La Via Campesina | e-newsletter | Jan-March 2020

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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]

#STAYHOMEBUTNOTSILENT – IN TIMES OF PANDEMIC, PEASANTS ARE UNITED TO FEED THE PEOPLE!

MARCH 24, HARARE: On April 17, La Via Campesina will commemorate the International Day of Peasants' Strugglei [3] in a context that once again validates the historical role of the peasantry in societies and their fundamental task of feeding the people, even in times of war, fascism, authoritarianism and pandemics. COVID-19 has crippled the world. This deadly virus has exposed the vulnerability of the current globalised food system dominated by industrial agriculture, and the dangers it poses to all life forms. We should learn from this crisis and invest in building local, resilient and diverse food systems. States must begin by implementing 'food sovereignty' [4] through agroecological production and enabled by popular agrarian reforms. Again, the extraordinary circumstances facing humanity today must compel all countries to protect and guarantee the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas, as articulated in the United Nations Declaration, approved in 2018 (UNDROP [5]). Read More... [6]

FEATURED ARTICLES

COVID-19: SEVERAL MEMBERS OF LA VIA CAMPESINA HIGHLIGHT THE VULNERABILITY OF PEASANTS AND WORKERS

As Corona Virus spreads across countries and continents, several members of La Via Campesina have issued statements highlighting the precarious situation of peasants and migrant workers around the world. Here is a compilation of different Statements issued by the members: Read more ... [7]

08 MARCH 2020: LA VIA CAMPESINA RELEASES ILLUSTRATIONS AMPLIFYING THE VOICES AND DEMANDS OF RURAL WOMEN

On the occasion of the International Day of Women, La Via Campesina has launched a series of illustrations under the banner Peasant and Rural Women with Rights. Ten visually powerful sketches explore the role played by peasant women in food production. Read more ... [8]

VENEZUELA: FARMERS RESIST ECONOMIC BLOCKADE BY INCREASING FOOD PRODUCTION

Due to the illegal sanctions imposed on the country by the United States (U.S.) and its allies, the import of food, seeds, fertilizers, machinery, and other basic necessities has been restricted in Venezuela. As a result, food production registered a 60 percent decrease at the national level, but small and medium-scale farmers in Venezuela are 'betting' on growing food ... Read more... [9]

WHY PEASANT FARMERS ARE KEY TO THE SUCCESS OF FARM TO FORK

Today European Coordination via Campesina presented its key demands regarding the Farm to Fork Strategy, during its meetings with the European Commission. Read more ... [10]

RESISTING RCEP FROM GROUND UP: INDIAN MOVEMENTS SHOW THE WAY

In the history of people's resistance against free trade agreements, 4 November 2019 is a day to remember. On this day, bowing to immense pressure from peasants, trade unions and rural communities, India's central government decided to pull the plug on its participation in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), intended to become the largest free trade area in the world. Read more ... [11]

FIRST DECLARATION: LA VIA CAMPESINA INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MISSION IN VENEZUELA

Caracas, January 31st, 2020 The delegation of La Via Campesina with representatives from Europe, North America, South America and Central America, together with popular journalists from Africa and South America, announce to the national and international public that we have concluded the 1st International Solidarity Mission with Venezuela, held between January 20th and 27th in several regions of the country, among them the states of Lara, Portuguesa, Barinas and Apure. Read more ... [12]

FIGHTING VALE AND CORPORATE CAPTURE IN BRAZIL

_This interview with Tchenna Maso, a member of the Movement of People Affected by Dams, first posted [13] by Transnational Institute._ WHAT EXPERIENCE DO YOU HAVE OF WORKING TO CHALLENGE CORPORATIONS? In Brazil, we have been deeply affected by corporations. Our communities were strongly impacted by the privatisation of the electric sector, the increased role of private water firms such as Suez, and the building of dams by corporations. Read more ... [14]

NEGOTIATING THE VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES ON FOOD SYSTEMS AND NUTRITION: OUR CONCERNS AND PROPOSALS

(Rome) On 29 January 2020, at the Global Council for Food Security (CFS) in Rome, an official meeting, to discuss and negotiate the _Voluntary Guidelines on Food Systems and Nutrition, _was held. Read more ... [15]

