EUROPEAN BANKS AND PENSION FUNDS FUEL LAND-GRABS IN UGANDA
European banks and pension funds continue to finance the palm oil giant Wilmar International, according to new research released by Friends of the Earth Europe

An abstract from the Final Report of the 2012 Annual Civil Society Forum.

Glopolis issued new briefing paper on the role of women in African agriculture.

Read the final Nyeleni Declaration: to resist land-grabbing, to support all those who fight land-grabs, and to put pressure on national governments and international institutions to fulfill their obligations to ensure and uphold the rights of peoples
European banks and pension funds continue to finance the palm oil giant Wilmar International, according to new research released by Friends of the Earth Europe
Statement by Civil Society in Africa
The G8 is currently discussing an “initiative to increase transparency of land transactions and tenure”, but the G8 should implement the CFS Tenure Guidelines rather than launch a new initiative. A Statement by the IPC working group on land
Position of European Coordination Via Campesina on the marketing of seeds, plant health and controls
Finally the English version of Burnt land, the new video from EuropAfrica on land grabbing in Congo and how small-scale farmers and producers, and international civil society, are fighting against it.
New report argues that :Land concentration and land grabbing are occurring and reaching blatant levels in Europe
EuropAfrica at the World Social Forum. A dialogue by More and Better to share experiences and debate around agricultural transition
Civil society organisations from the SADC region condemned the SADC draft Protocol for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (Plant Breeders’ Rights) as spelling disaster for small farmers and food security in the region. They are calling for urgent consultations
Tanzanian farmers are dependent on the farmer-managed seed systems. These systems allow farmers to limit the cost of production by preserving biodiversity and independence from the commercial seed sector
We edit the declaration of the Civil Society Assembly in Tunis, during the World Social Forum 2013
Some African states have been accused of complicity in the problem of land grab by investors. Cecile Leuba of Peuples Solidaire and Action Aid France says this is having a serious effect on the local people who lose their land.
BRICS states, except Russia, are enhancing and facilitating land grabs abroad in a way that is inconsistent with their proclamations of sustainable development, cooperation solidarity, and respect of national sovereignty.
A study on land grabbing effect with a focus on West and Central Africa. By Rights and Resources Coalition
On 19 August 2001, the Ugandan army forcefully evicted the population of several villages near Mubende from their land to make way for a coffee plantation. To date, none of the evictees have been compensated. A video by FIAN
In celebration of International Women's Day, FIAN International applauds recent efforts to develop international frameworks in support of the right to adequate food for women.
Poverty, not scarcity of food is the cause of hunger. The current world trade order is skewed against the interests of the needy. Change is required at all levels. An article by Dagmar Milerova Praskova of Glopolis, partner of EuropAfrica.
The G8 countries are implementing a New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition in six African countries that will facilitate the transfer of control over African agriculture from peasants to foreign agribusiness. By Grain
On October 2012, the European Commission published a proposal to limit the contribution food crops can make towards the the EC's target for renewable energy in transportation. But It's not enough.
A call for mobilisation by la via campesina to stop land grabbing
Agriculture in Tanzania involves the participation of the majority of the rural population whose country population stands at about 80 per cent. The Government have to promote agricultural small-scale development
In only 4 days, a spectacular political and military operation carries out evictions of 12 plantations in the Polochic Valley, Alta Verapaz (Guatemala).
In recent years, one of the oldest asset classes in investment – land – has become an issue of international concern and scrutiny. A publication about this issue by the Rights and resources Initiative
Palm oil companies are grabbing more than 1.5 million acres of land in Liberia and are violating the human rights of local communities
The Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF) and the Oakland Institute in the US will convene a day-long summit on 6 February at the India International Centre, New Delhi, bringing together activists resisting land grabs across India and Ethiopia.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has just published an opinion on the evaluation of the risks posed to bees and other pollinators by the use of insecticides of the neonicotinoid family
A report by IIED on agricultural investments in Mali. It analyses national trends in investment flows and patterns; it assesses the adequacy of the legal and institutional framework regulating land and investment; and it examines two examples of more inclusive investments.
This feedback from civil society organisations is based upon feedback received during CSO evaluation meetings held during the last 2 days of CFS 39
Open letter to the members of the Parliament by Eva Lichtenberger (Member of the Committee of legal affairs in the European Parliament)
6 December, 2012 - It is not necessarily land scarcity, but rather improper land administration, abuse of power and systems that are key land conflict triggers in northern Uganda.
