Stop land grabbing now!

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STOP LAND GRABBING NOW!!

Say NO to the principles of “responsible” agro-enterprise investment promoted by the World Bank

State and private investors, from Citadel Capital to Goldman Sachs, are leasing or buying up tens of millions of hectares of farmlands in Asia, Africa and Latin America for food and fuel production. This land grabbing is a serious threat for the food sovereignty of our peoples and the right to food of our rural communities. In response to this new wave of land grabbing, the World Bank (WB) is promoting a set of seven principles to guide such investments and make them successful. The FAO, IFAD and UNCTAD have agreed to join the WB in collectively pushing these principles.[1] Their starting point is the fact that the current rush of private sector interest to buy up farmland is risky. After all, the WB has just finalised a study showing the magnitude of this trend and its central focus on transferring rights over agricultural land in developing countries to foreign investors. The WB seems convinced that all private capital flows to expand global agribusiness operations where they have not yet taken hold are good and must be allowed to proceed so that the corporate sector can extract more wealth from the countryside. Since these investment deals are hinged on massive privatisation and transfer of land rights, the WB wants them to meet a few criteria to reduce the risks of social backlash: respect the rights of existing users of land, water and other resources (by paying them off); protect and improve livelihoods at the household and community level (provide jobs and social services); and do no harm to the environment. These are the core ideas behind the WB's seven principles for socially acceptable land grabbing.

These principles will not accomplish their ostensible objectives. They are rather a move to try to legitimize land grabbing. Facilitating the long-term corporate (foreign and domestic) takeover of rural people's farmlands is completely unacceptable no matter which guidelines are followed. The WB's principles, which would be entirely voluntary, aim to distract from the fact that today's global food crisis, marked by more than 1 billion people going hungry each day, will not be solved by large scale industrial agriculture, which virtually all of these land acquisitions aim to promote.

Land grabbing has already started to intensify in many countries over the past 10-15 years with the adoption of deregulation policies, trade and investment agreements, and market oriented governance reforms. The recent food and financial crises have provided the impetus for a surge in land grabbing by governments and financial investors trying to secure agricultural production capacity and future food supplies as well as assets that are sure to fetch high returns. Wealthy governments have sought to lease agricultural lands for long periods of time to feed their populations and industries back home. At the same time, corporations are seeking long term economic concessions for plantation agriculture to produce agro-fuels, rubber, oils, etc. These trends are also visible in coastal areas, where land, marine resources and water bodies are being sold, leased, or developed for tourism to corporate investors and local elites, at the expense of artisanal fishers and coastal communities. One way or the other, agricultural lands and forests are being diverted away from smallhold producers, fishers and pastoralists to commercial purposes, and leading to displacement, hunger and poverty.

With the current farmland grab, corporate driven globalisation has reached a new phase that will undermine peoples’ self-determination, food sovereignty and survival as never before. The WB and many governments see land and rights to land, as a crucial asset base for corporations seeking high returns on capital since land is not only the basis for producing food and raw materials for the new energy economy, but also a way to capture water. Land is being revalued on purely economic terms by the WB, governments and corporations and in the process, the multi-functionality, and ecological, social and cultural values of land are being negated. It is thus more important than ever that these resources are defended from corporate and state predation and instead be made available to those who need them to feed themselves and others sustainably, and to survive as communities and societies.

Land grabbing – even where there are no related forced evictions – denies land for local communities, destroys livelihoods, reduces the political space for peasant oriented agricultural policies and distorts markets towards increasingly concentrated agribusiness interests and global trade rather than towards sustainable peasant/smallhold production for local and national markets. Land grabbing will accelerate eco-system destruction and the climate crisis because of the type of monoculture oriented, industrial agricultural production that many of these “acquired” lands will be used for. Promoting or permitting land grabbing violates the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and undermines the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Land grabbing ignores the principles adopted by the International Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ICARRD) in 2006 and the recommendations made by the International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD).

Land grabbing must be immediately stopped. The WB’s principles attempt to create the illusion that land grabbing can proceed without disastrous consequences to peoples, communities, eco-systems and the climate. This illusion is false and misleading. Farmer's and indigenous peoples organisations, social movements and civil society groups largely agree that what we need instead is to:

  1. Keep land in the hands of local communities and implement genuine agrarian reform in order to ensure equitable access to land and natural resources.
  2. Heavily support agro-ecological peasant, smallhold farming, fishing and pastoralism, including participatory research and training programmes so that small-scale food providers can produce ample, healthy and safe food for everybody.
  3. Overhaul farm and trade policies to embrace food sovereignty and support local and regional markets that people can participate in and benefit from.
  4. Promote community-oriented food and farming systems hinged on local people's control over land, water and biodiversity. Enforce strict mandatory regulations that curb the access of corporations and other powerful actors (state and private) to agricultural, coastal and grazing lands, forests, and wetlands.

