[asia-apec 1624] The People's Caravan--Press Release
Anuradha Mittal
amittal at foodfirst.org
Mon Oct 23 09:31:09 JST 2000
For Immediate Release Contact:
Nick Parker
October 20, 2000 (510) 654- 4400 ext. 229
The Peoples Caravan 2000
Citizens On the Move for Land and Food Without Poisons
Kicking off in India, The Peoples 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 Womens 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 Peoples Caravan 2000 Citizens 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
livelihoodsthe main themes of the Peoples Caravan. The people are
fighting back," stated Ms. Rengam.
"The Peoples 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 Peoples 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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