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Food First: WSSD 2002 Update Archive

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Plans Afoot to Promote GM Food to Poor
August 30, 2002 - The public-private partnerships promoted at the World Summit on Sustainable Development are being used to tout genetically manipulated (GM) foods. The controversy over the safety of GM foods has been heightened by Zambia's rejection of U.S. food aid, which contained GM maize.

Rally by the Anti Privatization Forum at the Alexandra Stadium
August 28, 2002 - Questioning the exclusion of the poor and the marginalized from the WSSD, the Anti Privatization Forum (APF) organized a rally in the Alexandra stadium today. The stadium played a key role in anti-Apartheid struggle where Steve Biko organized local people during football games. Today it was the center for organizing for freedom of the poor.

Trade, Finance, and Governance Battle Continues at Earth Summit
August 27, 2002 - Issues such as subsidies, particularly agriculture subsidies, continue to be a quagmire in the talks at the World Summit on Sustainable Development. Addressing a briefing for nongovernmental organizations, organized by the US delegation, Jim Moseley, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Dept.of Agriculture, praised the 2002 Farm Bill for being a 'conservation bill.' He did not address how the new bill has been criticized by its trading partners for it increases agricultural subsidies to the detriment of family farmers around the world.

US-EU Pushing Trade Liberalization at the WSSD
August 26, 2002 - Delegations to the World Summit were locked in make-or break negotiations over the weekend, before the start of the summit today. One of the most fiercely contested areas has been that of trade, finance, and globalization. Yesterday Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth leaked a "non paper" jointly drafted by the EU and U.S. -- a discussion document with no legal status, on trade and globalization.

NGOs Shut Out of the WSSD
August 26, 2002 - Activists are being denied their basic right to protest--the reason being a "security alert" that claims that activists are planning violent protests. To please the "international guests", South African government is using its police and military power on those who protest.

Landless People Planned March at Summit on Sustainable Development
August 22, 2002 - Over 70 protesters, including one American citizen, are being detained after South African police stormed a demonstration by 3000 landless activists marching against forced evictions in advance of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg.