Protesters occupy Bolloré shareholder meeting in Paris over African land grabs by ReAct and GRAIN | 3 Jun 2016 Media releases On Friday 3 June, African citizens, organisations and unions will disrupt the shareholder meeting of the Bolloré group at its headquarters in Puteaux, just outside of Paris, France. The protestors represent a movement composed of thousands of farmers who have been displaced from their lands by industrial oil palm and rubber plantations. Since Wednesday, this movement has also been occupying factories and plantations in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia and Sierra Leone. On Friday 3 June, African citizens, organisations and unions will disrupt the shareholder meeting of the Bolloré group at its headquarters in Puteaux, just outside of Paris, France. The protestors represent a movement composed of thousands of farmers who have been displaced from their lands by industrial oil palm and rubber plantations. Since Wednesday, this movement has also been occupying factories and plantations in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Tanzania: Fighting for seeds and soil by Global Justice Now. | 2 Jun 2016 Tanzania | United Kingdom | food sovereignty | seeds & biodiversity Tanzania is at the forefront in the battle for control over Africa's food system. With the help of the UK government (and others in the G7) corporations are scrambling to expand their markets in seeds, fertilisers, agrochemicals and land. But small-scale farmer organisations are fighting back by strengthening farmers' knowledge of land, seeds and soil. A video by Global Justice Now. Tanzania is at the forefront in the battle for control over Africa's food system. With the help of the UK government (and others in the G7) corporations are scrambling to expand their markets in seeds, fertilisers, agrochemicals and land. But small-scale farmer organisations are fighting back by strengthening farmers' knowledge of land, seeds and soil. A video by Global Justice Now.
“SOCFIN shareholders: stop land grabbing!” Citizens demand that SOCFIN respect the rights of local communities by Meng Landwirtschaft, CNCD-11.11.11, ReAct, GRAIN, FIAN Belgium, SOS Faim, AEFJN, Entraide & Fraternité, MAP, Quinoa, CADTM, ADG, Oxfam-Solidarité | 1 Jun 2016 Media releases On Wednesday 1 June at 10:00 CET, citizens and representatives of Belgian, French and Luxembourgish organisations are calling out to the shareholders of SOCFIN, a Belgian-Luxembourgish group, during their annual meeting. They have carried out a protest action in solidarity with communities in Africa and Asia affected by the agroindustrial company’s land grabs. After several attempts to reach out to the company’s management, the groups and citizens are now calling on the company’s shareholders to respect the fundamental rights, including land rights, of the local communities. Similar actions have also been held by the communities in several of the group’s plantations. On Wednesday 1 June at 10:00 CET, citizens and representatives of Belgian, French and Luxembourgish organisations are calling out to the shareholders of SOCFIN, a Belgian-Luxembourgish group, during their annual meeting. They have carried out a protest action in solidarity with communities in Africa and Asia affected by the agroindustrial company’s land grabs. After several attempts to reach out to the company’s management, the groups and citizens are now calling on the company’s shareholders to respect the fundamental rights, including land rights, of the local communities. Similar actions have also been held by the communities in several of the group’s plantations.
Statement of international solidarity with Venezuela’s seed law by International groups and individuals | 30 May 2016 Venezuela | seeds & biodiversity | laws & policies On 23 December 2015, Venezuela’s national assembly passed a new seed law banning the import, production and planting of GMO seeds and protecting the production and free exchange of seed varieties of Venezuela’s farming communities (indigenous, peasant and Afro-descendant) among other provisions. The law is significant both for its content and for the process through which it was passed. On 23 December 2015, Venezuela’s national assembly passed a new seed law banning the import, production and planting of GMO seeds and protecting the production and free exchange of seed varieties of Venezuela’s farming communities (indigenous, peasant and Afro-descendant) among other provisions. The law is significant both for its content and for the process through which it was passed.
