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La Via Campesina calls for the International Treaty on seeds to reject biopiracy
by La Vía Campesina 07 Jul '14

07 Jul '14

LA VIA CAMPESINA PRESS RELEASE LA VIA CAMPESINA CALLS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL TREATY ON SEEDS TO REJECT BIOPIRACY (Geneva, 7th of July 2014) The International Treaty on seeds (ITPGRFA) celebrated on July 3 in Geneva its 10th anniversary. It has been recognizing for a decade now farmers' rights to use, exchange and sell their seeds. By organizing the sharing of seeds gathered from peasants' field in 131 countries, it makes a critical contribution to global food security. Given climate change is on the rise, these local seeds are often the only ones guaranteeing harvests, while varieties selected in laboratories to work with chemical inputs are unable to adapt to any unexpected stress. The success of the Treaty should not however mask its broken promises. The industry has still to service the debt contracted when "borrowing" for free seeds from peasants to create its commercial seeds. As such, the Treaty is unable to fulfil the sharing of benefits. Meantime, peasants lose their right to use the seeds they generously gave to the Treaty, as the industry contaminates these seeds with its engineered genes or patent them based on their natural features. Farmers' rights cannot remain a statement of general intent and if the Treaty persists to trample on these rights, farmers cannot carry on to graciously give their seeds. Without effective safeguard mechanisms for farmers' rights and fair benefit sharing, along with concrete measures against patents on life, the seeds bank of the Treaty will become biopirates' commons. This Treaty must change, and La Via Campesina is ready to assist. More on www.viacampesina.org

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A victory on our path to an international declaration on the rights of peasants
by La Vía Campesina 07 Jul '14

07 Jul '14

PRESS RELEASE - LA VIA CAMPESINA A VICTORY ON OUR PATH TO AN INTERNATIONAL DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF PEASANTS (Geneva, June 27th, 2014) On June 27th, the United Nations Human Rights Council Assembly passed a resolution authorising the continuation of the process of drafting an international declaration on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas. Bolivia is in charge of starting up informal consultations between States and civil society as well as organising the second session of of the Intergovernmental Open-Ended Working Group, which is scheduled to take place in November 2014. The declaration project originated with the Via Campesina, and it is the fruit of ten years of work on the part of this international movement which is comprised of more than 164 organisations in 73 countries. The Via Campesina set itself the task of categorising the forms of discrimination suffered by people working in rural areas (peasants, agricultural workers, nomads and pastoralists, fishers, indigenous peoples, landless workers, etc.) and, with the support of organisations such as FIAN-international and CETIM (the Europe-Third World Centre), of defining the specific human rights applicable to their situation. In March 2012, the Assembly of the Human Rights Council accepted the final text resulting from a series of studies carried out by the Council's Consultative Committee. In September 2012, the Assembly voted to create an Intergovernmental Open-Ended Working Group that was given the responsibility of drafting a declaration on the basis of the preliminary version annexed to the final study. In July 2013, the intergovernmental group held its first working session. Thus, at the Human Rights Council's 26th session, the member states voted on the resolution (for the renewal of the intergovernmental group's mandate) that was presented by Bolivia. 29 countries supported the resolution; 13 countries abstained; and 5 countries voted against the resolution_ (*)_. For the Via Campesina these figures, which show growing support for the declaration process, are an indication of success (In 2012, there had been 23 votes in favour, 16 abstentions, and 9 in opposition). It should be noted that countries such as France, Austria, Germany, Italy, and Ireland, which had previously opposed the resolution, this time took the option of abstaining. This was not only the result of intense advocacy with their respective governments by the peasant organisations of the European Coordination of the Via Campesina and by civil society organisations, but it was also an encouraging sign that governments are looking upon peasant agriculture more favourably. The various Via Campesina delegations carried out their advocacy work during the session. In the coming months, the Via Campesina and its allies will redouble their efforts to overcome the continuing reticence of certain States and to convince them of the need for a declaration of this kind. At a global level, this international declaration project will serve to protect peasant agriculture as a whole - an agricultural model that produces 70% of the world's food on barely 25% of the land. The Via Campesina is defending small scale peasant agriculture both in the South and in the North of the globe. The Via Campesina expresses its thanks to Bolivia, South Africa, Cuba, and Ecuador for their efforts within the Human Rights Council to bring about constructive advances in the work on this project. _(*) VOTES BY COUNTRY:_ YES (29): Algeria, Argentina, Benin, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Chile, China, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Ethiopa, Gabon, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Morocco, Namibia, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, Vietnam ABSTAIN (13): Austria, Botswana, Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Maldives, Mexico, Montenegro, Macedonia NO (5): Czech Republic, Rep. of Korea, Romania, United Kingdom, United States of America --

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Newsletter La Vía Campesina - June 2014
by La Vía Campesina 01 Jul '14

01 Jul '14

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La Via Campesina welcomes the UN Human Rights Council move to challenge corporate impunity
by La Vía Campesina 30 Jun '14

