TITLE: 17 April - International Day of Farmers' Struggle - Invitation to Participate in an Email List AUTHOR: Via Campesina PUBLICATION: Submitted for posting DATE: 20 February 2001 VIA CAMPESINA International farmers movement Movimiento campesino international Mouvement paysan international 17TH OF APRIL : INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FARMERS' STRUGGLE ANNOUNCEMENT OF EMAIL LIST This year, Via Campesina launches for the 5th time the International Day of Farmers' Struggle. This day was decided during the second conference of Via Campesina, 1996 in Tlaxcala, because of the massacre of 19 members of MST from Brazil. Together with other social movements, NGO's,... Via Campesina wants to organise a day of strong protest against the neo-liberal policies, focusing on two major issues: * Protest against GMO's and patents and actions in favour of farmer seeds, * Protest against dumping, the importation of cheap food that destroys food production and actions in favour of food sovereignty. During the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre last month, the 17th of April was included in the international agenda of protest and action. We invite all to participate in this day of struggle, of action. To co-ordinate this action day we have created an email group to exchange information. If you want to receive information on this day and/or if you want to send ideas y initiatives to the list, send a message to viacam17april-subscribe(at)yahoogroups.com and you will receive an invitation to participate in this group. Just return the message by using the "return button" and you will be included in the list. The information will be circulated in English, Spanish or French (The most important information always in Spanish and English.) The list will be moderated. We want to use the list to circulate information related to this day of action. Everybody is invited to share ideas and proposals and information on activities and actions planned for this day. Please post your messages to viacam17april(at)yahoogroups.com Please circulate this information to groups and organisations that might be interested For more information, contact: Via Campesina Operative Secretariat Apdo Postal 3628 Tegucigalpa, Honduras Tel/Fax: (504) 220 12 18 E-mail: viacam(at)gbm.hn