La Via Campesina (LVC)

Farmers’ right to seed is a matter of principle

by Ann Slater Last December the United Nations adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas. This declaration was brought forward by La Via Campesina (LVC) – a global movement which brings together organizations representing small- and medium-scale farmers, peasants, agricultural workers, rural women and indigenous communities. The Read more

The NFU and La Via Campesina demand peasant rights NOW

On April 17th each year La Via Campesina (LVC), the international movement of 200 million peasants, small and medium-size farmers, landless people, rural women and youth, Indigenous people, migrants and agricultural workers from around the world, commemorates the massacre of landless peasants in Eldorado dos Carajás, Brazil in 1996. The peasants were slaughtered while struggling Read more

Union Farmer Quarterly: Winter 2019

In this issue: Messages from the Editorial Advisory Committee, President Katie Ward, Women’s President Toby Malloy, Youth President Stuart Oke; reports from First-Time Convention Attendees Introducing Jessie Macinnis, Youth Vice President; Riley Côté-Demerchant, Region 1 Board Member Resolutions passed at the NFU’s 49th Annual Convention, November 22nd to 24th, 2018 – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Remembering Brendan Read more

UN Declaration on the rights of peasants formally adopted by General Assembly

La Via Campesina makes history

La Via Campesina makes history as UN Declaration on the rights of peasants is formally adopted by General Assembly, Dec 17, 2018 Read more

UN Adopts Declaration on the Rights of Peasants

The Third Committee of the UN General Assembly approved the Declaration on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas this afternoon, expressing the widespread support for the promotion and protection of human rights for an often neglected population. It was approved by a recorded vote of 119 in favour to 7 against, with 49 abstentions. Read more

NFU urges Canada to support Declaration for the Rights of Peasants at United Nations

The National Farmers Union (NFU) urges Canada to vote in favour of the United Nations (UN) Declaration for the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas when it goes before the 3rd Committee session of the General Assembly. Read more

World Bank–IMF Guilty of Promoting Land Grabs, Increasing Inequality, says LVC

At a meeting of La Via Campesina facilitated by Serikat Petani Indonesia (SPI) in Bali, peasant organisations from Asia, Africa, Americas and Europe have unanimously held World Bank and IMF responsible for facilitating large scale land grab, deforestation and ocean grabbing around the world, which has led to inequality, poverty and global hunger. Read more

UN Human Rights Council passes a resolution adopting the peasant rights declaration in Geneva

Seventeen years of long and arduous negotiations later, peasants and other people working in rural areas are only a step away from having a UN Declaration that could defend and protect their rights to land, seeds, biodiversity, local markets and a lot more. Read more

Union Farmer Quarterly: Spring 2018

Restoring Resilience, Regenerating the Farm • Remembering Andreas Pfenning • Cultivating Communities: Three Experiences from the NFU • Fostering Conversations with New Canadians with an Interest in Farming • Voices from the Field - Terrylynn Brant: Mohawk Mother, Grandmother and Lifelong Farmer • The Beingessner Award for Excellence in Writing - Call for 2018 entries • UN Human Rights Initiative Supports Peasants, Family Farmers and Farm Workers • Letter of Solidarity to Brazil’s Landless Workers Movement, Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra (MST) Read more

Letter of Solidarity to Brazil’s MST

Letter of Solidarity to Brazil’s Landless Workers Movement, Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra (MST) () of Canada expresses deep sadness over the murder of Márcio Matos (Marcinho), leader of the MST in the state of Bahia, Brazil, on January 24th 2018. We denounce his murder and add our voices to yours, demanding the Government Read more