New GE report misses its own point by Marcia Ishii-Eiteman, Pesticide Action Network | 28 May 2016 GMOs Last week, the National Academies of Science (NAS) attracted much media attention with the release of its new report, "Genetically Engineered Crops: Experiences and Prospects." According to report authors, genetically engineered (GE) crops have failed to live up to the hype advertised by corporate manufacturers. And more rigorous monitoring and oversight by regulatory agencies is needed, they say, to protect against unexpected adverse outcomes. Unfortunately, these and other important findings are buried within the report’s 400+ pages—and then glossed over in the authors’ own recommendations, as well as in the NAS press release that paints a decidedly more upbeat picture of the impacts of GE crops. Last week, the National Academies of Science (NAS) attracted much media attention with the release of its new report, "Genetically Engineered Crops: Experiences and Prospects." According to report authors, genetically engineered (GE) crops have failed to live up to the hype advertised by corporate manufacturers. And more rigorous monitoring and oversight by regulatory agencies is needed, they say, to protect against unexpected adverse outcomes. Unfortunately, these and other important findings are buried within the report’s 400+ pages—and then glossed over in the authors’ own recommendations, as well as in the NAS press release that paints a decidedly more upbeat picture of the impacts of GE crops.
Thailand: Food safety advocacy group Thai-Pan takes government to court by Ariane Kupperman-Sutthavong, Bangkok Post | 25 May 2016 Thailand | food safety A food safety advocacy group will file negligence and dereliction of duty complaints against the Department of Agriculture, after finding more than half the fruit and vegetables awarded a government "Q mark" for quality had harmful residue levels. A food safety advocacy group will file negligence and dereliction of duty complaints against the Department of Agriculture, after finding more than half the fruit and vegetables awarded a government "Q mark" for quality had harmful residue levels.
New GRAIN article: New leaked chapter of Asia trade deal shows RCEP will undercut farmers’ control over seeds by GRAIN | 25 May 2016 seeds & biodiversity | laws & policies Ever since the ink dried on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), people have become aware of another mega-trade deal being negotiated behind closed doors in the Asia-Pacific region. Like the TPP, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) threatens to increase corporate power in member countries, leaving ordinary people with little recourse to assert their rights to things like land, safe food, life-saving medicines and seeds. Ever since the ink dried on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), people have become aware of another mega-trade deal being negotiated behind closed doors in the Asia-Pacific region. Like the TPP, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) threatens to increase corporate power in member countries, leaving ordinary people with little recourse to assert their rights to things like land, safe food, life-saving medicines and seeds.
New leaked chapter of Asia trade deal shows RCEP will undercut farmers’ control over seeds by GRAIN | 24 May 2016 Corporations | Seeds Ever since the ink dried on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), people have become aware of another mega-trade deal being negotiated behind closed doors in the Asia-Pacific region. Like the TPP, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) threatens to increase corporate power in member countries, leaving ordinary people with little recourse to assert their rights to things like land, safe food, life-saving medicines and seeds. Ever since the ink dried on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), people have become aware of another mega-trade deal being negotiated behind closed doors in the Asia-Pacific region. Like the TPP, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) threatens to increase corporate power in member countries, leaving ordinary people with little recourse to assert their rights to things like land, safe food, life-saving medicines and seeds.
Sign-on letter: Civil society organisations demand amnesty for Ethiopian land rights leader Okello Akway Ochalla by Oakland Institute | 5 May 2016 Ethiopia | actions On 27 April, after a lengthy trial, human rights defender Okello Akway Ochalla was charged to nine years in prison. We are writing to ask you – organizations committed to land, human rights, and development issues – to stand with us in support on this issue. Time is of the essence – there is a 30 day window to appeal Mr. Okello’s sentence, and we have been advised that diplomatic pressure from the US is the best chance for amnesty in Mr. Okello’s case. On 27 April, after a lengthy trial, human rights defender Okello Akway Ochalla was charged to nine years in prison. We are writing to ask you – organizations committed to land, human rights, and development issues – to stand with us in support on this issue. Time is of the essence – there is a 30 day window to appeal Mr. Okello’s sentence, and we have been advised that diplomatic pressure from the US is the best chance for amnesty in Mr. Okello’s case.
