Corporate vision of the future of food promoted at the UN by LVC, GRAIN, ETC | 15 Feb 2016 Media releases Just when the biotech companies that make transgenic seeds are merging, the corporate vision of biotechnology is showing up at FAO. At today’s opening of the three-day international symposium on agricultural biotechnologies convened by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, more than 100 organisations have issued a statement denouncing both the substance and structure of the meeting, which appears to be another attempt by multinational agribusiness to redirect the policies of the UN agency toward support for GMOs. Just when the biotech companies that make transgenic seeds are merging, the corporate vision of biotechnology is showing up at FAO. At today’s opening of the three-day international symposium on agricultural biotechnologies convened by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, more than 100 organisations have issued a statement denouncing both the substance and structure of the meeting, which appears to be another attempt by multinational agribusiness to redirect the policies of the UN agency toward support for GMOs.
Jail term for activists in Sierra Leone, trial of French journalists in Paris: critics of Bolloré silenced by GRAIN et al. | 10 Feb 2016 Media releases A day before the start of yet another trial brought by the Bolloré Group against French journalists, organisations denounce the imprisonment on February 5th of six local community leaders affected by the investments of Socfin Agricultural Company Sierra Leone Ltd (SAC), a subsidiary of Socfin, linked to Bolloré. A day before the start of yet another trial brought by the Bolloré Group against French journalists, organisations denounce the imprisonment on February 5th of six local community leaders affected by the investments of Socfin Agricultural Company Sierra Leone Ltd (SAC), a subsidiary of Socfin, linked to Bolloré.
Food sovereignty can stop climate change and feed us all by GRAIN | 5 Feb 2016 Climate The global food system is not only extremely inefficient and environmentally costly; it is also profoundly unjust. But governments look at the problem through a very narrow lens. Figures from the COP 21 negotiations in Paris place the impact of agriculture on climate change at 24%. Our data reveal that they are missing the bigger picture. A GRAIN opinion piece for the Korean International Strategy Centre. The global food system is not only extremely inefficient and environmentally costly; it is also profoundly unjust. But governments look at the problem through a very narrow lens. Figures from the COP 21 negotiations in Paris place the impact of agriculture on climate change at 24%. Our data reveal that they are missing the bigger picture. A GRAIN opinion piece for the Korean International Strategy Centre.
Is industrial farming a tech-fix or dead end for tackling climate change? by GRAIN, Linus Blomqvist | 2 Jan 2016 Climate Can large-scale agriculture help fight climate change? Linus Blomqvist and GRAIN make case for and against on the Chinadialogue site. Can large-scale agriculture help fight climate change? Linus Blomqvist and GRAIN make case for and against on the Chinadialogue site.
Concerned citizens present petition denouncing arrest and detention of Ethiopian human rights defenders by ASO, BfA, GRAIN, IDI and OI | 17 Dec 2015 Media releases A petition denouncing the unjust imprisonment of three Ethiopian human rights defenders and calling on the Ethiopian government to drop all charges against them immediately, is being presented this week to the Ethiopian government as well as its financial backers—governments of the US, Canada, UK, Germany, Switzerland and the World Bank, which provide a significant amount of international aid to Ethiopia. The petition is signed by 1,229 people from 70 countries. A petition denouncing the unjust imprisonment of three Ethiopian human rights defenders and calling on the Ethiopian government to drop all charges against them immediately, is being presented this week to the Ethiopian government as well as its financial backers—governments of the US, Canada, UK, Germany, Switzerland and the World Bank, which provide a significant amount of international aid to Ethiopia. The petition is signed by 1,229 people from 70 countries.
#COP21: cooling the planet—frontline communities lead the struggle by Global Convergence of Land and Water Struggles | 9 Dec 2015 Join this public event organised by the Global Convergence of Land and Water Struggles on Thursday 10 December 2015 at 13:00-17:00 in Paris. Join this public event organised by the Global Convergence of Land and Water Struggles on Thursday 10 December 2015 at 13:00-17:00 in Paris.
The great climate robbery by GRAIN | 7 Dec 2015 Climate "How the food system drives climate change and what we can do about it" A new book by GRAIN "How the food system drives climate change and what we can do about it" A new book by GRAIN
Seeds in the hands of farmers by Gaia, GRAIN | 6 Dec 2015 Seeds | Multimedia In this video, Henk Hobbelink of GRAIN contrasts the approaches to seed conservation that have emerged since the so-called ‘green revolution’. He advocates for on-farm, farmer-led conservation which secures the control of seed in the hands of small farmers. In this video, Henk Hobbelink of GRAIN contrasts the approaches to seed conservation that have emerged since the so-called ‘green revolution’. He advocates for on-farm, farmer-led conservation which secures the control of seed in the hands of small farmers.
