We Are Fighting Back #80
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1.What’s school lunch got to do with learning?
2. Michael Pollen, author of Omnivore’s Dilemma, speaks of farmers Markets and the 2007 farm bill
*****Urgent Action*****
Syngenta seeds greenwashed by Dow Jones in spite of illegal corporate behavior
1. What’s school lunch got to do with learning?
School nutrition programs and school gardens are not new, but for many children such programs have long been abandoned. Over the past few years, the San Francisco Bay Area has seen a revitalization of school garden and nutrition programs. These programs operate on various scales and budgets, but they all share the common goal of engaging children in learning about food. Unity High Live Garden and Youth Holistic Culinary is a program created by the nonprofit Oakland Food Connection, whose mission is to support the quality of life of Oakland’s low-income residents by providing nutrition education and access to locally grown organic produce.
Oakland Food Connection’s founder and East Oakland native Jason Harvey has set up a nutrition and garden program at Unity High, an East Oakland Charter School. “I want to engage local [young] people in setting up the food system and to understand why they should” says Harvey, who for the past year has been working on a shoestring budget to make the program a reality. He has set up a dialogue between himself and the students to allow them to help shape what their school lunch program looks like, and a few days a month allows for student groups to serve food specific to the students’ varied cultural background. Mr. Harvey reports that this empowers students to be part of the decision making process. “Ideally I want them to question food, and they are” Harvey explains as he finished preparing the days lunch of chicken and veggie pasta. He is always fielding questions the students have about this food or that, and says that some students tell him that his program has changed their eating habits at home.
In this age of fast food and microwave dinners Unity High’s program leads the way to providing children with a balanced view of healthy eating habits and of food in general. It is unfortunate that many of these programs are grossly under funded and overlooked, but as long as there are people like Jason Harvey who are willing to go the extra mile and put the children’s interests first, a difference can and is being made.
For more about Oakland Food Connection programs or to volunteer, go to www.oaklandfoodconnection.org
2. Michael Pollen, author of Omnivore’s Dilemma, speaks of farmers Markets and the 2007 farm bill
Speaking at the annual Bioneers Conference, Michael Pollan addressed the virtues of farmer’s markets and argued passionately for people to become involved with the 2007 U.S. Farm Bill. Like many food justice activists, Mr. Pollen recognizes that the multi-billion dollar Farm Bill is also a Food Bill that profoundly affects the livelihoods and the diets of millions of people in the U.S. and the Global South.
Making a strong case for food sovereignty, Pollen looks to building strong local economies based on transforming local food systems to pull out of the “total economy” of industrial agriculture and the agri-foods industry. “The most important politics today are being transacted in farmers markets… Local food is one of the most important political movements,” he affirmed. However, Pollan warned against corporate organic food which he claimed was “going the way of clothes and electronics” with the emergence of “organic feed lots.”
For a more on Michael Pollen’s speech, go to Eric’s Blog at http://www.foodfirst.org/node/1530
*****Action Alert*****
Syngenta seeds greenwashed by Dow Jones in spite of illegal corporate behavior
Something is very, very wrong. This week Syngenta Seeds joined the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI). According to Syngenta’s press release (www.syngenta.com), “the DJSI is the first global indices tracking performance of leading sustainability-driven companies worldwide.” A position in the DJSI is supposedly “based on a thorough assessment of corporate economic, environmental and social performance.” How could this happen when Syngenta is boldly violating Brazilian environmental law?
In March the Brazilian government confirmed that Syngenta illegally planted twelve hectares of genetically-modified (GM) soybeans at its experimental test site in Santa Teresa do Oeste, in the Brazilian state of Paraná. The planting was illegal because it was within the protective boundary zone of the Iguaçu Falls National Park, in which it is illegal under federal law to plant GM crops. Syngenta, which realized profits of $8.1 billion in 2005, carried out illegal experiments that threaten Brazil´s biodiversity and biosecurity.
