_ _The Peace Process continues: La Via Campesina Europe in solidarity with Colombian farmers_ Veronique Léon, European farmer and former national secretary of the Confédération Paysanne in France, participated in the international solidarity mission to Colombia from the 19th to the 24th of September. Their aim was to support the movement of farmers who are demanding that the peace agreements, made with the national government following the mobilisation of the past years, are respected. This goal is not put into question by the victory of the "no" vote in this weekend's referendum on the peace agreements signed by FARC-EP and the government of Juan Manuel Santos. Read more... [3] NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD "NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US", SAY PEASANTS AS THE FARMERS' RIGHTS CONSULTATION BEGINS IN BALI ------------------------- _AT FARMERS' RIGHTS GLOBAL CONSULTATION IN BALI, GLOBAL PEASANTS' MOVEMENT LA VIA CAMPESINA TO DEFEND PEASANT-SEED SYSTEMS AND INSIST PEASANT PARTICIPATION IN DECISION MAKING._ Bali, 27 September 2016: A delegation comprising peasants, women and men, indigenous people and youth from various regions of the world will represent La Via Campesina at the Farmers' Rights Global Consultation, to be held between 27-30 of September in Bali, organized by the Government of Indonesia with support from The Government of Norway and The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA). Read more... [4] "OUR RIGHTS, OUR NEEDS, OUR IDENTITIES HAVE BEEN DEFINED ON BEHALF OF US, BUT NOT BY US", TANMAY JOSHI, A YOUNG FARMER FROM INDIA ------------------------- At the recently concluded Global Consultation on Farmers' Rights in Bali, organsied by the Ministry of Indonesia with the support of the Ministry of Norway and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), Tanmay Joshi, a young farmer from the state of Maharshtra in India spoke passionately. Here is the full text of this speech. Read more... [5] SOCIAL MOVEMENTS CALL FOR 'UNITY BEYOND BORDERS' AT THE SOUTHERN AFRICA TRIBUNAL ON TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATIONS (TNCS) ------------------------- The Southern African People's Solidarity Network hosted a Permanent Peoples' Tribunal on Transnational Corporations in Manzini, Swaziland between the 16th and 19th of August. The tribunal was held on 16th and 17thfollowed by discussions until the 19th about building a 'Peoples-Driven Southern African Development Community (SADC) committed to the total liberation of all'. Read more... [6] BAYER-MONSANTO DEAL LATEST IN AGRIBUSINESS MERGER AND ACQUISITION TREND ------------------------- _MEDIA RELEASE_ (Saskatoon - Sept. 19, 2016) Bayer's September 14 announcement that it will buy Monsanto for $66 billion comes just days after fertilizer companies PotashCorp and Agrium confirmed their $30 billion dollar merger deal. Meanwhile, the Chinese agro-chemical giant, ChemChina is in the process of buying Sygenta for $43 billion. Dupont and Dow expect to complete their $68 billion merger by the end of this year. "Mergers and acquisitions are not investments in new productive capacity," said Terry Boehm, Chair of the NFU's Seed and Trade Committee. "These transactions are a way for large corporations to restructure their existing assets to obtain higher profits and greater control by eliminating competition within the market." Read more... [7] DEMONSTRATION ANTI-TTIP/CETA THE 20.09: PEASANT MOVEMENT CALLS TO MOBILIZE ------------------------- _LE MAP, FUGEA AND ECVC PRESS RELEASE_ Brussels, 15th of September 2016 The European Coordination Via Campesina (ECVC), the Fédération Unie de Groupements d'Eleveurs et d'Agriculteurs (FUGEA) and the Mouvement d'Action Paysanne (MAP) are calling on all citizens to demonstrate against the free-trade agreements TTIP and CETA. The rally starts at 17h00 on Tuesday, September 20th, in the European quarter. The agriculture and food block, lead by the d19-20 alliance, will be the last of the parade. Participants will meet in advance at 16h30 at the corner of Rue de la Loi/Rue du Commerce. Read more... [8] RIPESS SUPPORTS INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST WTO AND FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS ------------------------- _RIPESS PRESS RELEASE, 10TH SEPTEMBER, MONTREAL_ The Intercontinental Network for the Promotion of Social Solidarity Economy (RIPESS) supports the International Day Against WTO and Free Trade Agreements as called for by the international peasants movement Via Campesina. RIPESS reaffirms our commitment to opposing on-going global free trade agreements such as, but not limited to, CETA, TTIP, TPP, TISA and RCEP. Read more... [9] GENDER DIVERSITY IN THE PEASANT MOVEMENT ------------------------- _SELF-DETERMINED AND IN THE COUNTRYSIDE*_ The global peasant movement La Via Campesina is slowly beginning to open up to the subject of gender diversity. By Paula Gioia, member of the coordinating committee of ECVC Food Sovereignty is also connected to gender relations - and to respecting different ways of life and the rights of LGBTTQI*. The movement of landless peasants in Brazil is showing this and providing important inspirations for debates in Europe. Read more... [10] PEASANTS' RIGHTS ARE UNIQUE AND REQUIRE URGENT PROTECTION, SAYS ELIZABETH MPOFU ------------------------- _HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL, 33RD SESSION, ITEM 5 – HUMAN RIGHTS BODIES AND MECHANISMS – GENERAL DEBATE ON THE REPORT OF IGWG ON RIGHTS OF PEASANTS AND OTHER PEOPLE WORKING IN RURAL AREAS (A/HRC/33/59)_ President of the Council, Chair-Rapporteur of the Open ended Working Group, Delegates and Colleagues, I am Elizabeth Mpofu, the International Coordinator of La Via Campesina. Together with International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL), we would like to strengthen further our commitment to the establishment of the draft declaration on peasant's rights, as I want to remind us on following: The term Peasant that we want is inclusive is as defined in Article 1 and its meaning signifies a special relationship of peasants with land which defines their social and economic rights political identity, including also their cultural and religious life in rural areas. Read more... [11] DEFEND THE ZAD – A CALL FOR INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY ------------------------- _OCTOBER 8TH & 9TH 2016_ For over 50 years, farmers and locals have resisted the building of a new airport for the French city of Nantes (which by the way already has one). Now in these rich fields, forests and wetlands, which multinational Vinci want to cover in concrete, an experiment in reinventing everyday life in struggle is blossoming. Radicals from around the world, local farmers and villagers, citizen groups, trade unionists and naturalists, refugees and runaways, squatters and climate justice activists and many others, are organising to protect the 4000 acres of land against the airport and its world. Government officials have coined this place "a territory lost to the republic". Its occupants have named it: la zad (zone a défendre) zone to defend. Read more... [12] ITPGRFA: AT CONSULTATION ON FARMERS' RIGHTS, LA VIA CAMPESINA DEMANDS A WORKING GROUP IN THE TREATY COMPRISING PEASANTS' ORGANISATIONS, TO HELP IMPLEMENT PEASANTS' RIGHTS ------------------------- At the global consultation on Farmers' Rights organized by Government of Indonesia and supported by the Ministry of Norway and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), held in Bali from September 27-30, a delegation representing the global peasant movement La Via Campesina joined the civil society in demanding participation of indigenous people and peasant organisations in all decision-making processes concerning them. It called upon the Treaty to set up a working group on Farmers' Rights, with adequate representation of peasant organisations and indigenous peoples organisations. Read more... [13] LA VIA CAMPESINA AND ALLIES PUSH FOR THE DECLARATION ON PEASANTS' RIGHTS IN GENEVA ------------------------- Representatives of La Via Campesina at the UN, pushing for the Declaration on peasant's rights (Geneva, September 22, 2016) This week, representatives of La Via Campesina and supporting organizations (FIAN, CETIM, CELS and IADL) are at the United Nations Human Rights Council of Geneva, in order to lobby for the Declaration of the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas. At the top of the agenda: increasing support for the report of the President of the Working Group on Peasant's Rights and Other People Working in Rural Areas, Bolivian Ambassador Nardi Suxo. Read more... [14] NEW PUBLICATIONS SMALLHOLDERS' MARKETS ------------------------- _THE NEW EDITION OF THE NYÉLÉNI NEWSLETTER IS NOW ONLINE! _ Bulk of the food consumed in the world is produced by smallholders and workers, and channeled through "territorial markets", which reflect the huge diversity of contexts that characterise small-scale food production and distribution. Territorial markets are an important source of employment and critical in battling hunger and poverty. These markets increasingly face threats from corporate led super/hyper-markets, procurement, storage, certification and food safety systems. Corporations use neoliberal trade and investment agreements, and sophisticated marketing systems to control how food is produced, priced, distributed and consumed. Protecting and strengthening the markets of smallholders are crucial aspects of food sovereignty and restoring societal control over the economy. Click here to download the English edition [15]or read it directly in the website at www.nyeleni.org [16]! OPINION: AGROECOLOGY FOR GENDER EQUALITY ------------------------- _FARMING MATTERS | 32.3 | SEPTEMBER 2016_ [17] How to attribute important social change to agroecology? Elizabeth Mpofu argues that agroecology builds social cohesion, providing the foundation for gender equality. There are no recipes in agroecology. Instead, its manual is in the heart and minds of those who practice it, which is evident in their interactions with the environment and other people. Harmony with nature and nutrition takes precedence over profits. This anchors our culture, shapes our identity and sets the parameters for our transformation as a society. Read more... [18] [19] HANDS ON THE LAND FOR FOOD SOVEREIGNTY AND CLIMATE JUSTICE ------------------------- Frontline communities and social movements around the world explain why we need to keep our hands on the land for food sovereignty and climate justice! This includes the false solutions they are presented with against climate change, and the real solutions and ways forward that small-scale food producers promote. Hands On The Land for Food Sovereignty and Climate Justice! www.handsontheland.net [20] [21] A COMMON RIGHT: MONGOLIA ------------------------- Meet Hajekber Serikbol, a pastoralist community leader in the Western Foothills of Mongolia. They call themselves the "friendship community" and are part of 200-500 million nomadic custodians that take care of our planet, managing rangelands that cover a quarter of the world's land surface. This film is part of the Global Call to Action Initiative, aimed at doubling the global area of land legally recognized as owned or controlled by Indigenous Peoples and local communities by 2020. Film and Photo by: Jason Taylor/Land Rights Now/Global Call to Action YOU ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE AUTONOMY OF OUR MOVEMENT ------------------------- As a supporter who has contributed financial resources to La Via Campesina, and as an activist who joins us on the streets and in the fields, your support is always welcome and put to good use. You can renew your contribution to La Via Campesina by clicking on the Donate button on our home page [22] and following the link to our PayPal account. [23] [24] Follow us on twitter [24] [25] Find us on Facebook [25] [26] Subsribe our Vimeo Channel [26] To unsubscribe from the distribution list, questions or comments, write to VIACAMPESINA(a)VIACAMPESINA.ORG WEBSITE: www.viacampesina.org TV: www.tv.viacampesina.org To subscribe to this newsletter - Click Here [27] Links: ------ [1] https://viacampesina.org/en/donations/ [2] http://ttps://mail.viacampesina.org/lists/listinfo/Via-info-en [3] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/human-rights-… [4] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/biodiversity-… [5] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/biodiversity-… [6] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/stop-t… [7] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/stop-t… [8] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/10-yea… [9] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/10-yea… [10] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/2-uncategorised/2150-gender-diversity… [11] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/human-rights-… [12] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/2145-d… [13] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/biodiversity-… [14] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/human-rights-… [15] http://www.nyeleni.org/ccount/click.php?id=100 [16] http://www.nyeleni.org/ [17] http://www.agriculturesnetwork.org/magazines/global/making-the-case-for-agr… [18] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/women-mainmen… [19] https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Oqa2iIF52QI [20] http://www.handsontheland.net/ [21] https://vimeo.com/177945999 [22] http://www.viacampesina.org/ [23] https://www.paypal.com/uk/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&SESSION=IK5Hgl6MlPxD… [24] http://www.twitter.com/via_campesina [25] https://www.facebook.com/viacampesinaOFFICIAL/ [26] https://vimeo.com/viacampesina [27] https://mail.viacampesina.org/lists/listinfo/Via-info-en

