[asia-apec 482] Nature of the Peasant Forum

[infonews at info.com.ph]

Dear friends,

I am forwarding to you for posting to APPA's internet channels the following
reply to an inquiry from Mr. Julian Oram of International Society for
Ecology and Culture [ISEC] of England re the nature of the PEASANT FORUM
which could also be of interest to the general audience.

Many thanks and warm regards to all members of the APPA Secretariat.

For the success of APPA,

Lu Baylosis
Peasant Movement of the Philippines [KMP]
e-mail: <kmp at info.com.ph> <lualhati at philonline.com>
tel/fax: 00632/435-3564;
tel: 00632/920-5668

.........................................
Date: Sat, 20 Jun 1998 11:35:11 +0800
>To: isecuk at mail.gn.apc.org (isec) (by way of BAYAN <bayan at iname.com>)
>From: infonews at info.com.ph
>Subject: Reply re: [asia-apec 473] Attn: Lu Baylosis
>
>Dear Julian,
>
>Greetings! Thank you for your interest.  
>
>1.  The Peasant Forum on Strategies will principally focus on the various
forms of struggles that the peasant/farmers organizations and their
advocates have found effective. Whether they be through negotiations, fora,
conferences, protest activities, land occupations, hunger strikes,
propaganda campaigns, cooperatives, solidarity and other creative forms that
the tillers and producers have resorted to to address their demand for land,
food and justice.
>
>We believe that through several conferences in the past that we held or
those we have attended, the impact or the adverse effects of globalization
on the farming community have already been richly discussed. We want to
achieve in this forum  where we would gather various peasants and supporters
a sharing of respective experiences and learn from each other on their forms
of resistance to globalization.
>
>1.a. Issues that affect the peasantry that should be supported
internationally would be discussed by the body. 
>
>1.b.  We envision a mix composition of Third World small peasants and the
landless and/or rural workers who will be the majority and coming mostly
from APEC-member countries, on one hand, and the small family-based farmers
and agricultural workers from capitalist countries who may not be
necessarily members of APEC but could be members also of their respective
regional economic zones.
>
>1.c.  Another composition would come from advocates of peasant issues or of
environmental protection particularly land and the natural resources.  We
will also invite members of peasant support groups from First World who have
carried and supported specific peasant-related issues.
> 
>2.  Schedules:  registration starts on the 10th nov; 11th-12th nov. for
peasant forum; 13th-14th plenary sessions of the peoples' assembly; and on
the last day - 15th nov. is the mobilization. so it is preferable that
participants would arrive on the 9th or 10th. 
>  
>3.In terms of the costs: for those coming from the First World they would
not be subsidized due to financial constraints.  They will have to pay a
registration fee of $20 dollars in the Peasant forum and $50 in the Peoples'
Assembly.  We are gathering donations for the travel costs for Third World
peasant delegates.  We will soon post a call for advocates especially from
the First World participants and otherwise to sponsor the travel cost of one
peasant delegate. 
>
>We will post other information, program and brochure on the first week of
July as we are still finalizing it.  Have I answered your questions?  Just
send in if there are more and we will be willing to communicate with you.
>
>Please keep on reading our postings and keep and touch.  
>
>LU
>Peasant Forum Secratariat
>.....................................
>
>At 12:37 AM 6/19/98 +0800, you wrote:
>>Dear Lu,
>>
>>I would be very intersted to receive more information on this gathering and
>>details on registration.
>>
>>Thank you very much!
>>
>>Julian Oram
>>
>>International Society for Ecology and Culture (ISEC)
>>Apple Barn
>>Week, Dartington
>>Devon, TQ9 6JP
>>England
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>