No principles in the world can justify land grabbing!

La Via Campesina • FIAN • Land Research Action Network • GRAIN

22 April 2010

Statement co-sponsored by:

Africa

African Biodiversity Network (ABN)

Anywaa Survival Organisation, Ethiopia

Association Centre Ecologique Albert Schweitzer (CEAS BURKINA), Burkina Faso

Coordination Nationale des Usagers des Ressources Naturelles du Bassin du Niger au Mali, Mali

CNCR (Conseil National de Concertation et de Coopération des Ruraux), Sénégal

Collectif pour la Défense des Terres Malgaches TANY, Madagascar

Confédération Paysanne du Congo, Congo RDC

COPAGEN (Coalition pour la protection du patrimoine génétique africaine)

East African Farmers Federation (EAFF)

Eastern and Southern Africa Small Scale Farmers' Forum (ESAFF)

Economic Justice Network of FOCCISA, Southern Africa

Food Security, Policy and Advocacy Network (FoodSPAN), Ghana

FORA/DESC, Niger

Ghana Civil Society Coalition on Land (CICOL), Ghana

Haki Ardhi, Tanzania

Inades-Formation

IPACC (Indigenous People of Africa Co-ordinating Committee)

London International Oromo Workhshop Group, Ethiopia

ROPPA (Réseau des Organisations Paysannes et des Producteurs de l'Afrique de l'Ouest)

Synergie Paysanne, Bénin

Asia

Aliansi Gerakan Reforma Agraria (AGRA), Indonesia

All Nepal Peasants' Association (ANPA), Nepal

Alternative Agriculture Network, Thailand

Alternate Forum for Research in Mindanao (AFRIM), Philippines

Andhra Pradesh Vyvasaya Vruthidarula Union (APVVU), India

Anti Debt Coalition (KAU), Indonesia

Aquila Ismail, Pakistan

Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)

Bantad Mountain Range Conservation Network, Thailand

Biothai (Thailand)

Bridges Across Borders Southeast Asia, Cambodia

Centre for Agrarian Reform, Empowerment and Transformation, Inc., Philippines

Centro Saka, Inc., Philippines

CIDSE, Lao PDR

Daulat Institute, Indonesia

Delhi Forum, India

Focus on the Global South, India, Thailand, Philippines

Foundation for Ecological Recovery/TERRA, Thailand

Four Regions Slum Network, Thailand

Friends of the Earth Indonesia (WALHI), Indonesia

HASATIL, Timor Leste

IMSE, India

Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF), India

Indonesian Fisher folk Union (SNI), Indonesia

Indonesian Human Rights Committee for Social Justice (IHCS), Indonesia

Indonesian Peasant' Union (SPI). Indonesia

International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF), India

Kelompok Studi dan Pengembangan Prakarsa Masyarakat/Study Group for the People Initiative     Development (KSPPM), Indonesia

KIARA-Fisheries Justice Coalition of Indonesia, Indonesia

Klongyong and Pichaipuben Land Cooperatives, Thailand

Land Reform Network of Thailand, Thailand

Lokoj Institute, Bangladesh

MARAG, India

Melanesian Indigenous Land Defense Alliance (MILDA)

