Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific

Transcription

1 THE SAVE OUR RICE CAMPAIGN Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific PLANET DIVERSITY CONGRESS, BONN, MAY 2008

2 RICE IN THE WORLD About 3 billion people, mostly from Asia, depend on rice as their staple food. At least 114 countries grow rice and more than 50 have an annual production of 100,000 tonnes or more. Today, there are about 645 million tons of paddy are produced annually over roughly 1.5 million sq km. 90% of it is grown in Asia over about 1.3 million sq km. Asian farmers produce about 90% of the global total, with two countries, China and India, growing more than half. Indonesia, Bangladesh and Vietnam come next, accounting for 8.4%, 6.9% and 5.4%, respectively. Small and marginal rice farmers make up about 70% of the people who cultivate the crop.

3 RICE IN THE WORLD The top exporters of rice are Thailand, Vietnam, India, the USA, and Pakistan in order of volume. It is estimated that there are about 140,000 cultivated rice varieties in the world. No one can really be sure how many native rice varieties existed before or still exists. For example, it has been claimed that India alone has lost about 300,000 varieties leaving approximately 100,000 varieties behind.

4 THE POLITICS OF RICE Rice is the most political crop in the world. Control over rice = Control over Asia Race for the rice genome Monsanto (RR rice, Bt rice); Bayer (Liberty Link Rice); Syngenta (Golden Rice), etc.

5 THREATS TO ASIA S RICE Green Revolution in Rice & unsustainable corporatestyle farming monocultures; synthetic fertilizers, chemical pesticides, corp. seeds; irrigation; mechanization High-input & Hybrid Varieties replacing traditional local varieties Genetically engineered rice Shortage of water Loss of rice lands to development, SEZs, cash crops, agrofuels, etc. Loss of small rice farmers and farms Climate Change IRRI Neo-liberal globalization, the AoA, WTO TRIPs, TRIPs Plus, Intellectual property rights on rice

6 CAMPAIGN Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific

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8 THE 5 PILLARS OF RICE WISDOM Rice culture: To protect rice means to preserve the rich cultural and spiritual heritage that is rice. Community Wisdom is the pool of generations of farmeraccumulated knowledge in biodiversity-based ecological rice cultivation. It recognizes farmers as scientists, conservationists, breeders and innovators. Biodiversity-Based Ecological Agriculture is agriculture in harmony with the environment and its people. It involves the preservation of traditional rice varieties and ecosystems where biodiversity is protected and agricultural methods are ecologically sound and safe and sustainable for rice farming communities. Safe Food means rice as food safe to produce, handle and consume. This necessitates the rejection of the use of hazardous substances such as pesticides and risky technologies such as genetic engineering. Food Sovereignty ensures the rights of peoplep and communities to decide on food and agriculture policies, the right to adequate, culturally appropriate and safe food, the right to land and productive resources, the right to sustainable production and livelihoods, justice (incl. gender justice) and peace. This pillar therefore challenges policies, development and processes that threaten these rights.

9 THE VISIONS OF THE RICE CAMPAIGN The protection and preservation of Asian rice culture and community wisdom for all time. The protection and conservation of local rice varieties which remain a public and common good free from private ownership in any form. All rice cultivation is sustainable biodiversity-based ecological agriculture of rice free from the threats of corporate agriculture including the use of hazardous substances and technologies particularly genetically engineered rice in any form. The empowerment and food sovereignty of rural rice farmers and rice farming communities in general. The attainment of gender justice in rural communities and the recognition of women as key players in ecological rice cultivation and sovereignty. The eradication of poverty among rural rice farming communities. The recognition, protection and prioritization of small rice farmers and rice farming communities by governmental, regional and international bodies, their involvement with civil society in policymaking affecting rice, and genuine agrarian farmer-led reform in rice cultivation.