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[Info EN] 16th October: For Peoples’ Food Sovereignty and against transnational corporations
by La Via Campesina 14 Oct '16

14 Oct '16

16TH OCTOBER: FOR PEOPLES' FOOD SOVEREIGNTY AND AGAINST TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATIONS [1] Published on Friday, 14 October 2016 16:04 [2]PRESS RELEASE (Harare, October 13, 2016) On October 16th, La Via Campesina's _International Day of Action for Peoples' Food Sovereignty and against transnational corporations (TNCs)_, we continue the struggle to end corporate control of our food and reject free trade agreements. Through their extensive and clandestine lobbying, TNCs have put in place legal, economic and trade policy frameworks to legitimise their greed for profits and destruction of nature. For example, the Investment Court System (ICS) or State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) and the Free Trade Agreements (such as in the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership [TTIP], Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreements [CETA], North American Free Trade Agreement [NAFTA], Trans Pacific Partnership [TPP], Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership [RCEP]) are all biased in their favour to ensure full control of the world agricultural production and distribution. Patents and intellectual property regimes are their tools to achieve this. In this process, peasant seeds, the foundation of agriculture, are rendered illegal. Biodiversity is eroded and replaced by uniform crops. Grabbing of land from peasants, particularly in developing countries, is carried out in the pretext of "feeding 9 billion people by 2050" through their advanced and destructive technologies. However, the peoples of the world are fighting back to roll back corporate capture, occupying lands, growing their own seeds and fighting at international level as well. At the UN, La Via Campesina and its allies continue to struggle for the adoption of the UN Declaration on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas to ensure recognition and protection for the very group[1] which contribute greatly to the realisation of right to food sovereignty around the world. A binding treaty to push back the power of TNCs [3] and hold them accountable for the crimes they commit is a necessary next step. From 12 to 16 October 2016, an International Monsanto Tribunal [4] in The Hague, Netherlands will be held alongside the People's Assembly to hear and evaluate cases against Monsanto [5] and other companies and determine criminal liability. Since 2015, we have witnessed unprecedented levels of consolidations by the few agri-food corporations in the form of mergers and acquisitions such as Monsanto-Bayer, Dow-DuPont, ChemChina-Syngenta, Agrium Inc. and Potash Corp. With these consolidations, merely four corporations will control over two-thirds of the world's supply of agricultural inputs, giving them the ability to hold the world agriculture at ransom for profits. Hunger and poverty will worsen as these corporations which earn big profits through secrecy, narrow food diversity and impunity tighten their control over sovereign state agricultural policies. As we celebrate this day, we push forward for a radical transformation towards a fair and decent food system for all, based on principles of food sovereignty, which recognizes peoples' needs, accords dignity and respects nature, and put people above profits! CONTACT: Andres Arce Indacochea: +3248955297 FOOD SOVEREIGNTY NOW! FOR THE LAND AND PEOPLES' FOOD SOVEREIGNTY IN SOLIDARITY AND STRUGGLE! ------------------------- [1] Peasants produce over 70% of the food consumed globally. Links: ------ [1] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/food-sovereig… [2] https://viacampesina.org/en/images/16%20October%20Call%20poster%20EN.png [3] http://www.stopcorporateimpunity.org/week-peoples-mobilisation-geneva-switz… [4] http://www.monsanto-tribunal.org/main.php?obj_id=281601562 [5] https://www.viacampesina.org/downloads/pdf/en/Monsanto-Publication-EN-Final…

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[Info EN] #ITPGRFA: At Consultation on Farmers’ Rights, La Via Campesina demands a working group in the Treaty
by La Via Campesina 04 Oct '16

