Dear TC Sustainers:
We are so much more fortunate than much of the world with our access to food
and the basics of life. Much of the world is not so lucky and today is a day
in which this reality is acknowledged. This is a reminder to join the
struggle from where we are so that all of us can live sustainable lives.
in solidarity
Tony Del Plato
PS: If anyone wants the logo, I will send the attachment to you, off list.
*PRESS RELEASE: **October 16, 2008*
*Millions of People Observe October 16 as World Foodless Day*
*A Global Day of Simultaneous Actions that resist forces*
*maintaining the Financial and Food Crises*
Today, 16 October, 2008, millions of farmers, agricultural workers,
fisherfolks, pastoralists and herders, indigenous peoples, women, migrants,
consumers, youth and urban poor are in unison in resisting neoliberal
policies that created and maintain the food security crisis and the
financial meltdown.
The financial crisis and food crisis make the basic right to food elusive. They
both share the same recipe deriving from failures of free market
fundamentals that feed on each other.
"The continued implementation of liberalisation, deregulation and
privatisation policies only support the giant agribusiness corporations who
are definitely going to scramble to accumulate more profits." says *Danilo
Ramos**, secretary general of Asian Peasants Coalition (APC)*. He
adds, "Thetwofold and intertwined crises in the world's food and
financial systems are
doomed to be a never-ending cycle until free market trade fundamentals are
destroyed, genuine solutions to stabilise food and financial markets are
implemented and people are the basis for steering the change."
"Small food producers or peasant farmers have inherent knowledge and
experiences to address the food crisis but we are treated as mere recipients
of policies that do not benefit us." says *Fathima Burnad of Society for
Rural Education and Development (SRED) of India*. She adds, "We commit World
Foodless Day as a day to send a strong message for genuine interventions
that include us in addressing the root causes of the crises."
"The immediate effects of the crises which include spiraling food prices
gave a crushing blow to the working class including women, peasants,
agricultural workers and landless farmers. World Food Day is a mockery and
is much better named World Foodless Day." says *Azra Sayeed of Roots for
Equity in Pakistan*. She adds, "We observe World Foodless Day to assert our
food sovereignty and women's participation, to demand control over our
natural resources including land, seed, and water and to reject trade
liberalization which has forced millions of farmers to poverty."
According to *Chennaiah Poguri of **Andhra Pradesh Vyavasaya Vruthidarula
Union (APVVU)* *in India*, "Our strength is made visible in the number of
people who are joining us in the struggle against the crises. We are
expecting 25,000 individuals from Andhra Pradesh alone and we are estimating
about 574,000 people observing World Foodless Day around the country as we
are able to organise with other groups."
*Erpan Faryadi** of Aliansi Gerakan Reforma Agraria (AGRA) of
Indonesia*said,"We are mobilising 4,000 people in protest rallies
where we will
highlight the problems and agricultural conflicts that are affecting the
peasants in Indonesia as well as call for implementation of a genuine
agrarian reform. We resist International Financial Institutions for creating
global issues that trickle down and make us suffer.
"For migrants, the plunder that neoliberal agenda in agriculture impacts
them two-fold - migrant workers come from countries where rural people are
displaced by massive land concentration, extreme feudal exploitation, and
land redevelopment; globalization policies in food production make it
difficult to cope with increasing prices of basic commodities that leave
compatriots in the home countries hungry." says Hong Kong based *Ramon
Bultron of Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants*. He adds, "Now with the
current global financial meltdown, more people will surely go hungry or be
forced to eke out a living by being modern day slaves. We migrants support
the grassroots peasants and advocates for food sovereignty."
Ninety nine national and international NGOs and People's Organisations from
23 countries have called on the United Nations (UN) Task Force on Global
Food Security Crisis and Ban Ki-moon, UN secretary general and Task Force
head, to draw comprehensive measures to resolve the global food security
crisis. In the letter, handed over to the UN on 14 October 2008 as the FAO
Committee on World Food Security met in Rome to discuss the global food
crisis, the organisations expressed their concerns on the Comprehensive
Framework of Action (CFA) that was drawn. The CFA has prescribed the same
policies that created the crisis and are seen to strengthen power
structures, approaches and practices. In the same letter, the organisations
stipulated people's recommendations in addressing the food crisis to the UN
Task Force. Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific (PAN AP) continue
to enjoin organisations in this signature campaign.
