New data sets on land grabbing by GRAIN | 14 Dec 2011 land grabbing In the past few months, GRAIN staff have been participating in a range of meetings and workshops in different parts of the world on land grabbing. Most of these events have been organised by small farmers' organisations, others by civil society groups. GRAIN's role has often been to provide data and analysis to feed into the debates. As a support to these initiatives, staff have put together a number of new data sets that we would now like to share publicly for everyone's use. In the past few months, GRAIN staff have been participating in a range of meetings and workshops in different parts of the world on land grabbing. Most of these events have been organised by small farmers' organisations, others by civil society groups. GRAIN's role has often been to provide data and analysis to feed into the debates. As a support to these initiatives, staff have put together a number of new data sets that we would now like to share publicly for everyone's use.
The great milk robbery by GRAIN | 7 Dec 2011 A new report by GRAIN documents the importance of milk to the livelihoods and health of the poor in many countries of the global South. Most dairy markets are supplied by small-scale vendors who collect milk from small farmers and pastoralists. But both are under threat from dairy corporations, like Nestlé, and other players, like PepsiCo and Cargill, that are trying to take over the dairy sectors in these countries, from the farms to the markets. A battle over dairy is under way that will profoundly shape the direction of the global food system and people's lives. A new report by GRAIN documents the importance of milk to the livelihoods and health of the poor in many countries of the global South. Most dairy markets are supplied by small-scale vendors who collect milk from small farmers and pastoralists. But both are under threat from dairy corporations, like Nestlé, and other players, like PepsiCo and Cargill, that are trying to take over the dairy sectors in these countries, from the farms to the markets. A battle over dairy is under way that will profoundly shape the direction of the global food system and people's lives.
GRAIN calls for end to land grabbing at Swedish Parliament by GRAIN | 6 Dec 2011 On 5 December 2011, GRAIN received the 2011 Right Livelihood Award, often referred to as the ‘Alternative Nobel Prize’, at the Swedish Parliament in Stockholm. GRAIN was awarded “for its worldwide work to protect the livelihoods and rights of farming communities and to expose the massive purchases of farmland in developing countries by foreign financial interests”. GRAIN seized on the opportunity to demand an immediate end to land grabbing and a restitution of lands to local communities. The following speech was delivered to the Swedish Parliament by GRAIN coordinator Henk Hobbelink during the Awards Ceremony. On 5 December 2011, GRAIN received the 2011 Right Livelihood Award, often referred to as the ‘Alternative Nobel Prize’, at the Swedish Parliament in Stockholm. GRAIN was awarded “for its worldwide work to protect the livelihoods and rights of farming communities and to expose the massive purchases of farmland in developing countries by foreign financial interests”. GRAIN seized on the opportunity to demand an immediate end to land grabbing and a restitution of lands to local communities. The following speech was delivered to the Swedish Parliament by GRAIN coordinator Henk Hobbelink during the Awards Ceremony.
The Right Livelihood Award ceremony - some videos by GRAIN | 6 Dec 2011 Multimedia Some videos of GRAIN receiving the Right Livelihood Award in the Swedish Parliament on 5 December 2011 Some videos of GRAIN receiving the Right Livelihood Award in the Swedish Parliament on 5 December 2011
The dark side of "sustainable" investments by Brot für alle | 3 Dec 2011 Sierra Leone | land grabbing Groups that are interested and organising to stop land grabs from the "home base" of the land grabbers might want to look at this very well done report from Brot für Alle, about what the Swiss energy giant Addax is doing in Sierra Leone. Groups that are interested and organising to stop land grabs from the "home base" of the land grabbers might want to look at this very well done report from Brot für Alle, about what the Swiss energy giant Addax is doing in Sierra Leone.
Farmers mobilise to find solutions against land grabbing by Via Campesina | 17 Nov 2011 Mali | land grabbing | actions More than 250 participants, mainly representatives of farmers’ organisations, from thirty different countries gathered in Nyéléni Village, a centre for agro-ecology training built in a rural area near Sélingué, in Mali, to participate into the first International farmers’ conference to stop land grabbing. More than 250 participants, mainly representatives of farmers’ organisations, from thirty different countries gathered in Nyéléni Village, a centre for agro-ecology training built in a rural area near Sélingué, in Mali, to participate into the first International farmers’ conference to stop land grabbing.
