We had a very enjoyable and informative meeting with our Preston WDM Group in the very posh Preston Town Hall in April. Many thanks to Janet and other local members for their great and welcome hospitality too!
Maya gave a good introduction to the Stop the corporate takeover of Africa’s Food campaign and we can’t wait to get hold of the Resources for this action with the Edible Rice Map of Africa to put on our cake Stunt. It sounds exciting and will be too when we get to a venue near you soon.
This is what the WDM says about how the UK Government is connected with this new wave of carve up of Africa:
Attracted by high growth rates and untapped markets, big companies like Monsanto, Unilever and Nestlé are setting their sights on Africa. To help them there are a number of initiatives, championed by governments like the UK, that claim to support agricultural production in Africa.
However, the real beneficiaries of these schemes are the companies themselves who are set to increase their control over Africa’s land, seeds and markets at the expense of small-scale farmers who feed most of the continent.For corporate giants like Unilever and Monsanto, this means vast profit.
But for small-scale farmers, who feed most of the population, it means losing control of their livelihoods and the resources needed to grow food.
Over 100 African farmers groups have called this a ‘new wave of colonialism.’ Send a message to Justine Greening, Secretary of State for International Development, urging the government to stop funding this corporate takeover.
– See more at: http://www.wdm.org.uk/food/about-the-campaign#sthash.Dnp5OB4E.dpuf
Have a look at WDM’s spoof video on the matter. Our WDM staff have got a good take on what it’s all about.
