Seeds of sovereignty by Gaia Foundation | 4 Dec 2013 Ethiopia | climate crisis | seeds & biodiversity As the world’s agriculture and food systems face a crisis of disappearing seed diversity, a new short film tells the story of how African farming communities and organisations are reviving traditional seed diversity across the continent, and resisting mounting corporate pressure to use industrialised seed and farming methods. As the world’s agriculture and food systems face a crisis of disappearing seed diversity, a new short film tells the story of how African farming communities and organisations are reviving traditional seed diversity across the continent, and resisting mounting corporate pressure to use industrialised seed and farming methods.
Dust to dust: a man-made Malthusian crisis by Ambrose Evans-Pritchard | 2 Dec 2013 United States | food crisis | seeds & biodiversity We must wake up to the global land crisis or face a very real threat of famine We must wake up to the global land crisis or face a very real threat of famine
GRAIN in 2012: highlights of our activities by GRAIN | 26 Nov 2013 Activity reports Corporations, power and the global system; people's control over seeds; land grabbing; and agriculture and the climate crisis – these are the interconnected themes of GRAIN's work. In partnership with allies across the world, we document the ways in which the industrial food system damages lives, livelihoods and ecologies, and support the fight for alternatives. 'GRAIN in 2012' highlights some of the activities and achievements that we have been involved in during the year. Corporations, power and the global system; people's control over seeds; land grabbing; and agriculture and the climate crisis – these are the interconnected themes of GRAIN's work. In partnership with allies across the world, we document the ways in which the industrial food system damages lives, livelihoods and ecologies, and support the fight for alternatives. 'GRAIN in 2012' highlights some of the activities and achievements that we have been involved in during the year.
The global struggle for peasants seeds: a struggle for our future by Via Campesina | 22 Nov 2013 seeds & biodiversity Seeds is becoming a central and strong pillar in the fight for food sovereignty. In kitchens, gardens and markets, farmers conserve, exchange and develop seeds. But the corporations and many governments are keen to privatise seeds, and get farmers to get hooked onto the hybrids and GMOs from the laboratories. Here is Via Campesina's take on the issue. Seeds is becoming a central and strong pillar in the fight for food sovereignty. In kitchens, gardens and markets, farmers conserve, exchange and develop seeds. But the corporations and many governments are keen to privatise seeds, and get farmers to get hooked onto the hybrids and GMOs from the laboratories. Here is Via Campesina's take on the issue.
Thai farmers and civic groups protest UPOV lobby by Bangkok Post | 21 Nov 2013 Thailand | seeds & biodiversity | laws & policies | actions A group of farmers gather at the Department of Agriculture (DOA) in Bang Khen district yesterday to voice their opposition to the planned ratification of the 1991 International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV). The farmers submitted a protest letter to Martin Ekvad, the UPOV executive who briefed DOA officials about the convention. A group of farmers gather at the Department of Agriculture (DOA) in Bang Khen district yesterday to voice their opposition to the planned ratification of the 1991 International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV). The farmers submitted a protest letter to Martin Ekvad, the UPOV executive who briefed DOA officials about the convention.
The Calabar Declaration by Oil palm plantation-affected communities and civil society | 18 Nov 2013 We, members of communities affected by industrial monoculture oil palm plantations, including peasant movements, reaffirm our support for all communities repressed by the policies of the powerful and to those who defend their land rights as indigenous peoples and peasant communities; we reaffirm our commitment to demand that the governments of our countries ratify and respect the declarations and relevant international laws that protect the rights of communities and indigenous peoples. We, members of communities affected by industrial monoculture oil palm plantations, including peasant movements, reaffirm our support for all communities repressed by the policies of the powerful and to those who defend their land rights as indigenous peoples and peasant communities; we reaffirm our commitment to demand that the governments of our countries ratify and respect the declarations and relevant international laws that protect the rights of communities and indigenous peoples.
Cameroon activist takes on land grabber from Wall Street, now faces imprisonment by GRAIN | 13 Nov 2013 Community organiser Nasako Besingi speaks about being beaten, arrested and sued for supporting villagers in Cameroon defending their lands from US hedge fund Herakles Capital. Community organiser Nasako Besingi speaks about being beaten, arrested and sued for supporting villagers in Cameroon defending their lands from US hedge fund Herakles Capital.
Africa's unfair battle (part 6): 'The entire food aid system is perverted' by Michaela Schiessl | 13 Nov 2013 food sovereignty | laws & policies Industrialised nations spend billions to subsidise their high-tech farming industries. Surplus crops often end up being sold at rock-bottom prices in the markets of developing countries, making it impossible for local farmers to sell their products. Even the American food aid being sent to famine-plagued regions creates more suffering than it alleviates, because many governments prefer to wait for handouts than buy up their farmers' harvests. The lack of options is forcing thousands of Africans to risk the life-threatening journey to Europe. Industrialised nations spend billions to subsidise their high-tech farming industries. Surplus crops often end up being sold at rock-bottom prices in the markets of developing countries, making it impossible for local farmers to sell their products. Even the American food aid being sent to famine-plagued regions creates more suffering than it alleviates, because many governments prefer to wait for handouts than buy up their farmers' harvests. The lack of options is forcing thousands of Africans to risk the life-threatening journey to Europe.