04 Oct '16

PRESS RELEASE ITPGRFA: AT CONSULTATION ON FARMERS' RIGHTS, LA VIA CAMPESINA DEMANDS A WORKING GROUP IN THE TREATY COMPRISING PEASANTS' ORGANISATIONS, TO HELP IMPLEMENT PEASANTS' RIGHTS [1] Published on Monday, 03 October 2016 17:48 [2]At the global consultation on Farmers' Rights organized by Government of Indonesia and supported by the Ministry of Norway and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), held in Bali from September 27-30, a delegation representing the global peasant movement La Via Campesina joined the civil society in demanding participation of indigenous people and peasant organisations in all decision-making processes concerning them. It called upon the Treaty to set up a working group on Farmers' Rights, with adequate representation of peasant organisations and indigenous peoples organisations. Expressing disappointment at the fact that despite its 15 yearlong existence the treaty has done little to implement farmers' rights, the delegation of peasants comprising women, men, youth and indigenous people demanded that their recommendations from the Bali Consultation be taken to the next meeting of the Governing Body of ITPGRFA. The recommendations will include a demand to create a permanent process to implement Farmers' Rights, to work on a process to create national laws and legislations to implement Farmers' Rights and also ways to support the peasant seeds systems in each country, depending on their local cultural, social, political and economic context. La Via Campesina, the global peasants' movement, representing over 200 million small holder peasants in 73 countries, also took note of the fact that it was the initiative of the Government of Indonesia and Government of Norway that ensured that peasants of La Via Campesina and the International Platform for Food Sovereignty were made part of this process for the first time. At a similar consultation held in the past, peasants of La Via Campesina were not made part of the consultation process that discussed Farmers' Rights. Given this background, La Via Campesina appreciates and acknowledges this important contribution that the two Governments have made to the Treaty process. At the same time, La Via Campesina expressed disappointment at the industry blocking peasants' demand to reject Intellectual Property Rights and patent laws, during the three-day long consultation. These laws directly attack the rights of peasants to use, save, exchange and sell their own local varieties of seeds. It called upon the treaty to urge the member countries to stop criminalization of peasants and indigenous communities on the basis of such laws. 75% of the food produced in the world are produced by small holder farmers who operate in the local, informal peasant seed systems. An international mobilization is urgently required to support and protect the peasant seed system. All the countries and governments should also put in place public policies to work and support the peasant seeds systems. It is important to protect the peasant seeds systems against the global free market systems propagated by Seed Companies producing mostly genetically modified seeds. While at the consultation, La Via Campesina ran into a wall during discussions on contamination by genetically modified and patented seeds, it is a terrifying reality that the 3 major seed companies are announcing mergers and strategic collaborations, controlling two-thirds of the global seeds and pesticides markets. This new monster is a new threat for traditional peasant systems and peoples' food sovereignty. La Via Campesina is shocked at the announcement made at the end of the Bali meeting by one of the biggest global gene(germplasm) banks of maize and wheat, of the Treaty's Multi-Lateral System - the CYMMIT. This gene bank signed a partnership agreement with DuPont, the second largest seed company at global level, in order to create new hidden GMOs which will contaminate all its peasants' seeds in its freezers or fields, thereby allowing privatization of seeds by patents. In the days leading up to the Governing Body meeting of the Treaty in October 2017, La Via Campesina will strengthen its mobilizations in its member countries and will work locally to strengthen peasant seeds systems and will monitor the progress that the civil society made to the Treaty Secretariat and its Governing Body. ---Ends--- ------------------------- For media queries write to abhilash(a)viacampesina.org To see interventions made by Via Campesina at the Treaty Consultation - visitwww.twitter.com/via_campesina [3] or visit www.viacampesina.org [4] Links: ------ [1] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/biodiversity-… [2] https://viacampesina.org/en/images/2016-10-03%20FAO%20Bali.JPG [3] http://www.twitter.com/via_campesina [4] http://www.viacampesina.org/

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[Info EN] “Nothing about us without us”, say peasants as the Farmers’ Rights Global Consultation begins in Bali
by La Via Campesina 27 Sep '16

27 Sep '16

PRESS RELEASE: "NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US", SAY PEASANTS AS THE FARMERS' RIGHTS CONSULTATION BEGINS IN BALI [1] [2]AT FARMERS' RIGHTS GLOBAL CONSULTATION IN BALI, GLOBAL PEASANTS' MOVEMENT LA VIA CAMPESINA TO DEFEND PEASANT-SEED SYSTEMS AND INSIST PEASANT PARTICIPATION IN DECISION MAKING. BALI, 27 SEPTEMBER 2016: A delegation comprising peasants, women and men, indigenous people and youth from various regions of the world will represent La Via Campesina at the Farmers' Rights Global Consultation, to be held between 27-30 of September in Bali, organized by the Government of Indonesia with support from The Government of Norway and The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA). Serikat Petani Indonesia (SPI), the Indonesian Peasants' Union and a member of La Via Campesina is hosting the movement's delegation coming from Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America. The Treaty, which is housed inside the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and despite its decade long existence, has done little to advance 'farmers' rights', which is one of its key provisions. In this regard, the delegation of rural peasants and indigenous people representing La Via Campesina will be calling upon the Treaty and the contracting parties (governments) to recognize and implement peasants' rights and to reject the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) legislations and patent laws that endanger food sovereignty. The selected seeds kept by peasants in their fields are one of the irreplaceable pillars of food production. Peasants all over the world have been aware of this throughout the centuries. It is one of the most universal and basic understandings that all peasants share. Except in those cases where they have suffered external aggressions or extreme circumstances, almost all peasant communities know how to save, store and share seeds. Millions of families and farming communities have worked to create hundreds of crops and thousands of varieties of these crops. The regular exchange of seeds among communities and peoples has allowed crops to adapt to different conditions, climates and topographies. This is what has allowed farming to spread and grow and feed the world with a diversified diet. Therefore, peasants' unconditional and unrestricted access to a diverse range of peasant seeds and their right to keep, use, exchange and sell farm seeds is the first condition necessary for feeding the world. In defense of the peasant-seed systems, at the consultation, La Via Campesina delegation will speak for the right to protect traditional and modern peasant knowhow and defend it from the assault of IPR laws. Right here in Indonesia where the consultation is taking place, peasants in East Java have been criminalised for allegedly infringing the rights of a company called BISI, the subsidiary of Thai seed company Charoen Pokhpand. Although BISI has produced no evidence, farmers have been summoned to court and fourteen of them have been prosecuted; there have even been short jail sentences[1] [3]. In most cases, these farmers did not have a lawyer to represent them and they did not understand what they had done wrong. There are numerous such examples worldwide, of criminalization of peasants by the industry in the name of patents and intellectual property. It is this blatant violation of peasants' rights that La Via Campesina will challenge at the Global Consultation. The delegation will also emphasise that the peasant participation in decision making must not be reduced to the inclusion of a few organisations who bow to pressure from the industry and accept decisions already made. Furthermore, participation must not also not be reduced to just big landholders, but must include women, indigenous people, landless peasants, landless agricultural workers, fisherfolk and pastoralists. La Via Campesina urges the Treaty and the Contracting parties to look at progressive laws that are passed in various regions of the world, the most recent being the one passed by the Government of Venezuela[2] [4] early this year, which upholds national food sovereignty, regulate the production of hybrid seed, and rejects the production, distribution and import of GMO seed. Governments of Indonesia, Mali, Nepal and several others have already adopted food sovereignty as a principle, some of them even enacting this into law (e.g. Indonesia). La Via Campesina also demands that the 'Benefit-Sharing Fund' must not finance research institutions and other institutions devoted to collecting peasant seeds and knowhow and other genetic information aimed at facilitating the excise of patents. Instead, it must directly finance small peasant organisations that select, produce and conserve their seeds locally, the best peasant conservation field or long duration techniques (for example without electricity), researchers who collaborate in this collective work under the direction of these farmers and exchanges of associated peasant knowhow on a national and international level. ~Ends~ ------------------------- [1] [5] https://www.grain.org/article/entries/5142-seed-laws-that-criminalise-farme… Asia struggles [2] [6] http://www.gmwatch.org/news/latest-news/16602-venezuela-passes-national-ant… FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES CONTACT; 1. Indonesian Media: (English, Bahasa) - Zainal - zainal(a)spi.or.id 2. Global Media: Abhilash Babu - abhilash(a)viacampesina.org EDITOR'S NOTE: The following organisations are part of the La Via Campesina Delegation in Bali; Zimbabwe Small Holder Organic Farmers' Forum (ZIMSOFF), Movimento dos Pequenos Agricultores (MPA, Brazil), Movement for Land and Agriculture Reform (MONLAR, Srilanka), Serikat Petani Indonesia, Confédération Paysanne (France), Indian Coordination Committee of Farmers' Movements (ICCFM), Assembly of Poor (Thailand), Coordinador Nacional Agrario-CAN (Colombia). To know more about La Via Campesina visit: www.viacampesina.org [7] Links: ------ [1] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/biodiversity-… [2] https://viacampesina.org/en/images/2016-09-27%20Bali%20Seeds%20Meeting%201.… [3] cid:part4.989534EE.7FAB0B10@viacampesina.org [4] cid:part5.BA57954D.5F55617C@viacampesina.org [5] cid:part6.C4386805.255145C8@viacampesina.org [6] cid:part7.76E3FF62.C291E7AD@viacampesina.org [7] http://www.viacampesina.org/