My Village, Cambodia

National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO), Sri Lanka

National Fishworkers Forum, India

National Forum of Forest Peoples and Forest Workers, India

Northeastern Land Reform Network, Thailand

Northern Peasant Federation, Thailand

NZNI, Mongolia

PARAGOS-Pilipinas, Philippines

Pastoral Peoples Movement, India

PCC, Mongolia

People's Coalition for the Rights to Water (KruHA), Indonesia

PERMATIL (Permaculture), Timor-Leste

Perween Rehman, Pakistan

Project for Ecological Awareness Building (EAB),Thailand

Roots for Equity, Pakistan

Sintesa Foundation, Indonesia

Social Action for Change, Cambodia

Solidarity Workshop, Bangladesh

Southern Farmer Federation, Thailand

Sustainable Agriculture Foundation, Thailand

The NGO Forum on Cambodia, Cambodia

Village Focus Cambodia, Cambodia

Village Focus International, Lao PDR

World Forum of Fisher Peoples (WFFP), Sri Lanka

Latin America

Asamblea de Afectados Ambientales, México

BIOS, Argentina

COECO-Ceiba (Amigos de la Tierra), Costa Rica

FIAN Comayagua, Honduras

Grupo Semillas, Colombia

Red de Biodiversidad de Costa Rica, Costa Rica

Red en Defensa del Maiz, México

REL-UITA

Sistema de la Investigación de la Problemática Agraria del Ecuador (SIPAE), Ecuador

Europe

Both Ends, Netherlands

CADTM, Belgium

Centre Tricontinental – CETRI, Belgium

CNCD-11.11.11, Belgium

Comité belgo-brasileiro, Belgium

Entraide et Fraternité, Belgium

FIAN Austria

FIAN Belgium

FIAN France

FIAN Netherlands

FIAN Norway

FIAN Sweden

FUGEA, Belgium

Guatemala Solidarität, Austria

SOS Faim – Agir avec le Sud, Belgium

The Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity, Italy

The Transnational Institute (TNI), Netherlands

Uniterre, Switzerland

North America

Agricultural Missions, Inc. (AMI), USA

Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach, USA

Cumberland Countians for Peace & Justice, USA

Grassroots International, USA

National Family Farm Coalition, USA

Network for Environmental & Economic Responsibility, United Church of Christ, USA

Pete Von Christierson, USA

PLANT (Partners for the Land & Agricultural Needs of Traditional Peoples), USA

Raj Patel, Visiting Scholar, Center for African Studies, University of California at Berkeley, USA

The Institute for Food and Development Policy (Food First), USA

Why Hunger, USA

International

FIAN International

Friends of the Earth International

GRAIN

La Vía Campesina

Land Research Action Network (LRAN)

World Alliance of Mobile Indigenous People (WAMIP)

World Rainforest Movement (WRM)

____________

[1] "Principles for Responsible Agricultural Investment that Respects Rights, Livelihoods and Resources " Available at: http://www.donorplatform.org/component/option,com_docman/task,doc_view/gid,1280

 

 

 

 

Statement co-sponsored by:

 

 

 

Africa

 

African Biodiversity Network (ABN)

 

Anywaa Survival Organisation, Ethiopia

 

Association Centre Ecologique Albert Schweitzer (CEAS BURKINA), Burkina Faso

 

Coordination Nationale des Usagers des Ressources Naturelles du Bassin du Niger au Mali, Mali

 

CNCR (Conseil National de Concertation et de Coopération des Ruraux), Sénégal

 

Collectif pour la Défense des Terres Malgaches TANY, Madagascar

 

Confédération Paysanne du Congo, Congo RDC

 

COPAGEN (Coalition pour la protection du patrimoine génétique africaine)

 

East African Farmers Federation (EAFF)

 

Eastern and Southern Africa Small Scale Farmers' Forum (ESAFF)

 

Economic Justice Network of FOCCISA, Southern Africa

 

Food Security, Policy and Advocacy Network (FoodSPAN), Ghana

 

FORA/DESC, Niger

 

Ghana Civil Society Coalition on Land (CICOL), Ghana

 

Haki Ardhi, Tanzania

 

Inades-Formation

 

IPACC (Indigenous People of Africa Co-ordinating Committee)

 

London International Oromo Workhshop Group, Ethiopia

 

ROPPA (Réseau des Organisations Paysannes et des Producteurs de l'Afrique de l'Ouest)

 

Synergie Paysanne, Bénin

 

 

 

Asia

 

Aliansi Gerakan Reforma Agraria (AGRA), Indonesia

 

All Nepal Peasants' Association (ANPA), Nepal

 

Alternative Agriculture Network, Thailand

 

Alternate Forum for Research in Mindanao (AFRIM), Philippines

 

Andhra Pradesh Vyvasaya Vruthidarula Union (APVVU), India

 

Anti Debt Coalition (KAU), Indonesia

 

Aquila Ismail, Pakistan

 

Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)

 

Bantad Mountain Range Conservation Network, Thailand

 

Biothai (Thailand)

 

Bridges Across Borders Southeast Asia, Cambodia

 

Centre for Agrarian Reform, Empowerment and Transformation, Inc., Philippines

 

