USA: African Food Sovereignty Advocates Visit Wisconsin!
Join International Protest Against Monsanto and
Tour Sustainable Agriculture Operations
Thurs. Oct. 15th 4:30 pm Agracetus Greenhouse Complex (8520 University Green in Middleton.) Picket Against Monsanto! Held in solidarity with dozens of other anti-biotech actions around the globe – part of Via Campesina's International Day of Action Against Transnational Corporations.
Thurs. Oct. 15th 7:00 pm UW-Madison, Rm. 1121 Humanities Bldg. (455 N. Park St. in Madison) The Grassroots Struggle to Defend Africa's Food Sovereignty from Corporate Agribusiness. Panel Presentation featuring: Josphat Ngonyo, Africa Network for Animal Welfare – Kenya; Seremos Kamuturaki, Uganda Fisheries and Fish Conservation Association (UFFCA); and John Kinsman, President of Family Farm Defenders
Fri. Oct. 16th 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Farm tours in south central Wisconsin. Visits to Cedar Grove Cheese, John Kinsman's organic dairy farm, Hilltop CSA farm, Hirshberger's Chocolate Factory and Amish farm, Brickner's sheep farm, plus press conference at 1:00 pm at the Deli Bean (266 E. Main St. in Reedsburg) Carpool leaving from 1129 E. Wilson in Madison at 7:30 am
Fri. Oct. 16th 8:00 pm Just Coffee (1129 E. Wilson in Madison) Welcome Reception for African Delegation. Free and Open to the public!
Family Farm Defenders is pleased to host a visit to Wisconsin by two African food sovereignty advocates. These guests are in the U.S. to discuss the current failures of the ‘Green Revolution’ in Africa and the problems with the latest 'Gene Revolution' being promoted by USAID, Gates Foundation, and the World Bank, among others. They will also share their own experiences and strategies of farmers and fishers who promote a food sovereignty model that better supports their communities and protects the environment.
Josphat Ngonyo from Kenya is the founding Director of Africa Network for Animal Welfare. He won the Eastern Africa Environmental Leadership Award in 2003. He sat on the National Steering Committee that spearheaded Kenya's wildlife conservation and is a member of the Global TaskForce on Farm Animal Welfare and Trade and an honorary warden with the Kenya Wildlife Services.
Seremos Kamuturaki is the Chairman of the Uganda Fisher’s and Fish Conservation Association (UFFCA) and advocates for sustainable fish production. He is the Vice President of the Agricultural Council of Uganda and Treasurer of World Firm of Fishermen. Apart from fish production, his family also grows pineapples and bananas.
For further information on the International Day of Action Against Transnational Corporations and Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), visit: www.viacampesina.org
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John E. PeckExecutive Director
Family Farm Defenders,
P.O. Box 1772, Madison, WI 53701
tel./fax. 608-260-0900
www.familyfarmdefenders.org