For thousands of years, different peoples in the most disparate parts of the world – especially women, but also men – have guaranteed food sovereignty based on the biodiversity of the regions where they live. Through their wisdom and knowledge, they were able to distinguish and use an abundance of seeds, roots, fruits, leaves, trees, shrubs, medicinal plants, animals, fish and much more.
Bulletin articles
Food sovereignty, which is centred on local autonomy, local markets and community action, and encompasses issues like agrarian reform, territorial control, biodiversity, cooperation, health and many others connected to food production, has become a process of grassroots resistance. And, as we noted in WRM Bulletin 115, its conceptualization is not only deeply rooted in the social movements fuelling these struggles, but is also an opportunity to bind them together in a common agreement over objectives and actions.
At WRM we have been publishing our monthly electronic bulletin since 1997. It is currently sent in four different languages to more than 15,000 subscribers. This month we have launched an online survey to evaluate the bulletin, with the goal of improving it so that it can better serve its purpose as a bridge for the exchange of information and a tool for local community struggles.
We invite you to take part in this very brief survey to help us make the bulletin as effective as possible.
This past September 21, on the occasion of the International Day Against Monoculture Tree Plantations, representatives of social environmental organizations from Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe gathered in Montevideo , Uruguay to exchange knowledge and experiences of resistance to the impacts of tree plantations. One of the outcomes of the meeting was the issuing of the Montevideo Declaration, available at:
http://www.wrm.org.uy/plantations/21_set/2011/Declaration.html
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Among other things, check out the photos of the last WRM international meeting in Montevideo , including our field trip, as well as regular news updates from WRM and our partners
Over the years, the establishment of large-scale monoculture plantations for food production has been accompanied by the so-called Green Revolution “technology package”, leading to the poisoning and impoverishment of biodiversity. This has had particularly serious impacts on women, because in many communities around the world, they are primarily responsible for providing their families with health care, water and food – activities that are closely linked to the conservation of biodiversity.
In Africa there is a story that has been passed down through the years about a woman from Mali named Nyéléni, who challenged patriarchal power by excelling at something that was considered “men's work”: agriculture. As well as defeating her male opponents in farming competitions, she also managed to overcome the arid climate and domesticate crops like fonio and samio, which made it possible to feed the whole population of Mali .
I come from a family that considers seeds as something sacred. Back in my father's day, our neighbours could sleep peacefully, because they knew that my father had a safe supply of seeds to plant. (Family farmer, Paraíba)
On October 27, hundreds of indigenous men and women, fisherfolk and riverine community members occupied the construction site of one of the biggest hydroelectric dam projects in the world, the Belo Monte dam in the state of Pará, Brazil, which will have devastating impacts on the lives of the local population.
This past August 16, as many of you know, we lost our dear friend and colleague Ricardo Carrere. While Ricardo’s passing has signified a huge loss for us, at the same time, he has left behind an extraordinary legacy.
Ricardo Carrere passed away in the early morning of August 16, 2011. He had been suffering from lung cancer for some time but wished to remain as discreet as possible about the evolution of the sickness. Everything accelerated in a few days and the sad news took us completely by surprise.
On September 21st several activities will be coordinated around the world to celebrate the International Day of Struggle against Tree Plantations.