Agrarian Reform

Cross-posted from Coalition of Immokalee Workers

Days Two and Three:

Back-to-back 15 mile days leave marchers' bodies sore, and spirits soaring!

Part 3 of the Harvesting Justice Series
By Tory Field and Beverly Bell

Agricultural economist Peter Rosset is with the Center for the Study of Rural Change in Mexico
and the Land Research Action Network. He is also a member of the technical support team of
Via Campesina. Beverly Bell talked with Peter Rosset in Havana in 2009; they updated the
interview in 2012.

There are several fundamental pillars that are necessary to take control over food and agricultural
systems. One is to force even reluctant or reactionary governments to regain control over their
national borders from the flow of imported food. That means canceling free trade agreements
and not signing WTO agreements. It means stopping the import either of incredibly cheap,
subsidized food from agro-export countries which drives local producers out of business, or of
food made ridiculously expensive by food speculation.

“Over a half-century ago, Mahatma Gandhi led a multitude of Indians to the sea to make salt in defiance of the British Empire’s monopoly on this resource critical to people’s diet. The action catalyzed the fragmented movement for Indian independence and was the beginning of the end for Britain’s rule over India. The act of ‘making salt’ has since been repeated many times in many forms by people’s movements seeking liberation, justice and sovereignty: César Chávez, Nelson Mandela, and the Zapatistas are just a few of the most prominent examples. Our food movement – one that spans the globe – seeks food sovereignty from the monopolies that dominate our food systems, with the complicity of our governments. We are powerful, creative, committed and diverse. It is our time to make salt.”

By Tory Field and Beverly Bell

“Over a half-century ago, Mahatma Gandhi led a multitude of Indians to the sea to make salt in defiance of the British Empire’s monopoly on this resource critical to people’s diet. The action catalyzed the fragmented movement for Indian independence and was the beginning of the end for Britain’s rule over India. The act of ‘making salt’ has since been repeated many times in many forms by people’s movements seeking liberation, justice and sovereignty: César Chávez, Nelson Mandela, and the Zapatistas are just a few of the most prominent examples. Our food movement – one that spans the globe – seeks food sovereignty from the monopolies that dominate our food systems, with the complicity of our governments. We are powerful, creative, committed and diverse. It is our time to make salt.”

Cross-posted from The Coalition of Immokalee Workers

Slow pace of progress through court system underscores swift response, justice of Fair Food Program

The December 20 edition of the LaBelle, Florida, weekly, The Caloosa Belle, included these four short lines of text in its "Arrest Reports" column:

Cross-posted from Real Food Real Jobs

By Erin ODonnell 

From the incredible victories by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers to the saddening loss of the Community Food Security Coalition, it’s been an up and down and altogether historic year for the food movement. We’re ready to hit the ground running again, but before we do, we’re taking a minute to reflect on our top learnings from 2012.

Cross-posted from grassrootsonline.org

By Sara Mersha 

On May 1 of this year, my colleague Saulo Araujo (Program Coordinator for Latin America) and I spent the day with Rafael Alegría, a leader of the Vía Campesina based in Honduras.  The video below offers some of his reflections.

Announcing an exciting new short film on global agriculture! Cross-posted from Seeds of Freedom's website.

A landmark film from The Gaia Foundation and the African Biodiversity Network.

Narrated by Jeremy Irons.

The story of seed has become one of loss, control, dependence and debt. It’s been written by those who want to make vast profit from our food system, no matter what the true cost.  It’s time to change the story.