30 Jun '14

_LA VIA CAMPESINA PRESS RELEASE_ LA VIA CAMPESINA WELCOMES THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL MOVE TO CHALLENGE CORPORATE IMPUNITY (Geneva, 27th of June 2014) La Via Campesina welcomes the resolution approved at the UN Human Rights Council to draw up a binding treaty to punish the crimes of transnational companies (TNC's). _"This is a victory for peasants, who in most cases are unable to access legal systems to take actions against the impunity of TNCs. Also, looking at the current agricultural activities that have been captured by multinational companies, the instrument will be a great tool for the victims to file cases against land-grabbing by TNCs. We thank the initiating countries and the countries that voted in favour."_ said Themba Chauke from the South African Landless Peoples Movement, a member of La Via Campesina. Violence, evictions, intimidation, the criminalisation of struggles as well as assassinations of farmers who are defending their livelihood, their land and their communities have become common practice used by agribusiness, TNCs, local elites and governments. This violence is linked to the privatization of nature, the concentration of land and the increased corporate control of the food chain. Transnational companies such as Nestlé, Syngenta, Bayer... have been responsible for numerous crimes such as violent land evictions, abuse and contamination of the commons (seeds, water, soil...), the promotion of unhealthy junk food and the increased use of agrotoxins in food production. The industrial food system exploits agricultural and food workers, especially the undocumented workers. The approval of the resolution is positive progress towards balancing the power and accountability of these companies, and reducing their global impunity. Social movements and NGOs have successfully brought pressure to bear on States to approve the tabled resolution._ "The goal of the mobilisation is not only to put pressure on the States to put in place laws to control companies and to safeguard rights, but also to denounce the "architecture of impunity" that protects TNCs operations through aspects such as economic agreements, a long history of structural adjustment imposed by the IMF, and the Free Trade Agreements that are all harmful to human rights,"_ said Leandro Scalabrin of the Movement of victims of Dams in Brazil. The work to develop alternative ways of organising our societies in a fair and just manner continues. As a peasant organisation La Via Campesina remains committed to promoting food sovereignty and to continue working in peasant communities to intensify the struggle against corporate impunity. CONTACTS: Themba Chauke - Landless Peoples' Movement South Africa: +41766499591 or +393510683306, Philippe Sauvin - l'autre syndicat, Switzerland: +41 22 362 69 87 or +41 79 509 31 10 --

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La Vía Campesina’s position on the International Year of Family Farming
by La Vía Campesina 25 Jun '14

25 Jun '14

PRESS RELEASE - LA VÍA CAMPESINA LA VÍA CAMPESINA’S POSITION ON THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF FAMILY FARMING - 2014 A SPACE FOR THE PROMOTION OF CONCRETE POLICIES ON PEASANT FAMILY FARMING (Harare, June 2014) La Vía Campesina defines participation in the International Year of Family Farming, propelled by the UN in 2014, as the creation of a space for discussion and collective action to to push Food Sovereignty that has peasants and small farmers as a basis. All throughout the world they continue to grow and distribute healthy, self-produced food in their towns, in stark contrast to the commercial food industry, whose priorities are profit and speculation and whose strategy is to make agriculture increasingly dependent on agro-toxics, increasing their profits through the sale of herbicides, whilst damaging and contaminating natural resources. We have witnessed a profound food crisis, which has brought attention to peasant based food production and the eradication of hunger within the UN's agenda. The UN has recognised the crucial role that male and female peasants play in this arduous task. During the International Year of Family Farming, La Vía Campesina looks to offer political proposals within the framework of Food Sovereignty, constructed by small farmers. The term 'family farming' is vast, and may include almost any agricultural model or method whose direct beneficiaries are not corporations or investors. It includes both small-scale and large-scale producers (with farms covering thousands of hectares), as well as small-scale producers who are entirely dependent on the private sector, through contract farming or other forms of economic exploitation, promoted though concepts such as "The value chain". This is why La Vía Campesina defends family farming in terms of peasant based ecological Farming, as opposed to the large-scale, industrial, toxic farming of agribusinesses, which expel peasants and small farmers and grab the world's lands. It is imperative, during this International Year of Family Farming, that critical steps be taken and that commitment be mobilised so that policies to protect and to strengthen peasant family farming might be implemented. La Vía Campesina supports a model of food production which promotes Food Sovereignty. This includes: Access and control over productive resources such as land, water, seeds and finance. It is important to highlight, in this space for discussion, the urgent need for Integral Agrarian Reform: the democratisation of land, and the creation of direct employment, housing and food production. We consider that the concept of integral agrarian reform should not be limited to just the redistribution of land. We support an Integral Agrarian Reform which offers full rights over lands, which recognises the legal rights of indigenous populations over their territories, which guarantees fishing communities access to and control over fisheries and ecosystems, and which recognises the right of access to and control over livestock migration routes and pastures; The recognition that female peasants and female agricultural workers have the same rights as their male counterparts; The prioritisation of local food systems and markets; The recognition of rights and protection against corporation-led production, and the large-scale production of agro-fuel; The use of ecological production methods. During this UN International Year, as La Vía Campesina, we contemplate certain threats such as the criminalisation, the judicialisation and the continuous repression under which male and female peasants live, not just at the hands of their states, but also at those of the transnational corporations. Conflicts over land and other natural resources exist throughout the world. Of the national governments, we therefore demand: an end to land grabbing, and that of water and seeds; that they promote policies which guarantee Food Sovereignty, biodiversity and peasants' seeds, and that they improve access to land and water; that they recognise peasant rights regarding the production, reproduction and exchange of their traditional seeds, guarantees of agro-biodiversity and peasants' autonomy; and that they increase the support and public investments for peasant based production, and guarantee markets and equitable trade. At international level, we urge governments to apply the Guidelines on Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests, and other key decisions from the Committee on World Food Security (CFS), and that they adopt the UN Declaration of Peasants' Rights. Additionally, we urge that they implement the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, and that they end negotiations for any new commercial agreements, particularly the TTIP (Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership) or the TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership). In La Vía Campesina, we believe that we have to use this year to redirect agriculture towards a model of Food Sovereignty which will generate employment, provide healthy food, and respect natural resources. We call for the creation of an alliance between countryside and city, that it might revive the peasants' dignity and highlight their great contribution to food production; we need important political changes, both for our tables and for our fields. CONTACT FOR THE PRESS: S.Kannaiyan: +91 9444979543 - sukannaiyan69(a)gmail.com Chukki Nanjundaswamy: + 919845066156 - chukki.krrs(a)gmail.com Andrea Ferrante: + 393480189221 - a.ferrante(a)aiab.it --

