International statement on the current situation in Mozambique by International organisations | 22 Apr 2014 Mozambique International organisations concerned by massive displacements and widespread violence in Mozambique call on the government and the international community to respect and protect the rights of Mozambican peasants. International organisations concerned by massive displacements and widespread violence in Mozambique call on the government and the international community to respect and protect the rights of Mozambican peasants.
Willful blindness: how the World Bank’s 'Doing Business' rankings impoverish smallholder farmers by Oakland Institute et al | 10 Apr 2014 Liberia | Sierra Leone | land grabbing As the spring meetings of the World Bank get underway in Washington, DC, 180 organizations, including NGOs, unions, and farmer and consumer groups from over 80 countries, demand that the World Bank end its Doing Business rankings and its support of the rampant theft of land and resources from some of the world’s poorest people -- farmers, pastoralists, and indigenous communities, many of whom are essential food producers for the entire planet. As the spring meetings of the World Bank get underway in Washington, DC, 180 organizations, including NGOs, unions, and farmer and consumer groups from over 80 countries, demand that the World Bank end its Doing Business rankings and its support of the rampant theft of land and resources from some of the world’s poorest people -- farmers, pastoralists, and indigenous communities, many of whom are essential food producers for the entire planet.
Chile derails ‘Monsanto law’ that would privatise seeds by New Amercia Media | 28 Mar 2014 Chile | seeds & biodiversity | laws & policies | actions This month, rural women, indigenous communities, and farmers in Chile found themselves on the winning end of a long-fought battle against a bill that had come to be known by many in this country as simply, the “Monsanto Law.” This month, rural women, indigenous communities, and farmers in Chile found themselves on the winning end of a long-fought battle against a bill that had come to be known by many in this country as simply, the “Monsanto Law.”
Djimini Declaration by West African Peasant Seed Committee (COASP) | 28 Mar 2014 Senegal | seeds & biodiversity On the occasion of the 4th edition of the West African peasant seed fair, held in Djimini, Senegal from 11-13 March 2014, 300 participants, representing 54 delegations from Benin, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Niger, Mali, Togo, Senegal, Guinea, India, Europe and Canada assembled to promote peasant seeds. On the occasion of the 4th edition of the West African peasant seed fair, held in Djimini, Senegal from 11-13 March 2014, 300 participants, representing 54 delegations from Benin, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Niger, Mali, Togo, Senegal, Guinea, India, Europe and Canada assembled to promote peasant seeds.
Ejolt report 10: The many faces of land grabbing. Cases from Africa and Latin America by GRAIN et al. | 13 Mar 2014 land grabbing This report, published by Ejolt, describes and analyzes specific cases of land grabbing around the world as well as successful cases of resistance and the different types of alliances that can be made to fight land grabbing. This report, published by Ejolt, describes and analyzes specific cases of land grabbing around the world as well as successful cases of resistance and the different types of alliances that can be made to fight land grabbing.
17 April 2014: Global day of action in defence of peasants' seeds by La Vía Campesina | 4 Mar 2014 seeds & biodiversity | actions La Via Campesina are calling for this April 17th 2014 to be a global day of action and mobilisation in defence of the struggles of farmers and peasants, and, in particular, in defence of peasants' and farmers' seeds. La Via Campesina are calling for this April 17th 2014 to be a global day of action and mobilisation in defence of the struggles of farmers and peasants, and, in particular, in defence of peasants' and farmers' seeds.
Soil to sky: agroecology vs. industrial agriculture by Christensen Fund | 8 Feb 2014 corporations | food sovereignty | seeds & biodiversity A great educational poster contrasting industrial agriculture and agroecology. By the Christensen Fund. A great educational poster contrasting industrial agriculture and agroecology. By the Christensen Fund.
India's new milky way by Jyotika Sood | 4 Feb 2014 India | food sovereignty Private players are entering the Indian dairy market in a big way. Dairy cooperatives, which ushered in the White Revolution, need to expand and strengthen their network to protect the interests of small dairy farmers. But the cooperatives are hampered by political interference, unsustainable subsidies and poor marketing strategies. In such a scenario, the National Dairy Development Board is promoting a model—milk producer companies—to compete with private companies. Is it the right strategy? Private players are entering the Indian dairy market in a big way. Dairy cooperatives, which ushered in the White Revolution, need to expand and strengthen their network to protect the interests of small dairy farmers. But the cooperatives are hampered by political interference, unsustainable subsidies and poor marketing strategies. In such a scenario, the National Dairy Development Board is promoting a model—milk producer companies—to compete with private companies. Is it the right strategy?