Adding insult to injury, it was announced this week, that the Brazilian government is considering changing the law for the protective boundary zone for national parks from ten kilometers to five hundred meters, possibly responding to pressure from Syngenta.
In the U.S. Syngenta was responsible for the largest case of genetic contamination in history, when it encouraged U.S. farmers in four states to plant Bt-11 GM corn, that had only been approved for animal consumption. Syngenta then watched silently as this animal feed was mingled with corn for human consumption and sold to unsuspecting consumers as tortillas and corn chips.
Join the Via Campesina Occupation of Syngenta’s illegal experimental test site in Brazil by pressuring the Brazilian government to expropriate the site from Syngenta.
On March 14th, 800 members of Via Campesina occupied Syngenta’s experimental test site, after the Brazilian government confirmed that Syngenta had illegally planted transgenic soy. The occupation has already cost Syngenta over US $50 million.
On October 6th, Syngenta pressured Judge Vanessa de Souza Camargo, of the 4th Jurisdiction of Curitiba, to declare that Roberto Requião, Governor of the State of Paraná, expel the occupants from the site, or face a daily fine of about US $23,500.
Terra de Direitos, a Brazilian civil society organization working to protect human rights in Brazil, requests that you send the attached letter, by email, IMMEDIATELY, to Governor Requião. It is important that Requião know that people and organizations in the Global North support Via Campesina’s occupation, and will support his decision to expropriate the site.
To send the letter:
1. Cut and paste this Portuguese letter into a blank email. Insert your name and/or the name of your organization in the highlighted places.
2. Address the email to Roberto Requião at gov-rrequiao@pr.gov.br. Put
Isabella@kenfield.us in the bcc line so that Terra de Direitos can track this effort. Write ‘Apoio a Ocupação’ in the subject line.
3. Hit ‘Send.’
4. PASS THIS EMAIL ON TO AT LEAST FIVE ORGANIZATIONS/INDIVIDUALS that you think will be interested in supporting this effort.
Thank you for your ongoing support and solidarity! Another World is Possible!
Isabella Kenfield,Coordinator,
International Campaign to Support the Occupation of Syngenta Seeds
Terra de Direitos
Curitiba, Brazil
www.terradedireitos.org.br
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Letter to Governor Requiao
Send this letter in Portuguese
Senhor Governador Roberto Requião,
Eu, (insert name & organization here), escrevo essa carta para declarar meu apoio à Ocupação da Via Campesina no campo experimental da Syngenta Seeds, em Santa Teresa do Oeste no Paraná, Brasil. E por apoiar o projeto de transformação do campo experimental em um Centro de Pesquisa e Educação em Agroecologia, peço a especial gentileza de usar seu poder no sentido de apoiar a desapropriação do campo experimental da Syngenta para o projeto da Reforma Agrária.
A Ocupação da Via Campesina na Syngenta Seeds é muito importante para a luta global contra o imperialismo e hegemonia das empresas multinacionais do agronegócio – ameaça maior que enfrenta os cidadãos do Paraná, do Brasil – na verdade, do mundo. A ocupação é um exemplo de como pessoas pobres e comuns têm o poder de resistir a essa hegemonia. Por favor, não despeje os acampados!
Insisto na importância da desapropriação do campo experimental para fins de reforma agrária, pois só assim, o estado do Paraná e o Brasil poderão construir um projeto sustentável, baseado na agricultura familiar e camponesa e na agroecologia.
Senhor Governador Roberto Requião, o artigo 186 da constituição brasileira declara que para fazer uso da posse da terra à mesma precisa cumprir uma função social, e o campo experimental da Syngenta, não só não estava cumprindo função social, como também, estava sendo utilizado para cultivos de soja transgênica na zona de amortecimento do Parque Nacional do Iguaçu, o que é proibido pela legislação brasileira, ameaçando assim, a biodiversidade e biosegurança nacional. Sendo assim, peço que baseado nesses princípios, resista à pressão exercida por parte do capital estrangeiro representado pela multinacional e também por parte dos fazendeiros do agronegócio e apóie a desapropriação da área para fins de reforma agrária e agroecologia como também para transformá-la num Centro de Pesquisas e Educação em Agroecologia.