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[Info EN] La Via Campesina | e-Newsletter | August 2016
by La Via Campesina 14 Sep '16

14 Sep '16

La Via Campesina | e-Newsletter | August, 2016 Donate [1] This edition of the newsletter is the result of a collective effort of organisations, which are part of_ La Via Campesina_ movement worldwide. To subscribe click here [2] 'TTIP STALLS, WTO AND FTAS MUST FALL' | PRESS RELEASE: INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST WTO AND FTAS ------------------------- On September the 10th, the International Day of Action Against WTO and Free Trade Agreements, La Via Campesina, the International Peasant Movement that brings together over 200 million peasants from 164 member organisations in 73 countries, commemorates the death of Lee Kyung Hae and continues to struggle to END WTO. [3] We call upon, on this day, our member organisations, allies and social movements of the world to mobilize against the neoliberal agenda of the WTO which promotes corporate power over humanity. We must continue to struggle to build a world based on food sovereignty. Read full press release [3] NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD MORE FARMERS, BETTER FOOD - A FRAMEWORK FOR BRITISH AGRICULTURAL POLICY ------------------------- The Landworkers' Alliance today announces eight key recommendations that will form the foundation of our post-Brexit representations to Defra and the Government's Environmental Audit Committee. Read More [4] WORLD SOCIAL FORUM 2016 | DAY 1 HIGHLIGHTS ------------------------- Several delegates comprising women, men, youth, and representing peasants and migrant agricultural and rural workers from several regions of La Via Campesina, are carrying messages of global solidarity and food sovereignty at the 2016 World Social Forum being held at Montreal, Canada. Read More [5] SOUTHERN AFRICA PERMANENT PEOPLES TRIBUNAL (PPT) ON TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATIONS ------------------------- The time has come to unite our struggles in Southern Africa - the campaigns, networks, movements and organizations that are combating transnational corporations - the way they are exploiting our destinies, natural heritage and human rights, dismantling public services, destroying the commons, fomenting violence and endangering food sovereignty in every corner of the continent. Read More [6] PRESS INVITATION: NYÉLÉNI EUROPE ------------------------- Up to 1,000 people from 42 countries - small-scale farmers, fishers, pastoralists, consumers, urban gardeners, indigenous peoples, researchers, agricultural workers, environmentalists, human rights defenders and trade unionists - will converge from all over Europe for a series of workshops and discussions on how to take back control of the farming and food system. Read More [7] SHASHE AGROECOLOGY SCHOOL: A TRUE CENTRE OF AGROECOLOGY AND PRACTICAL FOOD SOVEREIGNTY ------------------------- Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has hosted on it's Family Farming Knowledge Platform profiles of successful agroecology, carried out by members of La Via Campesina(LVC). This joint effort comes as part of the collaboration between FAO and LVC to promote agroecology. Read More [8] LA VIA CAMPESINA DISCUSSES THE CRIMINALIZATION OF MOVEMENTS AND THE RIGHTS OF PEASANTS ------------------------- About 60 participants from 18 countries of Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas participate in this Via Campesina Conference on Human Rights. Read More [9] BUILDING GLOBAL ALLIANCES AND CONVERGENCES FOR ALTERNATIVES TO CAPITALISM ------------------------- La Vía Campesina Youth Participate in Brazil's 2016 'International Summit for Struggling Youth': Building global alliances and convergences for alternatives to capitalism. Read More [10] THANK YOU NICOLAS; FARMWORKER, FRIEND AND TIRELESS FIGHTER FOR HUMANITY ------------------------- On the occasion of the death of our dear friend Nicolas Duntze, the Coordinating Committee and Working Group on Migration and Rural Workers of ECVC would like to extend our deepest sympathies to both his family and the Paysanne Confederation of France. Read More [11] DECLARATION OF LVC DELEGATION TO THE 2016 WORLD SOCIAL FORUM ------------------------- We, representatives of member organizations of La Vía Campesina from the North America Region (Union Paysanne from Quebec, National Farmers Union, Canada, National Family Farm Coalition, Rural Coalition and Border Agricultural Workers Project from United States), accompanied by LVC members from Europe, Palestine and Brazil took part in the World Social Forum in Montreal, Quebec from August 9-14, 2016. Read More [12] THE STRUGGLE FOR DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATION IN QUEBEC GETS A BOOST AT THE 2016 WSF ------------------------- For years, Union paysanne members have been organizing to break the monopoly of the Union of Agricultural Producers (UPA) over the representation of farmers in Quebec. Read More [13] STATEMENT FROM THE POPULAR UNIVERSITY OF SOCIAL MOVEMENTS WORKSHOP HELD AT HARARE ------------------------- >From July 12-14 2016, various social movements and academics from Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa, Ivory Coast, Spain and Portugal gathered in Zimbabwe's capital, Harare to discuss and debate the state of land, seeds, food, climate and people in Southern Africa. Read More [14] OVER 15 YEARS' STRUGGLE FOR THE RECOGNITION OF PEASANTS IN THE INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS SYSTEM ------------------------- The current draft Declaration is the result of the work undertaken by La Via Campesina (LVC) over more than 15 years, supported by FIAN International and CETIM (Europe Third World Centre), with the support of other social movements. Read More [15] ZERO BUDGET NATURAL FARMING IN INDIA ------------------------- Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has hosted on it's Family Farming Knowledge Platform profiles of successful agroecology, carried out by members of La Via Campesina(LVC). This joint effort comes as part of the collaboration between FAO and LVC to promote agroecology. Featured here is the profile of Amritabhoomi in Karnataka, that promotes Zero Budget Natural Farming.. Read More [16] "WE SHALL NOT REST UNTIL WE'VE FREED ALL OUR POLITICAL PRISONERS", AFFIRMS VIA CAMPESINA ------------------------- Between 18th and 20th August, La Via Campesina held a Conference on Human Rights at the Florestan Fernandes National School (Guararema, São Paulo) in which people's lawyers, rural movements and organisations discussed the criminalisation of the worldwide struggle borne by social movements. They brought forth a multitude of proposals aimed at strengthening, expanding and substantiating LVC's Collective of Human Rights.. Read More [17] [18] WSF 2016: Carlos Marentes from La Via Campesina, Pat Mooney ETC group, Lise-Anne Leveille Union Paysanne-La Via Campesina, Eric Holt-Giménez Foodfirst, debating about corporate strategy to control the food system. Watch Now [19] Video Credit: Focus Puller / WSF TV [20] WSF 2016: Dena Hoff from La Via Campesina North America, spoke at the session on "Climate Change - Crisis or Collapse?" held at Université du Québec à Montréal. In this video, she speaks about the movement's efforts of setting up agroecology schools around the world. Watch Now [21] Video Credit: Focus Puller / WSF TV [22] WSF 2016: Youssef Nasser, from the Union of Agricultural Committee in Palestine speaks about the dispossession and lack of access to land and water under the Israel regime. Watch Now [23] Video Credit: Focus Puller / WSF TV [24] WSF 2016: Several delegates comprising women, men, youth, and representing peasants and migrant agricultural and rural workers from several regions of La Via Campesina, carried messages of global solidarity and food sovereignty at the 2016 World Social Forum that was held at Montreal, Canada from 9-14 August. Watch Now [23] Video Credit: Focus Puller / WSF TV [24] WSF 2016: Several delegates comprising women, men, youth, and representing peasants and migrant agricultural and rural workers from several regions of La Via Campesina, carried messages of global solidarity and food sovereignty at the 2016 World Social Forum that was held at Montreal, Canada from 9-14 August. Watch Now [23] Video Credit: Focus Puller / WSF TV [25] WSF 2016: Carlos Marentes of La Via Campesina North America explains what is Popular Agrarian Reform. He was talking in a panel organized by WhyHunger with the participation of First Nation representative, Food First in the World Social Forum, Montreal, Canada. Watch Now [26] Video Credit: Focus Puller / WSF TV [27] WSF 2016: Farmers from Union Paysanne Quebec and La Via Campesina readout the final declaration of the AgroEcology Alliance, at the World Social Forum in Quebec. The forum took place from 9-14 August 2016. Watch Now [28] Video Credit: Focus Puller / WSF TV [29] WSF 2016: First Nation, La Via Campesina, WhyHungher and Food First representative met to talk and share opinion and common future struggles. Watch Now [30] Video Credit: Focus Puller / WSF TV [31] What does it mean to be a peasant in Romania? By Carlo Bolzoni and Guglielmo Del Signore for Eco Ruralis association. Watch Now [32] YOU ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE AUTONOMY OF OUR MOVEMENT ------------------------- As a supporter who has contributed financial resources to La Via Campesina, and as an activist who joins us on the streets and in the fields, your support is always welcome and put to good use. You can renew your contribution to La Via Campesina by clicking on the Donate button on our home page [33] and following the link to our PayPal account. [34] [35] Follow us on twitter [35] [36] Find us on Facebook [36] [37] Subsribe our Vimeo Channel [37] 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 [38] Links: ------ [1] https://viacampesina.org/en/donations/ [2] http://ttps://mail.viacampesina.org/lists/listinfo/Via-info-en [3] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/10-yea… [4] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/sustainable-p… [5] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/world-… [6] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/stop-t… [7] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/news-from-the-regions-mainmenu-29/212… [8] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/sustainable-p… [9] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/human-rights-… [10] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/youth-mainmen… [11] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/news-from-the-regions-mainmenu-29/211… [12] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/world-… [13] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/world-… [14] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/agrarian-refo… [15] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/human-rights-… [16] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/sustainable-p… [17] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/human-rights-… [18] https://vimeo.com/178435106 [19] https://tv.viacampesina.org/WSF2016-Peasant-led-agriculture-is?lang=en [20] https://vimeo.com/178435445 [21] https://tv.viacampesina.org/WSF2016-Peasant-Agriculture-can?lang=en [22] https://vimeo.com/178435801 [23] https://tv.viacampesina.org/Some-of-the-most-fertile-land-and?lang=en [24] https://vimeo.com/179000962 [25] https://vimeo.com/179286213 [26] https://tv.viacampesina.org/FSM-2016-Carlos-Marentes-of-La-Via?lang=en [27] https://vimeo.com/179296458 [28] https://tv.viacampesina.org/FSM2016-Agroecology-Alliance-Final?lang=en [29] https://vimeo.com/180382583 [30] https://tv.viacampesina.org/FSM-2016-Montreal-First-Nation?lang=en [31] https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=MuHBnnOBQy4 [32] https://tv.viacampesina.org/What-does-it-mean-to-be-a-peasant?lang=en [33] http://www.viacampesina.org/ [34] https://www.paypal.com/uk/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&SESSION=IK5Hgl6MlPxD… [35] http://www.twitter.com/via_campesina [36] https://www.facebook.com/viacampesinaOFFICIAL/ [37] https://vimeo.com/viacampesina [38] https://mail.viacampesina.org/lists/listinfo/Via-info-en