West African women defend traditional palm oil by GRAIN et al. | 5 May 2016 Land | Corporations | Multimedia A new video provides a window onto the reality of women-led artisanal palm oil production, a reality often rendered invisible in narratives of global industrial palm oil. This model is under threat by the rapid advance of industrial plantations, free trade agreements and corporate-controlled value chains at the expense of community-based food systems. A new video provides a window onto the reality of women-led artisanal palm oil production, a reality often rendered invisible in narratives of global industrial palm oil. This model is under threat by the rapid advance of industrial plantations, free trade agreements and corporate-controlled value chains at the expense of community-based food systems.
The Mama Pasar movement in Merauke, Indonesia: claiming space for indigenous women small traders by GRAIN / SKP KAME | 5 May 2016 Corporations | Supermarket Watch Numerous Papua indigenous women travel daily from surrounding areas, bringing vegetables, fish and forest products to sell in the town of Merauke. But they face difficulties due to the other traders who do not wish to give them space to trade in the markets. In 2013, the Advocacy Group for Women (eL_AdPPer) and the Secretariat for Justice and Peace of Merauke’s archdiocese (SKP KAME) started to organise and advocate for these women. Numerous Papua indigenous women travel daily from surrounding areas, bringing vegetables, fish and forest products to sell in the town of Merauke. But they face difficulties due to the other traders who do not wish to give them space to trade in the markets. In 2013, the Advocacy Group for Women (eL_AdPPer) and the Secretariat for Justice and Peace of Merauke’s archdiocese (SKP KAME) started to organise and advocate for these women.
Tanzania launches project aimed at doubling rice production by Xinhua | 3 May 2016 Tanzania | hybrid rice Tanzania has launched a five-year farming project aimed at doubling its rice production. The move came a few days after the government announced a ban on the imports of rice in order to create a bigger market for locally produced rice. Tanzania has launched a five-year farming project aimed at doubling its rice production. The move came a few days after the government announced a ban on the imports of rice in order to create a bigger market for locally produced rice.
Disobedience, the movie. by Disobedience productions | 1 May 2016 climate crisis | actions May 4-15, 2016: A global wave of mass actions will target the world’s most dangerous fossil fuel projects, in order to keep coal, oil and gas in the ground and accelerate the just transition to 100% renewable energy. "Disobedience", a movie that documents this struggle and forcefully argues that civil disobedience is the way to go. May 4-15, 2016: A global wave of mass actions will target the world’s most dangerous fossil fuel projects, in order to keep coal, oil and gas in the ground and accelerate the just transition to 100% renewable energy. "Disobedience", a movie that documents this struggle and forcefully argues that civil disobedience is the way to go.
GMO cotton failure in Burkina Faso: African farmers speak out by COPAGEN, InterPares Canada | 29 Apr 2016 Burkina Faso | GMOs Twenty cotton farmers sit in a circle in their village of Loop de Mouhoun in Burkina Faso to recount their experiences with Bt cotton production. They are among the 500 "farmer-researchers" who documented their experience with genetically modified cotton as part of a three-year research project entitled "Bt cotton and us: the truth in our fields". Twenty cotton farmers sit in a circle in their village of Loop de Mouhoun in Burkina Faso to recount their experiences with Bt cotton production. They are among the 500 "farmer-researchers" who documented their experience with genetically modified cotton as part of a three-year research project entitled "Bt cotton and us: the truth in our fields".
Farming for a small planet: agroecology now by Frances Moore Lappé | 28 Apr 2016 technologies | food crisis | food sovereignty An excellent overview piece by Frances Moore Lappé about the myths of the industrial food system and the promises of agroecology. An excellent overview piece by Frances Moore Lappé about the myths of the industrial food system and the promises of agroecology.