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Announcement :: Agriculture |
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Help Shut Down Monsanto's World Agricultural Forum In St. Louis May 18-20 |
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24 Apr 2003
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Convergence at Monsanto's World Agricultural Forum |
Convergence at Monsanto's World Agricultural Forum
Convergence at World Agricultural Forum, 2003
From Missouri Resistance Against Genetic Engineering (MORAGE, waf (at) worldagforum.com)
The World Agricultural Forum, similar to the World Economic Forum, is a
Monsanto-led, corporate-sponsored opportunity for agribusiness and
biotechnology companies to lobby government leaders from around the world.
The World Agricultural Forum held its first World Congress in May, 1999
with the stated mission to "bring together the many sectors of the
agriculture industry and to initiate a global dialogue among us." Months
later, magnificent protests erupted at the Seattle Round of the World Trade
Organization. Since then, the WAF has worked hard to include token voices
from NGOs and the global South. The WAF claims to be neutral and inclusive
yet the registration fees to their event are more than what most farmers and
many of the world's people make in a year.
This May 18-20, the WAF will hold its biennial event in St. Louis, MO at
the ritzy, downtown Hyatt Regency Hotel at Union Station. The forum
this year, called "Working Together to Create the Future and Disable the
Barriers," places government leaders in a roundtable discussion to identify
their concerns about food and agriculture. It then presents panels of
corporate experts to provide their solution -- a future if free trade. With
companies like Cargill, Monsanto and Nestle presenting, this means our
future will be one of privatized water, genetically engineered seed,
homogenized commodities over cultural diversity, and the transfer of capital
and assets from rural communities to agribusiness.
People must raise their voice in opposition to such a corporate sham.
Organizers with the Missouri Resistance Against Genetic Engineering are
planning to meet this year's World Agricultural Forum in protest with our
own version-the People's Agricultural Resistance.
Through protest, we will articulate a resounding "No!" to the neoliberal
globalization agenda for agriculture. We believe in individual and community
self-determination and we embrace diversity over efficiency. We will make
space for those from the global South inside the event to resist corporate
pressure and for the world's people to articulate alternatives. At the same
time, we will assume responsibility for exposing corporations and
governments that originate here.
On Sunday afternoon, May 18, the last day of Biodevastation 7 (Genetic
Engineering: A Technology of Corporate Control), we will host a march
and rally to give Biodevastation 7 participants and others an opportunity to
focus their newfound knowledge in direct protest. Monday, May 19 will
include several activities during the day, including a morning "meet and
greet" of the WAF participants, a critical mass encircling the site of the
WAF, and a people's forum. Monday will end with a dance party in
opposition to the gala reception scheduled for WAF participants.
We are also creating a web site that will map the genealogy of the World
Agriculture Forum and expose its relationships to the biotechnology and
agribusiness industry, financiers and nonprofit front groups at
www.worldagforum.com. We plan to ask organizations that legitimately
represent people to end their affiliation with WAF and resign from their NGO
Advisory Council.
We want anyone concerned about the World Agricultural Forum and its affects
on the planet and all its inhabitants to come to St. Louis and let the
corporations and wealthy nations know how you feel. We can house and feed
you. Please visit us at www.worldagforum.com/action for news, updates, and
logistical information.
Get more information on Biodevastation 7 at www.biodev.org, e-mail
mrallen (at) mprsnd.org or call 314-353-8176. Call 314-771-8576 for more
information on WAF actions.
Posted by biodev at April 07, 2003 12:39 PM
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