PROTECT THE MARKET ACCESS OF SMALL AND MEDIUM-SCALE FARMERS AND PEASANTS IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES: ECVC

In the midst of the huge crisis that Europe and the entire world is experiencing because of COVID-19, the question of rethinking our economic model and the importance of food sovereignty is once again a key issue. Read more ... [16]

WOMEN OF MST OCCUPY THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE IN BRASILIA

The action aims to denounce the policies of the Bolsonaro government in relation to the economy, land, and agriculture. On the morning of Monday March 9, the women of the Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST) occupied the Ministry of Agriculture in the capital Brasilia. Read more ... [17]

VIA CAMPESINA DENOUNCES UN SPECIAL ENVOY FOR THE UN FOOD SYSTEMS SUMMIT FOR DIMINISHING PEASANTS AND THEIR RIGHTS

In December 2019, it was officially announced that the UN Headquarters in New York will host a Food Systems Summit in 2021. The Summit aims to maximize the benefits of a food systems approach across the entire 2030 Agenda, meet the challenges of climate change, make food systems inclusive, and support sustainable peace. Read more ... [18]

MICRO-FINANCE FIRMS DROVE 200 POOR BORROWERS TO SUICIDE DURING LAST THREE YEARS: MONLAR, SRILANKA

Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR) held a demonstration last week demanding that the government fulfil President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's election pledge to scrap micro-credit loans. _"About 200 people had committed suicide, during the last three years or so, as they were unable to pay back the micro-credit loans and many of those organisations had obtained the services of village thugs to recover money" ... _Read more ... [19]

NATIONAL FARMERS UNION IN SOLIDARITY WITH WET'SUWE'TEN LAND DEFENDERS

The National Farmers Union (NFU) stands in solidarity with Indigenous land protectors. We support initiatives by Indigenous People including the Unist'ot'en and Wet'suwe'ten to resist resource extraction and energy projects that disrupt their Indigenous food and governance systems and interfere with the health of their lands, territories, and communities. Read more ... [20]

SRI LANKA HOSTS THE FIRST ASIAN YOUTH ASSEMBLY OF LA VIA CAMPESINA

Ahngama, Srilanka: The First Asian Continental Youth Assembly of La Via Campesina took place in Ahngama Srilanka from 11 -14 January 2020, facilitated and hosted by the Movement for Land and Agricultural Reforms (MONLAR). (READ THE Declaration from the First Asian Continental Youth Assembly [21]) The assembly brought together more than 60 peasant youth, comprising people of different identities and ethnicities and coming from 13 grass-roots movements in 9 countries across the Asian continent. Read more ... [22]

#8MARCH2020: PEASANT AND RURAL WOMEN, ORGANISED FOR FOOD SOVEREIGNTY AND A DIGNIFIED LIFE!

HARARE: This 08th March, the International Day of Women, La Via Campesina joins in solidarity and struggle with millions of peasants, workers, migrants, indigenous people, fishers, pastoralists, waged agricultural workers, housekeepers and people of all diversity among the rural and the urban working class, as well as other organized sectors, to denounce the capitalist and patriarchal system and its constant oppression of women and of our peoples. Read more ... [23]

FEATURED PUBLICATION

FOOD SOVEREIGNTY IN AN ERA OF AUTHORITARIAN AND FASCIST RESURGENCE

This Nyéléni newsletter examines the implications of these political-social configurations for the Food Sovereignty movement. It especially highlights how Food Sovereignty is itself a strategy of resistance against the dangerous wave of extreme authoritarianism sweeping the world. Download here [24]

FEATURED VIDEO

[25]

GLOBALIZE HOPE (1H 13 MINS) New film on the history of La Via Campesina This film chronicles how La Via Campesina was born more than 28 years ago, as an alternative that brings together struggles, dreams and challenges to build solidarity and secure our collective human future. IMPORTANT NOTE: Select English, French or Spanish subtitles by clicking on the "CC" button on the Vimeo player.

YOU ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE AUTONOMY OF OUR MOVEMENT

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