Mayotte is experiencing a severe water crisis as water sources run dry and the distribution network in a poor state requiring urgent attention. Rains to replenish the sources not expected until November. Water cuts are common.
Who are we?
Bridging Local Farming and International Activism
La Via Campesina has over 200 million members in more than 80 countries. There are three levels within La Via Campesina. The member organizations, which include unions, cooperatives, or associations, form the first level. Then, all these organizations are grouped by region, with nine regions in La Via Campesina. These nine regions together constitute La Via Campesina. Every four years, a conference is organized to decide the working priorities for the next four years. The next conference will be held in Colombia in December. We expect 500 delegates from all over the world.
Haiti: Peasants defend their Food Sovereignty amidst new attempts at international interference
The threat of military intervention looms large in Haiti. To make matters worse for the people, the neighboring Dominican Republic is closing the border amid accusations of river diversion. The Dominican government’s decision is unjustified and violates the legitimate right of the Haitian people to the equitable use of shared water resources at the border. Under international law and existing bilateral treaties, Haiti has the right to use this shared water source.
South Asian Dispatches: Episode 1 – Farmworkers’ Strike in Bangladesh
The Communications Collective of South Asia, with support from the Youth Media Collective of MONLAR, is releasing the first edition of La Via Campesina’s South Asian Dispatches. Episode 1 focuses on the ongoing farmworkers’ strike in Bangladesh, organized by the Bangladesh Agricultural Farm Labour Federation since July 21, 2023. The struggle has compelled the government to establish a committee to study the matter and provide recommendations.
La Via Campesina and CETIM denounce the sanctions against Niger at the UN
On September 14, 2023, during the 54th session of the Human Rights Council, a biennial “Panel discussion on unilateral coercive measures and human rights” was held in Geneva. Fatimatou Hima from the Plateforme Paysanne du Niger, a member of Via Campesina, intervened on behalf of CETIM to declare and denounce the consequences of economic and financial sanctions against Niger and its people, particularly the impact on Nigerien peasants.
Solidarity with the Libyan People and their Peasants in the aftermath of Storm Daniel
On Sunday, September 10, 2023, the city of Derna in Libya, along with neighboring villages and towns, witnessed the devastating impact of Storm Daniel. This unprecedented natural disaster inflicted profound destruction on Libya, leaving a trail of unprecedented devastation in its wake. Over 3,900 lives were lost, with more than 9,000 still missing and an additional 20,000 forcibly displaced.
The Landworkers’ Alliance: Seasonal Worker Visa and the Degradation of Working Conditions in UK Horticulture
A new report from the Landworkers’ Alliance (LWA) shines a light on the systemic drivers of exploitation in the UK immigration system with regard to seasonal fruit and veg pickers. The report also includes a supply chain analysis, which reveals that migrant seasonal workers picking soft fruit retain on average just 7.6% of the total retail price of the produce.
La Via Campesina Stands with Morocco in the Wake of Catastrophic Earthquake
The numbers speak of the tragedy – over 2497 of our comrades have passed on, and 3,000 more are injured, many critically. It deeply saddens us that the majority of those affected are the marginalized peasant workers, the backbone of our food systems, historically overlooked and left behind in the march towards urban-focused development. La Via Campesina extends its heartfelt solidarity to our brothers and sisters in Morocco during these testing times.
Canada: NFU calls for fair and just international trade systems | #10Sept2023
Agreements include Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) Mechanisms that hamper governments from enacting new legislation and regulations to protect human and environmental health. Canadian investors in the mining, oil and gas sector have initiated the highest number of Canada’s ISDS cases – 70 percent! The warning Mr Lee left us is especially relevant as Mexico currently struggles to uphold its food sovereignty by prohibiting GM corn.
ABC Podcast: A global peasant revolution
The General Coordinator of La Via Campesina dive deep into the significance of being a peasant in today’s world and the pivotal role LVC plays in addressing global crises, shaping our society, and advocating for social justice. She delves into La Via Campesina’s unwavering commitment to empowering peasant women and the transformative impact of their contributions. Learn about the organization’s ongoing initiatives in Colombia, Nepal, and its connections with peasant movements in Australia.