Seed diversity and food security threatened by an overly concentrated EU seed market by EU Parliament Greens/EFA group | 27 Jan 2014 seeds & biodiversity | laws & policies De-bunking the myth that the European seed market is diversified: the event will highlight the dominance of a small group of multinational companies, exposing false assumptions underlying proposed regulation of the seeds in the European Community. De-bunking the myth that the European seed market is diversified: the event will highlight the dominance of a small group of multinational companies, exposing false assumptions underlying proposed regulation of the seeds in the European Community.
Food sovereignty: A critical dialogue by Future Agricultures | 22 Jan 2014 food sovereignty On 24 January 2014, the event ‘Food Sovereignty: A Critical Dialogue’ will bring together sceptics and advocates of food sovereignty to discuss the future of this contested idea in critical agrarian studies. On 24 January 2014, the event ‘Food Sovereignty: A Critical Dialogue’ will bring together sceptics and advocates of food sovereignty to discuss the future of this contested idea in critical agrarian studies.
World Bank funding a company implicated in human rights abuses in Honduras by International and Honduran CSOs | 21 Jan 2014 Honduras | land grabbing | corporations Internal investigation found the World Bank's International Finance Corporation failed to adhere to policies to protect local communities; failed to disclose vital project information, consult with local communities, or identify the project as a high-risk investment; ignored or failed to spot the serious social, political and human rights Dinant operates in. Internal investigation found the World Bank's International Finance Corporation failed to adhere to policies to protect local communities; failed to disclose vital project information, consult with local communities, or identify the project as a high-risk investment; ignored or failed to spot the serious social, political and human rights Dinant operates in.
Petition for the struggle of Buol Farmers Forum against land grabbing by PT Hardaya Inti Plantations by Forum Tani Buol (Buol Farmers Forum) | 21 Jan 2014 Indonesia | land grabbing We, the Buol community united in the Buol Farmers Forum (FTB), ask for national and international support to demand that PT Hardaya Inti Plantation immediately return the land belonging to members of Buol Farmers Forum (FTB); that Buol District government take immediate action to reclaim the contested land; that land outside the concession be declared the object of Land Reform; and immediately distributed to members of FTB who have fought for many years to reclaim it. We, the Buol community united in the Buol Farmers Forum (FTB), ask for national and international support to demand that PT Hardaya Inti Plantation immediately return the land belonging to members of Buol Farmers Forum (FTB); that Buol District government take immediate action to reclaim the contested land; that land outside the concession be declared the object of Land Reform; and immediately distributed to members of FTB who have fought for many years to reclaim it.
Mobilisation to defend farmers’ rights by Coordination Européenne Via Campesina | 17 Jan 2014 seeds & biodiversity | actions FOR the rights of farmers to use and freely exchange their seeds and breeding animals, and to have unrestricted access to all available crop diversity AGAINST patents on living organisms, and control of the seed market by multinationals FOR the rights of farmers to use and freely exchange their seeds and breeding animals, and to have unrestricted access to all available crop diversity AGAINST patents on living organisms, and control of the seed market by multinationals
The Gates Foundation's hypocritical investments by Alex Park & Jaeah Lee | 16 Jan 2014 United States | corporations According to its website, the Gates Foundation "works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives." So how do the investments of the foundation's $36 billion investing arm, the Gates Foundation Trust, match up to its mission? Alex Park and Jaeah Lee of Mother Jones dug into the group's tax returns to find out. ExxonMobil, Walmart, and McDonald's are just a few of the companies that the mega-charity supports. According to its website, the Gates Foundation "works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives." So how do the investments of the foundation's $36 billion investing arm, the Gates Foundation Trust, match up to its mission? Alex Park and Jaeah Lee of Mother Jones dug into the group's tax returns to find out. ExxonMobil, Walmart, and McDonald's are just a few of the companies that the mega-charity supports.
How Bill Gates is helping KFC take over Africa by Alex Park, Mother Jones | 13 Jan 2014 Mozambique | South Africa | Zambia | corporations | food sovereignty The Gates Foundation and USAID are helping the Colonel's African expansion, perhaps at the expense of local farmers. The Gates Foundation and USAID are helping the Colonel's African expansion, perhaps at the expense of local farmers.