Police block peaceful action by women affected by SOCFIN oil palm plantation in Sierra Leone by MALOA, SILNORF, WRM, Bread for All and GRAIN | 28 Sep 2017 Luxembourg | Sierra Leone | land grabbing On September 21, 2017 about 150 to 200 women were stopped by police on their way to Pujehun to urge local authorities to take action against the Luxembourg-based oil palm plantation company SOCFIN for grabbing their lands and committing other related human rights abuses. The women were travelling from Malen Chiefdom and were stopped by road blocks set up by the police at Benga Junction, about 4 km outside of Pujehun, the capital of Pujehun District, Sierra Leone. On September 21, 2017 about 150 to 200 women were stopped by police on their way to Pujehun to urge local authorities to take action against the Luxembourg-based oil palm plantation company SOCFIN for grabbing their lands and committing other related human rights abuses. The women were travelling from Malen Chiefdom and were stopped by road blocks set up by the police at Benga Junction, about 4 km outside of Pujehun, the capital of Pujehun District, Sierra Leone.
Cameroonian environmental activist arrested by Synchronicity Earth | 26 Sep 2017 Cameroon | land grabbing Cameroonian environmental activist Nasako Besingi was arrested on Monday morning (25th September) in Mundemba, southwest Cameroon, at the headquarters of his NGO, SEFE (Struggle to Economize the Future Environment). The premises are reported to have been ransacked and Nasako arrested by a large group of police and soldiers and taken away in the back of a gendarmerie pick-up. We do not know where Nasako is being held and the authorities are yet to give a reason for his arrest. Cameroonian environmental activist Nasako Besingi was arrested on Monday morning (25th September) in Mundemba, southwest Cameroon, at the headquarters of his NGO, SEFE (Struggle to Economize the Future Environment). The premises are reported to have been ransacked and Nasako arrested by a large group of police and soldiers and taken away in the back of a gendarmerie pick-up. We do not know where Nasako is being held and the authorities are yet to give a reason for his arrest.
Petition: Stop all forms of abuse against women in large monoculture tree plantations by Civil society organisations | 25 Sep 2017 Cameroon | Congo, the Democratic Republic of the | Gabon | Guinea | Liberia | Sierra Leone | land grabbing On occasion of September 21st, International day of Struggle against Tree Plantations, women from several countries from West and Central Africa have taken the initiative to release simultaneously the petition we enclose below. On occasion of September 21st, International day of Struggle against Tree Plantations, women from several countries from West and Central Africa have taken the initiative to release simultaneously the petition we enclose below.
Feronia in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Harassment, violence and oppression by RIAO-RDC, GRAIN and WRM | 25 Sep 2017 Congo, the Democratic Republic of the | land grabbing Oil palm plantations managed by the Canadian-based agribusiness company FERONIA Inc have been opposed by local residents ever since they were established by the previous owner of the plantations, multinational food company Unilever. Incidents of violent abuse and conflict arising from the company’s oil palm plantations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have been a regular occurrence. In 2015, seven children were left orphaned after police killed both indigenous pygmy parents for taking some oil palm fruits from the plantations to feed their children. Oil palm plantations managed by the Canadian-based agribusiness company FERONIA Inc have been opposed by local residents ever since they were established by the previous owner of the plantations, multinational food company Unilever. Incidents of violent abuse and conflict arising from the company’s oil palm plantations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have been a regular occurrence. In 2015, seven children were left orphaned after police killed both indigenous pygmy parents for taking some oil palm fruits from the plantations to feed their children.
Are European taxpayers funding land grabs and forest destruction? by Mark Curtis | 14 Sep 2017 Belgium | Canada | Congo, the Democratic Republic of the | Finland | France | Germany | Netherlands | Norway | Tanzania | Uganda | United Kingdom | land grabbing The central aim of European Development Financial Institutions (DFIs) is to foster growth and reduce poverty. Yet in Africa, evidence is mounting that they have funded ‘forestry’ projects which have caused deforestation, possible land grabs, and undermined communities’ livelihoods. The central aim of European Development Financial Institutions (DFIs) is to foster growth and reduce poverty. Yet in Africa, evidence is mounting that they have funded ‘forestry’ projects which have caused deforestation, possible land grabs, and undermined communities’ livelihoods.
Caravana Matopiba uncovers alarming human and environmental costs of agribusiness by FIAN et al. | 12 Sep 2017 Brazil | land grabbing During its visits, the delegation observed high levels of agrochemical pollution, diminishing natural resources, land grabbing, as well as significant impact on the health of traditional communities, resulting from increasing soy plantations. During its visits, the delegation observed high levels of agrochemical pollution, diminishing natural resources, land grabbing, as well as significant impact on the health of traditional communities, resulting from increasing soy plantations.
Congress urged to probe golden rice by MASIPAG | 8 Sep 2017 Philippines | hybrid rice | GMOs Quezon City – A House Resolution directing an inquiry on the controversial Golden Rice has been filed at the House of Representatives today, as an effort to stem the imminent re-introduction of the genetically modified (GM) crop in the country. Quezon City – A House Resolution directing an inquiry on the controversial Golden Rice has been filed at the House of Representatives today, as an effort to stem the imminent re-introduction of the genetically modified (GM) crop in the country.