10 CAMPAIGN OBJECTIVES Regional activities to promote the five pillars of rice wisdom with wide and diverse outreach Focused promotion of and campaigning on community wisdom and sustainable, biodiversity-based ecological agriculture (BEA) of rice REGIONAL INITIATIVES AGAINST GE RICE HELP PREVENT GE RICE FROM ENTERING ASIA

11 NEW OBJECTIVES Monitoring of key trends and issues concerning rice. The International Rice Research Institute is regionally and internationally exposed and held accountable for its acts and omissions. Regional/collective platforms for discussion, exchange, sharing, learning, strategizing, t i implementation, ti monitoring i and analyzing activities. Focused attention ti on generating media awareness and interest in rice issues

12 GE RICE IN ASIA 1 st phase: High-yielding/input varieties 2 nd phase: Hybrid Rice 3 rd phase: GE Rice Incursion attempts Golden Rice (Bangladesh & India); China; India; Illegally in Cambodia? LL rice in rice stocks IRRI propagating GE rice as solution to productivity it problems & promoting Golden Rice and GE rice solutions to Climate Change problems

13 GE RICE GE RICE is a Threat to All The Five Pillars of Rice Wisdom!

14 CHALLENGES KEEPING GE RICE OUT OF ASIA & COUNTERING THE PRODUCTIVITY ISSUE WITH A SUSTAINABLE & VIABLE SOLUTION Debunking the Myths of GE Crops/Rice: Exposing the harm GE crops/rice pose to human health, environment, food & national sovereignty Garnering Support of Different Sectors Critical farming communities, consumers, governments, academia, etc. Establishing BEA of rice as the preferred solution

15 STRATEGIES Information eg Fact Sheets on Golden Rice & GE Rice; booklet on Liberty Link Rice Week of Rice Action 2007, 2008: NO TO GE RICE IN ASIA. Regional activity of different dimensions: OUTREACH Information Drive; Awareness Raising:- Don t grow GE; Don t buy GE; Don t eat GE; Don t support GE in any form; etc. The People s Statement on Saving the Rice of Asia 1,124,304 signatures (2007) Advocacy No GERi Rice Coalition lii (after WORA ) International Solidarity with JIGMOM (Joint International GMOpposition Month 32 countries)

16 SOME EXAMPLES Opposing GE agenda in the Intnl Year of Rice Seminar on GE crops/rice risk assessment in China in June 2006 Workshops on GE in all WORA countries Specialist speakers wherever possible Varied audiences - from scientists & government officials to grassroots & youth Information materials written, video, etc. Declaration of GE-free zones (villages; states) Taking legal action against GE field trials (Japan) Rallies, Demonstrations Press conferences; media outreach

17 WORA 2007 Launch in Bangladesh - Farmers holding seeds in their hands

18 NGOssayNotoGEriceinKorea say No GE in

19 Dr. Michael Hansen in Malaysia speaking on the risks of GE rice

20 The Speaker of the House in Nepal signing the People s Statement on Saving the Rice of Asia WORA 2007

21 Pakistani Farmers say No to GE Rice

22 Honoring rice seed savers in Karnataka, India

23 Indians in Karnataka taking an oath to keep their villages GE free

24 WORA Rally against GE Rice in the Philippines

25 SOME EXAMPLES (cont.) No GE Rice Coalition formed after WORA Conducted testing for LL Link rice among rice stocks in 5 countries (Korea, Indonesia, Pakistan, Philippines & Malaysia) negative results GE RICE ROAD SHOW with Dr Michael Hansen and farmer-scientists in August 08. YEAR OF RICE ACTION (YORA)

26 YEAR OF RICE ACTION (YORA) Year of Rice Action ( ) RICE FOR LIFE AND LIVELIHOOD 50 Years (of IRRI) is Enough Rally against IRRI 4 April 2010 No to GE Rice in Asia Yes to Biodiversity Based Ecological Agriculture by Small Rice Farmers

27 ASIAN RICE CRISIS Price of rice has doubled in Q1 of 2008 Streets protests in several countries Rice exporting countries like Cambodia, VN, India, have stopped/restricted imports PAN AP S action Press releases & responses Webpage on FOOD CRISIS updates, news Special Release in June Resource book to be launched on World Foodless Day Advocacy to local governments