Hands off our bread! by Peasant organisations, networks, social movements, research groups and socio-environmental collectives | 5 Nov 2020 The government of Argentina just approved the world’s first GM wheat and is ready to promote its widespread use. We demand that the national government reverse the authoritarian measure that can only be explained as submission to corporate interests. This is why we briefly outline the reasons for rejecting this GM wheat from many perspectives that force us to say: Hands off our bread! The government of Argentina just approved the world’s first GM wheat and is ready to promote its widespread use. We demand that the national government reverse the authoritarian measure that can only be explained as submission to corporate interests. This is why we briefly outline the reasons for rejecting this GM wheat from many perspectives that force us to say: Hands off our bread!
Roll up, roll up! The Net Zero Circus is coming to a forest near you by GFC climate team | 7 Oct 2020 A great piece by the Global Forest Coalition on the Net Zero climate circus. A great piece by the Global Forest Coalition on the Net Zero climate circus.
Development banks must be held accountable for their disastrous oil palm plantation investments in the Congo by GRAIN | 23 Sep 2020 The Feronia case, and other development bank investment failures, shows that there is a need to overhaul development finance institutions practices and to consider whether it might be better to just shut them down entirely. The other basic action that must be demanded of the DFIs in the Feronia case is the restitution of lands to the communities. Nine communities in the DRC have already filed a complaint to the German Investment and Development Corporation (DEG) that was accepted by the bank's Complaints Mechanism. The Feronia case, and other development bank investment failures, shows that there is a need to overhaul development finance institutions practices and to consider whether it might be better to just shut them down entirely. The other basic action that must be demanded of the DFIs in the Feronia case is the restitution of lands to the communities. Nine communities in the DRC have already filed a complaint to the German Investment and Development Corporation (DEG) that was accepted by the bank's Complaints Mechanism.
Why we oppose Golden rice by Stop Golden Rice Network | 11 Aug 2020 Small farmers and NGOs across all of Asia oppose the introduction of GMO Golden rice. However, the media, especially in the West, has mischaracterised this opposition as being based in ignorance and/or as orchestrated by Greenpeace, an NGO with Western roots. In this article, the Stop Golden Rice Network, which has members from every part of Asia, puts that record straight. Small farmers and NGOs across all of Asia oppose the introduction of GMO Golden rice. However, the media, especially in the West, has mischaracterised this opposition as being based in ignorance and/or as orchestrated by Greenpeace, an NGO with Western roots. In this article, the Stop Golden Rice Network, which has members from every part of Asia, puts that record straight.
Asian Network mounts week-long protest vs Golden Rice by Stop Golden Rice Network | 4 Aug 2020 Stop Golden Rice Network will be launching its week long activity to protest the possible commercialization of Golden Rice this week. The campaign will comprise different sets of activities per day and will conclude on August 8, the “International Day of Action Against Golden Rice.” Now in its 7th year, the said day of action is to commemorate the historic event when more than 400 farmers, urban poor, youths, and consumers uprooted Golden Rice in Pili, Camarines Sur back in 2013. Stop Golden Rice Network will be launching its week long activity to protest the possible commercialization of Golden Rice this week. The campaign will comprise different sets of activities per day and will conclude on August 8, the “International Day of Action Against Golden Rice.” Now in its 7th year, the said day of action is to commemorate the historic event when more than 400 farmers, urban poor, youths, and consumers uprooted Golden Rice in Pili, Camarines Sur back in 2013.
Why the Bill Gates global health empire promises more empire and less public health by Jeremy Loffredo and Michele Greenstein | 18 Jul 2020 Behind a veil of corporate media PR, the Gates Foundation has served as a vehicle for Western capital while exploiting the Global South as a human laboratory. The coronavirus pandemic is likely to intensify this disturbing agenda. Excellent - and disturbing - analysis of the relation between Gates, vaccines and Big Pharma. Behind a veil of corporate media PR, the Gates Foundation has served as a vehicle for Western capital while exploiting the Global South as a human laboratory. The coronavirus pandemic is likely to intensify this disturbing agenda. Excellent - and disturbing - analysis of the relation between Gates, vaccines and Big Pharma.