World Foodless Day is a day of global action on the crises that beleaguer
the people. The objectives are as follows: create public awareness and media
attention on the root causes of the food crisis; provide policy
recommendations and organize meetings with government officials, opinion
makers and leaders; organise activities to raise our voices against
neoliberal policies and their impact; and highlight people's recommendations
to respond to the world food crisis.
It is organized by (PAN AP) and People's Coalition on Food Sovereignty
together with 22 NGOs and People's Organisations from 16 countries. For more
details, please visit *www.panap.net/wfd*
*WORLD FOODLESS DAY EVENTS CALENDAR*
In *India*, four organisations are organising simultaneous events. *Andhra
Pradesh Vyavasaya Vruthidarula Union (APVVU)* is organising district wide
protest rallies and public meetings in 15 districts. In Tamil Nadu, *Society
for Rural Education and Development (SRED)* is holding meetings and
campaigns on food crisis. *Centre for Community Economics and Development
Consultants Society (CECOEDECON)* is holding a workshop with government
officials, community leaders and farmers' associations and *Institute for
Motivating Self-Employment (IMSE)* will be organising a mobilisation and
film showing on the food crisis. They will also release a book that
documents the violations of right to food and the role of multinational
corporations and neoliberal policies.
In *Nepal*, two organisations are participating in the observance of World
Foodless Day. *All Nepal Peasants' Federation (ANPFa)* is organising a mass
mobilisation and workshop on Food Crisis; and *All Nepal Women Association
(ANWA) *is holding a program for women leaders as well as joining protest
actions led by Right to Food Network. In *Bangladesh*, *SHISUK* is having a
dialogue on the Issue of Food Security and Agriculture Input Management in
Bangladesh, debate and discussion of Global Food Crisis and art competition.
In *Pakistan*, *Lok Sanjh Foundation* is holding national and zonal Dehqan
assemblies. In *Sri Lanka*, *Vikalpani *is organising a workshop on food
crisis and local food exhibit featuring rice products. They are also
organising a meeting with opinion makers and leaders on the improvement of
food policy. In the *Philippines*, *Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas
(KMP)*is holding a dialogue with the Department of Agriculture (DA)
Secretary and
the National Food Authority (NFA) Administrator. They will also organise a
rally infront of the DA's office and picket at the NFA warehouse. In *
Malaysia*, *Tenaganita* is holding a forum on biofuel, food sovereignty and
sustainability. In *Hongkong*, the *Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants *is
holding cultural presentations and public forums on World Foodless Day.
In *Cambodia*, the *Cambodian Center for Study and Development in
Agriculture (CEDAC)* is airing a live radio seminar on rice crisis. In *
Vietnam*, the *Centre for Gender, Family and Environment in Development
(CGFED)* is organising information awareness activities and group
discussions. In *Indonesia*, World Foodless Day activities will be held in
Solo and Jakarta. In Jakarta, *Aliansi Gerakan Reforma Agraria (AGRA)* is
organising protest actions on the theme of ''Stop Land Monopoly and Violence
against the Peasants: Assert Our Rights to Land and Food.'' In Solo, *Gita
Pertiwi* is conducting a seminar, exhibit and national discussion with INFID
and INDIES on the role of International Financial Institution policies on
the food crisis. There will also be a local food competition among women
organisations.
In *Mongolia*, *Center for Human Rights and Development (CHRD)* is holding
an information session and photo contest with journalists. In *Japan*,
*Consumers
Union of Japan (CUJ)* is organising a forum. In *China*, *Pesticide
Eco-Alternatives Center (PEAC)* is also holding a forum on the food crisis. In
*Kenya*, the *Kenya Small Scale Farmers Forum (KESSFF)* is holding an
exhibit on best practices and strategies to food security and food
sovereignty. In *Uganda*, *Participatory Ecological Land Use Management
(Pelum) Uganda* is holding radio talk shows and information awareness
activities.
###
Contact: Clara Guzman
PAN Asia and the Pacific
P.O. Box 1170, 10850, Penang, Malaysia
Contact Number: +604 657 0271 or +604 656 0381
Pesticide Action Network (PAN) is a global network working to eliminate the
human and environmental harm caused by pesticides and to promote
biodiversity based ecological agriculture. PAN Asia and the Pacific is
committed to the empowerment of people especially women, agricultural
workers, peasants and indigenous farmers. We are dedicated to protect the
safety and health of people, and the environment from pesticide use and
genetic engineering. We believe in a people-centered, pro-women development
through food sovereignty, ecological agriculture and sustainable lifestyles.
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--
Hatred does not cease through hatred at any time. Hatred ceases through
love. This is an unalterable law. - Buddha
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