A report by More and Better about Applying the right to food in the field - Towards food sovereignty. Access to land and agricultural investment, the EuropAfrica seminar
Major farmland investors such as banks and pension funds must stop facilitating land grabs, say civil society groups on the eve of a global farmland investment conference in London on 3-5 December
International delegates of La Via Campesina gathered in Surin, Thailand, from 6 to 12 November 2012 for the First Global Encounter on Agroecology and Seeds.
Public Health minister Beth Mugo subsequently directed all Public Health Officers at all ports of entry and all other government regulators to enforce the ban on importation of Genetically Modified Foods in the country.
We welcome the adoption on October 17, 2012, of the first version of the Global Strategic Framework for Food Security and Nutrition (GSF).
4 October, Rome - The Annual CSM Forum has brought together representatives from social movements and NGOs in the spirit of solidarity and commitment to promote policy change through the reformed Committee on World Food Security.
Demand for palm oil is driving the deforestation of forests in Borneo, as trees are cleared to make way for the planting of oil farm plantations, which will send carbon dioxide, a global-warming gas, into the atmosphere.
9 October 2012, Rome - Nearly 870 million people, or one in eight, were suffering from chronic undernourishment in 2010-2012, according to the new UN hunger report released today.
UN resolution hints at a new international instrument to promote and protect the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas
All around the globe, many people are losing their control over land, water and forests. The Dutch government said that the Netherlands is not involved in land grabbing. But it's not true
This report is a summery of the debates and presentations held at the conference in Mali against land grabbing, from 17 to 19 November 2011
A video by Marie-Monique Robin about the future of seed in Africa
With rural poverty rising, Mozambique must choose between the contrasting G8 and Africa Progress Panel development models
Olivier De Schutter, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food, proposes stricter taxes for companies and more partecipation for smallholders, herders and fishers against food crises
The Interfaith Centre on Corporate Responsibility, the US investor group with 300 institutional investor members with over $100bn (€79.9bn) in invested capital, has published recommended guidelines for investing in commodities and land.
Romania's smallholder farmers are being denied EU funding as ministers allow the encroachment of large-scale agribusiness (from The Guardian)
A new report by the Oakland Institute provides details from the ground as the investor faces the Iowa. More than 160.000 long-term residents of Katumba and Mishamo will evict
A dangerous international game is being played in the name of assisting Africa to feed itself. What is portrayed as charitable largesse has more in common with reinvigorating neo-colonialism than feeding Africans.
Between little scale farmers, birds but also climate change and large-scale farming, a fact-finding trip in Kenya to understand all country complexities. By Glopolis, EuropAfrica
Campaign calls for an end to land speculation, by Friends of the Earth Europe
A book launched today for promoting a viable food future. By More and Better
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FAO Director-General Graziano da Silva appointed Elisabeth Atangana and Roberto Rodrígues as Special Ambassadors for Cooperatives, with the mandate to promote the role of cooperatives in the fight against hunger. |
Tanzania has been advised to reduce land lease agreement to investors to below 50 years from the current 99. This is in a bid to improve efficient use of potential land.
A showin Kenya gives farmers information in an educational and entertaining way, working to plug the gap between smallholder farmers and researchers
EU agricultural export to ACP group is growing very fast. it's not the same for ACP exports towards Europe
We publish a letter by Mamadou Cissokho (ROPPA) to the President of the African Union. The text underlines the importance of improving the economic viability of farms in order to create a sustainable basis for food security and sovereignty
Civil Society Organizations’ joint reaction to the Guidelines on Land, Fisheries and Forests delivered today by the UN Committee on World Food Security (CFS)
The world's largest database of international land deals is launched. More than 200m hectares of land were sold or leased between 20120 and 2011
An urgent call for support from CNOP against land grabbing.
The final declaration after the regional civil society consultation for Africa held in Brazzaville, 23 april 2012
Now, we edit the declaration the members of the global water justice movement in Marseille in March 2012 at FAME (Alternative World Water Forum). Finally available
Friends of the Earth International just launched a new video on the impacts of World Bank funded land grabbing in Uganda.
Some propositions by the civil society for supporting strengthening of multilateral institutions and processes within the UN framework, making them more democratic and responsive to the needs of people
Evictions, Price Gouging, Natural Gas Burn-off, Crumbling Infrastructure, and Death: The energy boom is not progress, it’s waste and extreme violations of human and environmental rights!