Agro-imperialism in the time of Covid-19 by GRAIN | 14 Jul 2020 An article about how agribusiness is profiting from the Covid-19 crisis An article about how agribusiness is profiting from the Covid-19 crisis
A journey through 30 years supporting the struggle for food sovereignty by GRAIN | 13 Jul 2020 Multimedia Come take a guided tour through 30 years of GRAIN’s history supporting the struggle for food sovereignty. Through interviews and animation, you will discover how an endeavour that initially focused mainly on seeds became the multifaceted international organisation GRAIN is today, supporting the peasant movement and the struggle for food sovereignty at large. Come take a guided tour through 30 years of GRAIN’s history supporting the struggle for food sovereignty. Through interviews and animation, you will discover how an endeavour that initially focused mainly on seeds became the multifaceted international organisation GRAIN is today, supporting the peasant movement and the struggle for food sovereignty at large.
False promises: The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) by Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung and others | 10 Jul 2020 An excellent report by a number of German donors and NGOs, with groups in Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia and Mali, about the disastrous impact of AGRA on African farmers. The report recommends that donors dump AGRA and fund agroecology instead An excellent report by a number of German donors and NGOs, with groups in Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia and Mali, about the disastrous impact of AGRA on African farmers. The report recommends that donors dump AGRA and fund agroecology instead
World Bank's COVID-19 assistance to Kenya benefits multinational agribusiness and agrochemical firms by Frederic Mousseau and Andy Currier | 8 Jul 2020 Excellent article by the Oakland Institute about how the World Bank uses the Covid crisis to push chemical inputs onto Kenyan farmers. Excellent article by the Oakland Institute about how the World Bank uses the Covid crisis to push chemical inputs onto Kenyan farmers.
Corporate capture of seed is jeopardising farmers by Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung | 24 Jun 2020 Africa’s agriculture along with its millions of small-scale food producers is up for sale - to the highest bidders Africa’s agriculture along with its millions of small-scale food producers is up for sale - to the highest bidders
Citizens of the world oppose intellectual property over seeds, reclaim and restore local food systems and agricultural biodiversity by African Centre for Biodiversity, et al | 4 Jun 2020 Civil society organisations from across the world collectively called for a celebration of International Seed Day, and not World Intellectual Property Day. 348 organisations , from 46 countries united to condemn the unashamed greenwashing of the WIPO and their expedient promotion of UPOV draconian plant variety protection (PVP) and patents, as a driver for a green future, when the opposite is the case. Civil society organisations from across the world collectively called for a celebration of International Seed Day, and not World Intellectual Property Day. 348 organisations , from 46 countries united to condemn the unashamed greenwashing of the WIPO and their expedient promotion of UPOV draconian plant variety protection (PVP) and patents, as a driver for a green future, when the opposite is the case.
An urgent look at the food system - A collective research effort from below by GRAIN | 3 Jun 2020 Grassroots research and a lot of documentation work, has yielded an exhaustive systematisation, a detailed profile of the agro-industrial system in the Southern Cone of South America. It is the Atlas of Transgenic Agribusiness in the Southern Cone. Grassroots research and a lot of documentation work, has yielded an exhaustive systematisation, a detailed profile of the agro-industrial system in the Southern Cone of South America. It is the Atlas of Transgenic Agribusiness in the Southern Cone.
Time to turn the tide on industrial animal farming: path towards post-pandemic sustainable food systems by Global Forest Coalition and GRAIN | 27 May 2020 The implications of COVID-19 for indigenous peoples, pastoralists, women, and peasant farmers come on top of the struggles that they already face. The following stories from communities in Asia reflect the stark changes that the world is facing as the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly expands. At the same time, they serve as a basis for alternative models of sustainable livestock farming and generally healthier food systems. The implications of COVID-19 for indigenous peoples, pastoralists, women, and peasant farmers come on top of the struggles that they already face. The following stories from communities in Asia reflect the stark changes that the world is facing as the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly expands. At the same time, they serve as a basis for alternative models of sustainable livestock farming and generally healthier food systems.
"Business as usual" at Socfin and Bolloré... by GRAIN & other organisations | 25 May 2020 Ahead of the Socfin and Bolloré groups upcoming annual general meetings, civil society organisations and NGOs are calling to an urgent resolution and end to the conflicts and lawsuits instigated by Socfin/Bolloré. Foreign companies like Socfin extract immense profits from the lands and labour of communities in Africa and Asia. The time for "business as usual" is over, and the enrichment of directors and shareholders can no longer come before human and environmental rights. Ahead of the Socfin and Bolloré groups upcoming annual general meetings, civil society organisations and NGOs are calling to an urgent resolution and end to the conflicts and lawsuits instigated by Socfin/Bolloré. Foreign companies like Socfin extract immense profits from the lands and labour of communities in Africa and Asia. The time for "business as usual" is over, and the enrichment of directors and shareholders can no longer come before human and environmental rights.