Resistance is Fertile! 8-19 April

national | miscellaneous | news report Thursday March 14, 2002 16:44 by Resistance is Fertile! rif at gn dot apc dot org +31-20-668 22 36

Actions and Festivities Besides and Beyond the COP6 UN Biodiversity Convention The Hague, The Netherlands.

Resistance is Fertile! 8-19 April
Actions and Festivities Besides and Beyond the COP6 UN Biodiversity Convention The Hague, The Netherlands.

BACKGROUND (programme follow below)
In April 2002, the UN circus of government delegates, technical experts and business lobbyists will be contemplating the state of the world's biodiversity resources over hors d'oevres - COP6 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Meanwhile corporations continue unabated - cutting down forests, emptying the seas, force-feeding us GMO crops and then suing farmers when those crops contaminate the countryside. After years of negotiations, the CBD will soon have 2 legally binding international protocols, the Biosafety Protocol and "The Law of the Seeds". Neither has the power to stop the spread of GMOs, protect farmers rights or stop finite resources being plundered for profit - once again demonstrating the UN's lack of political will and power. Fortunately another reality is possible! During these weeks other vioces will be raised, other possibilities will be realised. Voices that call out for radical change in agriculture and internations trade, for reclaiming our genetic resources (free the seed!), against GMOs and patents on life and against the corporate control of food and agriculture.

Resistance is Fertile! runs concurrently with the 6th Conference of the Parties of the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) in Den Haag. This conference marks part of a global review process of the UN Rio Earth Summit in 1992, and the results this has acheived in a decade.

The diverse collective of people sharing the banner of Resistance is Fertile! recognise the goals of the CBD and we, like many people working within the CBD process, are deeply concerned about the growing environmental crisis that makes these goals urgent and vital. We, like many people around the world, applauded those who worked so hard to negotiate the Biosafety Protocol and the International Seed Treaty and recognise the effort and hard work that has gone into acheiving the agreements under the CBD.

And yet after 10 years, despite the concerted effort of both NGOs' and grassroots actions to bring other voices and solutions forward, the imbalance of power and the stranglehold of commercial interest has meant inadequate political will and action to effect the fundemental changes that are needed. We cannot trust vital resources to governments, the UN and other supranational decision-making bodies - they have adequately demonstrated their incapacity to represent the interests of the vast majority of people.

Due to the institutional lack of civil society representation and participation - most notably of farmers, local communities and indigenous peoples - people around the world, including RiF!, are working independently to safeguard the world's natural resources. Globally, groups and communities are actively engaged in exploring other ways to organise sharing the responsibilty for the place where they live, and the ecosystem they live within.

Based on the premise that there can be no environmental justice without social equity, we will continue to realise locally sustainable and autonomous ways to maintain and care for our biological resources. We call to account those who plunder and squander the earth's resources, for these are our global commons and not the prerogative of 'experts'. Biodiversity is not for sale, but nor is it free. It is priceless.

The future envisaged by those involved in RiF! includes:
- the universal right to self determination in the management of environmental resources.
- No GMOs
- The end to research into, and application of GURTS (Genetic Use Restriction Technologies, such as Terminator)
-a recognition of our fundemental need for small farmers, women agriculturists, local communities and indigenous peoples who maintain and re-invigorate the planets wealth of biodiversity.
- the right to freely exchange seeds and knowledge.
- No Patents on life

Resistance is Fertile! 8-19 April

Open programme throughout the week
Workshops: *The Biosafety Protocol from a Southern perspective *Farming in Europe; the CAP (Common Agriculture Policy) reform process *Herbal medicines *Street theater *Music and activism *Guerilla gardening and new rural initiatives *The Issue of Liability; conflict on GMOs between EU and US *Genetix actions techniques *GM Trees *Corporate Lobby Groups and the UN *and more!
Ongoing: autonomous actions, slide shows and films, spontaneous workshops, cooking, walks on the beach!
Infostand in the Conference Center. You can send us papers, magazines, info etc. to be put in the info stand.

Programme Day By Day
Monday 8: Arrival, Getting to know the place. Opening of gardens
Tuesday 9: Local outreach with info-bakfiets (transport bike), live interviews etc
Wednesday 10: Workshops and other events
Thursday 11: Benefit party for Rene Riesel. Rainforest Roadshow (slides and rap), band and dj's.
Friday 12: Bike protest in the streets of The Hague against GM food and to support organic food.
Street theatre, music and lots of fun. Creative initiatives are gratefully appreciated.
Saturday/Sunday 13-14: Common Ground gathering between farmers and activists.
A pan-European Gathering for farmers, farming groups, environmental campaigners, anti-globalisation activists and producers involved with new rural initiatives. During these days, the main programme of activities will continue.
Monday/Tuesday 15/16: Workshops and other events
Wednesday April 17: International Day of Farmers' Struggle!
Actions to demonstrate the continued struggle against corporate control of agriculture and their push of GMOs.
Thursday 18: Relaxing, Clearing out. Open meeting to discuss future events

Other things of importance
Flyers - available in English, French, German and Dutch, Spanish. Download from .
Accommodation will be free and vegan/organic food prepared at low cost. No participation fees.
Media - Independent Media Centre central in Den Haag.
If you have equipment to bring or ideas on media ((digital) photography, video, radio, pamphlets), let us know.
Activist guide - containing useful info about Den Haag, legal info and other bits and pieces. In progress.
Earth Crimes! - A bilingual (English/Dutch) newspaper with critical, funny and sometimes provocative articles and images is being prepared.

Interested in joining or to help out?
Email [email protected], call +31-20-6682236 or send a note to ASEED. Tell us how many of you are coming, when, and what you would like to be involved in. For a limited number of people we are able to provide partial travel reimbursement, so let us know if you need this. We expect everyone to be prepared to take on communal tasks like guarding the building for a few hours, cleaning etc? If you'd like to come a few days earlier to help us with the last preparations, it would be most welcome! and? any other ideas are still welcome!

Finally, it is greatly appreciated if you spread this information to whomever you think will be interested. Keep yourself updated by looking at , or, if you want to receive a weekly update by email, contact .

Contact details of Resistance is Fertile!
[email protected]
p/o ASEED Europe
PO box 92066
1090 AB Amsterdam
The Netherlands
tel: +31-20-6682236

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