[E-rundbrief] Info 909 - Via Campesina in Cochabamba-conference

Matthias Reichl info at begegnungszentrum.at
Mi Apr 21 12:06:39 CEST 2010


E-Rundbrief - Info 909 - La Via Campesina: La Via Campesina participates 
in the inauguration of the People's World Conference on Climate Change 
and the Rights of Mother Earth in Cochabamba, Bolivia.

Bad Ischl, 21.4.2010

Begegnungszentrum für aktive Gewaltlosigkeit

www.begegnungszentrum.at

================================================

Bolivia: La Via Campesina participates in the inauguration of the 
Peoples' climate conference

  La Via Campesina Press release

(Cochabamba, April 20, 2010) This morning Itelvina Masioli, a Brazilian 
leader of the international peasant movement La Via Campesina, spoke at 
the inauguration of the People's World Conference on Climate Change and 
the Rights of Mother Earth. Bolivian President Evo Morales was the 
keynote speaker to the crowd of several thousand.

The conference, organized by the Bolivian government after countries 
failed to agree on a plan to stop climate change in Copenhagen last 
December, is being held from April 19 thru 22. Its goal is to amplify 
the voices of those who were not heard in Copenhagen.

“ We are here together with President Evo Morales to play an active role 
in this grand global mobilization in Defense of Mother Earth,” said 
Masioli. “Our planet is in danger, and if our planet is in danger, then 
life is in danger.”

“ We are talking about two grand projects in dispute. On the one side is 
the project of capital and imperialism, which signifies looting, which 
signifies death, and which signifies all of the false solutions to 
climate change that we reject entirely.”

“ We assert that we need to change the system and not the climate,” 
continued Masioli. “We assume the construction of another project: the 
project of life. A project based on principles that defend life, the 
Mother Earth, and that is based on another model of social, economic, 
political and cultural development. That is why we are here. “

The invitation to La Via Campesina from the Bolivian government to speak 
at the inauguration symbolizes the importance that the movement has 
gained since its founding in 1993 as a global voice for peasants and 
small farmers. Masioli is one of 300 delegates from La Via Campesina who 
are attending the conference to send the message to the world that 
diversified, sustainable peasant agriculture can cool down the planet.

“ As peasants of the world, we want to reaffirm our promise and 
commitment to defend Mother Earth,” said Masioli. “We believe that the 
real solutions to all of the crises in this historic moment in which we 
live are solutions that need to be based in integral agrarian reform and 
food sovereignty as a principle and as a right of the peoples.”

At the end of her speech, Masioli presented as a gift to Morales the 
flags of La Via Campesina and the Latin American Coordination of Peasant 
Organizations (CLOC). “We are going to give our flags of La Via 
Campesina and CLOC—our most powerful symbols—because President Morales 
was one of the founders of these two important peasant articulations in 
Latin America and the World, and because no one else has the credibility 
to convene this conference.”

Media contacts (interviews with representatives of La Via Campesina in 
Cochabamba)

Boaventura Monjane – Phone: (00591) 74815401; boa.monjane at viacampesina.org

Isabelle Delforge – Phone: (00591) 74306257; idelforge at viacampesina.org

-- 

Matthias Reichl, Pressesprecher/ press speaker,
Begegnungszentrum fuer aktive Gewaltlosigkeit
Center for Encounter and active Non-Violence
Wolfgangerstr. 26, A-4820 Bad Ischl, Austria,
fon: +43 6132 24590, Informationen/ informations,
Impressum in: http://www.begegnungszentrum.at
Spenden-Konto Nr. 0600-970305 (Blz. 20314) Sparkasse Bad Ischl,
Geschäftsstelle Pfandl
IBAN: AT922031400600970305 BIC: SKBIAT21XXX





Mehr Informationen über die Mailingliste E-rundbrief