Call for support: global day of action for food, land and justice, 8 April by Asian Peasant Coalition | 7 Apr 2016 Philippines | actions We call on the KMP members and its allied organizations nationwide to launch “sympathy barricades and protests across the country” to condemn the brutal and shameless massacre in Kidapawan perpetrated by the Aquino government. Let us denounce the bloody dispersal of a farmers’ rally in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato last April 1, 2016. The incident left two persons dead, at least 37 hurt and wounded. We also call on our international friends and allies to join us on April 8 and support Kidapawan farmers. We call on the KMP members and its allied organizations nationwide to launch “sympathy barricades and protests across the country” to condemn the brutal and shameless massacre in Kidapawan perpetrated by the Aquino government. Let us denounce the bloody dispersal of a farmers’ rally in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato last April 1, 2016. The incident left two persons dead, at least 37 hurt and wounded. We also call on our international friends and allies to join us on April 8 and support Kidapawan farmers.
In the wake of "El Niño massacre", Green Revolution a failure, Filipino farmers still hungry by MASIPAG | 4 Apr 2016 Philippines | food sovereignty | seeds & biodiversity On IRRI’s 56th anniversary, farmer-scientist group MASIPAG called on the institution to immediately shut down its operations in the Philippines as it failed miserably to address the impacts of climate change resulting to deeper hunger and poverty. Last Friday, farmers coming from North Cotabato and nearby provinces in Mindanao held a barricade in Kidapawan City to call for rice subsidy as most of the farms were affected by the drought brought about by El Nino. Instead of addressing the farmers concerns, the protest was met by gunfire, with three farmers confirmed dead and scores of farmers, and possibly women and children, wounded. On IRRI’s 56th anniversary, farmer-scientist group MASIPAG called on the institution to immediately shut down its operations in the Philippines as it failed miserably to address the impacts of climate change resulting to deeper hunger and poverty. Last Friday, farmers coming from North Cotabato and nearby provinces in Mindanao held a barricade in Kidapawan City to call for rice subsidy as most of the farms were affected by the drought brought about by El Nino. Instead of addressing the farmers concerns, the protest was met by gunfire, with three farmers confirmed dead and scores of farmers, and possibly women and children, wounded.
India: BJP backtracks on opposition to retail liberalisation by FDI Watch | 30 Mar 2016 India | corporations India has still not made any commitment to the World Trade Organisation to liberalise its retailing services. Nevertheless, the state continues to advance policies to liberalise and corporatise the sector. India now allows 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) in wholesale trading, single brand retailing and business to business e-commerce. India has still not made any commitment to the World Trade Organisation to liberalise its retailing services. Nevertheless, the state continues to advance policies to liberalise and corporatise the sector. India now allows 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) in wholesale trading, single brand retailing and business to business e-commerce.
TPP, palm oil and animal agriculture = forest, water and climate catastrophe! by Iowa99media | 29 Mar 2016 climate crisis In this webinar, which took place 20 March 2016, experts discuss two reports on corporate agribusiness' influence on the TPP and the price global climate, forests and water will pay if activists are not successful in defeating this raw deal for the planet. Ben Lilliston (IATP) addresses what the global meat industry hopes to gain from TPP – and theharmful impacts this industry causes for communities, the environment and health. Ramón Vera Herrera (GRAIN) looks at the terrible effects of free trade agreements on agriculture, food, health, job conditions and climate justice. In this webinar, which took place 20 March 2016, experts discuss two reports on corporate agribusiness' influence on the TPP and the price global climate, forests and water will pay if activists are not successful in defeating this raw deal for the planet. Ben Lilliston (IATP) addresses what the global meat industry hopes to gain from TPP – and theharmful impacts this industry causes for communities, the environment and health. Ramón Vera Herrera (GRAIN) looks at the terrible effects of free trade agreements on agriculture, food, health, job conditions and climate justice.