Se o mandado de reintegração de posse for cumprido e a empresa for liberada para recomeçar suas atividades sem que assuma seus crimes e seja penalizada por isso, será um indício para que outras empresas multinacionais do agronegócio venham a desrespeitar a legislação e cometam os mesmos crimes contra nossos recursos naturais e a biodiversidade. Agora, com o apoio de sua autoridade como governador do Estado, em se fazer cumprir a lei e desapropriar a área, mostrará às grandes multinacionais do agronegócio que elas precisam obedecer e respeitar as leis e a biodiversidade do planeta.
O Brasil passa por um momento muito importante, ao se juntar com países como, Venezuela e Bolívia, na luta contra o imperialismo do capital internacional, buscando a justiça social, econômica e ambiental. Sendo assim, peço a especial gentileza de apoiar essas mudanças tão importantes para a nação, buscando a soberania e integração dos povos.
Também, gostaria se agradecer pelo apoio que o governo do estado já vem apresentando, ao não ceder às pressões externas e mesmo sob ameaças não ter cumprido o mandado de reintegração de posse. Quero que saiba que tem todo meu apoio em continuar resistindo e acreditando que uma nova forma de crescimento é possível.
Muito obrigado pela sua atenção.
Atenciosamente
(insert name and/or organization here)
_____________________________________
Sample Letter to Governor Requião:
English translation please send the Portuguese version!
Dear Governor Requião,
I write this letter to declare my support for the Via Campesina´s occupation of Syngenta Seeds’ experimental test site, in Santa Teresa do Oeste, Paraná. I also urge you to use your executive power to expropriate the site from Syngenta for the project of agrarian reform, and the creation of a Center for Research and Education in Agroecology.
The Via Campesina occupation of Syngenta Seeds is extremely important for the global struggle against the increasing hegemony and power of multinational agribusiness corporations perhaps the greatest threat currently facing the citizens of Paraná, Brasil and indeed the world. This occupation is a symbol of how poor, common people have the power to resist this hegemony. Please do not expel the occupants!
I urge you to use your executive power to expropriate the site from Syngenta in order to put it to use for the project of agrarian reform. Without an agrarian reform, based on family farming and agroecology, the state of Paraná and the nation of Brazil will never realize sustainable development.
You are in a unique position to call upon Clause 186 in the Brazilian constitution, which states that land must serve a social function, in order to expropriate the site from Syngenta. Not only was Syngenta´s experimental site not fulfilling its social function, but by illegally planting GM soy Syngenta conscientiously and recklessly endangered Brazil´s biodiversity and biosecurity.
If the occupants are expelled and Syngenta is permitted to reassume operations and business-as-usual in Brazil, this will send a loud message to Syngenta and other agribusiness multinationals that they can act with impunity and exploit Brazil´s natural resources as they wish. If the occupation is upheld, and the site is expropriated from Syngenta, this will send a clear message that agribusinesses like Syngenta must abide by the law and respect Brazil´s biodiversity as the property of all Brazilians.
I do not need to tell you that Brazil is currently at a pivotal crossroads. Either it can join with the other countries in the region such as Venezuela and Bolivia that are making changes to create social, economic and environmental justice, or it can bow down to the imperialist forces of international capital, and allow its people and resources to be exploited by international agribusiness. Please do not allow this to happen! Please use your power to support the exciting changes taking place in Latin America by supporting the occupation and expropriating the site from Syngenta.
I would also like to thank you for the support that you have already given the occupation by not expelling the occupants, even under the threat of fines. Please know that you have my full support.
Thank you very much for your attention.
Sincerely,
(your name)
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This edition of our We Are Fighting Back! e-newsletter was written and edited by Food First development director Marilyn Borchardt and intern Micah Douglass . If you have stories, questions or feedback, please contact: info at foodfirst.org. To subscribe to this We Are Fighting Back! newsletter go to www.foodfirst.org.