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[Info EN] TTIP Stalls, WTO and FTAs Must Fall | Press Release: International Day Against WTO and FTAs
by La Via Campesina 08 Sep '16

08 Sep '16

Press Release: International Day Against WTO and FTAs TTIP Stalls, WTO and FTAs Must Fall [1]On September the 10th, the International Day of Action Against WTO, La Via Campesina, the International Peasant Movement that brings together over 200 million peasants from 164 member organisations in 73 countries, commemorates the death of Lee Kyung Haeand continues to struggle to END WTO. Last year in Kenya, Nairobi at the 10th WTO ministerial meeting tradenegotiations had to be rescued on the last hour [2] to save face as WTO sought to reinvent and seek legitimacy in Africa [3]. WTO members held their first informal meeting of agriculture negotiations post the Nairobi meeting on 8 March this year to discuss the way forward on agriculture talks. We must increasingly mobilise to END WTO and to leave agriculture out of the WTO as they prepare for the 11th ministerial meeting in 2017. On this 13th anniversary of Farmer Lee Kyung Hae's martyrdom, we reject the bilateral and multi-lateral Free Trade Agreements that are anti-people, anti-democracy and that which threaten people's control over their own resources. His words continue to ring true _"My warning goes out to all citizens that human beings are in an endangered situation. That uncontrolled multinational corporations and a small number of big WTO Members are leading an undesirable globalization that is inhumane, environmentally degrading, farmer-killing, and undemocratic. It should be stopped immediately. Otherwise the false logic of neoliberalism will wipe out the diversity of global agriculture and be disastrous to all human beings."_ The free trade agreements such as the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA), Transpacific Partnership (TPP), RCEP are designed to benefit big corporates while killing millions of family and smallholder farmers. Since the adoption of FTAs we have witnessed drastic decline of numbers of peasant farmers as their local markets and farmland are taken over by big corporates. Mother nature has not been spared either as FTAs compromise environmental protection and animal welfare. Food safety too, affecting peoples' health. Moreover, FTAs through contentious Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanism erode state sovereignty and leave them at the mercy of big transnational corporations (TNCs). We call upon our governments to commit to build robust public and institutional procurement programs which allow farmers to access to stable, participatory and remunerative markets for farm produce. The controversial Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) deal between the EU and US is falling apart as negotiations have all but stalled. This is significant step in our mobilisation against FTAs and an opportunity to expose more their fallacies and bring an end to such deals. Farmer Lee wasn't just anybody. He had founded a cooperative and farmers' association in Korea, served as a state legislator, and had been recognized by the government of Korea and by the United Nations as an outstanding farmer. Yet he lost his land, as did millions of other Korean farmers, after his government signed the General Agreement of Tariffs and Trade (GATT) in 1992, the predecessor of the WTO. We call upon, on this day, our member organisations, allies and social movements of the world to mobilize against the neoliberal agenda of the WTO which promotes corporate power over humanity. We must continue to struggle to build a world based on food sovereignty. DOWN DOWN WTO END WTO STOP FTAS FOOD SOVEREIGNTY NOW! Links: ------ [1] https://viacampesina.org/en/images/2016-09-08%20Sept%2010%20PR.png [2] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/10-yea… [3] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/10-yea…

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[Info EN] "We shall not rest until we’ve freed all our political prisoners", affirms Via Campesina
by La Via Campesina 30 Aug '16

