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Ch.2. Farmers
Dan sends in this nugget from South Africa, about the constraints that huge farms face there. By way of background, "one farmer, one bullet" is an Anti-Apartheid slogan that was directed rather pointedly at the large land-owning rural whites, who where the instruments and beneficiaries of Apartheid.
Yolandi Groenewald
There is no place for large farms in South Africa and some areas of game parks should be distributed to the landless, a top land official told the Mail & Guardian last week.
Tozi Gwanya, director general of the Department of Land Affairs, also said that "one farmer, one farm" should be seriously considered.
"Though it is a bad slogan," he smiled. "It reminds me too much of one farmer, one bullet." ... read more »
Ch.2. Farmers | South Africa
Posted on 21 November, 2008 - 20:26
The mad travel schedule just doesn't seem to let up. So here are a couple of post-cards from the road. First, I was lucky enough to join some of the finest US food justice activists at an event in New York City last week. There were many highlights, all of which you can see here, but the most sustained and deserved applause went to Gerardo Reyes Chávez, a leader and organizer for the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW). You can hear his speech below.
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Ch.2. Farmers | Ch.3. NAFTA, Immigration, Urban Farming | Ch. 10. Food Sovereignty | United States
Posted on 23 October, 2008 - 05:06
The Effect of the Food Crisis on Women and Their Families
A few days back, I posted a piece from Pambazuka News on the effects of the food crisis on women. Below is the fact-filled source for much of that article, by Women Thrive Worldwide and is well worth a read. ... read more »
Ch.2. Farmers | gender
Posted on 31 July, 2008 - 13:23
Starvation Politics: From Ancient Egypt to the Present
The splendid George Caffentzis has kindly allowed me to share this piece, written for Turbulence in the UK.
Starvation Politics: From Ancient Egypt to the Present
Posted on 31 July, 2008 - 03:19
New York Times on the Federal Barriers to Local Farming
Half a dozen of you fine fine people have sent in this New York Times op-ed about sustainable farming. Seems a shame not to repost it here.
My Forbidden Fruits (and Vegetables)
By JACK HEDIN
Rushford, Minn.
IF you’ve stood in line at a farmers’ market recently, you know that the local food movement is thriving, to the point that small farmers are having a tough time keeping up with the demand.
But consumers who would like to be able to buy local fruits and vegetables not just at farmers’ markets, but also in the produce aisle of their supermarket, will be dismayed to learn that the federal government works deliberately and forcefully to prevent the local food movement from expanding. And the barriers that the United States Department of Agriculture has put in place will be extended when the farm bill that House and Senate negotiators are working on now goes into effect. ... read more »
Ch.2. Farmers | farm bill | United States
Posted on 2 March, 2008 - 16:30
Photo Credit: Debt Slayer
This is some interesting populist politics. The Indian government has just announced that it will be cancelling all farmer debt by the beginning of next year, at a cost of $15bn. Predictably, this spike in rural funding comes before an election year, and 70% of Indians live in rural areas. Also, the government has pledged to keep food prices under control because, well, many Indians are having a hard time affording it.
So what to think of this? ... read more »
Ch.2. Farmers | debt | gender | India
Posted on 29 February, 2008 - 16:29
Burger King: Pretty much near un-American
The New York Times carried an article by Eric Schlosser that complements yesterday's post on Hunger in America. ... read more »
Ch.2. Farmers | farmworkers | Florida
Posted on 3 December, 2007 - 20:07
Small Scale Farmers are Cooling the Earth
Here's an interesting document from Via Campesina, provocatively titled Small Scale Farmers are Cooling Down the Earth. To see how they do it, scroll down to the lists.... ... read more »
Ch.2. Farmers | Ch. 10. Food Sovereignty | climate change | via campesina
Posted on 24 November, 2007 - 16:46
Fatima Shabodien, from the Women on Farms Project in South Africa put out this important article in the Cape Times earlier this week. Reposted below, in case you've difficulty accessing it through the link above....
Farmworkers need dignified home in South Africa
November 19, 2007 Edition 1
Fatima Shabodien ... read more »
Ch.2. Farmers | gender
Posted on 24 November, 2007 - 16:19
The good folk at the British newspaper, Socialist Worker, ran a piece I penned for them recently. Here it is, reposted from their website. ... read more »
Ch.2. Farmers | Ch. 10. Food Sovereignty
Posted on 13 November, 2007 - 23:16
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