PNFSP attends New World Exchange Program
Food security is also an important issue in other countries, and there are many opportunities for strengthening partnership and solidarity.
This is one of the learnings that Philippine Network of Food Security Programmes (PNFSP) executive director Maria Isabel Lanada brought back from New World (NW) partner exchange program and annual educational “World Weekend” on food security held last February 25 to March 13 in Belgium.
Representatives of three NW partners from the Philippines, Gambia and Bolivia shared their organizations' programs on food security and the environment with NW staff and three of the non-government organization's partners in Belgium.
During the weekend activity, Sabel presented the state of food insecurity in the Philippines and PNSP's initial response. She also attended a forum on family-based agriculture.
But Sabel, along with the other delegates from Gambia and Bolivia, did not agree with the speaker, who said that family-based agriculture was the sole answer to the problem of world hunger.
“We said that it wasn't applicable in our countries because farmers had no land.”
Land is now being distributed in Bolivia, as part of President Evo Morales' focus on the economy and ongoing reorganization.
Morales is an Aymara, one of 36 minorities and tribes of indigenous people in Bolivia. Soledad Delgadillo, director of the Instituto de Capacitación Campesina, said during the weekend meeting that the country's indigenous people were key to Morales's victory. They had long slaved and struggled, pushing their advocacy and asserting their rights, marching constantly until they had achieved victory.
Sabel says that what happened in Bolivia serves as an encouragement to IP members of PNFSP members such as the Center for Development Programs in the Cordillera, Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development, Tribal Filipino Program of Surigao del Sur , Farmers Institute for Development, KADAIT, Alay Bayan Inc. and the Center for Ecumenical Development, Action and Research.
Compared to Bolivia, access to land is much more restricted in Gambia, Women are not allowed to own property, and are targets of discrimination. All the power is concentrated in the hands of men, said Mamsamba Joof, director of the Agency for Development of Women and Children's representative.
Joof added that Gambia has an authoritarian regime, thus advocacy work is difficult. Political killings in the country are numerous. But ADWAC continues to offer livelihood services, focusing especially on the environment.
In Belgium and other European countries, it is not the lack of land that is a problem, but too many taxes. Farmers are letting their lands go fallow instead of paying hefty sums to the government for their every move. Now the farmers live on insufficient government subsidies, said the Europe desk of Via Campesina, a worldwide network of peasant organizations.
European governments are importing raw materials such as cacao from other countries, instead of encouraging farmers to grow crops and subsidizing their efforts.
Thus, says Sabel, we should expect a worsening of the food crisis in southern countries due to the increased depletion of our natural resources, and the imbalance of trade. (we can also include crisis in the north; joblessness)
It is difficult to explain concepts like unfair trade, globalizations and racism to children, but during the partners exchange program, Sabel and the other delegates saw how young children were taught to respect other nationalities, races and cultures through games and role-playing.
The southern NW partners visited the NW's Northern allied organizations: De Wereldschool and Le Coron school and the Vlos refugee center.
Le Coron, in Mons, made a deep impression on Sabel.
“They have an impressive methodology because export-import [economy] and unfair trade relations are explained in a basic way that even 5-year olds can understand.”
She suggests however, that NW should lobby to include discussion on racism and discrimination in Belgian school curricula, instead of depending on the willingness of teachers to bring children to alternative learning centers.
Sabel and the other representatives also visited the Center for Intercultural Management in Mechelen, and interacted with senior students. They told the students of Philippine, Bolivian and Gambian culture.
“Their analysis is that culture cannot be separated from politics and the economy. These create culture, so that a landlord's culture is different from a farmer.”
Sabel adds that it is also the economic and political situation that pushes people to assert and defend their rights. Hence a fascist administration will foster a militant culture.
She was able to appreciate the partnership of New World-funded organizations as well as the network, as it was often discussed what each member could do to help the others. The northern NW organizations and many Belgians also expressed their solidarity with southern NW organizations such as the PNFSP.
Sabel adds that there is a need to strengthen partnership, solidarity and advocacy. “If there is strong partnership, there should also be strong advocacy that will result in resource generation, whether these are material, finances or people. This partnership serves the peasant sector, that feeds the world yet remains poorest and goes hungry.”