30 Aug '16

"WE SHALL NOT REST UNTIL WE'VE FREED ALL OUR POLITICAL PRISONERS", AFFIRMS VIA CAMPESINA [1] Published on Tuesday, 30 August 2016 16:30 [2]MEETING IN BRASIL Between 18th and 20th August, La Via Campesina held a Conference on Human Rights [3]at the Florestan Fernandes National School (Guararema, São Paulo) in which people's lawyers, rural movements and organisations discussed the criminalisation of the worldwide struggle borne by social movements. They brought forth a multitude of proposals aimed at strengthening, expanding and substantiating LVC's Collective of Human Rights. In an interview for the MST website, Leandro Scalabrin - a people's lawyer for the Movement of Peoples Affected by Dams (MAB) - shared some of these proposals and stressed the vitality of implementing these in the prevailing circumstances. "The meeting went well, we came out feeling very motivated and the Collective strengthened and broadened. We managed to delve into the subject of our International Campaigns in order to implement them in every country and we identified the common challenges posed by the criminalisation of social struggle worldwide. This work will be multiplied across all continents and we'll build a safety net for human rights advocates. We shall not rest until we've freed all our political prisoners." Approximately 60 militants from 18 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and America partook in the conference, who also engaged with the topic of International Treaties, which involves peasants' rights and examines the relation between TNCs and Human Rights. In this regard, Scalabrin highlighted that LVC denounces the "architecture of impunity which allows transnational corporations to command the state, approve laws, and create institutions that serve private interests to the detriment of public goods and human rights." In other words, governments are required to "hold corporations legally accountable for their actions or omissions when they violate human rights in our countries." _Continue below for the full interview_ MST WEBSITE: ONE CORE THEME OF THE DEBATE WAS THE CRIMINALISATION OF SOCIAL MOVEMENTS. WHAT ACTIONS WERE ENVISAGED TO UPHOLD LVC'S INTERNATIONAL COORDINATION? Leandro Scalabrin: The information brought forth by the participants at the conference confirmed the existence of innumerable peasants that have been detained, 'disappeared', forced into exile, met with violence and other criminal acts in all continents. We're dealing with a wave of criminalisation of peoples and movements who are part of La Via Campesina. There are also political prisons for people who organise the struggle for their rights and are thus treated as criminals. In light of this, we discussed the necessity of consolidating LVC's Collective of Human Rights and of establishing an International Human Rights Network through which violations of peasants' rights would be exposed, and also in order to guarantee that appropriate actions are preceded by broad support and disclosure - in addition to cooperating with already existing networks and organisations working in this area. CAN YOU PROVIDE SOME EXAMPLES OF THIS WAVE OF CRIMINALISATION? In Brasil, there are 44 political prisoners, 10 peasants and 34 indigenous people. The National Security Act has already been used against social movements, and now they are using Statute 12.850, which is applied to criminal organisations. This is notably the case of MST in Goiás. Valdir Misnerovics and Luis Batista Borges have both been incarcerated since April and May, based on the law against criminal organisations, for having defended and called for agrarian reform in Brazil. There are criminalised people in France and Spain too, and the situation in Paraguay, Argentina and Honduras is very delicate, but with recurring characteristics: violence at demonstrations, police brutality, incarceration, legal actions. In Honduras, Berta Cáceres was assassinated, and in Brazil Elton Brum dos Santos was killed by the police with a bullet in his back. WHAT MECHANISMS WERE DISCUSSED IN ORDER TO GUARANTEE THAT EFFECTIVE ACTIONS WOULD BE TAKEN IN CASE OF VIOLATIONS? In order to deal with this difficult reality - other than proposing an LVC International Human Rights Network joined by allied organisations in order to establish self-protection mechanisms - legal defence and public denouncement through the international Human Rights systems were emphasised. We name this bundle of actions as the "Alert System". One of its main objectives is to guarantee the self-protection of those who defend human rights. LVC WORKS ON JOINT CAMPAIGNS FOR THE SAKE OF MOBILISATION AND AWARENESS RAISING IN VARIOUS QUESTIONS, IN THE CASE OF POLITICAL PRISONERS, WHAT PROPOSALS SHOULD BE BROUGHT FORTH? The proposal to establish a network within LVC's Collective of Human Rights, as well as the "Alert System", represent in themselves steps taken towards mobilisation against political prisons. Furthermore, we shall work on a campaign, building on existing ones, for the sake of liberating the political prisoners. Departing from this initiative, the idea is to shed light on our offensive against the criminalisation of LVC's social movements. ANOTHER IMPORTANT POINT OF DISCUSSION WAS THAT OF INTERNATIONAL TREATIES. WHAT INITIATIVES CAN BE EXPECTED TO BE TAKEN IN ORDER TO EXPAND THE DISSEMINATION OF ITS PROCESSES? We will conduct seminars to announce said proposals and meet with national governments in every country in order to present legal projects, such as in the proposals that appear in the Declaration of Rights of Peasants - Women and Men and the Binding Treaty on Transnational Corporations and Human Rights. We will demand in each and every nation that respective governments vote in favour of the Declaration of Rights of Peasants - Women and Men, as well as in favour of implementing the Binding Treaty on Transnational Corporations and Human Rights. LVC was present in the international mobilisation that took place in Geneva in 2014, during the 26th UN Convention on Human Rights when we managed to pass a resolution destined to render TNCs accountable for the human rights violations caused through or because of their activities. It was a close call, as 20 countries voted in favour, 14 against and 13 abstained, including Brazil. The UN recently established an intergovernmental working group tasked with bringing forth the accountability standards. LVC IS PRESENT IN BOTH INSTANCES. WHAT ARE THE MAIN CONCERNS DEFENDED BY PEASANTS' MOVEMENTS WITHIN THESE TREATIES? We expose the system of impunity which allows private corporations to command the state, approve laws, and create institutions that serve private interests to the detriment of public goods and human rights. Such processes are entangled with the construction of dams, financing of electoral campaigns, the contamination of our food with toxicants, the corporate appropriation of land and labour. Governments need to establish legal procedures which hold corporations accountable for their actions or omissions when they violate human rights in our countries. One such example is the Samarco-Vale/BHP incident in Brazil, where more than 200 thousand people fell victim to human rights violations. HOW WOULD LVC EVALUATE THE CONFERENCE AND WHAT CAN BE EXPECTED WHEN IT COMES TO CONCRETISING THE COLLECTIVE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE NEXT PERIOD? The meeting went well, we came out feeling very motivated and the Collective strengthened and broadened. We managed to delve into the subject of our International Campaigns in order to implement them in every country and we identified the common challenges posed by the criminalisation of social struggle worldwide. These efforts will be multiplied across all continents and we'll build a safety net for our human rights advocates. We shall not rest until we've freed all our political prisoners. August 22, 2016 Links: ------ [1] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/human-rights-… [2] https://viacampesina.org/en/images/2016-08-30%20Brazil%20Meeting.JPG [3] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/human-rights-…

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[Info EN] Declaration of LVC Delegation to the 2016 World Social Forum
by La Via Campesina 22 Aug '16

