From the Coalition of Immokalee Workers in Florida comes this appeal. Click here to do the needful, and see the full appeal below.

If you could help end modern-day slavery in Florida's fields with an email, would you?

Please take a moment to send an email to Florida Governor Charlie Crist, asking him to take a stand against modern-day slavery in our food system.

Just this past December, farm labor supervisors were sentenced in federal court for enslaving tomato pickers, including beating, chaining, and locking them inside a truck at night. Unfortunately, this case is not the only one; since 1997, the U.S. Department of Justice has successfully prosecuted seven cases of slavery involving well over 1,000 farmworkers in Florida. Additional cases are currently under investigation. ... read more »

Raj's blog | 38 comments

Posted on 6 February, 2009 - 13:07

Two urgent actions with which to conclude today's flood of articles. The first, in California, comes from the United Farm Workers. They're fighting to give 200 families access to water, from a pipeline that could serve them well, but which the Department of Fish and Game refuses to make available. Write to Schwarzenegger's bureaucrats and give em hell.

In the Philippines meanwhile, sharecroppers are being killed for standing up for their rights. The folk at Via Campesina and Fian wouldn't send out this action alert if it weren't likely to make a difference. ... read more »

Raj's blog | 3 comments

Posted on 21 November, 2008 - 22:48

This urgent action just in from FIAN. Time to get scribbling.

Brazil: Increasing repression and criminalization against the Landless
People Movement (MST)

Last June 17, about 300 landless (the vast majority of them women, children and elderly) were forcibly evicted from two camps of the "Movimento de Trabalhadores Sem Terra" (MST), located on leased and private land -therefore legally occupied- in the vicinity of Fazenda Guerra, in Coqueiros do Sul, Northern region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. ... read more »

Raj's blog | 1 comment

Posted on 30 June, 2008 - 16:39

This just in, from supporters of the MST in Brazil, following up on the news that Syngenta had hired men to kill the poor.

Dear friends,

We are writing to you with an urgent request to support the Landless Worker’s Movement (MST in Portuguese), Via Campesina and Terra de Direitos in Brazil.

As reported by Terra de Direitos, MST and Via Campesina on October 21, 2007 Mr. Mota de Oliveira of the MST was shot dead at point-blank range two times in the chest by armed men while joining a protest against the operations of Syngenta Seeds, subsidiary of the Swiss biotech firm Syngenta AG and their illegal experimentation with generically-modified organisms (GMOs). According to reports, several other protesters were severely injured. The attack reportedly occurred during lunch hour, under strong rain, which made it completely impossible for the workers to defend themselves. We also understand that the situation at the site remains extremely tense. The landless workers camped in the region­especially some MST leaders who were chased by the gunmen during the attack­remain in danger and are in need of immediate protection. ... read more »

Raj's blog | 1 comment

Posted on 8 November, 2007 - 06:36

I've been very distressed to hear about how the war on terror has been extended to cover pretty much any dissent at all. The latest instance is in Aotearoa/New Zealand. You can find out the latest by visiting Indymedia Aotearoa. Below is an urgent appeal for support.

Maori plea for support

Dear Friends, Colleagues and Family,
It is in great distress that I am urged to write this appeal and to inform our international community of the recent events that are happening within Aotearoa (New Zealand) social justice, environmental justice and indigenous movements. ... read more »

Raj's blog | 2 comments

Posted on 18 October, 2007 - 04:15

In case you hadn't heard (and I just found out), it's Debt Week from October 14-21. The call to action, posted below, is available in altogether more pleasing PDF format here. ... read more »

Raj's blog | 6 comments

Posted on 16 October, 2007 - 18:09

This notice just came my way, and I thought I'd share. If you're in Washington DC next week, do consider dropping in... ... read more »

Raj's blog | 4 comments

Posted on 11 October, 2007 - 16:48

Syngenta Threatens to Violently Expel the Family Farmers of the Via Campesina from the Free Land encampment: Act Now!

The multinational Syngenta Seeds is pressuring the Governor of the State of Paraná to expel the family farmers of the Via Campesina currently residing on the Free Land encampment with police force.

The 120 families occupied the area more than a year ago, in protest to the environmental crime committed by Syngenta. The multinational illegally cultivated genetically-modified soy and corn at the site, within the protective zoner of the Iguaçu National Park. The family farmers demanded that Syngenta pay the fine of US$ 465,000, imposed on the corporation by the IBAMA, the federal environmental agency. In November of 2006, the Governor of Paraná expropriated Syngenta´s site, and planned to turn the area into an agroecological research center. ... read more »

Raj's blog | 10 comments | 2 attachments

Posted on 31 May, 2007 - 16:51

From Food First comes an urgent action in defence of farmer leaders in Chihuahua. Send it to the Mexican embassy in the US, UK , Canada, or your own home country today.

Update
Here's an Update from Food First:

Chihuahua, Mexico-- Jesús Emiliano García, a Director of the Frente Democrático Campesino de Chihuahua (Peasants Democratic Front of Chihuahua--FDC), was released from prison Thursday morning after being held for six days on charges of “sabotage.” The arrest, which came after Jesús Emiliano helped organize protests over tortilla price increases, drew large crowds of protesters demanding his release. On the night of March 14th a judge dropped all charges on Jesús Emiliano and he was free to leave the following morning. He went directly to the Secretary of Agriculture office in Chihuahua, which has been occupied by more than 800 campesinos since Monday, where he was received with cheers and celebration. ... read more »

Raj's blog | 1 comment

Posted on 14 March, 2007 - 09:46

This just in from Food First/Institute for Food and Development Policy.

PLEASE CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE'S AND BOTH SENATORS’ OFFICES IMMEDIATELY!!

On February 14, the Senate passed the "Continuing Resolution," which makes permanent funding decisions for the fiscal year already underway (Fiscal Year 2007), which wasn’t completed before the last Congress ended. Distressingly, this resolution would IMMEDIATELY eliminate funding for a program crucial to sustainable agriculture! The Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA) program is a highly rated national information service that answers practical questions from farmers and others across the US who call its 1-800 telephone number, print publications from its website, or attend its workshops. ... read more »

1 comment

Posted on 23 February, 2007 - 00:55