Week of Rice Action 2007 - Press Releases
Voices of Sri Lanka farmers heard at WORA
After travelling to almost all major rice areas in Sri Lanka, WORA Sri Lanka finally culminated in Colombo. About 300 farmers and NGO’s gathered at the All Ceylon Buddhist Association Hall today. There were awareness programmes, a rice exhibition where various traditional seeds were displayed, and presentations from various speakers and farmers representatives. At the end of the programme, participants marched along Buddhaloka Street carrying banners, placards, posters and flags displaying demands such as “NO TO GE, IRRI and TNCs, and Save Our Rice,&rdquo
West Bengal Agriculture Minister warns against multi-national seed companies taking control of seed production; Farmers vow to keep their fields and villages GM Free!
On the culmination events of the Week of Rice Action in West Bengal, Sri. Naren Dey, Minister for Agriculture, said that 83% of the seeds sold in the country are produced by big corporations and the Indian seed producer – the Indian farmers have lost the control over their seeds. He warned that farmers must work towards improving production and productivity of food grains without falling prey to the MNC’s. He was inaugurating the seminar on the impact of Genetically Engineered Rice and its implications. The meeting was presided over by Dr.
Week of Rice Action culminated in street protests: IRRI told to get out of Asia!
Laguna, Philippines--- “IRRI out of Asia!” This was the resounding call of more than 1,000 Filipino farmers that trooped in front of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) headquarters on April 3 to protest its’ 47th anniversary and to culminate the highly successful Asia-wide Week of Rice Action (WORA) led by Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific (PAN AP).
Asian peasants and scientists: NO to Genetically-engineered Rice; YES to Genuine Land Reform!
Manila, Philippines--- Peasants and scientists celebrated Asia’s most treasured rice culture by issuing a strong statement that they hoped would reverberate among peoples for the challenging years to come: NO to genetic engineering; YES to genuine land reform.
In culmination of the Week of Rice Action (WORA) led by Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific (PAN AP), more than 300 participants attended a forum on genetic engineering (GE) and rice in Balay Kalinaw, University of the Philippines last April 3.
Sustainable Agriculture Rice Farming Community to Defy Eviction: Only defiance will turn these rice fields gold
A rice farming community in the province of Bukidnon, Southern Philippines is once again facing eviction from a 400-hectare land they have long struggled to till. But now they have more to lose than 20 years ago, when a state-owned university first tried, unsuccessfully, to take away their land.
Children’s Art re-affirm importance of Philippine Rice Culture
Manila, Philippines--- Young participants of the Asian-wide Week of Rice Action (WORA) expressed through art the importance of Philippine rice culture.
Twenty children of farmers, fisherfolk, and urban-based activists took part in an education session and art workshop on rice at the University of the Philippines Hotel last April 2.
Resist (Resistance and Solidarity Against Agrochemical TNCs) and Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas organized the workshop to make the Filipino youth understand Philippine rice culture and their role in its preservation.
ANDONG MARCH: In Defense of Indonesia’s Rice Culture
5 April 2007, Yogyakarta, Indonesia – Today, more than 30 andongs, or horse-drawn carriages, marched from Mandungan I kampung (village) in Sleman in the Special Region of Yogyakarta, to Kapatihan (Governor’s Office) near the Sultan’s Palace in the city of Yogyakarta or Jogja. These horse-drawn carriages, or what people of Jogja call andong, is a popular means of transportation for the locals, and has been very popular among tourists as well.
South India Culminates WORA!!
4 April 2007 – Bhubaneswar, India - The Week of Rice Action 2007 culminated over a three-day stretch from 2 to 4 April 2007 in two states in India.
Delegates from PAN AP and WORA anchor organizations in Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka joined Indian delegates to culminate WORA in West Bengal and Orissa.
Indigenous Communities Pledge to Protect Rice in Sabah!
“To us, Indigenous Peoples, rice is very important. A lot of our culture and beliefs are centred around rice tradition”, states Anne Lasimbang, Executive Director of PACOS (Partners of Community Organisations), host for the WORA event in East Malaysia.
WORA China Launched in Farmers School
Dali, China, 3 April 2007- The Week of Rice Action (WORA) 2007 was launched in Chenguan Community Farmer Training School (CFTS) which has been serving as an important exchange platform for farmers, local scientists and government officials since its official establishment in October 2006.
