Dear All
I am writing to let you know that ETC Group (formerly RAFI) will be
hosting two workshops at the upcoming European Social Forum in London
this coming weekend:
1) Beyond GM: Nanotechnology. - Sat 16th Oct 11.30am-1.30pm.
2) Resisting Corporate Monopolies and New Enclosures - Sat 16th Oct
2pm - 4pm.
We have fascinating speakers (and even some poets) from across civil
society and would be delighted if you were able to make it along to
join in the discussion. More details of these two workshops are below.
Also below are details of other workshops on similar themes also being
held at the ESF that may be of interest to you. To attend any of these
events you will be required to register for the European Social Forum
itself - details and registration are at www.fse-esf.org. This will
give you entry to thousands of meetings, workshops, seminars, plenaries
and politically inspired cultural events across London being attended
by tens of thousands of international activists, campaigners and
representatives of social movements. For a round-up of World food day
events at the ESF check http://www.ukabc.org/wfd-esf2004.htm
best wishes
Jim Thomas
ETC Group -
[log in to unmask]
www.etcgroup.org
Workshop 778: Beyond GM: Nanotechnology
Date of Event : Saturday 11.30am-1.30pm
Venue : University of London Union - room 3D - Bloomsbury.
Brief description: Nanotechnology. the manipulation of matter at the
level of atoms and molecules, is bringing together biotech, infotech
and neurotechnology into the most powerful technological platform ever
seen. With nano-products already on the market and the promise of a
trillion dollar industry by 2011, civil society and governments alike
have been slow to wake up to seismic disruption that nanoscale
technologies are about to unleash on the poor, the disabled, human
health, the environment, trade, security, food systems and even what it
is to be human. Hot on the heels of GM controversy one area in which
these tiny technologies are making their mark is the further
industrialisation of food and agriculture as we move from GMO's to
AMO's (atomically modified organisms) and new pesticide and
surveillance technologies. This workshop will lay out what nanoscale
technologies mean for civil society, for food and agriculture (on world
food day) and highlight the corporate, military and government players
bringing them to market now.
Speakers: Caroline Lucas(Green MEP), Andrew Scott (intermediate
technology Development Group), Doug Parr (Greenpeace), Tom Wakeford
(PEALS), Mike Reinsborough (PGA), Olaf Bayer (Corporate Watch), Alex
Vlanda (Scientists For Global Responsibility), Rob Doubleday (Cambridge
Nanoscience Lab), Will Holloway (Poet), Kathy Jo Wetter and Jim Thomas
(ETC Group)
Workshop 1098 - Resisting corporate monopolies and new enclosures.
Date of Event: Saturday 2-4pm
Venue: University of London Union - Malet Room - Bloomsbury
Brief description: While Corporations are applying and using monopoly
patents to gain increasing control over life, over software and over
the fundamental building bocks of nature they are also applying a
series of new legal and technological strategies to enforce their
monopolies, enclose common knowledge and deny access. This workshop
will look at the range of legal and technological devices being used
for corporate monopoly and attempts to resist and build alternatives
(such as free software movement, seed saving etc )
Speakers: James Wilsdon (Demos), Laurence Vandewalle (European Greens),
Birgit Muller (ATTAC), Ricarda Steinbrecher (Econexus), MJ Ray
(Association for Free Software), Claire Fauset (Corporate Watch), Kathy
Jo Wetter and Jim Thomas (ETC Group).
-----------------------------
Other Seminars and Workshops on friday 15th at Alexander Palace:
Seminar - GM-Free Europe - Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Park, N22 7AY,
9.a.m - 12.p.m. Friday 15th Oct
Update on the current state of play regarding GM crops and foods around
Europe and the world. Speakers include European and international
grassroots campaigners with time for discussion and debate.
Chair - Clare Devereux, speakers include Lim Li Ching (Third World
Network), Adrian Bebb, (Friends of the Earth Europe), and Jacques
Leford (Confederation Paysanne).
Seminar - A trans-Atlantic GMO trade war: US attempts to use the WTO
against European citizens - Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Park, N22 7AY,
1.p.m. - 3.p.m. Friday 15th Oct
Update on the US challenge to the EU's precautionary stance on GMOs as
an unfair barrier to trade. Speakers followed by questions and
discussion.
Chair - Dr Sue Mayer (GeneWatch UK), speakers include Alice Palmer
(FIELD), Eve Mitchell (Friends of the Earth), Peter Rossman
(International Food Union) and Meena Raman (Third World Network).
Workshop - GMO-free Zones - NATFHE, 17 Britannia Street, WC1X 9JN,
4p.m. - 6p.m. Fri 15th Oct
Discussion of how to strengthen local and regional initiatives
throughout Europe to declare geographical areas GM-free. Led by
Friends of the Earth.