Who is behind Senhuile-Senethanol? by CRAFS | GRAIN | Re:Common | 8 Nov 2013 Land A controversial foreign investment to produce agrofuels for Europe on 20,000 ha of farmland in Senegal has angered communities and sparked violent clashes between peasants and the police. Concerns have also been mounting in Senegal of possible connections between the project and corporate crimes, specifically money laundering. A controversial foreign investment to produce agrofuels for Europe on 20,000 ha of farmland in Senegal has angered communities and sparked violent clashes between peasants and the police. Concerns have also been mounting in Senegal of possible connections between the project and corporate crimes, specifically money laundering.
Climate summit: don't turn farmers into "climate smart" carbon traders! by La Vía Campesina, GRAIN and ETC Group | 7 Nov 2013 Media releases Farmers produce food, not carbon. Yet, if some of the governments and corporate lobbies negotiating at the UN climate change conference to be held in Warsaw from 11-22 November have their way, farmland could soon be considered as a carbon sink that polluting corporations can buy into to compensate for their harmful emissions. Farmers produce food, not carbon. Yet, if some of the governments and corporate lobbies negotiating at the UN climate change conference to be held in Warsaw from 11-22 November have their way, farmland could soon be considered as a carbon sink that polluting corporations can buy into to compensate for their harmful emissions.
Yvapuruvu Declaration: seed laws – resisting dispossession by Alianza Biodiversidad, Red por una América Latina Libre de Transgénicos, and Vía Campesina World Seeds Campaign | 4 Nov 2013 Seeds are the work of peoples and a part of their history. They have been created through collective work, creativity, experimentation, and stewardship. Seeds in turn have shaped peoples, making possible their specific and diverse ways of growing crops and feeding themselves, and allowing them to share and develop their world views. Seeds are therefore intimately linked to community standards, responsibilities, obligations, and rights. Seeds place responsibilities on us that precede our right to use them. Seeds are the work of peoples and a part of their history. They have been created through collective work, creativity, experimentation, and stewardship. Seeds in turn have shaped peoples, making possible their specific and diverse ways of growing crops and feeding themselves, and allowing them to share and develop their world views. Seeds are therefore intimately linked to community standards, responsibilities, obligations, and rights. Seeds place responsibilities on us that precede our right to use them.
Seed laws in Latin America: the offensive continues, so does popular resistance by GRAIN | 30 Oct 2013 The world’s agribusiness corporations are pursuing their attempts to privatize and monopolize our seeds. Their goal is clear: they want to convert the millennial practice of plant breeding into a crime, for their own profit and nothing else. Latin America is one scene of such attacks on public property. The world’s agribusiness corporations are pursuing their attempts to privatize and monopolize our seeds. Their goal is clear: they want to convert the millennial practice of plant breeding into a crime, for their own profit and nothing else. Latin America is one scene of such attacks on public property.
ARIPO’S plant variety protection law criminalises farmers and undermines seed systems in Africa by Allliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa | 18 Oct 2013 seeds & biodiversity | laws & policies The Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa is gravely concerned about a draft law developed under the auspices of the Africa Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO), dealing with a harmonised regional legal framework for the protection of plant breeders’ rights, titled ‘Draft Regional Policy and Legal Framework for Plant Variety Protection’. ARIPO is in the process of seeking the approval of its Member States to adopt the legal framework, possibly at the next ARIPO Administrative Council and Council of Ministers meeting due to take place 25–29 November 2013 in Kampala, Uganda. The Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa is gravely concerned about a draft law developed under the auspices of the Africa Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO), dealing with a harmonised regional legal framework for the protection of plant breeders’ rights, titled ‘Draft Regional Policy and Legal Framework for Plant Variety Protection’. ARIPO is in the process of seeking the approval of its Member States to adopt the legal framework, possibly at the next ARIPO Administrative Council and Council of Ministers meeting due to take place 25–29 November 2013 in Kampala, Uganda.
Mozambique: Nampula civil society reaffirms call to halt ProSavana by Nampula Civil Society Provincial Platform (PPOSC-N) | 8 Oct 2013 Mozambique | land grabbing Civil society organisations in Nampula do not recognise ProSavana as a programme that will protect the interests of small-scale farmers, who see their life steadily deteriorating. Civil society organisations in Nampula do not recognise ProSavana as a programme that will protect the interests of small-scale farmers, who see their life steadily deteriorating.
Monsanto Suspends Construction in Córdoba Due to Protests by Argentina Independent | 3 Oct 2013 Argentina | corporations | seeds & biodiversity Monsanto has been forced to put construction of its plant in Malvinas Argentinas, Córdoba, on hold as protesters blockade an access road, citing concerns over the health risks and contamination from the plant’s activity. Monsanto has been forced to put construction of its plant in Malvinas Argentinas, Córdoba, on hold as protesters blockade an access road, citing concerns over the health risks and contamination from the plant’s activity.