22 Aug '16

Declaration of LVC Delegation to the 2016 World Social Forum Montreal, Quebec, August 14, 2016 "We not only believe that another world is necessary, the members of La Vía Campesina are already building a better world." Carlos Marentes, co-coordinator of the North America Region of LVC We, representatives of member organizations of La Vía Campesina from the North America Region (Union Paysanne from Quebec, National Farmers Union, Canada, National Family Farm Coalition, Rural Coalition and Border Agricultural Workers Project from United States), accompanied by LVC members from Europe, Palestine and Brazil took part in the World Social Forum in Montreal, Quebec from August 9-14, 2016. We were graciously hosted by the Union paysanne and reaffirmed our support for their struggle to end the syndicate-monopoly control of agriculture in Quebec, adding our voice to the demand that "There is no Food Sovereignty without Peasant sovereignty". In our press conference of August 11th, Maxime Laplante declared: "The Quebec situation is extremely particular in that there is in Quebec only one organization having the right to represent farmers here, to negotiate with the government or to intervene in the management of marketing plans, marketing, etc. That organization is the Union des Producteurs Agricoles (UPA). It is the only organization with the legal right to represent farmers." La Via Campesina North America woman coordinator and vice-chair of the National Family Farm Coalition Dena Hoff stated: ''The whole region of La Via Campesina stands behind Union paysanne in its demands for recognition by the government of Quebec as the voice of the peasants struggling for food sovereignty." The LVC delegation participated enthusiastically in the opening march, in many workshops, panels and assemblies on the themes of food sovereignty, the right to food, post extractive societies, agro-ecology and peoples agrarian reform, and the future of the WSF, among many topics, together with allies like ETC Group, Grain, Climate Space, the Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN), Global Justice Now, USC Canada, SUCO, Why Hunger, Grassroots Global Justice Alliance, Global Forest Coalition, Focus on the Global South, Development and Peace, Inter-Pares, Vigilance OGM Québec, and others. As Dena Hoff, stated: "The fight for food sovereignty will be won with a million grassroots efforts". At a time of deepening crises in the world, including massive suffering of migrants fleeing war, increasing poverty and hunger, extreme weather events, corporate driven land and resource grabs, the expansion and consolidation of big agribusiness and monocultures of feed and fuel plantations across the planet, we declare our firm commitment as LVC to the life-or-death struggle for food sovereignty, a peoples agrarian reform, seed and biodiversity sovereignty, the democratization of the food system and the strong defense of human rights. We question the use of the concept of "agro-ecology" and climate buzzwords that are removed from the context of food sovereignty and used as a means of justifying an expansion of "green washing" or for NGO fund raising. We insist that agro-ecology signifies a validation of small and medium scale farming, peasant-led research and innovation, and it signifies the integration of traditional practices, and peasant and rural community control of our seeds. Food sovereignty is the right of farmers and eaters to control their own food production, processing and distribution with culturally appropriate foods and equitable compensation and dignity for food providers. We assert that small-scale farming, fishing, herding, hunting and gathering are essential in the struggle to bring relief to climate change and continue feeding humanity. We seek access to land for all, especially youth with the drive to feed their communities. We seek an end to the invasion of GMO seeds into our territories and we demand the right of farmers to continue to produce, save and share their own seeds. We say "No" to corporate agriculture and say "Yes" to the people of the land and to the peasant way. LVC also publically criticized the Canadian Government because many leaders of important social movements were unable to attend the WSF as many hundreds of visas were denied, including the visas of two of the peasant leaders in our delegation. We have also taken the opportunity provided by the WSF 2016 to express our solidarity with all the movements currently fighting against violence, dispossession, exclusion and the attacks against the democratic rights of people. We specially expressed our solidarity with the struggle of the Palestinian people against the oppression, and exploitation at the hands of Zionist Settler Colonialism, the struggle of our compañeras and compañeros of the Landless Movement of Brazil against the recent State Coup, the First Nations courageous struggle against the threats to the integrity of their land posed by tar-sand exploitation, pipelines and other destructive actions by capital, and the fight against the increasing violence against black people and therefore we fully support the Black Lives Matter Movement. ¡GLOBALIZE THE STRUGGLE, GLOBALIZE HOPE! Given in Montreal, Quebec, on August 14, 2016

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[Info EN] La Via Campesina | e-Newsletter | July 2016
by La Via Campesina 11 Aug '16

