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.
Canadian pension funds grab farmland in Brazil by The Monitor | 21 Jul 2017 Brazil | Canada | land grabbing Campaign seeks divestment from speculative land-grabbing at home and abroad. Campaign seeks divestment from speculative land-grabbing at home and abroad.
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.