Workshop - A trans-Atlantic GMO trade war: US attempts to use the WTO
against European citizens - NATFHE, 17 Britannia Street, WC1X 9JN,
7p.m. - 9p.m. Fri 15th Oct
A facilitated workshop to discuss strategy and tactics around the WTO
GM case. It will focus on how to raise the profile of the case, what
to do when there is a ruling and how to promote positive alternatives
to the WTO on the GM issue. Organised by the Five Year Freeze and
Friends of the Earth Europe.
Workshops and Seminars on Saturday 16th around Food Issues:
11:30am – 1:30pm
Plenary at Alexandra Palace
Event no: 2161Politics on your plate - European agriculture, its global
impact and future
Speakers: Jennifer Mourin (Asian Peoples’ Caravan for Food Sovereignty,
Malaysia); Adrian Bebb (Friends of the Earth Europe); Penny Fowler
(Oxfam International); Lidia Senra (SLG/Galicia); Jenny Jones (Green
Party, UK): Facilitators: Giorgos Emmanouil (Co-Ordinator Greek Network
Against GMO) and James Lloyd (National Union of Students, UK)
9:00-11:00am
Event no: 1855 : European Agriculture: Citizens and farmers fighting
together for a fair and sustainable CAP
(with translation into French, Spanish, German and Italian)
Speakers: Guus GEURTS (Netherlands); Michael Hart (UK); Gert Engelen
(Belgium); and speakers form Plataforma rural; CPE; Kevan Bundell
(Chair – Christian Aid / UK Food Group)The current CAP, shaped mainly
according to the interest of agribusiness corporations, encourages
intensive farming and the production of low quality food: Changing the
CAP towards food sovereignty is a priority: How can we achieve it?
Venue: Junin
4:30-6:30pm
Event no: 2025: Food Sovereignty, Fair Trade and Diversity: challenging
corporate control (with translation into French, Spanish and Italian)
Speakers: Imelda Lacandazo (KMP / Peoples' Caravan for Food
Sovereignty); Davuluri Venkateswarlu (Action Aid Partner, India);
Marcial A:Lopez Herrera (Nicaragua Farmer, CIIR); María Carrascosa
(Platform Rural); Claude Giraud (CPE); Fabienne Kervadec (Artisans du
monde); Alberto Zoratti (CBM Altromercato); Patrick Mulvany (Chair –
ITDG / UK Food Group)This seminar champions smallholder farmers’
organisations’ and CSOs’ demands for international recognition of the
right to Food Sovereignty. It will challenge WTO and TNC dominance that
feeds corporations not people. It will promote fair trade, regulation
of agri-food TNCs, local control of natural resources and GM-free
agroecology / agricultural biodiversity that feeds the world - Venue:
Chiapas
7:00-9:00pm
Event no: 2024: Land Rights – equitable access to land and resources in
Europe and the Global South
(with translation into French, Spanish, German and Italian)
Speakers: Jon Mendel (Henry George Foundation, UK); Lars Rindsig (Henry
George Foundation, UK); Dave Wetzel (Labour Land Campaign, UK); Lidia
Senra (Coordination Paysanne Europeenne CPE and Sindicato Labrego
Galego SLG, Spain); Maria Carmen Sanchez (Sindicato de Obreros del
Campo SOC, Spain); Martha Isabel Furtado Bispo; Wilma Strothenke
(FoodFirst Information and Action Network FIAN, GermanyEveryone needs
natural resources in order to live, but most are deprived of their
rights to these resources. We will therefore explore different
approaches to land/resource access, use, ownership and taxation -
including Agrarian Reform, the Right to feed oneself and resource
rentals. Peasants/Representatives from Europe and Brasil will share
their experiences.Venue: Woomera
2:00 – 4:00pm
Event no: 1364Towards a European Coalition for Corporate Responsibility
Speakers: Friends of the Earth EuropeBuilding on the successful
development of the UK’s CORE coalition, this will be an opportunity to
exchange experiences with other European campaigners. Similar
initiatives are underway in Spain, Sweden, France and the Netherlands.
Venue: University London Union Upper Hall
4:30 – 6:30pm
Event no: 1173: Boycott Nestle
Speakers Dr: Caroline Lucas MEP (Advisory Member of the International
Forum on Globalisation), Mike Brady, Campaigns and Networking
Coordinator, Baby Milk Action, and other experts on Nestlé
malpracticeLatest monitoring reports show that Nestle is still the
worst of the baby food companies: Find out about BMA’s boycott and
future campaign work. Venue: Congress House 3, Gt: Russell St:
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