---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001 00:17:19 -0800 From: charlotte utting <[log in to unmask]> Reply-To: [log in to unmask] To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [WASAN] FW: [adnalist] ACTION: Invitation to Endorse and Promote the AFRICA Resolution Shall we sign on? David is out of the country, but I will do so if you agree...Charlotte ---------- From: Nunu Kidane <[log in to unmask]> Date: Sun, 11 Nov 2001 09:46:19 -0800 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [adnalist] ACTION: Invitation to Endorse and Promote the AFRICA Resolution ADNA Action: 011111 Message from: Africa Faith and Justice Network For contact information see also: http://www.africapolicy.org/adna Friends: this message from AFJN calls on your support to protect and respect the rights of indigenous African farmers. Unfortunately, the attachments from AFJN could not be sent on this list serve. For separate mailing or to contact them for further information, write to: Larry Goodwin Larry J. Goodwin [log in to unmask], tel: 202/832-3412 or check out their web site at: http://afjn.cua.edu Nunu ------------------------------------------------------------ Multinational corporations are increasingly laying claim to food crops and medicinal plants in developing countries that have been used by farmers and local communities for countless generations. Patents on African agricultural resources threaten the ability of local farmers to freely safeguard, access, use, save, exchange and sell their seeds and crops. Patents put local food security and farm income at risk by taking control of traditional resources away from local farmers. The privatization of agricultural resources, accompanied by the promotion of herbicides, pesticides and other agricultural inputs by outside interests, threaten long-term harm to bio-diversity and encourage an industrial type of agriculture ill-suited to small scale farmers and African patterns of land ownership On 02 November 01, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) introduced the Agriculture and Farm Resources for the Indigenous Communities of Africa (AFRICA) Resolution (H.Con.Res. 260). This resolution urges U.S. backing for the OAU-initiated "African Model Legislation for the Protection of the Rights of Local Communities, Farmers and Breeders, and for the Regulation of Access to Biological Resources." H.Con.Res.260 is a major step forward in efforts to support our African partners and colleagues who are pushing hard for farmers' rights, and for safeguarding food security, sustainable development, local culture, traditional knowledge and biodiversity in Africa. AFJN and the Africa Trade Policy Working Group express our deep appreciation to Rep. Waters for her hard work and commitment to African farmers. We are working to have a companion Senate resolution in the near future. The AFRICA Resolution addresses issues of direct relevance to hungry people, rural communities and smallholder farmers in Africa; its principles touch on family farmers throughout the world. WE INVITE YOUR ORGANIZATION TO ENDORSE THE AFRICA RESOLUTION. PLEASE CONTACT KATHLEEN SENGSTOCK IN REP. WATERS' OFFICE AT 202 225 2201 OR E-MAIL HER AT <[log in to unmask]>. Attached is a PDF version of H.Con.Res. 260. And the text is copied at the bottom of this email. (Please contact AFJN for the attachment - it cannot be sent on this listserve) ALSO, JOIN US IN SHARING THE ATTACHED URGENT ACTION ALERT AS WIDELY AND QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. OUR AIM IS TO GAIN AS MANY CONGRESSIONAL ENDORSERS AS POSSIBLE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. PLEASE SEND IT TO YOUR NETWORKS, COLLEAGUES AND PARTNERS IN THE U.S. AND OVERSEAS. WE INVITE OUR AFRICAN AND INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS AND COLLEAGUES TO TAKE PART IN THIS ACTION. PLEASE SEND LETTERS AND EMAILS VOICING SUPPORT OF H.CON.RES.260 TO: - Rep. Ed Royce (Chair, Int'l Relations/Africa Subcommittee) - Rep. Donald Payne (Ranking, Int'l Relations/Africa Subcommittee)<[log in to unmask]> - Rep. William Thomas (Chair, Ways & Means Committee) - Rep. Charles Rangel (Ranking, Ways & Means Committee) <[log in to unmask]> - Rep. James Clyburn (Chair, Congressional Black Caucus) <[log in to unmask]> Send letters to: U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515 Our efforts, in concert with those of our faith-based, social justice and NGO partners in Africa, will help persuade the US and the WTO to respect and support the principles and provisions of the African Model Legislation. Respectfully, Larry J. Goodwin Associate Director for Organizing Africa Faith & Justice Network 3035 Fourth St., NE Washington, DC 20017 202/832-3412 (ph) 202/832-9051 (fx) http://afjn.cua.edu 107TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 260 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Ms. WATERS submitted the following concurrent resolution. CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 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. 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 re-sources, 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. -------------------- 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 Fax: (415 824 8387 e-mail: [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask] URL: http://www.idex.org [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] To unsubscribe your e-mail address from this group, send an email to: [log in to unmask] To ensure that the ADNA database is updated correctly, please also send a copy of your request, or any other request for changes in your membership information, to [log in to unmask] For additional assistance with the adnalist yahoogroup, write to [log in to unmask] For additional assistance with ADNA database information, write to [log in to unmask] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Universal Inkjet Refill Kit $29.95 Refill any ink cartridge for less! Includes black and color ink. http://us.click.yahoo.com/ltH6zA/MkNDAA/ySSFAA/DKgolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Next WASAN meeting is Wednesday, Nov 28. Location: Safeco Jackson Street Center, 306 23rd Ave. S at S. Main St, Suite 200 , Seattle 7:00 PM WASAN business meeting 7:30 PM Program: TBA We usually meet the fourth Wednesday of the month. For a calendar of local Africa events see www.ibike.org/africamatters/calendar.htm . To post a message: [log in to unmask] To subscribe send a message to [log in to unmask] To unsubscribe send a message to [log in to unmask] . All past postings are archived at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wa-afr-network Your use of Yahoo! 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