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In order to feed Humanity, small farmers reclaim their rights!
by La Vía Campesina 19 Jun '14

19 Jun '14

IN ORDER TO FEED HUMANITY, SMALL FARMERS RECLAIM THEIR RIGHTS! (Geneva, 18 June 2014) From June 11th to the 13th, a delegation of La Via Campesina partook in the 26th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva in order to pursue its advocacy for the drafting of an International Declaration on the Rights of peasants and people working in rural areas. BACKGROUND This declaration stems from the international peasant movement called La Via Campesina which has been working on the stated project for over a decade. La Via Campesina, a movement composed of more than 160 peasants' organisations across 70 countries, assumes the task of identifying the various discriminations faced by people working in rural areas (farmers, rural workers, nomads, fisher(wo)men, indigenous and landless peoples, etc.) and to determine - with the support of organisations such as FIAN International and CETIM (Centre Europe - Tiers Monde) - the inherent rights attached to this group of people. After several studies undertaken by the Consultative Committee of the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Assembly (termed 'Council') accepted the final report in March 2012. In September 2012, it voted in favour of the resolution aiming at establishing an open intergovernmental working group in charge of drafting a declaration grounded on the project attached in the final report. In July 2013, this working group held its first working session. Following the 26th Human Rights Council meeting, the member states will vote on a resolution calling for the renewal of the intergovernmental group's mandate in order to further pursue the drafting of this declaration, on the basis of recommendations that will emerge out of the first working group meeting and from the consultative ones expected to be held between June and November 2014. INTENSE ADVOCACY La Via Campesina places great emphasis on the pursuit of this line of work, which is why it sent three farmer's leaders to participate in the aforementioned session: Ibrahim Coulibaly (CNOP - Mali), Geneviève Savigny (Confédération Paysanne - France) and Diego Monton (Cloc - Argentina). They all participated in a "parallel event" organised by the Bolivian and Filipino Ambassadresses on the topic of "Farmers' Rights and International Year of Family Farming". The panel was complemented by a video message by Mr. José Graziano da Silva, F.A.O. Director, and Mr. Christophe Golay from the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights. The Via Campesina delegation also participated in an open conference in Geneva and encountered several other African, European and Latin-American delegations. EUROPE IN LINE OF SIGHT Starting from June 16th, this delegation will be replaced by a strong delegation from the Eurocpean Coordination Via Campesina representing France, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Germany and Switzerland. The farmer's organisations from the European region have since 2 to 3 months' time worked on a plea addressed to their respective governments, calling for their support in favour of the resolution which will be discussed and up for vote during the upcoming session. As a matter of fact, the European countries have been the most proactive in this matter to date. Hence yet another symbolic action will take place on the Place de la Nation on June 17th at 11.30am when the European peasant's leaders will meet the European delegations from the Human Rights Council. Uniterre/La Via Campesina MORE PICTURES ON VIACAMPESINATV [1] -- Links: ------ [1] http://tv.viacampesina.org/Ginebra-La-agricultura-campesina?lang=en

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Nyeleni Newsletter: Creating knowledge for Food Sovereignty
by La Vía Campesina 18 Jun '14

18 Jun '14

READ THE NYELENI NEWSLETTER! CREATING KNOWLEDGE FOR FOOD SOVEREIGNTY [1] There is movement in the many worlds that are creating knowledge for food sovereignty! The stories in this newsletter provide a glimpse into some of these worlds. They show that we are questioning the assumption of a single truth based on objective knowledge. Also that our understanding of the world is enriched by considering it from multliple perspectives, multiple cosmovisions. They indicate that for these multiple cosmovisions to enter into an equal dialogue, common languages must be found. They show the need to challenge academic knowledge, but also to be open to being challenged by it. We need to radically transform dominant knowledge and ways of knowing for food sovereignty. Click here to download the english edition [1] or read it directly in the website at www.nyeleni.org [2]! Links: ------ [1] http://www.nyeleni.org/ccount/click.php?id=56 [2] http://www.nyeleni.org

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Small farmers feed the world - with less than a quarter of all farmland
by La Vía Campesina 29 May '14

