The Long March for Biodiversity Mobile campaign on the threat of GMOs and the promise of peoples’ alternatives for food security and agricultural biodiversity in Asia Thailand 6-16 September 2000 BACKGROUND Genetically modified crops and foods being introduced into Thailand and other countries in South and Southeast Asia have stirred up a huge debate since 1997. The controversy focuses on the implication of genetic engineering for food security, the increasing domination of transnational corporations in the region, and the impact on local bio-diversity. In the past few years, transnational corporations, which develop genetically modified crops, have collaborated with governments in countries such as Thailand, Philippines and Indonesia to bring GM cotton, corn and soon rice seeds for field testing. This poses many problems. There are many uncertainties about the technology and regulatory systems in these countries are so weak and lacking in public participation that GM seeds are introduced with insufficient oversight and information. Already, Bt cotton seeds from Monsanto have been found growing illegally in Thailand. While NGOs blew the alarm on this finding in 1999, no one has yet claimed responsibility for the dissemination of the seeds nor solved the problems it raises. The challenge at hand is for Asian countries to better define their options and set directions for agricultural research and development that are most appropriate to the people. Northern governments, transnational corporations, private foundations and international agricultural research institutes have played a major role in guiding and informing policy-makers to influence their decision-making as well as conducting mass media campaigns to boast “the bright side” of this technology and win over Asian scientific and political consent through the lure of funding. So the governments and institutes for science and technology in these countries are likely to support this technology. For example, researchers in Switzerland who developed vitamin-A rice now claim that scientists and policy-makers in Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan and Bangladesh are eager to embrace this new technology, despite the total lack of discussion on the implications for – and with! – farmers and local people. Farmers and people in Asia have learned and experienced the failure of the Green Revolution. Therefore, agricultural development should not take that direction any longer. At present, transnational corporations, international agricultural research institutes and some schools of scientists rationalize their slant with the problems of increasing populations, lack of food, drought and pests. This was the same justification for the Green Revolution four decades ago – although now we have soil infertility, genetic erosion, debt, landlessness and much greater dependency on external inputs because of that Green Revolution. Farmers, consumers and local people in these countries have been marginalized from these discussions and decisions, despite the fact that they are the first and most directly affected. So they should be encouraged and empowered to play a more significant role at national and regional levels in these discussion and to generate more people-oriented ideas for action. CAMPAIGN PROFILE Objectives 1. Advance strategies among Thai farmers and participants from other countries in the region regarding genetic engineering and peoples’ alternatives based on the principles of food security, local bio-diversity and public participation in research and development. 2. Exchange experiences and analyses about the roles and actions of farmers and local people in the participating countries regarding the problems posed by GM crops and food. 3. Further develop farmers’ and communities’ positions regarding GE, biodiversity and IPR for public policy work at the national and regional levels. 4. Build alliances between Thai farmers and local people and those in other countries in the region to enforce their policy and measures. Organizers BioThai (Thai Network on Biodiversity and Community Rights) and the Thai Network for the Protection of Traditional Varieties (200 organizations), with support from Genetic Resources Action International (GRAIN). Target groups 1. Representatives of farmers and activists involved in this issue in South and Southeast Asia. Some 15-20 representatives will be invited to participate from Burma, Cambodia, Laos, India, Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam. 2. Farmers’ organizations, NGOs, local academics, state officials and consumers’ groups from the five provinces in Thailand. A total of 200 organizations or 1,000 persons is expected to participate. 