World Food Day
World Food Day was proclaimed in 1979 by the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). It marks the date of the founding of FAO in 1945. The aim of the Day is to heighten public awareness of the world food problem and strengthen solidarity in the struggle against hunger, malnutrition and poverty. In 1980, the General Assembly endorsed observance of the Day in consideration of the fact that \"food is a requisite for human survival and well-being and a fundamental human necessity\" (resolution 35/70 of 5 December 1980). The first International Day of Rural Women was observed on 15 October 2008. This new international day, established by the UN General Assembly in its resolution 62/136 of 18 December 2007, recognizes “the critical role and contribution of rural women, including indigenous women, in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty.” Small food producers are composed of farmers, agricultural workers, fisherfolks, pastoralists, indigenous peoples and women, men and young people (CSM Lobbying Document on developing guidelines/framework/code on responsible agricultural investment). Food Sovereignty is the inalienable RIGHT of peoples, communities, and countries to define, decide and implement their own agricultural, labour, fishing, food and land policies which are ecologically, socially, economically and culturally appropriate to their unique circumstances. Rights of small producers; indigenous peoples for self-determination; gender justice in food and agriculture; and rights of agricultural workers are part of this struggle and are directly linked to the right to life and livelihoods. Widget by Way2Blogging

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Thursday, October 11, 2012

Dialogue on Food Sovereignty

A community meeting was successfully completed related to the Food Campaign   on 8th of October 2012 in Welegoda, Matara. That is a women group  called “Dewumini” which  is one of the units of Southern Fisheries Organization in Matara. There were more than 40 participants for the discussion.  The issues of Land, Water and Food were concerned for the discussion.  According to the participants, they have to live as slaves after given up the  heritage  in coastal areas because of development of tourism industry by the government.  Most of villagers  are engaging with fisheries  industry directly or indirectly. Fisheries industry is the main income way of them but fisheries harvest is gradually decreasing due to the influence of to tourism industry.
On the other way, most of lands are being bought by foreigners. They build large buildings as well as hotels  covering the access ways of fisherman to the coast.  That is a great problem fisherman face. They are not allowed to access to the beach through the lands of hotels’.
They face many difficulties as citizens as well as fisherman who are living in coastal area in Matara. Participants took a decision to be organized and gather the people arround the organization to ensure the peoples’ strength to fight against unjust and right to food. 







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