29 May '14

GRAIN/LA VIA CAMPESINA MEDIA RELEASE HUNGRY FOR LAND SMALL FARMERS FEED THE WORLD - WITH LESS THAN A QUARTER OF ALL FARMLAND (29 May 2014) Governments and international agencies frequently boast that small farmers control the largest share of the world's agricultural land. When the director general of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation inaugurated 2014 as the International Year of Family Farming, he sang the praises of family farmers but didn't once mention the need for land reform. Instead, he announced that family farms already manage most of the world's farmland - a whopping 70%, according to his team. But a new review of the data carried out by GRAIN reveals that the opposite is true. Small farms, which produce most of the world's food, are currently squeezed onto less than a quarter of the world's farmland - or less than one fifth if you leave out China and India. "We are fast losing farms and farmers through the concentration of land into the hands of the rich and powerful," said Henk Hobbelink, coordinator of GRAIN. "The overwhelming majority of farming families today have less than two hectares to cultivate and that share is shrinking. If we do nothing to reverse this trend, the world will lose its capacity to feed itself." Marina Dos Santos of the Coordination of the Brazilian Landless Movement (MST), and of La Via Campesina, states: "Today, the peasantry is criminalised, taken to court and even made to disappear when it comes to the struggle for land. Currently, there are an alarming numbers of deaths that go unpunished. States have created legal concepts such as terrorism and sabotage to intimidate our struggle. Every day we are exposed to the systematic expulsion from our land. This affects not only peasants fighting to stay on the land, but also many other small farmers and indigenous peoples who are the target of greedy foreign interests. We want the land in order to live and to produce, as these are our basic rights against land grabbing corporations who seek only speculation and profit." "People need to understand that if the current processes of land concentration continues, then no matter how hard-working, efficient and productive they are, small farmers will simply not be able to carry on," said GRAIN's Camila Montecinos. "The concentration of fertile agricultural land in fewer and fewer hands is directly related to the increasing number of people going hungry every day." GRAIN's report also provides new data that show that small farmers still provide most of the world's food, and that they are often much more productive than large corporate farms. If all of Kenya's farms matched the output of its small farms, the nation's agricultural productivity would double. In Central America, it would nearly triple. Women are the major food producers, but their role remains unrecorded and marginalised. The international agencies keep on reminding us that we need to produce more food to feed the growing population. But how much more food could be produced almost immediately if small farmers had access to more land and could work in a supportive policy environment, rather than under the siege conditions they are facing today? "The vast majority of farms in Zimbabwe belong to small holders and their average farmsize has increased as a result of the Fast Track Land Reform Programme. Small farmers in the country now produce over 90% of diverse agricultural food crops, while they only provided 60-70% of the national food before land redistribution. More women own land in their own right, which is key to food sovereignty everywhere", said Elizabeth Mpofu, General coordinator of La Via Campesina. We need to urgently put land back in the hands of small farmers and make the struggle for genuine and comprehensive agrarian reform central to the fight for better food systems. Something peasant organisations and landless people's movements have long been fighting for. Contacts: Mr Henk Hobbelink, Spain (EN, ES, NL): +34933011381, henk(a)grain.org Ms Camila Montecinos, Chile (EN, ES): +56222224437, camila(a)grain.org Ms Elizabeth Mpofu, Zimbabwe (EN): +2634576221, nkbnyoni(a)yahoo.co.uk + + + + + + GRAIN's new report, Hungry for land: small farmers feed the world with [1]less than a quarter of [1] all farmland [1] provides an indepth review of the data on farm structures and food production worldwide and comes to the following 6 central conclusions: * THE VAST MAJORITY OF FARMS IN THE WORLD TODAY ARE SMALL AND GETTING SMALLER Due to a myriad of forces, average farm sizes have shrunk dramatically over the past decades, particularly in Asia and Africa. * SMALL FARMS ARE CURRENTLY SQUEEZED ONTO LESS THAN A QUARTER OF THE WORLD'S FARMLAND Despite what the UN and others report, small farms occupy less than 25% of the world's farmland today - just 17%, if we exclude India and China. * WE'RE FAST LOSING FARMS AND FARMERS IN MANY PLACES, WHILE BIG FARMS ARE GETTING BIGGER One major reason why small farms are disappearing is the rapid growth of monoculture plantations. In the last 50 years, 140 million hectares - well more than all the farmland in China - have been taken over for soybean, oil palm, rapeseed and sugar cane alone. * SMALL FARMERS CONTINUE TO BE THE MAJOR FOOD PRODUCERS IN THE WORLD By definition, peasant agriculture prioritises food production for local and national markets as well as for farmers' own families - not commodities or export crops. GRAIN compiled staggering statistics that show how, even with so little land, small farms produce the bulk of many countries' food supply. * SMALL FARMS ARE TECHNICALLY MORE PRODUCTIVE THAN BIG FARMS Industrial farms have enormous power, clout and resources, but small farms almost everywhere outperform big farms in terms of productivity. If all of Kenya's farms matched the output of its small farms, the nation's agricultural productivity would double. In Central America, it would nearly triple. If Russia's big farms were as productive as its small ones, output would increase by a factor of six. * THE MAJORITY OF SMALL FARMERS ARE WOMEN, YET THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE UNRECOGNISED AND MARGINALISED Women's immense contribution to farming and food production is not captured in official statistics and they are discriminated against when it comes to controlling land in most countries. * THE REPORT IS ACCOMPANIED BY ILLUSTRATIVE MAPS AND A FULLY-REFERENCED DATASET. Available for download at: http://www.grain.org/article/entries/4929 [1] * MORE ON THE FARMERS' STRUGGLE FOR LAND: "Land is life! La Via Campesina and the Struggle for Land" at: http://viacampesina.org/downloads/pdf/en/EN-notebook5.pdf [2] Links: ------ [1] http://www.grain.org/article/entries/4929 [2] http://viacampesina.org/downloads/pdf/en/EN-notebook5.pdf