New mega-treaty in the pipeline: what does RCEP mean for farmers’ seeds in Asia? by GRAIN | 17 Mar 2016 seeds & biodiversity | laws & policies | intellectual property rights Signed in February 2016, the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) will have a major impact on farmers’ access to and control over seeds. The US-led agreement, which covers 12 countries of the Asia-Pacific region (excluding China), opens the door to trade in genetically modified seeds and encourages member countries to apply intellectual property rights to the realm of “traditional knowledge” about plants and animals. While the TPP is certainly cause for concern, another mega trade deal is being negotiated behind closed doors that could threaten farmer seed sovereignty in Asia even further. Signed in February 2016, the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) will have a major impact on farmers’ access to and control over seeds. The US-led agreement, which covers 12 countries of the Asia-Pacific region (excluding China), opens the door to trade in genetically modified seeds and encourages member countries to apply intellectual property rights to the realm of “traditional knowledge” about plants and animals. While the TPP is certainly cause for concern, another mega trade deal is being negotiated behind closed doors that could threaten farmer seed sovereignty in Asia even further.
Finding our seeds by ISCenter | 15 Mar 2016 Korea, Republic of | seeds & biodiversity Interview with Han, Young-mi, Former General Secretary of the Korean Woman Peasant’s Association Gangwon-do Union on what at stake for the farmers from the trend of mergers and acquisitions of the transnational agroindustry. Interview with Han, Young-mi, Former General Secretary of the Korean Woman Peasant’s Association Gangwon-do Union on what at stake for the farmers from the trend of mergers and acquisitions of the transnational agroindustry.
The assassination of our sister in in struggle: Bertha Cáceres by Via Campesina | 3 Mar 2016 Honduras | food sovereignty | actions The assassination of Bertha Cáceres took place in her home, while she was resting, which drastically increases the risk to women and men defenders, to the indigenous peoples who resist in communities, and to members of popular and social movement organizations who have taken up our legitimate struggle. A statement and call to action from La Via Campesina in response to the assassination of our sister in in struggle: Bertha Cáceres The assassination of Bertha Cáceres took place in her home, while she was resting, which drastically increases the risk to women and men defenders, to the indigenous peoples who resist in communities, and to members of popular and social movement organizations who have taken up our legitimate struggle. A statement and call to action from La Via Campesina in response to the assassination of our sister in in struggle: Bertha Cáceres
Farmers and traders in India oppose foreign investment in local food by India FDI Watch | 1 Mar 2016 India | corporations | food sovereignty | food safety The India FDI Watch Campaign, along with the Bhartiya Udyog Vyapar Mandal (Federation of All India Traders and Industries), Federation of Associations of Maharastra, The Hawkers Federation, Janpahal and various other groups, oppose the proposal to allow 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in food produced and manufactured in India. The India FDI Watch Campaign, along with the Bhartiya Udyog Vyapar Mandal (Federation of All India Traders and Industries), Federation of Associations of Maharastra, The Hawkers Federation, Janpahal and various other groups, oppose the proposal to allow 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in food produced and manufactured in India.
When Silicon Valley goes farming (with Monsanto) by Amanda Little | 3 Feb 2016 United States | corporations | climate crisis David Friedberg is a lifelong vegetarian. He was president of his high school’s “Healing Our Planet Earth” club. He’s a major investor in a restaurant chain that serves only bowls of quinoa. The 35-year-old software designer is also an unapologetic advocate of Monsanto, which bought his start-up, The Climate Corporation, in 2013 for a cool $1 billion. David Friedberg is a lifelong vegetarian. He was president of his high school’s “Healing Our Planet Earth” club. He’s a major investor in a restaurant chain that serves only bowls of quinoa. The 35-year-old software designer is also an unapologetic advocate of Monsanto, which bought his start-up, The Climate Corporation, in 2013 for a cool $1 billion.
Farmer-scientist group, petitioners win case against Bt eggplant by MASIPAG | 14 Dec 2015 Philippines | corporations | seeds & biodiversity | actions | GMOs After almost four years of litigation led by farmers and allies, the Supreme Court of the Philippines has permanently stopped the field testing of Bt talong, an eggplant variety genetically engineered to produce its own toxin. After almost four years of litigation led by farmers and allies, the Supreme Court of the Philippines has permanently stopped the field testing of Bt talong, an eggplant variety genetically engineered to produce its own toxin.
