---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2002 13:08:19 -0800
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From: "Nunu Kidane" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2002 22:30:40 -0800
To: "ADNA E-mail List" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: ADNA Action Alert: Sign on to Support African Farmers' Rights !
ADNA Action Alert: 020211
Message from: Africa Faith & Justice Network
For contact information see also:
http://www.africapolicy.org/adna
11 February 2002
SIGN-ON LETTER TO SUPPORT AFRICAN FARMERS' RIGHTS!
Reply to <[log in to unmask]>
Dear Friends and Colleagues --
On 02 November 2001, Rep. Maxine Waters introduced the
Agriculture and Farm Resources for the Indigenous Communities of
Africa Resolution (the AFRICA Resolution-H. Con. Res. 260).
Based on an initiative by the organization of African unity, the
AFRICA resolution expresses the sense of congress that
international trade law should uphold African farmers' rights to
safeguard, access, use, exchange and share their agricultural and
biological resources.
The resolution is consistent with the position of the Africa Group of
delegates to the World Trade Organization (WTO) that seeds,
plants, crops and other agricultural genetic resources should not
be patented.
The Africa Trade Policy Working Group (ATPWG) is gathering
organizational signatures on a letter to the House of
Representatives, urging members of Congress to co-sponsor H.
Con. Res. 260. We will first present the letter to all House
members prior to the June World Food Summit (Italy). After
that summit concludes, we will continue gathering organizational
signatures leading up to the September World Summit on
Sustainable Development (South Africa), at which time we will send
the letter to Congress again with the updated signatures.
We are also in the process of identifying a U.S. Senator to
introduce a companion resolution to H. Con. Res. 260. When that
happens, we will send the same organizational sign-on letter to the
entire Senate. Therefore, your signature will appear on both the
House and Senate letters.
The right of African farmers to their agricultural and biological
resources is of critical importance to the food security, sustainable
development, bio-diversity and economic justice of the peoples of
sub-Saharan Africa. Their traditional knowledge, resources and
livelihoods are put at risk by international trade laws that require
the patenting of seeds, plants and food crops, thereby transferring
ownership and control to individuals and international corporations.
The AFRICA Resolution instead urges U.S. trade policy to
recognize the communal rights of Africans to their agricultural
and biological resources.
Included with this letter (below) are copies of H. Con. Res. 260 and
the sign-on letter to Congress urging its adoption. Please add the
name of your office or organization to this letter. Also include your
name or the name of the person who directs your office or
organization. Send your sign-on information to me at
<[log in to unmask]>.
Thank you for endorsing this important initiative.
Larry J. Goodwin
Convener, Africa Trade Policy Working Group
3035 Fourth St., NE
Washington, DC 20017
202/832-3412 (ph)
202/832-9051 (fx)
<http://afjn.cua.edu/>
Africa Trade Policy Working Group
c/o Africa Faith & Justice Network
3035 Fourth Street, NE w Washington, D.C. 20017, U.S.A.
Phone: 202/832-3412 w Fax: 202/832-9051 w E-Mail:
[log in to unmask]
11 February 2002
Dear Representative:
As organizations concerned with just and fair U.S. trade policies
toward Africa, we are writing to urge you to cosponsor the
Agriculture and Farm Resources for the Indigenous Communities of
Africa Resolution (the AFRICA Resolution-H. Con. Res. 260). This
important resolution - referred to both the International Relations
Committee and the Ways and Means Committee - declares the
sense of Congress that the United States should respect the rights
of African farmers and local communities to their agricultural and
biological resources, traditional knowledge, and technologies.
The U.S. continues to stress economic development as key to
Africa’s future. Indigenous agriculture is vitally important to African
economies; its strength is determined by guaranteeing and
maintaining community and traditional rights to agricultural and
biological resources.
Problematically, current global trade practices enable outside
individuals and corporations to patent and profit from Africa's
agricultural and biological resources, traditional knowledge and
technologies, without the prior agreement of African farmers and
local communities. In contrast, H. Con. Res. 260 upholds the
rights of African farmers to freely safeguard, access, use, save,
exchange and sell their seeds and crops. The AFRICA Resolution
calls for U.S. trade and economic policies to support the rights of
African farmers and to allow African nations and peoples to govern
access to their indigenous resources. In line with these rights, the
AFRICA Resolution supports the position of the Africa Group
delegation to the World Trade Organization (WTO) that seeds,
plants, crops and other agricultural genetic resources should not
be patented.