Argentina: New “national” GMOs. Resistance multiplies. by GRAIN | 1 Dec 2015 Seeds The government of Argentina has announced with great fanfare the introduction of new GMOs allegedly different from the existing ones in three ways: 1) the transgenes do not code for herbicide resistance or production of the Bt toxin; 2) some of them are claimed to promise yield increases, and 3) they have not been developed by corporations but by universities and public research institutes. These, however, are pretexts under which to continue imposing the same agribusiness model on our country. The government of Argentina has announced with great fanfare the introduction of new GMOs allegedly different from the existing ones in three ways: 1) the transgenes do not code for herbicide resistance or production of the Bt toxin; 2) some of them are claimed to promise yield increases, and 3) they have not been developed by corporations but by universities and public research institutes. These, however, are pretexts under which to continue imposing the same agribusiness model on our country.
The secretive trade agreements that could scupper climate change action by GRAIN | 30 Nov 2015 Corporations | Climate While all the focus and hope for tackling climate change is on COP 21 in Paris, starting today, secretive global trade deals are already negating any commitments that might be made at the summit. The texts from the various trade agreements, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), make it clear that they will increase production, trade and consumption of fossil fuels. An article by GRAIN for the Guardian. While all the focus and hope for tackling climate change is on COP 21 in Paris, starting today, secretive global trade deals are already negating any commitments that might be made at the summit. The texts from the various trade agreements, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), make it clear that they will increase production, trade and consumption of fossil fuels. An article by GRAIN for the Guardian.
Food, ag and climate @ COP21 by GRAIN | 28 Nov 2015 A listing of key programmes of activities on the connections between farming, the food system and climate change during the COP21 in Paris (30 Nov - 11 Dec 2015) A listing of key programmes of activities on the connections between farming, the food system and climate change during the COP21 in Paris (30 Nov - 11 Dec 2015)
Invitation to a book launch in Paris on 7 December 2015 by GRAIN | 20 Nov 2015 Media releases Join us in Paris for a book launch and evening with GRAIN on 7 December 2015 Join us in Paris for a book launch and evening with GRAIN on 7 December 2015
Where the struggles of peasants and forest communities converge by WRM and GRAIN | 18 Nov 2015 Climate GRAIN is happy to announce the release of the latest issue of the World Rainforest Movement’s monthly bulletin, which, for the first time, has been co-produced with GRAIN. The bulletin focuses on the common struggles of peasant and forest-dependent communities relating to climate change. It brings together several articles showing how corporations are advancing their agendas through false solutions, such as REDD+ or “climate smart” agriculture and forestry, and through trade agreements and certification schemes, such as the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil. The bulletin includes a range of resources and case studies highlighting how communities and social movements are working for real solutions to climate change and building food sovereignty. GRAIN is happy to announce the release of the latest issue of the World Rainforest Movement’s monthly bulletin, which, for the first time, has been co-produced with GRAIN. The bulletin focuses on the common struggles of peasant and forest-dependent communities relating to climate change. It brings together several articles showing how corporations are advancing their agendas through false solutions, such as REDD+ or “climate smart” agriculture and forestry, and through trade agreements and certification schemes, such as the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil. The bulletin includes a range of resources and case studies highlighting how communities and social movements are working for real solutions to climate change and building food sovereignty.
Top Swedish, US and Canadian pension funds linked to Brazilian land grabs, displacement of people by Rede Social de Justiça e Direitos Humanos, GRAIN, Inter Pares and Solidarity Sweden – Latin America | 17 Nov 2015 Media releases Media Release - 17 November 2015 A New York company managing the retirement savings of workers in Sweden, the US and Canada is evading Brazilian laws on foreign investment to acquire farmlands from a businessman accused of violently displacing local communities, according to a new report, released today by Rede Social de Justiça e Direitos Humanos, GRAIN, Inter Pares, and Solidarity Sweden – Latin America. Media Release - 17 November 2015 A New York company managing the retirement savings of workers in Sweden, the US and Canada is evading Brazilian laws on foreign investment to acquire farmlands from a businessman accused of violently displacing local communities, according to a new report, released today by Rede Social de Justiça e Direitos Humanos, GRAIN, Inter Pares, and Solidarity Sweden – Latin America.
Foreign pension funds and land grabbing in Brazil by Rede Social de Justiça e Direitos Humanos, GRAIN, Inter Pares, and Solidarity Sweden – Latin America. | 16 Nov 2015 Land A New York company managing the retirement savings of workers in Sweden, the US and Canada is evading Brazilian laws on foreign investment to acquire farmlands from a businessman accused of violently displacing local communities A New York company managing the retirement savings of workers in Sweden, the US and Canada is evading Brazilian laws on foreign investment to acquire farmlands from a businessman accused of violently displacing local communities