When it comes to GMOs, beware trans-national capital by Groundbreaking | 10 Dec 2015 China | corporations | GMOs Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are once again in the news. On November 19, 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that a genetically modified animal, a breed of fast maturing salmon, had been approved for human consumption for the first time, sparking an uproar. China may be separated from the U.S. by the Pacific Ocean, but that hasn’t insulated it from GMO controversies. In the two years since a campaign to demand greater openness from China Ministry of Agriculture, three Chinese residents has brought a case against Ministry of Agriculture and third party: Monsanto Far East Ltd. This is an interview with Yan Hairong, a professor in the Department of Applied Social Sciences at Hong Kong Polytechnic University and a volunteer with People’s Food Sovereignty Network who is involve in the case. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are once again in the news. On November 19, 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that a genetically modified animal, a breed of fast maturing salmon, had been approved for human consumption for the first time, sparking an uproar. China may be separated from the U.S. by the Pacific Ocean, but that hasn’t insulated it from GMO controversies. In the two years since a campaign to demand greater openness from China Ministry of Agriculture, three Chinese residents has brought a case against Ministry of Agriculture and third party: Monsanto Far East Ltd. This is an interview with Yan Hairong, a professor in the Department of Applied Social Sciences at Hong Kong Polytechnic University and a volunteer with People’s Food Sovereignty Network who is involve in the case.
The real cattle class: cows fly to China on 747s by Angus Whitley - Bloomberg | 30 Nov 2015 Australia | China | corporations Next time you’re stuck on a long-haul flight in a packed, economy-class cabin, being ignored by a frazzled flight attendant, spare a thought for the passengers on a recent flight from Melbourne to Chongqing in China. They were cows. Destination: the abattoir. Next time you’re stuck on a long-haul flight in a packed, economy-class cabin, being ignored by a frazzled flight attendant, spare a thought for the passengers on a recent flight from Melbourne to Chongqing in China. They were cows. Destination: the abattoir.
Why is there no food on the table at the UN Climate Change Conference? by IUF | 26 Nov 2015 corporations | climate crisis The International Union of food and farm workers, IUF, asks how come that food and farming is not on the agenda in Paris. The International Union of food and farm workers, IUF, asks how come that food and farming is not on the agenda in Paris.
Pregnant silence by George Monbiot | 20 Nov 2015 George Monbiot on the real population crisis. Human numbers are rising at roughly 1.2% a year. Livestock numbers are rising at around 2.4% a year. By 2050, the world’s living systems will have to support about 120m tonnes of extra human, and 400m tonnes of extra farm animals. George Monbiot on the real population crisis. Human numbers are rising at roughly 1.2% a year. Livestock numbers are rising at around 2.4% a year. By 2050, the world’s living systems will have to support about 120m tonnes of extra human, and 400m tonnes of extra farm animals.
We are the solution: African women organise for land and seed sovereignty by Other Worlds | 4 Nov 2015 Senegal | seeds & biodiversity Other Worlds brings us 7-part series on African seed and food sovereignty. The first article, We Are The Solution: African Women Organize for Land and Seed Sovereignty, shares the inspiring work of Mariama Sonko, a farmer and organizer in Casamance, Senegal, discussing how rural women are organizing for land ownership and preserving traditional agroecological peasant agriculture. This series will run every other Wednesday from now until the first week of January. Check here for their archive of stories. Stay tuned! Other Worlds brings us 7-part series on African seed and food sovereignty. The first article, We Are The Solution: African Women Organize for Land and Seed Sovereignty, shares the inspiring work of Mariama Sonko, a farmer and organizer in Casamance, Senegal, discussing how rural women are organizing for land ownership and preserving traditional agroecological peasant agriculture. This series will run every other Wednesday from now until the first week of January. Check here for their archive of stories. Stay tuned!