H. Con. Res. 260 signals a commitment by the U.S. to fair
economic policies for Africa's small holder farmers. It
demonstrates that the U.S. is listening to the concerns raised both
by African governments and by African civil society. During these
difficult times, our sensitivity to African concerns and hopes is
especially appropriate.
We urge you, therefore, to cosponsor this resolution. To do so,
please contact Ms. Kathleen Sengstock in Rep Maxine Water’s
office at (202) 225-2201.
Respectfully,
Africa Faith & Justice Network
-----------------------
Expressing the sense of the Congress that the trade and economic
development policies of the United States should respect and
support the rights of African farmers with respect to their...
(Introduced in the House)
HCON 260 IH
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. CON. RES. 260
<ttitle>Expressing the sense of the Congress that the trade and
economic development policies of the United States should respect
and support the rights of African farmers with respect to their
agricultural and biological resources, traditional knowledge, and
technologies.</ttitle>
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 1, 2001
Ms. WATERS (for herself, Ms. LEE, Mr. KUCINICH, Mr. RANGEL,
Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, and Ms. KILPATRICK) submitted the
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the
Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
<btitle>Expressing the sense of the Congress that the trade and
economic development policies of the United States should respect
and support the rights of African farmers with respect to their
agricultural and biological resources, traditional knowledge, and
technologies.</btitle>
Whereas indigenous agricultural and biological resources,
traditional knowledge, and technologies are vitally important to the
economies, cultures, environment, food security, and rural
livelihoods of sub-Saharan Africa;
Whereas the majority of Africans in the sub-Saharan region depend
directly on agriculture for their daily sustenance and income needs;
Whereas the majority of farmers in this region cultivate their crops
on small family plots, growing crops and raising livestock for their
own food needs, saving and exchanging their seeds and produce,
and freely selling their surplus harvest according to traditional
practices passed on for generations;
Whereas African women are the main producers of food crops
cultivated for family and local consumption;
Whereas public access to and communal prerogatives over
agricultural and biological resources, traditional knowledge, and
technologies are integral to African culture, food security, and to
the local economies;
Whereas corporations and outside individuals are profiting from the
use of these agricultural and biological resources, and from the
traditional knowledge and technologies, without the prior agreement
of African farmers and local communities;
Whereas the international trend toward the patenting of life forms
threatens public access to and communal prerogatives over
agricultural and biological resources, traditional knowledge, and
technologies in Africa; and
Whereas in order to safeguard the access and rights of African
farmers to their agricultural and biological resources, traditional
knowledge, and technologies, the Organization of African Unity has
developed the African Model Legislation for the Protection of the
Rights of Local Communities, Farmers and Breeders, and for the
Regulation of Access to Biological Resources: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
That it is the sense of the Congress that--
(1) African nations and people have the right to ensure the
conservation, evaluation, and sustainable use of their agricultural
and biological resources, traditional knowledge, and technologies,
and to govern access to them;
(2) African farmers have the right to access, use, exchange, and
share their agricultural and biological resources, traditional
knowledge, and technologies as established by customary law and
practice;
(3) African nations have the right to protect the rights of farmers
and communities to their agricultural and biological resources,
traditional knowledge, and technologies;
(4) the patenting of life forms that are part of African agricultural and
biological resources, traditional knowledge, and technologies
violates these rights;
(5) the African Model Legislation for the Protection of the Rights of
Local Communities, Farmers and Breeders, and for the Regulation
of Access to Biological Resources seeks to recognize, protect,
and support these rights; and
(6) the trade and economic development policies of the United
States toward Africa should respect and support the rights of
African farmers with respect to their agricultural and biological
resources, traditional knowledge, and technologies, and the
provisions of the African Model Legislation.
For more information:
Africa Faith & Justice Network
3035 Fourth Street, NE
Washington, DC 20017
Tel. 202 832 3412
E-mail. [log in to unmask]
-------------------
This message from the Africa Faith & Justice Network is
distributed through the Advocacy Network for Africa (ADNA) via
IDEX
Nunu Kidane
Advocacy Network for Africa (ADNA)
Communications Facilitator for IDEX
International Development Exchange - IDEX
827 Valencia Street, Suite 101
San Francisco, CA 94110
Tel: (415) 824 8384
www.idex.org
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Next WASAN meeting is Wednesday, February 27, 2002. Location: Kimball Elementary School, 3200 23rd Ave S. Seattle. (access to the school's parking lot is from S. Hinds St. between 23rd and 24th.)
7:00 PM WASAN business meeting
7:30-9:00 PM Program: "The Rising of Eritrean Women: Self-sufficiency and Empowerment Back Home and in the Diaspora" by Nancy Farwell and Lette Hadgu
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