As we celebrate World Food Day, the People’s Caravan – "Citizens on the Move for Land and Food Without Poisons!," launched a signature campaign based on the People’s Caravan Statement seeking an end to the devastating effects of globalisation; calling for genuine agrarian reform; food security; social justice and land and food without poisons.

"It is ironic that as various countries celebrate World Food Day millions of malnourished people in Asia live in countries with abundant food supplies ", Sarojeni Rengam, Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific (PAN AP) executive director said. According to a recent Greenpeace publication 78 per cent of all malnourished children in the developing world, live in countries with food surpluses.

PAN AP, Tamil Nadu Women’s Forum (TNWF) and the Society for Rural Education and Development (SRED) of India; UBINIG (Policy Research for Development Alternatives) and the Nayakrishi Andolon (New Agriculture Movement) of Bangladesh; and the Kilusang Magbubukid sa Pilipinas (KMP Peasant Movement of the Philippines) launched the signature campaign on behalf of millions of small farmers, landless peasants and farm workers, fisherfolk and indigenous communities, consumers and environmentalists.

Ms. Rengam said "Marginalised communities all over Asia and the world are making a stand against globalisation, against the transnational dominance and control of their lives and its detrimental effects." This includes increased pesticide use; the onslaught of genetic engineering and its health and environmental risks; increased landlessness and land diversion from food production; and the erosions of food safety and diversity, culture and livelihoods—the main themes of the People’s Caravan. "The people are fighting back", stated Ms. Rengam.

The People’s Caravan organised by the above groups in collaboration with SHISUK, Bangladesh; CIKS and PREPARE, India; Gita Pertiwi, Indonesia; NESSFE Japan; CACPK, Korea; and Food First, U.S.A will move through India, Bangladesh and the Philippines, with simultaneous activities in Indonesia, Korea and Japan between November 13-30.

The signature campaign demands genuine agrarian reform that provides land to landless small farmers and peasants—women and men who work the land and for those who have been previously dispossessed—with sufficient support for sustainable rural livelihoods, economies and futures independent of the control of transnational corporations (TNCs).

Lualhati Roque, International Relations Coordinator, KMP says "Genuine agrarian land reform is the foundation of food security, land and food without poisons and social justice."

The signature campaign also demands the restriction, reduction and elimination of pesticide dependence, and the phase out and ban of synthetic chemical pesticides that cause acute, chronic and endocrine disrupting effects. In addition, the cessation of corporate and government harassment of anti-pesticide activists and the indemnification of victims of pesticide poisoning.

For consumers and producers, the signature campaign calls for a total ban on the release, use, and trade of genetically modified seeds and organisms in food and agriculture and especially protests and rejects the development of genetically engineered rice! In addition, the signature campaign demands corporate and government accountability and an end to the injustices perpetuated by agrochemical and food TNCs. #

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