April 2007 by GRAIN | 22 Apr 2007 Seedling - April 2007 Read the editorial here & download full issue (pdf) Read the editorial here & download full issue (pdf)
Sorghum: a crop to feed the world or to profit the industry? by GRAIN | 20 Apr 2007 Seedling - April 2007 When maize withers and rice shrivels, people in many parts of the world depend on sorghum. Apart from eating the grain, farmers can make beer and use the stalks to build houses and fences, as well as produce animal feed and medicine.They have nurtured and adapted sorghum for 5,000 years, and it has spread along trade routes from its origin in Ethiopia. GRAIN reports on Ethiopian wheat and sorghum farmers who recovered from famine and on Indian farmers who came through the Green Revolution to restore their food sovereignty. Their stories contrast starkly with biotechnologists’ plans to turn yet another food crop into an export commodity. When maize withers and rice shrivels, people in many parts of the world depend on sorghum. Apart from eating the grain, farmers can make beer and use the stalks to build houses and fences, as well as produce animal feed and medicine.They have nurtured and adapted sorghum for 5,000 years, and it has spread along trade routes from its origin in Ethiopia. GRAIN reports on Ethiopian wheat and sorghum farmers who recovered from famine and on Indian farmers who came through the Green Revolution to restore their food sovereignty. Their stories contrast starkly with biotechnologists’ plans to turn yet another food crop into an export commodity.
Turkey's new seed law by GRAIN | 18 Apr 2007 Seedling - April 2007 In October 2006 the Turkish Grand National Assembly (parliament) passed a far-reaching law on seeds which, if it is fully implemented, will erode the farming practices of all those who work on the land: more than 35 per cent of Turkey’s population. The new law is part of a drive to bring the country’s legislation into line with the European Union, which Turkey’s government hopes eventually to join. In October 2006 the Turkish Grand National Assembly (parliament) passed a far-reaching law on seeds which, if it is fully implemented, will erode the farming practices of all those who work on the land: more than 35 per cent of Turkey’s population. The new law is part of a drive to bring the country’s legislation into line with the European Union, which Turkey’s government hopes eventually to join.
Bread of life by Hélène Zaharia | 16 Apr 2007 Seedling - April 2007 In their effort to improve the taste and nutritional value of their bread, a group of French paysans boulangers (peasant bakers) are seeking out old varieties of wheat, many of which had not been planted for more than half a century. Experimenting with them, they are discovering that some have unexpected advantages, such as provoking a much lower level of gluten intolerance among consumers than industrialised bread. In their effort to improve the taste and nutritional value of their bread, a group of French paysans boulangers (peasant bakers) are seeking out old varieties of wheat, many of which had not been planted for more than half a century. Experimenting with them, they are discovering that some have unexpected advantages, such as provoking a much lower level of gluten intolerance among consumers than industrialised bread.
The bread we eat by Andrew Whitley | 14 Apr 2007 Seedling - April 2007 While the paysans boulangers have been baking nutritious bread from old varieties of wheat in France, a company in the north of England has been producing bread using recipes gathered from various parts of Europe. The Village Bakery was founded in 1976 by Andrew Whitley. Here he traces the history and diagnoses the ills of the industrialised bread produced in the United Kingdom. While the paysans boulangers have been baking nutritious bread from old varieties of wheat in France, a company in the north of England has been producing bread using recipes gathered from various parts of Europe. The Village Bakery was founded in 1976 by Andrew Whitley. Here he traces the history and diagnoses the ills of the industrialised bread produced in the United Kingdom.
Bushmen's victory by GRAIN | 13 Apr 2007 Seedling - April 2007 The court ruling was greeted with jubilation, tinged with sadness, by the Bushmen waiting outside the court room. Members of the First People of the Kalahari, one of the Bushmen’s main organisations, said: “We are all laughing and dancing. We are so happy that finally we can be set free to go back to our beloved land, the land of our ancestors.” A Bushmen spokesman, Roy Sesana, said: “We have been crying for so long but today we are crying with happiness. Finally we have been set free. The evictions have been very, very painful for my people. I hope that now we can go home to our land.” The Bushmen who were forced out of the reserve and the tiny group that remained on the land against the odds all suffered greatly during the years of struggle. Of the original 239 Bushmen who first filed the case in 2002, 29 died before the ruling was made. Others suffered persecution, beatings and arbitrary arrests. The court ruling was greeted with jubilation, tinged with sadness, by the Bushmen waiting outside the court room. Members of the First People of the Kalahari, one of the Bushmen’s main organisations, said: “We are all laughing and dancing. We are so happy that finally we can be set free to go back to our beloved land, the land of our ancestors.” A Bushmen spokesman, Roy Sesana, said: “We have been crying for so long but today we are crying with happiness. Finally we have been set free. The evictions have been very, very painful for my people. I hope that now we can go home to our land.” The Bushmen who were forced out of the reserve and the tiny group that remained on the land against the odds all suffered greatly during the years of struggle. Of the original 239 Bushmen who first filed the case in 2002, 29 died before the ruling was made. Others suffered persecution, beatings and arbitrary arrests.
Luiz Geraldo de Oliveira Moura by GRAIN | 10 Apr 2007 Seedling - April 2007 Luiz Geraldo de Oliveira Moura lives in Ceará in the semi-arid north-east of Brazil. Having seen for himself the damaging impact of the “green revolution”, he began working with peasant families and consumers on an alternative. At his instigation, families in the towns and families in the rural areas have been collaborating for more than a decade in a project geared to regenerating degraded land and to improving living standards for the rural poor. What has emerged is a strong “Social Alliance” that is transforming social relations. Luiz Geraldo de Oliveira Moura lives in Ceará in the semi-arid north-east of Brazil. Having seen for himself the damaging impact of the “green revolution”, he began working with peasant families and consumers on an alternative. At his instigation, families in the towns and families in the rural areas have been collaborating for more than a decade in a project geared to regenerating degraded land and to improving living standards for the rural poor. What has emerged is a strong “Social Alliance” that is transforming social relations.
Sharif Omar by GRAIN | 8 Apr 2007 Seedling - April 2007 Sharif Omar is a farmers’ leader in Jayyus, a small Palestinian village in the West Bank. Jayyus is not far from the green line – the border between Israel and the West Bank established in 1948. When the Israeli government began to build a concrete wall to separate Israel from land in the Occupied Territories that might eventually become a Palestinian state, they did not follow the green line. They routed it in such a way as to embrace the illegal Israeli settlements, and in the process hived off a good deal of Palestinian farmland. Jayyus is one of the villages that the wall has cut off from its people’s farms. Sharif Omar is a farmers’ leader in Jayyus, a small Palestinian village in the West Bank. Jayyus is not far from the green line – the border between Israel and the West Bank established in 1948. When the Israeli government began to build a concrete wall to separate Israel from land in the Occupied Territories that might eventually become a Palestinian state, they did not follow the green line. They routed it in such a way as to embrace the illegal Israeli settlements, and in the process hived off a good deal of Palestinian farmland. Jayyus is one of the villages that the wall has cut off from its people’s farms.