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Newsletter La Via Campesina - May 2014
by La Vía Campesina 27 May '14

27 May '14

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April 17 : More than 130 actions all around the world
by La Vía Campesina 30 Apr '14

30 Apr '14

Of the many actions organized worldwide by various organizations and allies to mark the celebration of the International Day of Peasant Struggles on the 17th of April, about 131 of them were captured and recorded. The actions, to name a few, included demonstrations, campaigns, debates and lectures, dramas, occupation of certain spaces, planting and exchange of seeds. These actions were captured on a Map (http://viacampesina.org/map/17april/map.html [1]) by the La Via Campesina, in effort to build solidarity and to provide a wider platform for others to join the peasant struggles. This bulletin captures some of these actions. GLOBAL PEASANT MOVEMENT EXEMPLIFIES POWER OF ORGANIZED HUMANITY Commemorating the International Day of Peasant Struggle Salena Tramel, journalist and international policy and development consultant, wrote an article commemorating the International Day of Peasant Struggles, the 17th of April, its conception and how Via Campesina keeps the voices of the peasants alive and heard. The article was published by Common Dreams. The article highlights how from the beginning, control over seeds has been at the top of Via Campesina's list of critical issues. Its relevance has heightened as transnational corporations have tightened the grip on a world food system characterized by the commodification of basic resources. At present, just ten seed companies dominate 67 percent of the world's seeds - with Monsanto and its patents controlling 23 percent of the global supply. While some view peasant agriculture as a bygone livelihood, and powerful political and economic interests are out to replace it, Via Campesina is taking calculated measures to ensure that today's peasantry does not slip quietly into the night. Read more … [2] Resistance Grows in Defense of Peasant Seeds Press Release--la Vía Campesina (16 April 2014) This year men and women farmers of the international peasant movement, La Vía Campesina, mobilized worldwide in favor of peasant seeds. Since April the 17th, 1996 La Vía Campesina designated this day as a global day of action with allies and friends. With more than 120 actions at a local and global level in all continents, La Via Campesina reasserts the importance of local struggles and at the same time underlines the need for global resistance and organization between the cities and the rural areas. Actions such as land occupations, agro-ecological festivities, debates and seed exchanges will be carried out until the end of April as part of the global days of action. La Vía Campesina denounces laws and interests that seek to prohibit the use, exchange and access to peasant seeds, a common patrimony of the people at the service of humanity, as well as food sovereignty as part of a commitment to end hunger in the world. Read more … [3] OPEN LETTER: ARIPO’S DRAFT PROTOCOL FOR THE PROTECTION OF NEW VARIETIES OF PLANTS (“DRAFT PROTOCOL”) UNDERMINES FARMERS’ RIGHTS, LACKS CREDIBILITY & LEGITIMACY (9th April 2014) Various organizations from Africa and around the world, concerned with the conservation of agricultural biodiversity for livelihood security and food sovereignty, promoting farmers' rights and citizen involvement in the decision-making process, prepared and signed an open letter to members of the international convention for the protection of new varieties of plants (UPOV). The organizations expressed serious concerns with the ARIPO Draft Protocol that has been submitted by ARIPO (African Regional Intellectual Property Organization) on 6 March 2014, for the consideration of the UPOV Council at its 31st Session in Geneva on April 11, 2014. The Draft Protocol clearly lacks credibility and legitimacy. The organizations strongly urge the member states to reject the Draft Protocol and send it back to the drawing board; demand that ARIPO consult with smallholder farmers and civil society in all ARIPO member states; and, especially, that it discuss appropriate and equitable PVP regime that reflects conditions and realities prevailing in ARIPO countries, the obligation of protecting biodiversity, that is incorporate farmers' interests and rights and that is safeguard public interests and prevent biopiracy. Read the letter … [4] NFU PROPOSES NEW VISION FOR CANADIAN SEED OWNERSHIP (January 20, 2014- Saskatoon, SK): Bill C-18, the Agricultural Growth Act favours further consolidation of the seed industry into a few corporate hands, which will end up costing farmers more for seeds of all types. The National Farmers Union of Canada (NFU) has nevertheless put forward Fundamental Principles for a Farmers' Act (_“_Click here to read the Act [5]_”_ which recognizes the inherent rights of farmers to save, reuse, select, exchange and sell seeds, while protecting public domains related to plant seeds. The principles build on Canada's 2002 signing of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, by which farmers would retain their "customary" use of seed. NFU is therefore calling upon the Canadian elected officials to act on these principles, which give a strong message about the kind of Canada we want - a Canada that is sovereign in regard to seed and food," he concluded. Read more … [6] CANADA: A SEED ACT FOR FARMERS, NOT CORPORATIONS NFU sign on letter: Stop Bill C-18 (10 April 2014) Canada's government is preparing to pass a new law, Bill C-18, the Agricultural Growth Act that would put Canadian farmers under the UPOV '91 Plant Breeders' Rights regime. This new law would give global seed corporations vast new power to control seed - and to profit from it on the backs of farmers. The National Farmers Union is working hard to stop this from happening and has called on their friends and allies to join their voice to urge the Canadian government to respect and protect the rights of farmers and demand to government to repeal the Bill. Read more … [7] THE NETHERLANDS (THE HAGUE) LAND