On seeds: controlling the first link in the food-chain by Nidhi Tandon | 15 Nov 2011 United States | technologies | seeds & biodiversity Thanks to the US’s 2009 Global Food Security Act, food aid policy for the first time mandates the use of genetic modification technologies. Nidhi Tandon looks at how this legislation helps biotechnology companies monopolise the seed industry at the expense of farmers, and explores some of the dubious links between these corporations, the Gates Foundation and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa. Good update and overview article Thanks to the US’s 2009 Global Food Security Act, food aid policy for the first time mandates the use of genetic modification technologies. Nidhi Tandon looks at how this legislation helps biotechnology companies monopolise the seed industry at the expense of farmers, and explores some of the dubious links between these corporations, the Gates Foundation and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa. Good update and overview article
"We can no longer wait" by Via Campesina, Ibrahim Coulibaly | 28 Oct 2011 Mali | food crisis "I want to encourage each of you when we sit in front our plates of food this lunchtime, to meditate and recall that human beings are dying of hunger and malnutrition at this very moment because costly meetings are organized around their fate but without the actions that could save them being carried out. We can no longer wait." Splendid intervention of Via Campesina's Ibrahim Coulibaly at the October meeting of the FAO Committee on World Food Security "I want to encourage each of you when we sit in front our plates of food this lunchtime, to meditate and recall that human beings are dying of hunger and malnutrition at this very moment because costly meetings are organized around their fate but without the actions that could save them being carried out. We can no longer wait." Splendid intervention of Via Campesina's Ibrahim Coulibaly at the October meeting of the FAO Committee on World Food Security
Grabbing Gambela by ASO/EJOLT/GRAIN | 21 Oct 2011 Ethiopia | land grabbing Grabbing Gambela is a short video documentary about a massive takeover of agricultural lands in the Gambela Region of Ethiopia. Since 2008, the Ethiopian government has signed deals with investors from India, Saudi Arabia, China and other countries for large-scale agricultural projects in the region. The deals give foreign investors control of half of Gambela's arable land. In this documentary, local people affected by the land deals speak about their experiences. Grabbing Gambela is a short video documentary about a massive takeover of agricultural lands in the Gambela Region of Ethiopia. Since 2008, the Ethiopian government has signed deals with investors from India, Saudi Arabia, China and other countries for large-scale agricultural projects in the region. The deals give foreign investors control of half of Gambela's arable land. In this documentary, local people affected by the land deals speak about their experiences.
Honduran police burn community to the ground by Real News Network | 14 Oct 2011 Honduras | land grabbing This video report by Canadian media activist Jesse Freeston vividly illustrates the courageous struggle for land and food sovereignty that peasants in Honduras are waging against the ruthless combined force of agribusiness and national and foreign governments. This video report by Canadian media activist Jesse Freeston vividly illustrates the courageous struggle for land and food sovereignty that peasants in Honduras are waging against the ruthless combined force of agribusiness and national and foreign governments.
Why the food movement should occupy Wall Street by Siena Chrisman | 13 Oct 2011 United States | land grabbing | food crisis | actions Food activists joined the "Occupy Wall Street" march. Here they explain why. Food activists joined the "Occupy Wall Street" march. Here they explain why.
Food voices: Stories of the food sovereignty movement by Andrianna Natsoulas | 11 Oct 2011 Brazil | Ecuador | United States | Venezuela A new site and book where farmers, fisherfolk and pastoralists from the Americas talk about their struggles, their triumphs and their take on food sovereignty. By Andrianna Natsoulas. Worth a visit! A new site and book where farmers, fisherfolk and pastoralists from the Americas talk about their struggles, their triumphs and their take on food sovereignty. By Andrianna Natsoulas. Worth a visit!
Let’s liberate diversity 2012 by | 5 Oct 2011 seeds & biodiversity | actions The next Let’s Liberate Diversity forum will take place in the Scottish Highlands from 9-11 March 2012. The next Let’s Liberate Diversity forum will take place in the Scottish Highlands from 9-11 March 2012.
Thank you! by GRAIN | 4 Oct 2011 ...for all the feedback, congratulations and messages of support. On 29 September, it was announced that GRAIN has been selected as one of four recipients of the 2011 Right Livelihood Award, more commonly known as "the alternative Nobel prize". ...for all the feedback, congratulations and messages of support. On 29 September, it was announced that GRAIN has been selected as one of four recipients of the 2011 Right Livelihood Award, more commonly known as "the alternative Nobel prize".
"We are not landowners," Cargill CEO tells BBC by GRAIN | 3 Oct 2011 India | land grabbing | corporations ....but the company's hedge fund has 50,000 hectares of land in South America and is spending $400 million on factory dairy farms in Asia. ....but the company's hedge fund has 50,000 hectares of land in South America and is spending $400 million on factory dairy farms in Asia.