Roma, 18 aprile - We edit the Statement by former staff members of UNCTAD
Call for April 17: International Day of Peasant Struggle
A new report by EuropAfrica on the risks of the increase of biofuels production. Also in Europe
ACP legislators want the Government to reject the Economic Partnership Agreements with Europe, until the population is educated on their effects.
European Conference makes clear call against GM crops, feed, foods and livestock
The booklet is a CSM product that could be widely to strengthen the knowledge on the CSM
Rome, 9th March - Civil Society explains the importance on the Voluntary Guidelines for land tenure. The negotiations was concluded last friday.
From 5 to 8 March NGOs, civil society and heads of state return to Rome to discuss the FAO Voluntary Guidelines on the responsible use of land
For the first time in history, an International Year has been promoted by Civil Society
This briefing by IEED explains how some farmer assessments and citizens’ juries in West Africa has helped farmers assess existing approaches and articulate recommendations for policy and practice to achieve their own vision of agricultural research.
A strategy session to discuss policy opportunities to promote ecological and equitable models of sustainable food production and consumption.
A dialogue with Miguel Altieri, Professor at the University of california Berkeley, about hunger, food and agroecological alternative during a day-long colloquium at the International institute of Social Studies (ISS)
Cette publication a été rédigée par le Collectif stratégies alimentaires (CSA), dans le cadre du second programme du Collectif EuropAfrique.
How Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs and Other Financial Institutions are speculating With Food at the Expense of the Poorest
Pension Danmark's DKK 320 million (EUR 43 million) farmland investment will focus on agricultural production in Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Uganda and Mozambique
Between 2007 and 2010, 5.15 million hectares has been sought in South Sudan by private interests. We need new solutions for its development
A video explains the rural community reasons in Fanaye
WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy has rejected a report by Professor Olivier de Schutter, UN Human Rights Council’s Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, which argues that international trade and WTO rules can conflict with food security.
Pambazuka News speaks to Oakland Institute about the findings of their latest round of in-depth research into land grabs in Africa, from the role played by the energy policies of rich countries and the World Bank to the dangers of a development agenda that fails to heed the negative social, economic and environmental impacts of industrial agrofuel and agroforestry projects.
On 5 December 2011, GRAIN received the 2011 Right Livelihood Award, the ‘Alternative Nobel Prize’, at the Swedish Parliament in Stockholm. And It called for end to land grabbing
Towards food sovereignity: using local cereals to make bread. The video
New SOMO report about negative consequences of food speculation
We edit the joint statement by The West African Civil Society Platform on the Cotonou Agreement(POSCAO), Economic Justice Network of Ghana (EJN) and the Secretariat of the Africa Trade Network (ATN) on the occasion of the ECOWA ministerial monitoring committee (MMC) of the EPA negotiations.
Small steps in the Czech Republic towards sustainable agricultural production and consumption.
The Report written by the Development Fund, in cooperation with several Civil Society's Organization.
Address to Ecofair Trade Dialogue “Strengthening the Role of Human Rights in the EU Trade Policy”, 7 - 7 December - Brussels
A book published today by IIED paints a vivid picture of an alternative future in which food, energy and water supplies are sustainable and in the control of local communities.
On March 11 a new documentary was aired on French television - a documentary that Americans won’t ever see. The gigantic bio-tech corporation Monsanto is threatening to destroy the agricultural biodiversity which has served mankind for thousands of years.
The Future of Food is a hopeful film, featuring insightful and moving interviews with farmers, agriculture and business experts and policymakers. It sees a future in which an informed consumer can join the revolution by demanding natural, healthy food sources that insure environmental integrity.
Concord presents the new Spotlight Report about EU policies effects in the areas of Food Security, Natural Resources, Human Security and Migration.Monday 7 November 2011, h 11:00 - 12:30 Residence Palace Press Centre, Maelbeek room, Brussels
Here, you can read the programme and all informations about four days of demonstrations, conferences, debates and actions.
Food is the most basic of all human needs. After historic, social ed economic analysis about food security, Nora MCKeon proposes architecture and set of practices for a better global governance system
"Traders must keep their hands off from land and food". "the land belongs to those who work it, and to the local communities". "Food Sovereignty for all". These are but few samples of the claims raised in Rome by one hundred representatives from 'La Via Campesina', the IPC and from CISA (Italian Committee for Food Sovereignty). These platforms of peasants' federations held a street demonstration in front of the FAO premises, at the opening of the negotiations on the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security, ended in October 14.
From 10 to 22 October the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) will be meeting at FAO in Rome to debate land grabbing, food price volatility and rural investiments. Nora mc Keon, in this article, explains why the CFS is so important