CONCENTRATION, LAND GRABBING, AND PEOPLE’S STRUGGLES IN EUROPE: INFOGRAPHIC (April 17th,T he Hague) The Transnational Institute published, (for the 'Hands off The Land Alliance' and the European Coordination of La Via Campesina), a series of studies on key land issues in Europe under the title "Land Concentration, Land Grabbing, and People's Struggles in Europe." This collection of case studies put to rest the idea that land grabbing is a phenomenon restricted to the Global South and showed that millions of European farmers are being squeezed off their land, which is increasingly being captured for large-scale production or non-agricultural uses. To commemorate the one year anniversary of the book's publication and to continue to spread some of its key messages, TNI is proud to release an infographic (Click here [8]) designed to clearly illustrate central issues in an accessible form. Read more …. [9] PHILIPPINES (QUEZON) LIGHTING OF TORCHES OUTSIDE OF THE OFFICE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRARIAN REFORM (April 17th, Quezon) Three farmer organizations, members of PARAGOS-PILIPINAS lit of torches in the 3 crosses erected near the farmers' camp outside of the Office of the Department of Agrarian Reform in Quezon City, Philippines to celebrate the International Day of Farmers' Struggles in defense of Peasants' and Farmers' Seeds. These farmer organizations continue to struggles for land to till and own. Members of La Via Campesina, Regional Southeast Asia visited the camp last October 2013 in solidarity with the farmers' struggles. The camp-out of the farmers started last October, 2012 and is almost one year and six months now, continues to press demands for land under the agrarian reform program of the government and VOWS not to SURRENDER until their demands are fulfilled. Click here to see the pictures [10] FIAN INTERNATIONAL JOINS THIS YEAR'S GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION IN DEFENSE OF THE STRUGGLES OF FARMERS AND PEASANTS (April 17th, Heidelberg, Germany) In a context of increasing land concentration, Agrarian Reform continues being one crucial measure to address the unequal distribution of natural resources and the lack of access to land and other natural resources for millions of peasants and agricultural workers worldwide, FIAN International joined this year's global day of action and mobilization in defense of the struggles of farmers and peasants on April 17th. FIAN International, on this day, emphasized the role of agrarian reform in this process. Access to land is at the heart of agrarian reform, which is indispensible for landless peasants and farm workers to ensure their human right to adequate food. FIAN called upon the government of the Philippines to fully implement the CARP/CARPER and fulfill the right to adequate food of the farmers of Hacienda Luisita [11] and Hacienda Matias [12], as well as all the affected landless peasants and farm workers in the Philippines whose right to food and land is still being threatened. The campaign on the case of Hacienda Luisita in the Philippines came to an end on April 17. Read more … [13] PAKISTAN (MULTAN) WALK ON PEASANTS' RIGHTS On April 17th, Multan, to commemorate the international day of peasants' struggle, The NGO called Human Rights Commission in Pakistan organized a walk in defense of peasants' rights. Click here to see the pictures [14] NEPAL (KATHMANDU) ANPFA PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE MARTYRS OF MST (April 17th, Kathmandu) In Nepal, LVC member All Nepal Peasants' Federation (ANPFa) organized an interaction program in Kathmandu to mark the day of International Peasant Struggles. A minute of silence in tribute and homage to the Martyrs was observed. Honorable CA member and ICC member of LVC com. Shanta Manavi, General Secretary of ANPFa Prem Dangal, Constituent Assembly members, Peasant leaders, and members of the right to food and food sovereignty groups, and media person including youth and women peasants attended the gathering. Besides highlighting the history and importance of observing international day of peasant struggle by Via Campesina members, the discussions also focused on ways and mechanisms of professionalization of agriculture in Nepal. Read more … [15] BANGLADESH (DHAKA AND GAZIPUR) "RESISTANCE GROWS IN DEFENSE OF SEEDS" (April 17th), The member organization of La Via Campesina, Bangladesh Krishok Federation (BKF), Bangladesh Kishani Sabha(BKS) and Bangladesh Adivasi Samity organized a discussion meeting in observance of International Peasant Struggle Day focusing on this year's theme slogan "Resistance grows in defense of seeds". The meeting called upon the small scale peasants worldwide to build a strong resistance struggle in order to protect, conserve and restore indigenous seeds and genetic resources. The meeting focused on the TNCs' efforts to take over the peasants' seeds, which have evolved over thousands of years. The meeting also put emphasis on the strengthening of the Global Campaign on Food Sovereignty. Read more … [16] (April 17th, Gazipur) In memory of the massacre of 19 Brazilian landless peasants, the Bangladesh Agricultural Farm Labour Federation (BAFLF) and the Bangladesh Agricultural Farm Women Labour Association (BAFWLA) jointly observed International Day of Farmers' Struggles declared by Via Campesina on April the 17th. This year they arranged several actions including a human chain, procession and rally demanding farmers' right to seeds, to stop farming GMO seeds especially BT Brinjal, to strengthen the Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation, Govt. seed agency and to ensure food sovereignty rights of people through actual land and agri-reform. Following the human chain, procession and rally the BAFLF and the BAFWLA also organized discussions at the BRRI Auditorium in Gazipur. Mr. Mahamudul Hasan Manik, vice president of BAFLF presided over the meeting while Golam Sorowor conducted the same. Ms. Hazera Sultana, Member of Parliament and also honorable adviser of Bangladesh Agricultural Farm Women Labour Association, was present as the chief guest at the discussion meeting. The