11 Aug '16

La Via Campesina | e-Newsletter | July, 2016 Donate [1] This edition of the newsletter is the result of a collective effort of organisations, which are part of_ La Via Campesina_ movement worldwide. To subscribe click here [2] VIA CAMPESINA JOINS 2016 WORLD SOCIAL FORUM TO STRENGTHEN AND ADVANCE FOOD SOVEREIGNTY AND PEASANTS' RIGHTS ------------------------- Several delegates comprising women, men, youth, and representing peasants and migrant agricultural and rural workers from several regions of La Via Campesina, will carry messages of global solidarity and food sovereignty at the 2016 World Social Forum this August. The Forum, which is a collective call for a sustainable and inclusive world, will be held in Montreal, Canada from the 9th to 14th. La Via Campesina considers World Social Forum as an important space to build collective strengths of social movements worldwide - all of whom are fighting for social, economic, cultural and political justice. The complete schedule of events that La Via Campesina would be part of are available here [3]. NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD SEND AN EMAIL TO DEMAND JUSTICE FOR BAEK NAM-GI ------------------------- Still in a coma, Mr. Baek's health is deteriorating and his condition has now become even more critical. Though it has been more than 250 days, none of the officers responsible for the excessive use of force that caused his injury have been charged.We need your voice to call on the National Assembly to open a public hearing into the incident. Take Action [4] DECLARATION ON TRADE, MARKETS AND DEVELOPMENT | UNCTAD NAIROBI ------------------------- La Via Campesina's Declaration on Trade, Markets and Development in the context of UNCTAD 2016, Nairobi, Kenya. Read More [5] NFU SENDS AG MINISTERS INPUT FOR NEXT AGRICULTURE POLICY FRAMEWORK ------------------------- In advance of the annual conference of Federal, Provincial and Territorial (FPT) Agriculture Ministers to be held in Calgary, July 20-22, 2016, the National Farmers Union (NFU) sent a letter to each of the ministers with input regarding the next agriculture policy framework. In it, the NFU provides recommendations for both the Business Risk Management (BRM) programs and the Strategic Investment programs. Read More [6] AGROECOLOGY LEARNING EXCHANGES IN UGANDA ------------------------- Five members representing La Via Campesina, attended the Agroecology Learning Exchanges in Uganda, held between 10-13 May 2016. This meeting was organized by the Agroecology Fund and Alliance for Food Sovereignty (ASFA) in Africa in Masaka, Uganda and was hosted by St Jude Family projects. Read More [7] CLOC-VIA CAMPESINA HONDURAS STATEMENT ON ASSASSINATION OF LESBIA YANETH URQUÍA ------------------------- Statement from the Cloc-Via Campesina Honduras in response to the assassination of Lesbia Yaneth Urquía, member of COPINH. Read More [8] WAR CRIMES IN SYRIA MUST STOP – STOP BOMBING CITIZENS, FOOD CROPS AND VEGETABLE MARKETS! ------------------------- Solidarity with the peasants and people of Syria is needed now more than ever. Through the 15th Garden we continue to resist this wretched war that has been put upon us. Read More [9] WOMEN PEASANTS IN SOUTH KOREA ON A NATIONWIDE PROTEST TOUR ------------------------- Peasants from the Korean Women Peasant Association are taking out a nation-wide campaign, in the form of a protest tour, to seek justice for Farmer Baek Namgi who has been lying in a state of coma since November 2015, after being hit by police water cannons. Read More [10] KARNATAKA, INDIA: SUPPORT PRICES SOUGHT BY KRRS TO BAIL OUT FARMERS ------------------------- Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) and the Green Brigade have urged the Union government to announce minimum support price for arecanut, coconut, copra and rubber. Briefing mediapersons here on Monday, KRRS General Secretary Badagalapura Nagendra said the sudden slump in the price of arecanut, coconut, copra and rubber has left the farmers in dire straits. Read More [11] UNCTAD 14: ELITES SPEAKING IN THE NAME OF PEASANTS AND THE GLOBAL POOR WON'T SOLVE ANYTHING! ------------------------- Statement from La Via Campesina and Kenyan Social Movements. Read More [12] FARMER-TO-FARMER TRAINING SESSION ON MILLETS IN INDIA ------------------------- At least 60 farmers, mostly from the neighboring indigenous Soliga community, as well as other small farmers including some urban origin farmers gathered for a farmer-to-farmer training session on millets at the Amrita Bhoomi agroecology center, on 2nd July 2016.. Read More [13] ZIMSOFF CO-ORGANISES A DIALOGUE ON THE STATE OF LAND, SEEDS AND FOOD WITH ALLIES ------------------------- Popular University of Social Movements gathers in Harare: social movements and academics to dialogue on the state of land, seeds and food in SADC. Read More [14] MORE THAN 1,500 LANDLESS KICKING OFF FESTIVAL OF CULTURE OF AGRARIAN REFORM ------------------------- On July 20, 2016, more than 1,500 Landless 19 states of Brazil kicked off the National Festival of Arts and Culture of Agrarian Reform, in the city of Belo Horizonte, in Minas Gerais. The political-cultural event, which took place in the Plaza da Station in Serraria Souza Pinto, in the center of the mining capital. Read More [15] TRIBUNAL MONSANTO IN THE HAGUE –14TH -16TH OF OCTOBER 2016 ------------------------- The Monsanto Tribunal, which will be held in The Hague from 14 to 16 October 2016, aims to assess these allegations made against Monsanto, and to evaluate the damages caused by this transnational company. Read More [16] MARKETS DON'T REGULATE, MARKETS SPECULATE ------------------------- In light of the upcoming European Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting this July 18 in Brussels, the European Coordination Via Campesina, which represents thousands of family farmers in Europe, urges the Council to introduce mandatory measures to reduce milk production in order to protect dairy farmers throughout Europe. Read More [17] 18 YEARS OF SPI: CELEBRATIONS ACROSS INDONESIA ------------------------- "Starting from a base level to the international level. Starting from reclaiming hundreds of thousands of hectares of land, to fight for the rights of peasants into an international declaration on the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, SPI has come a long way in 18 years. "said Henry Saragih in Medan, North Sumatera, Indonesia. Read More [18] OLIVE HARVEST CAMPAIGN 2016: "OUR OLIVE TREE IS OUR HOMELAND" ------------------------- Olive trees carry more than an economic significance in the lives of Palestinians; they are symbolic of Palestinians' linked to their land. Thus, despite the continuous Israeli uprooting and damaging of Palestinian olive trees, Palestinians insist to cling to their lands and replant more and more olive trees and strengthen their roots in the ground. Read More [19] [20] WORLD SOCIAL FORUM 2016 MONTREAL CANADA | THEME SONG ------------------------- Made by Focuspuller collective with their World Social Forum Film Archive to promote the next world social forum that will be in Montreal Canada 9 14 August 2016. The music and song "Otro Mundo" is by Moe Clark, Mohammed Ben Slama, Sol-Étienne Labesse, Alban Maréchal, Ons Barnat, Carminda Mac Lorin, Joseph Naytowhow, Cheryl L'Hirondelle, Anthony et Thaïsa Tavares. Music produced by Palanka. Source: http://wsftv.net/Members/focuspuller/videos/forum-social-mundial-2016-montr… Watch it on Via Campesina TV [21] YOU ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE AUTONOMY OF OUR MOVEMENT ------------------------- As a supporter who has contributed financial resources to La Via Campesina, and as an activist who joins us on the streets and in the fields, your support is always welcome and put to good use. You can renew your contribution to La Via Campesina by clicking on the Donate button on our home page [22] and following the link to our PayPal account. [23] [24] Follow us on twitter [24] [25] Find us on Facebook [25] [26] Subsribe our Vimeo Channel [26] To unsubscribe from the distribution list, questions or comments, write to VIACAMPESINA(a)VIACAMPESINA.ORG WEBSITE: www.viacampesina.org TV: www.tv.viacampesina.org To subscribe to this newsletter - Click Here [27] Links: ------ [1] https://www.paypal.com/uk/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&SESSION=7cgPKKpQWIKC… [2] http://ttps://mail.viacampesina.org/lists/listinfo/Via-info-en [3] https://viacampesina.org/downloads/pdf/en/2016-08-04%20WSF%20EN%20-%20Sched… [4] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/human-rights-… [5] http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/2-uncategorised/2072-in-defense-of-ter… [6] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/sustainable-p… [7] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/sustainable-p… [8] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/human-rights-… [9] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/human-rights-… [10] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/news-from-the-regions-mainmenu-29/209… [11] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/news-from-the-regions-mainmenu-29/210… [12] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/food-sovereig… [13] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/news-from-the-regions-mainmenu-29/209… [14] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/agrarian-refo… [15] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/news-from-the-regions-mainmenu-29/211… [16] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/stop-t… [17] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/food-sovereig… [18] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/news-from-the-regions-mainmenu-29/210… [19] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/2105-o… [20] https://vimeo.com/178311119 [21] https://tv.viacampesina.org/World-Social-Forum-2016-Montreal?lang=fr [22] http://www.viacampesina.org/ [23] https://www.paypal.com/uk/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&SESSION=IK5Hgl6MlPxD… [24] http://www.twitter.com/via_campesina [25] https://www.facebook.com/viacampesinaOFFICIAL/ [26] https://vimeo.com/viacampesina [27] https://mail.viacampesina.org/lists/listinfo/Via-info-en

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[Info EN] Press Release: Via Campesina will join 2016 World Social Forum to strengthen and advance food sovereignty and peasants’ rights
by La Via Campesina 06 Aug '16

06 Aug '16

VIA CAMPESINA WILL JOIN 2016 WORLD SOCIAL FORUM TO STRENGTHEN AND ADVANCE FOOD SOVEREIGNTY AND PEASANTS’ RIGHTS [1] Several delegates comprising women, men, youth, and representing peasants and migrant agricultural and rural workers from several regions of La Via Campesina, will carry messages of global solidarity and food sovereignty at the 2016 World Social Forum this August. The Forum, which is a collective call for a sustainable and inclusive world, will be held in Montreal, Canada from the 9th to 14th. La Via Campesina considers World Social Forum as an important space to build collective strengths of social movements worldwide - all of whom are fighting for social, economic, cultural and political justice. In Montreal, our delegates will collectively organize and participate in sessions that would address the questions of agrarian reform, climate justice, peasant led research, alternatives to corporate controlled food systems, people's sovereignty over corporate impunity, young peasants, the future of agriculture and many more. New generation of trade treaties such as TTIP, TTP, CETA, RCEP, threatening food sovereignty and the rights of peasants and rural working people will be denounced through mobilizations in Quebec. Such treaties include anti-people mechanisms such as the Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS)that not just override local and national judicial systems but also threat democracies. We will join other social movements and organisations worldwide in creating a collective strategy to counter and defeat such treaties aimed only at benefiting a few corporations. La Via Campesina reaffirms its solidarity to social justice movements that demand full rights to indigenous peoples, to migrants and to people of different racial, ethnic and religious background. We collectively raise our voices against racial discrimination and against policies that deny migrants peasants and people, their right to equity and safety. "In a context in which Québec farmers are being held hostage by an all-powerful union and an agricultural cartel, the Union Paysanne invites you to join it in celebrating and in making a renewed call for full freedom of association for farmers in Québec and in all parts of the world. We are calling for unity, for inclusion, for fraternity, and for farmers' autonomy. There is no food sovereignty without farmers's sovereignty! Globalize the struggle! Globalize hope!" Pierre-Olivier Brassard, young organic vegetable farmer, and administrator for Union Paysanne that is hosting the delegation. ~ENDS~ FOR MEDIA QUERIES AND SPOKESPEOPLE AVAILABILITY Carlos Marentes, LVC, cmarentess(a)gmail.com Abhilash, abhilash(a)viacampesina.org Benoit Girouard, Président Union Paysanne, M : 450-495-1910 Maxime Laplante, Vice-Président Union Paysanne, 418-926-2473 NOTES TO THE EDITOR: The complete schedule of events that La Via Campesina would be part of are available here for download [2] To follow updates and press releases from LVC during the events, visit www.viacampesina.org [3] or follow us on www.facebook.com/viacampesinaofficial [4] - On Twitter, we will be publishing regular updates in English (@via_campesina) ; Spanish (via_campesinaSP) and French (@viacampesinaFR) Links: ------ [1] https://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/world-… [2] https://viacampesina.org/downloads/pdf/en/2016-08-04%20WSF%20EN%20-%20Sched… [3] http://www.viacampesina.org/ [4] http://www.facebook.com/viacampesinaofficial

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