[asia-apec 1624] The People's Caravan--Press Release

[Anuradha Mittal]

For Immediate Release                                         		Contact: 
Nick Parker	
October 20, 2000					(510) 654- 4400 ext. 229


The People’s Caravan 2000 

Citizen’s On the Move for Land and Food Without Poisons


Kicking off in India, The People’s Caravan is a grassroots led mass 
mobilization and alternatives building initiative to tackle growing 
control of transnational corporations of our agriculture and food system 
and to demand the human right to feed oneself. 

Organized by the India based Society for Rural Education and Development 
and Tamil Nadu Women’s Forum; UBINIG and Naya Krishi Andolan (New 
Agriculture Movement) in Bangladesh; KMP – the Peasant  Movement of the 
Philippines; and Pesticide Action Network (Asia Pacific), in 
collaboration with Food First/The Institute for Food and Development 
Policy, The People’s Caravan 2000 – Citizen’s on the Move for Land and 
Food initiative is taking place between November 13-30, 2000. 

"Marginalised communities all over Asia and the world are making a stand 
against globalisation, against the transnational dominance and control 
of their lives and its detrimental effects," said Sarojeni Rengam, 
Executive Director of Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific (PAN 
AP). "This includes increased pesticide use; the onslaught of genetic 
engineering; increased landlessness and land diversion from food 
production; and the erosion of food safety and diversity, culture and 
livelihoods—the main themes of the People’s Caravan. The people are 
fighting back," stated Ms. Rengam. 


"The People’s Caravan 2000, will not only challenge but also celebrate 
local initiatives towards  sustainable healthy agriculture," said 
Anuradha Mittal, Co Director of Food First. "It hopes to foster 
community supported agriculture via closer linkages between farmers and 
consumers, uphold our local food diversity and knowledge, and reclaim 
our right to feed oneself."


>From India, the People's Caravan will travel to Bangladesh and the 
Philippines demanding the human right to feed oneself, which is 
threatened by the global corporatization of industrial agriculture. 
Partner groups in Indonesia, Japan, Thailand and Korea are planning to 
hold their simultaneous Caravan activities and join up the final leg of 
the Caravan in Manila on November 30, 2000 commemorating "One year Since 
Seattle." 


For more information about the People’s Caravan, Please contact Nick 
Parker, Media Coordinator, Food First at (510) 654-4400 ext. 229. 

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Join the fight against hunger. For more information contact foodfirst at foodfirst.org.

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