Centro Saka, Inc., Philippines

 

CIDSE, Lao PDR

 

Daulat Institute, Indonesia

 

Delhi Forum, India

 

Focus on the Global South, India, Thailand, Philippines

 

Foundation for Ecological Recovery/TERRA, Thailand

 

Four Regions Slum Network, Thailand

 

Friends of the Earth Indonesia (WALHI), Indonesia

 

HASATIL, Timor Leste

 

IMSE, India

 

Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF), India

 

Indonesian Fisher folk Union (SNI), Indonesia

 

Indonesian Human Rights Committee for Social Justice (IHCS), Indonesia

 

Indonesian Peasant' Union (SPI). Indonesia

 

International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF), India

 

Kelompok Studi dan Pengembangan Prakarsa Masyarakat/Study Group for the People Initiative Development (KSPPM), Indonesia

 

KIARA-Fisheries Justice Coalition of Indonesia, Indonesia

 

Klongyong and Pichaipuben Land Cooperatives, Thailand

 

Land Reform Network of Thailand, Thailand

 

Lokoj Institute, Bangladesh

 

MARAG, India

 

Melanesian Indigenous Land Defense Alliance (MILDA)

 

My Village, Cambodia

 

National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO), Sri Lanka

 

National Fishworkers Forum, India

 

National Forum of Forest Peoples and Forest Workers, India

 

Northeastern Land Reform Network, Thailand

 

Northern Peasant Federation, Thailand

 

NZNI, Mongolia

 

PARAGOS-Pilipinas, Philippines

 

Pastoral Peoples Movement, India

 

PCC, Mongolia

 

People's Coalition for the Rights to Water (KruHA), Indonesia

 

PERMATIL (Permaculture), Timor-Leste

 

Perween Rehman, Pakistan

 

Project for Ecological Awareness Building (EAB),Thailand

 

Roots for Equity, Pakistan

 

Sintesa Foundation, Indonesia

 

Social Action for Change, Cambodia

 

Solidarity Workshop, Bangladesh

 

Southern Farmer Federation, Thailand

 

Sustainable Agriculture Foundation, Thailand

 

The NGO Forum on Cambodia, Cambodia

 

Village Focus Cambodia, Cambodia

 

Village Focus International, Lao PDR

 

World Forum of Fisher Peoples (WFFP), Sri Lanka

 

 

 

Latin America

 

Asamblea de Afectados Ambientales, México

 

BIOS, Argentina

 

COECO-Ceiba (Amigos de la Tierra), Costa Rica

 

FIAN Comayagua, Honduras

 

Grupo Semillas, Colombia

 

Red de Biodiversidad de Costa Rica, Costa Rica

 

Red en Defensa del Maiz, México

 

REL-UITA

 

Sistema de la Investigación de la Problemática Agraria del Ecuador (SIPAE), Ecuador

 

 

 

Europe

 

Both Ends, Netherlands

 

CADTM, Belgium

 

Centre Tricontinental – CETRI, Belgium

 

CNCD-11.11.11, Belgium

 

Comité belgo-brasileiro, Belgium

 

Entraide et Fraternité, Belgium

 

FIAN Austria

 

FIAN Belgium

 

FIAN France

 

FIAN Netherlands

 

FIAN Norway

 

FIAN Sweden

 

FUGEA, Belgium

 

Guatemala Solidarität, Austria

 

SOS Faim – Agir avec le Sud, Belgium

 

The Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity, Italy

 

The Transnational Institute (TNI), Netherlands

 

Uniterre, Switzerland

 

 

 

North America

 

Agricultural Missions, Inc. (AMI), USA

 

Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach, USA

 

Cumberland Countians for Peace & Justice, USA

 

Grassroots International, USA

 

National Family Farm Coalition, USA

 

Network for Environmental & Economic Responsibility, United Church of Christ, USA

 

Pete Von Christierson, USA

 

PLANT (Partners for the Land & Agricultural Needs of Traditional Peoples), USA

 

Raj Patel, Visiting Scholar, Center for African Studies, University of California at Berkeley, USA

 

The Institute for Food and Development Policy (Food First), USA

 

Why Hunger, USA

 

 

 

International

 

FIAN International

 

Friends of the Earth International

 

GRAIN

 

La Vía Campesina

 

Land Research Action Network (LRAN)

 

World Alliance of Mobile Indigenous People (WAMIP)

 

World Rainforest Movement (WRM)

 

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