discussants urged the authorities to fulfill farmers' demands. They also added that BAFLWA and BAFLF should continue the struggle against Multinational seed companies and their local agents. Among others Nasrin Sultana, the Chairperson of BAFWLA, Mamun Hossain, Assistant General Secretary of BAFLF and others Farmer activists took part in the deliberation. Read more … [16] UNITED KINGDOM (LONDON). THE LAND WORKERS’ ALLIANCE WANTS TO SEE SMALL-SCALE PRODUCERS PUT AT THE HEART OF DECISION MAKING IN AGRICULTURAL POLICY. (April 17th, London) Hundreds of farmers and growers from the Landworkers' Alliance travelled to London from around the country to protest outside the head offices of DEFRA and the National Farmers Union, in solidarity with the April 17th - The International Day of Peasant Struggles. Under the leadership of Owen Patterson over the past two years DEFRA has strengthened its support of large-scale industrial agriculture and marginalized smaller producers, while the NFU has consistently lobbied for the interests of agribusiness and ignored the views of smaller farmers. The land workers' Alliance wants to see small-scale producers put at the heart of decision making in agricultural policy. "DEFRA needs to recognize the role of small-scale producers in contributing to the national food economy, as well as the environmental and social services provided by these producers," says Ed Hamer from the LWA. "As a matter of urgency we demand that DEFRA create policies conducive to a sustainable food future for all." Click here to see pictures [17] THE NETHERLANDS (AMSTERDAM) : SOLIDARITY ACTIONS: MORE MONEY FOR TOMATO PICKERS AND ATTENTION FOR THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF GMOS IN AGRICULTURE (April 17th, Amsterdam) In solidarity with Vía Campesina and the victims of large agricultural corporations, ASEED was involved in two small actions: On Tuesday April 15, ASEED handed out flyers at the symposium on "Genetic Modification, Friend or Foe" in Amsterdam, organized as the farewell event for the retiring Professor Rudy Rabbinge. The possible health issues were discussed, but the negative effects on biodiversity by the increase of monocultures, the growing power of multinational corporations and other social aspects in the agrarian reality were not in the agenda. But these are the aspects that farmers all over the world have to deal with as soon as GMOs are introduced. On April 16th, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) formed a picket line in front of the building where Ahold owner Albert Heijn, a supermarket chain in the US and Netherlands, held its annual shareholders' meeting. CIW has been campaigning over 20 years for higher wages and better working conditions for the tomato pickers and fights against sexual abuse and slavery. Walmart, McDonalds and Burger King have signed a legally binding Fair Food programme, but not yet Ahold. Thus, CIW protest aimed to highlight the issue to the shareholders to act on such irresponsible behaviour. ASEED distributed flyers with a text on "Genetic Modifications, Friend or Foe" to passers-by. Read more … [18] AFRICAN BIODIVERSITY NETWORK CELEBRATES THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FARMERS' STRUGGLES IN DEFENSE OF PEASANTS’ AND FARMERS’ SEEDS The African Biodiversity Network (ABN) partners have contributed to the edition of the network's newsletter, highlighting their work in and with communities to revive indigenous seed varieties. You can download the newsletter here [19], and read about the hidden agenda of the Crops Act in Kenya, the new scramble for Africa (How TNCs attempt to control biodiversity in Africa), and also read about Community seeds and Knowledge, an experience in Northern Kenya with local communities to revive their indigenous seeds, the knowledge of Tharaka culture to protect indigenous livestock varieties, the work of the Institute for Culture and Ecology in Kenya to revive lost seeds. SYRIA (QAMISHLO, AL-HASAKA) DISTRIBUTING FLYERS ON ORGANIC FARMING AND NATURAL SEEDS On april 17, to celebrate the international day of peasant's struggle, the UKSS (Union of Kurdish Students in Syria) distributed flyers on organic farming and Natural seeds in the streets and shops of Qamishlo, Al-Hasaka. They also produced some videos with interviews of farmers, explaining how the use of chimicals has "dryied" their soils and poisoned their food. The video is available here in english [20] and arabi [21]c. Click here to see picture [22]. UNITED KINGDOM (LONDON) : FEEDING THE FUTURE Press release of the Landworkers' Alliance (April 17th, London) The Landworkers' Alliance (LWA) held a demonstration outside the Head office of the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), 17 Smith Square London, at 12.00pm. The demonstration was part of Via Campesina's international day of peasant's struggle co-ordinated actions across more than seventy countries. The LWA is a coalition of small-scale producer across the UK whose interests are not currently acknowledged or represented by DEFRA. Under the leadership of Owen Paterson over the past two years the Department has strengthened its support of large-scale industrial agriculture and further marginalized smaller producers in its efforts to promote "Sustainable Intensification" as the only solution to feeding the world. The LWA is an official member of the international peasant farming movement La Via Campesina, and campaigns for the rights of small-scale producers and lobbies the UK government and European parliament for policies that support infrastructure and markets central to our livelihoods. Read more … [23]and watch the pictures of the action [24] UNITED STATES (CHICAGO ) : FAMILY FARMERS AND ALLIES TO PROTEST DAIRY PRICE FIXING AND GLOBAL CARBON TRADING (April 9th, Chicago, Illinois) - To mark Via Campesina's International Day of Peasant Struggle (17th April), family farmers and their allies converged at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) - 141 W. Jackson - at noon on Friday April 18, 2014 to expose the rampant price fixing by commodity speculators that drives the ongoing global food and climate