3. Mass media, both domestic and foreign, will also be invited. In addition, a small number of international resource persons will also participate. ACTIVITIES The Long March is a continuous caravan-type of mobile campaign that will traverse six areas of Thailand (five provincial sites plus Bangkok) from 6-16 September. The sites that will be visited are all areas where farmers and other local organizations have already initiated their own activities concerning these issues. Local groups will host the campaigners and will organise the scheduled events. All events are open to the public. The Long March is designed to bring information from the national and international levels to the grassroots people and, at the same time, generate information, ideas and concrete planning proposals from the local perspective that can feed the national and international campaigns. In each site, the programme involves a mixture of activates: speeches, panel presentations, cultural shows, seed exchanges, distribution of research reports, exhibits, dialogues with the media and open fora. It is expected that the foreign participants will engage in constant sharing with the Thai communities to enrich peoples’ strategies on GE and IPR across the region. The Long March will be captured on video in order to share the experience with other groups and countries. See the programme in Annex 1 for details. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION & PARTICIPATION For media inquiries and other information on The Long March, please contact: Mr Witoon Lianchamroon BIOTHAI 801/8 Ngamwongwan 27 Soi 5 Muang, Nonthaburi 11000 Thailand Tel: (66-2) 952 7371 or 952 7953 Fax: (66-2) 952 8312 Email (new!): mailto:[email protected] Web hosting of this document: http://www.grain.org/adhoc.htm Aside from the invited participants, there will be a limited number of slots available for anyone else who wishes to take part in the campaign. The main limitations have to do with logistics (size of the bus, available accommodations). Absolute priority will be given to representatives of farmers’ organizations from the Asian region. Secondary priority will be given to people who have something to contribute from their own activism on these issues or those who feel that participating in the campaign will help them to get more active. To the extent possible, people such as NGOs or journalists who want join in from their own initiative should mobilize their own funding. However, there will be small funds available for those who cannot do so. Anyone wishing to come on their own initiative has until 30 August to contact BIOTHAI. ANNEX 1 THE LONG MARCH PROGRAMME OF ACTIVITIES as of 4 August 2000 | subject to modifications 1. Bangkok Date 6 September Venue Kasetsart University Presentations and discussions - Keynote Speech on “Community Rights & Biodiversity” by Prof. Saneh Chamarik - Overview of current trends regarding GE & IPR at the international level by GRAIN - Sharing of peoples’ experience related to GE & IPR from the different countries and regions by the delegates and participants Exhibits - TNCs and IPR on life - GM rice: for whom ? Documents - Speakers’ papers (English) - Vitamin A and BB rice reports (Thai and English) - GMOs, Biopiracy and Community Rights (Thai) Stage show Folk music perform by Northeast AAN farmers Press conference Briefing on The Long March to the press by organizers & representatives from the five regions of Thailand 2. Songkhla Date 8 September Venue Prince of Songkhla University Forum - “Addressing the impact of bio-technology and patenting on life from the perspective of religious principles and ethics” by Dr. Winai Dalan, Islamic academics and representatives of the Alernative Agricultural Network of South Thailand - Sharing of people’s experience related to biodiversity and biotechnology by representative from all countries/regions - Discussion on farmers’ & consumers’ rights related to biotechnology and food security by representatives from all countries/regions Campaign Street demonstration Cultural sessions - Oral stories and ancestral teachings about food and life - Local stage show - Exchange of native species among representatives from four parts of Thailand 3. Petchaburi Date 10 September Venue Suan Sema, Regent Hotel, Cha Um. Forum - Addressing the threat of GM plants and peoples’ alternatives - Lessons from other countries, with special focus on GM cotton cases Cultural session - Local ritual - Oral stories and ancestral teachings about food - Local stage show - Exchange of local varieties among representatives from four parts of Thailand 4. Tung Kula Rong Hai Date 12 September Venue Provincial Hall, Roi Ed province Speech “Farmers control on rice research and improvement” by a local farmer leader Forum - Sharing of people’s experience related to biodiversity and biotechnology by representative from all countries/regions - Discussion on IPR and GE on rice Public action (To be announced) Cultural session - Local stage show - Exchange of local varieties among representatives from four parts of Thailand 5. Loey Date 14 September Venue Muang district, Loey province Forum - “Addressing the threat of GM plants and peoples’ alternatives” - Sharing of peoples’ experience related to biodiversity and biotechnology by representatives from all countries/regions Public action Farmer demonstration to the provincial hall Cultural session - Local stage show - Exchange of local varieties among representatives from four parts of Thailand 6. Chiang Mai Date 16 September Venue Chiang Mai University Speech “Community rights to biodiversity” by Prof. Yos Santasombat Forum - Farmers’ & consumers’ rights related to biotechnology and food security - Sharing of people’s experience on biodiversity and biotechnology Summing up of The Long March - Asian people’s declaration regarding genetic engineering and biodiversity protection - Exchange of local varieties among representatives from four parts of Thailand