This is one of the learnings that Philippine Network of Food Security Programmes (PNFSP) executive director Maria Isabel Lanada brought back from New World (NW) partner exchange program and annual educational “World Weekend” on food security held last February 25 to March 13 in Belgium.
Representatives of three NW partners from the Philippines, Gambia and Bolivia shared their organizations' programs on food security and the environment with NW staff and three of the non-government organization's partners in Belgium.
During the weekend activity, Sabel presented the state of food insecurity in the Philippines and PNSP's initial response. She also attended a forum on family-based agriculture.
But Sabel, along with the other delegates from Gambia and Bolivia, did not agree with the speaker, who said that family-based agriculture was the sole answer to the problem of world hunger.
“We said that it wasn't applicable in our countries because farmers had no land.”
Land is now being distributed in Bolivia, as part of President Evo Morales' focus on the economy and ongoing reorganization.
Morales is an Aymara, one of 36 minorities and tribes of indigenous people in Bolivia. Soledad Delgadillo, director of the Instituto de Capacitación Campesina, said during the weekend meeting that the country's indigenous people were key to Morales's victory. They had long slaved and struggled, pushing their advocacy and asserting their rights, marching constantly until they had achieved victory.
Sabel says that what happened in Bolivia serves as an encouragement to IP members of PNFSP members such as the Center for Development Programs in the Cordillera, Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development, Tribal Filipino Program of Surigao del Sur , Farmers Institute for Development, KADAIT, Alay Bayan Inc. and the Center for Ecumenical Development, Action and Research.
Compared to Bolivia, access to land is much more restricted in Gambia, Women are not allowed to own property, and are targets of discrimination. All the power is concentrated in the hands of men, said Mamsamba Joof, director of the Agency for Development of Women and Children's representative.
Joof added that Gambia has an authoritarian regime, thus advocacy work is difficult. Political killings in the country are numerous. But ADWAC continues to offer livelihood services, focusing especially on the environment.
In Belgium and other European countries, it is not the lack of land that is a problem, but too many taxes. Farmers are letting their lands go fallow instead of paying hefty sums to the government for their every move. Now the farmers live on insufficient government subsidies, said the Europe desk of Via Campesina, a worldwide network of peasant organizations.
European governments are importing raw materials such as cacao from other countries, instead of encouraging farmers to grow crops and subsidizing their efforts.
Thus, says Sabel, we should expect a worsening of the food crisis in southern countries due to the increased depletion of our natural resources, and the imbalance of trade. (we can also include crisis in the north; joblessness)
It is difficult to explain concepts like unfair trade, globalizations and racism to children, but during the partners exchange program, Sabel and the other delegates saw how young children were taught to respect other nationalities, races and cultures through games and role-playing.
The southern NW partners visited the NW's Northern allied organizations: De Wereldschool and Le Coron school and the Vlos refugee center.
Le Coron, in Mons, made a deep impression on Sabel.
“They have an impressive methodology because export-import [economy] and unfair trade relations are explained in a basic way that even 5-year olds can understand.”
She suggests however, that NW should lobby to include discussion on racism and discrimination in Belgian school curricula, instead of depending on the willingness of teachers to bring children to alternative learning centers.
Sabel and the other representatives also visited the Center for Intercultural Management in Mechelen, and interacted with senior students. They told the students of Philippine, Bolivian and Gambian culture.
“Their analysis is that culture cannot be separated from politics and the economy. These create culture, so that a landlord's culture is different from a farmer.”
Sabel adds that it is also the economic and political situation that pushes people to assert and defend their rights. Hence a fascist administration will foster a militant culture.
She was able to appreciate the partnership of New World-funded organizations as well as the network, as it was often discussed what each member could do to help the others. The northern NW organizations and many Belgians also expressed their solidarity with southern NW organizations such as the PNFSP.
Sabel adds that there is a need to strengthen partnership, solidarity and advocacy. “If there is strong partnership, there should also be strong advocacy that will result in resource generation, whether these are material, finances or people. This partnership serves the peasant sector, that feeds the world yet remains poorest and goes hungry.”