Communities affected by Hengfu sugar plantation in Cambodia submit petition to Chinese Embassy by Civil society organisations | 7 Sep 2017 Cambodia | land grabbing On 30 August 2017, 40 people brought a petition to the Chinese Embassy in Phnom Penh calling for the withdrawal of a group of Chinese agribusiness companies from Preah Vihear province in northern Cambodia. The companies, five subsidiaries of the Chinese company Hengfu, are accused of grabbing land in 2011 from tens of thousands of families and their communities, destroying local ecosystems and putting farmers’ livelihoods in jeopardy. On 30 August 2017, 40 people brought a petition to the Chinese Embassy in Phnom Penh calling for the withdrawal of a group of Chinese agribusiness companies from Preah Vihear province in northern Cambodia. The companies, five subsidiaries of the Chinese company Hengfu, are accused of grabbing land in 2011 from tens of thousands of families and their communities, destroying local ecosystems and putting farmers’ livelihoods in jeopardy.
Port Loko Declaration: Women say “We want our lands back!” by Civil society organisations | 4 Sep 2017 Sierra Leone | land grabbing We, Women want our land and forests back so that we can have an agriculture that feeds us. We want a change that allows us to provide livelihoods that allow for good, healthy lives in dignity for our communities. We, Women want our land and forests back so that we can have an agriculture that feeds us. We want a change that allows us to provide livelihoods that allow for good, healthy lives in dignity for our communities.
WEMA project shrouded in secrecy: open letter to African governments to be accountable to farmers, civil society by African Centre for Biodiversity | 4 Sep 2017 Kenya | Mozambique | South Africa | Tanzania | Uganda | GMOs The Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) project promises to develop drought tolerance in maize for the benefit of small holder farmers, but is really a project designed to facilitate the spread of hybrid and genetically modified (GM) maize varieties on the continent. WEMA involves five African countries: Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda. It works through the National Agricultural Research (NAR) agencies of these countries, the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) and Monsanto. The project is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gate Foundation, the Howard G. Buffett Foundation. The Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) project promises to develop drought tolerance in maize for the benefit of small holder farmers, but is really a project designed to facilitate the spread of hybrid and genetically modified (GM) maize varieties on the continent. WEMA involves five African countries: Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda. It works through the National Agricultural Research (NAR) agencies of these countries, the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) and Monsanto. The project is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gate Foundation, the Howard G. Buffett Foundation.
International mission to measure human rights impact of land grabbing kicks off by FIAN et al. | 4 Sep 2017 Brazil | land grabbing An international delegation will travel across the Brazilian region of MATOPIBA to document the social, economic, environmental and human rights impact of large-scale land acquisitions. An international delegation will travel across the Brazilian region of MATOPIBA to document the social, economic, environmental and human rights impact of large-scale land acquisitions.
The true cost of US food identified in new report by Sustainable Food Trust | 17 Aug 2017 United States | food crisis | food sovereignty The Sustainable Food Trust today publishes summary proceedings of an international conference which brought together leading experts to establish the true cost of food in the United States (US). The US was one of the first countries to intensify food production and as a result was also one of the first to suffer from the negative impacts. The Sustainable Food Trust today publishes summary proceedings of an international conference which brought together leading experts to establish the true cost of food in the United States (US). The US was one of the first countries to intensify food production and as a result was also one of the first to suffer from the negative impacts.
Farmers protest against the commercialisation of golden rice in Bangladesh by Bangladesh Agricultural Farm Labour Federation (BAFLF) and National Women Farmers and Workers Association (NWFA) | 16 Aug 2017 Bangladesh | GMOs Hundreds of farmers, peasant women and agricultural workers protested in front of the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), denouncing the government's approval of golden rice commercialisation and reaffirming their opposition to all GMOs. Hundreds of farmers, peasant women and agricultural workers protested in front of the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), denouncing the government's approval of golden rice commercialisation and reaffirming their opposition to all GMOs.
Uphold Edo State government revocation order on Okomu oil palm company Plc by Environmental Rights Action (ERA) | 28 Jul 2017 Nigeria | land grabbing Support our petition as we internationalize our struggles against deforestation and corporate land grabs for large-scale oil palm plantation business. Support our petition as we internationalize our struggles against deforestation and corporate land grabs for large-scale oil palm plantation business.
Better and different! Transforming food systems through agroecology by Brot für die Welt et al. | 24 Jul 2017 food sovereignty For over half a century the struggle against poverty has been a focus of global rhetoric. Rarely, however, do people ask the most important question: Who is going to fight poverty? The World Bank and many governments have their answer: outside experts, donors and corporations will alleviate poverty. This perspective more or less reduces the struggle against poverty to an investment programme. Civil society organisations and social movements, in contrast, have a very different answer. In their view, the poor need to free themselves from poverty. This will require broadening their scope for action and strengthening their rights, and involves a programme of empowerment aimed at both more encompassing as well as piecemeal shifts in the balance of power. The poor are not needy recipients of aid; they only have their hands bound. This is where the concept of agroecology, the focus of this brochure, plays in. For over half a century the struggle against poverty has been a focus of global rhetoric. Rarely, however, do people ask the most important question: Who is going to fight poverty? The World Bank and many governments have their answer: outside experts, donors and corporations will alleviate poverty. This perspective more or less reduces the struggle against poverty to an investment programme. Civil society organisations and social movements, in contrast, have a very different answer. In their view, the poor need to free themselves from poverty. This will require broadening their scope for action and strengthening their rights, and involves a programme of empowerment aimed at both more encompassing as well as piecemeal shifts in the balance of power. The poor are not needy recipients of aid; they only have their hands bound. This is where the concept of agroecology, the focus of this brochure, plays in.