crisis. Family Farm Defenders' annual protest at the CME demands greater social responsibility and transparency from one of Chicago's most lucrative and secretive corporations, which posts billions of dollars in profits while rural workers and family farmers live in poverty. Dairy farmers in particular call upon the Department of Justice (DoJ) to take action against the food giants - including Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) Land O'Lakes, and Dean Foods, which control close to half of all milk production in the country. The CME defies anti-trust laws and s silent on price fixing at the expense of working farmer families. Read more … [25] PALESTINE (BEIT AL-ROUSH AL-FOKA) UAWC JOINS THE WORLD IN THE DEFENSE OF LOCAL SEEDS (April 17th, Ramallah) On the Day of Peasants' Struggle (April 17th) the Palestinian peasants representing Via Campesina Palestine raised their voices to save the local seeds and abandon the genetically modified seeds in a small village in the city of Hebron named Beit Al-Roush Al-Foka in cooperation with the National Local Seed Bank initiated by the Union of Agricultural work committees' (UAWC) which is the only seed bank in Palestine. The struggle to save local seeds is an international struggle supported by all the farmers in La Via Campesina in order to save small-scaled farmers around the world and accomplish food sovereignty. UAWC initiated the Palestinian Local Seeds Bank in 2010 after ten years of continuous work in the local seeds sector. It worked on the multiplication and seed improvement of more than 36 varieties including vegetable crops and local field crops since 2003. The local seeds are preserved in a seed bank considered a patrimonial seed bank to accomplish food sovereignty for the Palestinian farmers. UAWC also enlarged the cultivation area for the local seeds and the distribution centers, in addition to providing scientific information in partnership with the National Center for Agriculture Research, ICARDA, and Al-Aroub's Agricultural Center. The struggle of Via Campesina Palestine against the GMO seeds comes from its belief in the importance of contributing to the protection and preservation of the hereditary seeds in Palestine in order to accomplish food sovereignty for the Palestinian farmers and the farmers around the world. Read more … [26] AUSTRALIA (TOOWOMBA) FIELD VISIT TO SYMARA FARM (Toowomba, April 17, 2014) The newly formed Family Farmers United Network (FFUN) held a field day at Symara Farm, owned by Ray and Sam Palmer. This was the network's first event, and was a great success. After introductions, the group was led by Ray and Sam and taken on a tour of their beautiful farm. From a greenhouse filled with healthy tomato and cucumber plants, to fields of vegetables covered in cloth to protect them from frosts, to free range chickens for eggs and meat - the group listened intently to the information that Ray shared. The more experienced farms offered suggestions and advice which was greatly appreciated by the whole group. Read more ... [27] VIDEOS, PHOTOS AND POSTERS: SOME POSTERS MADE FOR APRIL 17 [28] Photos of actions inBelgium,Croatia,France, United Kingdom [29] Photos of the action in Australia. [30] WATCH THE JAKARTA CALL. [31] The International farmers' movement La Via Campesina launched a new documentary on April 17 to celebrate the international day of peasant's struggle. "The Jakarta Call" is a 38 minute film featuring the exchanges, debates and reflections of the movement's VIth International Conference that took place in Jakarta in June 2013. This new documentary highlights the cultural diversity and the values of solidarity and unity converging in this political project. It reflects the multitude of local struggles for the defense of a food system by and for the people. Links: ------ [1] http://viacampesina.org/map/17april/map.html [2] http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/17-apri… [3] http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/17-apri… [4] http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/biodiversity-a… [5] http://www.nfu.ca/sites/www.nfu.ca/files/Fundamental%20Principles%20of%20a%… [6] http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/biodiversity-a… [7] http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/main-issues-mainmenu-27/biodiversity-a… [8] http://www.tni.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=4379&qid=… [9] http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/17-apri… [10] http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/17-apri… [11] http://www.fian.org/library/multimedia/hacienda-luisita-timeline/ [12] http://www.fian.org/library/multimedia/hacienda-matias-timeline/ [13] http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/17-apri… [14] http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/17-apri… [15] http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/17-apri… [16] http://www.viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/17-… [17] http://www.viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/17-… [18] http://www.viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/17-… [19] http://www.viacampesina.org/downloads/pdf/en/ABN%20-%20SEEDS%20NEWSLETTER.p… [20] http://tv.viacampesina.org/Syrian-students-in-defense-of?lang=en [21] http://tv.viacampesina.org/%3F%3F%3F%3F%3F-%3F%3F%3F%3F%3F%3F%3F?lang=en [22] http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/17-apri… [23] http://www.viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/17-… [24] http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/17-apri… [25] http://www.viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/17-… [26] http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/17-apri… [27] http://viacampesina.org/en/index.php/actions-and-events-mainmenu-26/17-apri… [28] http://tv.viacampesina.org/Some-posters-made-for-April-17?lang=en [29] http://tv.viacampesina.org/April-17-Belgium-Croatia-France?lang=en [30] http://tv.viacampesina.org/April-17-in-Australia-Queensland?lang=en [31] http://tv.viacampesina.org/The-Jakarta-call?lang=en

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