The People's Caravan 2000 Land and Food Without Poisons!
The
caravan expressed the international solidarity among farmers to resist the
monopoly control of agrochemical transnational corporations (TNCs). "Just
like our brothers and sisters in other countries, we, Philippines farmers are
bled dry by these manufacturers of poison. They are reaping super profits at
the expense of the farmers' livelihood and everybody's health," he said.
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Subject: The People's Caravan 2000 Land and Food Without Poisons!
Date: Fri, 08 Dec 2000 22:02:22 -0500
From: Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
Organization: Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com)
To: Paul Helliker <phelliker@cdpr.ca.gov>
Director, State
of California, Department of Pesticide Regulation
Dear Mr. Helliker, I
thought you might like to read an articles entitled: The People's Caravan 2000
Land and Food Without Poisons!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 24 November, 2000
Fwd: 15TH PRESS RELEASE-PEOPLE'S CARAVAN
The People's Caravan "Citizens on the Move for
Land and Food Without Poisons!" Kicks off in the Philippines
Kilusang Magbubukid Ng Pilipinas (KMP), Peasant Movement
of the Philippines, Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific (PAN AP) and
organisations from India, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Thailand, launched the
Philippine leg of the People's Caravan "Citizens on the Move for Land
and Food Without Poisons!" during a press conference today.
KMP is the principle host of the nationwide event in the
Philippines between November 27-30 as it moves through the Northern Luzon
region involving farmers from Isabela, Nueva Viscaya and Nueve Ecija and
the Central Luzon region involving farmers from Bicol, Camarines Sur,
Quezon and Laguna. Activities will also start in Davao City, Mindanao
traveling to Davao del Sur and General Santos City culminating in Manila.
According to Rafael Marino, Chairperson of KMP, the
caravan expressed the international solidarity among farmers to resist the
monopoly control of agrochemical transnational corporations (TNCs). "Just
like our brothers and sisters in other countries, we, Philippines farmers are
bled dry by these manufacturers of poison. They are reaping super profits at
the expense of the farmers' livelihood and everybody's health," he said.
Sarojeni V. Rengam, Executive Director, PAN AP said:
"We want land and food without poisons. Asian governments and governments
all over the world havenot protected the health of people and the environment.
They have allowed dangerous pesticides to be used which have found their way
into our food and water. We are challenging them to put the health of people
first, not profits."
Habibur Rahman, a farmer with Nayakrishi Andolon (New
Agriculture Movement) and Sunil Kumar Dev Roy, a community leader and farmer
with SHISUK, Bangladesh and Ms. Albertina Hendrastutm, a farmer leader with
the Women's Farmers Network, Central Java, Indonesia, shared experiences from
their countries on the reality of growing food without poisons and genetically
engineered technologies.
Speaking on the challenges of pesticide exposure and
poisoning faced by her local community, Ms. Deling Adela Pastidiom of Pumalag
(Unity of Peasants), Laguna and the Alliance of Peasants, Workers and other
Sectors passionately challenged government authorities to address these
problems.
The caravan started today with fora and mobilisations
sponsored by KMP chapters all over the country. In Munoz Nueva Ecija, farmers
held discussions with representatives from PhilRice to register their
opposition to the institution's involvement in promoting genetically
engineered rice.
Thousands of farmers will travel to Quezon City on
November 28 to share their experiences during a "Safe Food Festival"
and vigil in front of the Department of Agriculture. They will picket in front
of the office of the giant agrochemical TNC, Monsanto on November 29 and
proceed to the United States Embassy to commemorate "One Year Since
Seattle".
For more information contact:
PAN AP (Pesticide Action Network Asia & the Pacific)
Jennifer Mourin, Campaigns and Media Coordinator OR Sarah
Hindmarsh, Programme Assistant Genetic Engineering Campaign. Tel: (60-4)
657-0271/ 656-038. Fax: (604) 657-7445 E-mail: panap@panap.po.my or visit the
People's Caravan Web site: www.poptel.org.uk/panap/caravan.htm
KMP (Peasant Movement of the Philippines) E-mail: kmp@quickweb.com.ph
Web Site: www. geocities.com/kmp.ph
_________________________________________
People's Caravan 2000P.O. Box 1170, 10850, Penang, Malaysia.
Tel: (604) 657 0271/656 0381 Fax: (604) 657 7445
E-mail: pcaravan@tm.net.my / panap@panap.po.my
Webpage: www.poptel.org.uk/panap/caravan.htm
Well Mr. Helliker, I would like to personally challenge
you to put the health of the people first and not more "registered"
profits for the POISON "industry"!