[Gipfelsoli Newsletter] March 30th, Heiligendamm

[International Newsletter]

March 30th, Heiligendamm

- Call for April 17: International Peasant's struggle Day
Thursday, 29 March 2007
- Bush and G8 World Leaders Await over 100,000 Protestors in Germany as Police
Nervously Anticipate Massive Protests
- Anti-globalization groups brace for major protests during G8 summit

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Call for April 17: International Peasant's struggle Day
Thursday, 29 March 2007

The 17th of April is the International Peasant's Struggle Day, establishedafter
the massacre of 19 landless peasants belonging to the Landless Movement(MST) in
Brazil on the 17th of April 1996 during the second conference ofLaVia Campesina
in Tlaxcala Mexico.

In commemoration of the International Peasant's Struggle Day, La Via
Campesinaand its allies are organizing activities and actions all over the
world.Peasants and friends will rally around the following demands:

1.The WTO negotiations should not resume.
We want the WTO to permanently remain in the lethargy state it entered in
July2006. Under the WTO policies, the crisis of food, agriculture and
familyfarming has deepened in every corner of the world.

We call peasants' organizations and other social movements to urge
theirgovernments to put an end to the so-called Doha Development Agenda (DDA).
Inreality there will not be any development as long as countries are
competingwith each others to grab each others food and agriculture markets.

Challenging the Doha Development Agenda, peasants, fisher folks,
pastoralists,workers, women and ordinary people in the world are demanding
theimplementation of food sovereignty.

(Food sovereignty is the right of peoples to healthy and culturallyappropriate
food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods,and their
right to define their own food and agriculture systems. It putsthose who
produce, distribute and consume food at the heart of food systemsand policies
rather than the demands of markets and corporations.

It defends the interests and inclusion of the next generation. It offers
astrategy to resist and dismantle the current corporate trade and food
regime,and directions for food, farming, pastoral and fisheries systems
determinedby local producers. Food sovereignty prioritises local and national
economiesand markets and empowers peasant and family farmer-driven
agriculture,artisanal - fishing, pastoralist-led grazing, and food
production,distribution and consumption based on environmental, social and
economicsustainability.

Food sovereignty promotes transparent trade that guarantees just income to
allpeoples and the rights of consumers to control their food and nutrition.
Itensures that the rights to use and manage our lands, territories,
waters,seeds, livestock and biodiversity are in the hands of those of us who
producefood.

Food sovereignty implies new social relations free of oppression andinequality
between men and women, peoples, racial groups, social classes andgenerations.
(Excerpt of the Declaration of Nyeleni 2007, International Forumon Food
Sovereignty in Selingue, Mali, February 2007))

We call peasants organizations and other social movements to discuss withtheir
governments about trade and production alternatives based on foodsovereignty
and out of the WTO.
2.Stop Free Frade Agreements (FTAs) and Economic Partnership Agreements(EPAs) in
food and agriculture.
FTA and EPAs are just a breakthrough created to deal with the collapse of theWTO
negotiations and to speed up the liberalization process. They are
notalternatives to the WTO, but the other side of the same sharp blade,
theblade of neo-liberalism.

Bilateral agreements and partnerships should be made between peasants
andordinary people based on the principle of solidarity. People to
peoplerelations in solidarity will create brotherhood and sisterhood, while
FTAwill pave the way for transnational corporations to destroy
people'seconomies.

3.End with the colonial model of monoculture.
History shows that that exploitation of other countries' agricultural
wealthusually happens through monocultures farming. This was the colonial mode
ofproduction because the rulers were only concerned about getting commoditiesin
huge volume at the cheapest price. They did not care about the impact
ofmonocultures on the land and on the workers. It led to
environmentaldestruction and slavery.

Until today, agriculture systems based on monocultures keep exploiting
humanbeings and the environment. They create overproduction, which in
turndestroys the peasants' economy because of the dumping of
agriculturalproduces.

We urge all governments to phase out from monoculture farming and to develop
asustainable agriculture based on family farms that respects the ecology
oragro-ecology and produces healthy and nutritious food.

4.Oppose the World Bank policies on land and rural development The World Bank
has been imposing policies leading to privatisation of land,water, public
services, seeds, etc. As a consequence, farmers and ruralcommunities are kicked
out of the land and are loosing their livelihood,while big corporations are
grabbing most of the world resources.

Those policies are even implemented under the name of "agrarian reform"
(theMarket Assisted Land Reform of the World Bank).
We call people's organisations not to be cheated by those neo-liberal
policiesand to keep struggling for genuine agrarian reform which ensures the
rightsof communities to access and control of their land, territories, water
andagricultural biodiversity.

