Mozambique update: There's something rotten in the state of globalization

When is there not something wrong with Globalization. It's Evil and must be stopped. Pure and simple.
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Subjugating "third world countries" to the whims of market speculation to make agribusiness richer is starving people. Taking their land in World Bank , IMF schemes to grow export crops to pay off debts while they have little left to feed themselves is starving people. Taking their land to grow fuel is starving people. This is not a sustainable model for the future.

Portuguese to English translation (Google)

Given the popular manifestations of Days 1 and September 2, 2010

NO TO VIOLENCE! NO TO REPRESSION!

YES TO FOOD SOVEREIGNTY!

In the past 1 and September 2, there was popular in some neighborhoods Maputo, Mozambique’s capital, and the city of Matola, a town industrial belt of Maputo, the popular manifestations of serious violence, looting property of others, public and private, by some elements of the population, anda very violent repression of the police forces, and it may deplore the death by bullet, confirmed thirteen persons, including two children.

UNAC, National Farmers Union, condemns both the use of repression and blind of lethal force by the police, as the wanton destruction of property, vehicles, petrol stations and other physical structures by elements of population. Moreover, the UNAC deeply deplores the death of innocents, which were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Our hope that in a country that says “the rule of law,” such a situation does not repeat NEVER.

One of the elements underlying the popular uprisings is rising the price of bread – almost simultaneous with the increase of energy prices electricity, supply of drinking water and fuel (the latter having known regular increments in the past few months). The tension among the people already was present for months due to the increased cost of living. We regret that again, who is in law has not been realized until the manifestations of Last week happen.

The bread, although Mozambique is not a wheat producer, has become a food everyday basics to thousands of families in urban Mozambique. It is known that Wheat, like other food goods, is quoted on stock exchanges worldwide, becomin gthus a good value with very volatile and subject to speculation, which depends on ups and downs of the markets. In this case, the rising price of wheat at world, would be derived, among other reasons, the cut in supply by Russia, which was casualty in the past weeks, large-scale fires, which reached the producing areas of grain. How then to justify bush fires in the Russian could have such disastrous consequences for populations Africa, particularly Mozambique and more?

Assessing the situation we just saw in our country (which probably repeat will not only Mozambique but also in other African countries, as happened in 2008 and for the same reasons, so-called “hunger riots” with the rising price of rice in various parts of the continent and beyond) is obvious that “something is rotten in the kingdom of globalization.” Note that once again ,the countries of the so-called “third world” are victims of crises that the “world developed “produced. Hence our strong doubts if this really is the model we, the so-called “poor countries”, we should follow.

UNAC as we reiterate today what we have been demanding the national level, but also at international level within the Via Campesina: our governments – and Mozambican government in particular – have to carry out political commitments long term in order to rebuild national food economies. Countries donors have a very large weight in the general budget of the country we call the governments of these countries to respect the commitments of the Paris and Accra regard to respect for national sovereignty in setting the agenda of our Country

A high priority should be given to domestic food production to minimize dependence on the international market. Peasants and small farmers should be encouraged through better prices for their products and markets stable, to produce food for themselves, their communities and cities. This means increased investment in peasant agriculture in small and medium-sized farms to meet the domestic market as well as measures to control imports of cheap food.

UNAC wants insite here in the term “peasant agriculture”, as opposed to “Agriculture large-scale shift to export”: peasant agriculture means it builds on the peasants and farmers, having a role social and cultural development, ensures a quality food production, organic and suitable habits and customs, local food, free from speculation in stock markets worldwide.

UNAC stresses the need to look more positively to agriculture peasant. Neoliberal policies were gradually some of the formatting us, that “farmers produce only for subsistence,” therefore “is not They that can give a qualitative leap towards the development and what is needed is that agriculture is business and more business, “hence the paranoia of agriculture large-scale or “agribusiness.” Several examples in support of this argument are presented to us and that, therefore, is that she should follow. This is what is propagates and implements in the developed countries and beyond.

What happens is that the food crisis will succeeding each other periodically as it moves in this direction. It is true, however, that countries involved in this model produce much more than they need, but a much of its population suffers. A very trendy this model is that of our neighbor South Africa is known, however, that in this country for millions starve and even in some cases worse than in our rural areas, it is not spoken. Here is where the problem lies.

The family sector benefiting from incentives and policies that lead to your growth – access to credit, land, water, technology, services adequate extension – can produce more and, at the outset, contributing greatly to the distribution. The production and distribution are in jail. Not necessary for producers of food marketers are speculators food to make a strong contribution to sustainable development and Sovereignty Peoples’ food. This is to be deeply analyzed, because error larger, is staying in the wrong!

Events like last week in Mozambique corroborate the Our vision of struggle: the food is not any commodity. It unacceptable that a population, mostly poor, stay at the mercy of the markets world to eat or not eat, when a country like Mozambique have land and natural resources more than sufficient to ensure food for both the field as to the cities.

We have welcomed the measures announced by the Government of Mozambique in the past 7 days September, to contain price increases and calm the spirits. However, urge the Government to proceed with long-term sustainable measures to that have been taken no more a mere palliative, not the entire system our country’s food is revisited. We further call upon the Government to improve mechanisms of collaboration with farmers and rural plans government for the future.

How UNAC, our duty and our mission is to continue fight for families Mozambique’s cities and countryside, ultimately, our country as a whole, the scope Food Sovereignty.
NON-VIOLENCE! NO TO REPRESSION!
YES TO FOOD SOVEREIGNTY!
Where peasants United Venceremos
Maputo, September 8, 2010
UNAC
Rua Valentim Siti, No. 30, R / C
Maputo
Tel: 21,306,737
Email: unac.adv @ gmail.com