We will not be silenced by Bolloré's SLAPP lawsuits! by Civil society organisations, media outlets, journalists and NGOs | 24 Jan 2018 France | corporations | actions This Thursday 25 January, a lawsuit was opened against three newspapers (Mediapart, L’Obs and Le Point) and two NGOs (Sherpa and ReAct), who are accused of defamation by the Luxembourgian holding Socfin and its Cameroonian subsidiary Socapalm, for articles reporting on the mobilisation of villagers and farmers in West Africa who live near farms managed by these two companies. These companies have strong links to the Bolloré group, and Vincent Bolloré himself serves on their board of directors. This Thursday 25 January, a lawsuit was opened against three newspapers (Mediapart, L’Obs and Le Point) and two NGOs (Sherpa and ReAct), who are accused of defamation by the Luxembourgian holding Socfin and its Cameroonian subsidiary Socapalm, for articles reporting on the mobilisation of villagers and farmers in West Africa who live near farms managed by these two companies. These companies have strong links to the Bolloré group, and Vincent Bolloré himself serves on their board of directors.
A sign-on statement to stop the poisoning of the people and the planet by Pan-Asia Pacific (PANAP) | 24 Jan 2018 corporations | food sovereignty | India | actions Thirty-three years ago today, the horrendous Bhopal gas tragedy at the Union Carbide pesticide plant in India immediately killed 3,000 people and 15,000 more subsequently. Survivors, exposed to the deadly gas and their children, continue to suffer from the world’s worst industrial disaster. Thousands of tons of hazardous wastes remain buried underground and the area remains contaminated. Meanwhile, Union Carbide, which became a subsidiary of Dow-Chemical Co. in 2001, has yet to fully account for the tragedy. Thirty-three years ago today, the horrendous Bhopal gas tragedy at the Union Carbide pesticide plant in India immediately killed 3,000 people and 15,000 more subsequently. Survivors, exposed to the deadly gas and their children, continue to suffer from the world’s worst industrial disaster. Thousands of tons of hazardous wastes remain buried underground and the area remains contaminated. Meanwhile, Union Carbide, which became a subsidiary of Dow-Chemical Co. in 2001, has yet to fully account for the tragedy.
Farming for a small planet by Frances Moore Lappé | 12 Jan 2018 corporations | climate crisis | food sovereignty An excellent, and well documented, summary article by Frances Moore Lappé explaining why the industrial food system can't feed the world, and agroecology can. An excellent, and well documented, summary article by Frances Moore Lappé explaining why the industrial food system can't feed the world, and agroecology can.
How corporate giants are automating the farm by Jim Thomas | 19 Nov 2017 United States | corporations | technologies Self-driving tractors and the internet of cows – welcome to the world of precision agriculture. Jim Thomas of the ETC Group lays out the vision driving corporate giants into a merger frenzy Self-driving tractors and the internet of cows – welcome to the world of precision agriculture. Jim Thomas of the ETC Group lays out the vision driving corporate giants into a merger frenzy
Too big to feed: Exploring the impacts of mega-mergers, consolidation and concentration of power in the agri-food sector by IPES | 16 Oct 2017 corporations Dominant agri-food firms have become too big to feed humanity sustainably, too big to operate on equitable terms with other food system actors, and too big to drive the types of innovation we need. Dominant agri-food firms have become too big to feed humanity sustainably, too big to operate on equitable terms with other food system actors, and too big to drive the types of innovation we need.
People's summit against RCEP by Forum Against FTAs | 20 Jul 2017 India | corporations | seeds & biodiversity | intellectual property rights Join us at the People's summit against RCEP in Hyderabad, India, starting Saturday 22 July! Join us at the People's summit against RCEP in Hyderabad, India, starting Saturday 22 July!
Trade politics in flux: what social movement responses? by bilaterals.org | 29 Jun 2017 corporations | laws & policies Over the last 30 years, people’s responses to the economic, social, and political impacts of capitalist globalisation have included inspiring examples of collective organising, strong social movements and radical progressive thinking. Over the last 30 years, people’s responses to the economic, social, and political impacts of capitalist globalisation have included inspiring examples of collective organising, strong social movements and radical progressive thinking.