Instead of listening to the World Bank and IMF's advice, governments shouldwork
with their people towards social justice.

5.Reject the G8 domination!
The G8 countries are only representing 13,5 % of the world population, butthey
control 62,6% ofthe world economy. They are shaping the world order(economy,
development, conflicts, environment...) in a way that affects everyhuman being.
This world order drives us in a situation where the number ofhungry people has
increased from 840 to 854 million in 2006 while a tinygroup of millionaires
have doubled their capital from 16 to 33 billiondollars.

A few months before the G8 summit in June in Germany, we are denouncing
thepolicies put forward by the G8 governments in order to maintain their
powerand to protect the interests of the big companies, at the expense of
thegreat majority of the world population.

JOIN THE ACTIONS FOR APRIL 17 !- More on www.viacampesina.org

1.Organize public debates, workshops, discussions, seminars, culturalevents, and
rallies on food sovereignty as the alternative to the neoliberalmodel. You can
use the results of Nyeleni 2007, the Forum for foodsovereignty (Mali, February
2007) to disseminate information and to make surethat food sovereignty
principles are implemented in your country. Invitegovernment officials,
academics and social movements to take part. (moreinformation at
www.nyeleni2007.org)

2.Take part in the global action and activities on 19th of April to stopEU-ACP
EPAs.

3.Join the campaign against green deserts!

4.La Via Campesina, together with many other social movements, will takepart in
the mobilizations against the G8 in Rostock, Germany, June 2 and 3 toshow that
alternative policies are possible. We call people to go to Rostockfor the
mobilizations against the G8.

La Via Campesina calls all its member organizations in the world to prepareand
organize activities, events and actions in commemoration of 17 April. Weinvite
all Via Campesina members to commemorate this event in their farmlandswith
their communities and organisations in their villages, provinces andcountries.

We also call other social movements to celebrate this event.

Please inform us about the activities you are planning. We will publish
allactions and activities in our website. If you want to get more information
please contact:

International Operative Secretariat of La Via Campesina (Contact Person: Tejo
Pramono)
Jln. Mampang Prapatan XIV No. 5 Jakarta Selatan, Jakarta 12790Indonesia.
Phone : +62-21-7991890 Facs : +62-21-7993426 Email:viacampesina at viacampesina.org
And/or join the April 17 listserv by sending a blank message
toviacam17april-subscribe at yahoogroups.com

Or contact our regional staffs that are close to where you live:
Africa (Isabelle Dos Reis)
Maputo - Mozambique Tel/Fax : (+258) 2132 7895
Email: vcafrica at tvcabo.co.mz

South-East and East Asia (Irma Yanni)
Jln. Mampang Prapatan XIV No. 5 Jakarta Selatan, Jakarta 12790Indonesia
Phone : +62-21-7991890 Facs : +62-21-7993426Email: petani at indosat.net.id

Caribbean (Francisca Peguero)
Av Independencia No 1063, Zona Universitaria, Distrito Nacional, Apdo Postal
905-2, Feria.
Tel/Fax: 00-1-809 686 7517 Fax: +1-809-682 0075
Email: conamuca at verizon.net.

Europe (Morgan Ody)
Rue de la Sablonnière18
B - 1000 Bruxelles - Métro: Madou
tel + 32 2 2173112 fax: + 32 2 2184509
e-mail: morganody at yahoo.fr

Central America (Wendy Cruz)
Colonia Alameda, 11 Avenida (Alfonso Guillen Zelaya), entre 3 y 4 Calles,
Casa2025, Apartado Postal 3628 Tegucigalpa, M.D.C. - Honduras, C.A. Tel/fax:
+5042359915/ +5042324679.Email: wendy_cruz_s at yahoo.com

South America (Rita Zanotto)
Alameda Barao de Limeira, 1232 - 01202-002 - Sao Paulo -SP - Brasil Phone -
613325 3909
Email: lavia.campesina at gmail.com

North America(Jessica Roe)
110 Maryland Ave., N.E. Suite 307 Washington , DC 20002 - USA
email:jroe at nffc.netThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you
needJavaScript enabled to view it

South Asia (Gayathri Girrish)
Email : gayathri_krrs at yahoo.co.in


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Bush and G8 World Leaders Await over 100,000 Protestors in Germany as Police
Nervously Anticipate Massive Protests

German police have recently upped the number of police preparing for anti-G8
protests to 18,000, an unprecedented number for a G8 Summit, scheduled to take
place in Heilingendamm, Germany, June 6-8, 2007. Protest groups vow to shut
down annual G8 Summit over growing concerns of long-term G8 inactivity on
climate change, African poverty, HIV/AIDS, and further issues related to
globalization. German Anti-G8 Infotour kicks of USA East Coast Tour.

