Wednesday, October 31, 2018

IN DEFENSE OF...

Witness for Peace , an organization of solidarity came to Viterbo University  this past week and spoke about the work they do listening to people's stories and the impact multinational corporations have upon third world countries's indigenous populations... Today's talk was " In Defense of Land & Food Sovereignty."


Fermina Zarate Domínquez, a Mixteca farmer  represents indigenous farmers in 22 communities in southern Mexico around Oaxaca which has coordinators, facilitators and promoters. 

Maintaining biodiversity of the region's rich natural resources including water, wood, and edible flora and fauna also needs protection from foreign mining companies.

At present there are 344 concessions and 41 active projects. NAFTA newly renamed USMCA ( United States Mexico and Canada) never consulted nor properly informed the people who live on /are from the desired land/ resources .

The indigenous people are not benefitting from the extraction of these resources as local agriculture is being displaced for transportation , ie: highways and wind mills. Sound familiar?

Less nutritional corporate genetically manufactured corn (GMO) sold cheaper replacing native 36 varieties .

The group has 6 objectives:

1. Reforestation 
  
In its 16th year replanting native tree species providing residents with wood.

2. Water and Soil 

Filtering water and constructing rock walls to hold back earth and streams     

3. Harvesting Rainwater 

Cisterns have been built to hold water for garden usage.

4. Soil Fertility


Fertilization and composting leftover crops

 to add nutrients to soil.



5. Diversification of Crops


Planting and harvesting herbs for good health

Formation of Milpas, small forests with a variety of trees

and foods; ie: corn, beans, squash and sweet fruit

which can be eaten. 


6. Seed Preservation


Collecting previous crops's seeds in reusable liter soda

bottles, these seed banks will continue to feed a family

of 5-7. 

One such crop is amaranth whose nutritious leaves/ 

grain can be eaten in cereal, smoothies and cookies.  



The preservation of foods their ancestors ate is also 

important so the next generation learns their value

and the abundance of wealth with seed bank inter

changes.


Seed preservation guarantees the knowledge of its 

origen and if they're contaminated.


The  penultimate goal is to preserve their crops 

indigenous history for future generations of who they

are, from whence they came and to where they are 

going.


Going global is not what's always best for the people of

the land.


"The Center for Integral Campesino Development of the Mixteca (CEDICAM) is a community-run organization that works primarily in the Mixteca region of the state of Oaxaca, one of the most eroded areas in the world after since the Spanish deforested the region over 400 years ago. CEDICAM’s projects include reforestation efforts, native seed use, promotion of local markets, local food consumption and sustainable farming practices. One of their key models is farmer-to-farmer knowledge sharing. CEDICAM continues to build models that favor people and the environment. U.S. foreign policy including free trade agreements, the Drug War, and militarization play a role in displacing Oaxacan rural communities.  "

* Perhaps you'd like to read another article re:


Ecuador selling off 1/3 of  rainforest to China. 

Here's that link: SELLING OFF RAINFOREST








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