A Grain of Truth: RCEP and the Corporate Hijack of Indian Agriculture by Colin Todhunter, Counterpunch | 23 Jun 2017 India | corporations | laws & policies The plight of farmers in India has been well documented. A combination of debt, economic liberalisation, subsidised imports, rising input costs and a shift to cash crops (including GM cotton) has caused massive financial distress. The plight of farmers in India has been well documented. A combination of debt, economic liberalisation, subsidised imports, rising input costs and a shift to cash crops (including GM cotton) has caused massive financial distress.
Transgenic corruption by Darío Aranda | 20 Jun 2017 Argentina | corporations | seeds & biodiversity The agency that approves GM crops in Argentina is stuffed with employees of GMO-producing agroindustrial companies and scientists with conflicts of interest. The agency that approves GM crops in Argentina is stuffed with employees of GMO-producing agroindustrial companies and scientists with conflicts of interest.
Open letter: why WHO should address industrial animal farming by Scott Weathers and Sophie Hermanns | 25 May 2017 corporations | food crisis An open letter released this week and signed by over 200 scientists, policy experts and others, urges the new Director General of the World Health Organization to recognize and address factory farming as a public health challenge. An open letter released this week and signed by over 200 scientists, policy experts and others, urges the new Director General of the World Health Organization to recognize and address factory farming as a public health challenge.
“Green” oil palm plantations are a scam: the case of OLAM by World Rainforest Movement, GRAIN | 16 May 2017 corporations | Gabon | Indonesia How do major oil palm companies manage to get their palm oil sold as a “green”, “sustainable” and “climate-friendly” product when it is none of that? How does this green image help corporations to expand even further, as is happening now in Africa? This article looks into the case of OLAM International, which in February 2017 published its Draft Global Policy on Forests. OLAM’s promising words are merely a smokescreen around what is still its main objective: increasing profits. How do major oil palm companies manage to get their palm oil sold as a “green”, “sustainable” and “climate-friendly” product when it is none of that? How does this green image help corporations to expand even further, as is happening now in Africa? This article looks into the case of OLAM International, which in February 2017 published its Draft Global Policy on Forests. OLAM’s promising words are merely a smokescreen around what is still its main objective: increasing profits.
Action on Day of the Landless 2017 by APC | 28 Mar 2017 land grabbing | corporations The militant tradition of commemorating the “Day of the Landless” led by the Asian Peasant Coalition (APC) and its network continues this year on March 29 with the theme “Fight for Land! Fight for Life! Intensify the struggle against global land grabbing!” The militant tradition of commemorating the “Day of the Landless” led by the Asian Peasant Coalition (APC) and its network continues this year on March 29 with the theme “Fight for Land! Fight for Life! Intensify the struggle against global land grabbing!”
Opposition rises to planned agriculture mega-mergers - media release by FOEE | 27 Mar 2017 corporations | GMOs More than 200 organisations signed a letter to the European Commission to stop the planned mega-mergers of the worlds biggest agrochemical companies. More than 200 organisations signed a letter to the European Commission to stop the planned mega-mergers of the worlds biggest agrochemical companies.
Top five reasons why we must block agrichemical and seed mega-mergers by Antonio Roman-Alcalá | 13 Mar 2017 United States | corporations | seeds & biodiversity Antonio Roman-Alcalá, sustainable food campaigner for Friends of the Earth US, shares why agrichemical and seed mega-mergers are harmful to the food system. Antonio Roman-Alcalá, sustainable food campaigner for Friends of the Earth US, shares why agrichemical and seed mega-mergers are harmful to the food system.
Meat and dairy industries damage climate by Food Tank | 1 Mar 2017 Argentina | China | United States | corporations | climate crisis | food sovereignty Food Tank interviews GRAIN about its recent report on industrial meat and climate. Food Tank interviews GRAIN about its recent report on industrial meat and climate.