PRESS CONTACT:
Jason Kirkpatrick, G8 Infotour: 818-661-0648, presse at gipfelsoli.org,
goodniteg8 at riseup.net

When President Bush, Tony Blair, and their host German Chancellor Angela Merkel
meet at the annual G8 meeting of the leaders of the worlds eight largest
economies, they will likely meet the largest protest the G8 has ever seen.
German G8 Police Chief Knut Abramowski estimates 100,000 people will take part
in the protests, and has recently upped the amount of active duty police
officers to 18,000.

"People are tired of the empty promises of the G8," said Jason Kirkpatrick, a
former Vice-Mayor of Arcata, California, who is currently giving a 30 city USA
lecture tour as member of the German based anti-G8 Infotour. "Because the G8
has been making empty promises about improving the environment and helping the
poorest of Africa for years, this year over 100 various groups in Germany are
planning to protest against the G8."

Karla Kamper, from the German protest group Dissent stated, "Germans are
informed and quite concerned about the negative effects of the G8 summit, and
this is why over 20,000 people have protested against every G8 Summit since the
annual closed door meeting has visited Germany since 1985. Police have predicted
trouble starting with the day that President Bush arrives in Germany on June
5th, and we expect that thousands will attempt to avoid Bush's airplane from
even landing."

The German based G8 Infotour is following up on their 240 city tour in 25
European countries by starting a 40 city USA infotour last week. Their goal is
to teach Americans about the history and failures of the G8 summit, and to
encourage people to actively protest against the continuing problems created by
eight world leaders at their annual summit in Heiligendamm.

USA Infotour dates available here:
http://wiki.dissentnetwork.org/wiki/Infotour
    * 30 Mar, 6pm, Boston, Spontaneous Celebrations, spontaneouscelebrations.org
    * 1 April: Penn State, PA Peace Center, 7 p.m.
    * 2 April: Philadelphia, PA, A-Space, www.the-aspace.org
    * 3 April: Baltimore, MD, Red Emma's
    * 4 April: Washington D.C., Brian Mackenzie Infoshop, 7 p.m.
    * 5 April: Chapel Hill, NC, 5 p.m.
    * 6 April: Durham, NC
    * 8 April: Greensboro, NC
    * 9 April: Ashville, NC
    * 11 April: Atlanta, GA Madratz Infoshop, 6 p.m.
    * 13 April: New Orleans, LA
    * 15 April: Houston; TX
    * 16 April: Austin, TX Monkey Wrench Bookstore, 8 p.m.

More web-links:

Dissent! Network, Direct Action against G8: www.dissentnetwork.org
German NGO Platform: http://www.g8-germany.info
German site with information for visiting protesters:
http://gipfelsoli.org/Multilanguage
Basic info about G8: www.g7.utoronto.ca


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Anti-globalization groups brace for major protests during G8 summit

German anti-globalization groups are preparing for a series of violent and
non-violent protests during the upcoming G8 summit, scheduled to take place in
the Baltic Sea resort of Heiligendamm from June 6-8.
"There is an ongoing debate among anti-globalization groups as to how to protest
during the G8 summit. Some are calling for soft actions but some are calling for
more violent measures such as blocking airports and throwing stones," said the
spokesman of a Berlin-based non-government agency (Venro), Gerhard Gad during a
recent press briefing.
"Groups like Attac have harsher positions," he added.
More than 100,000 people are expected to demonstrate against the G8 summit as a
record number of over 16,000 police will be ready to contain the protest wave,
making it the largest security operation in the history of Germany.
Protestors hope to stage a sit-in at the military airport in the northern city
of Rostock-Laage where the G8 delegations are due to land, in a bid to block
their arrival.
Anti-G8 demonstrators will include also labor union, pro- environment, student,
pacifist and radical leftist groups.
"The environment issue will be the dominant theme during the G8 protests. There
is a danger that this issue will wash away all the other themes," added Gad who
is a third world development aid activist.
Opponents of globalization will also hold the largest-ever alternative summit of
globalization critics in the northeastern German city of Rostock from June 5
through7 which will take place parallel to the G8 summit in Heiligendamm.
More than 10 podium discussions as well as around 100 seminars will be conducted
at the alternative summit which will focus on the issues of the G8 meeting.
"We want to show that there are alternatives to the policies of the industrial
nations," said Attac spokesperson, Peter Wahl.
Around 40 groups will participate in the alternative summit.
Alarmed by a number of pre-G8 militant attacks in northern Germany, police has
formed a special nationwide commission, codenamed 'Kavala'

[http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-20/0703305914145539.htm]