Family farmers unite.Jose Luis Alcocer de Leon is a family farmer from the state of Hidalgo Hidalgo, state, Mexico Hidalgo (ēthäl`gō), state (1990 pop. 1,888,366), 8,058 sq mi (20,870 sq km), central Mexico. Pachuca de Soto is the capital. , Mexico, and a dealer of the Independent Center of Farm Workers and Farmers. Emilio Lopez Gamez is a member of the group's national executive committee. The U.S.-based National Family Farm Coalition invited them to visit Midwestern farmers this summer. Q: What have you learned during this visit to the Midwest? Alcocer de Leon: The majority of U.S. farmers are losing, just as Mexican farmers are losing. This has been very surprising to us because we had a false idea that U.S. farmers were benefiting from the system. Q: The World Trade Organization's next meeting is in Cancun, September 10-14. How are you responding? Lopez Gamez: One important purpose of coming here is to develop international policies that benefit family farmers. We plan on forming an international coalition that can work on issues of food sovereignty "Food sovereignty" is a term originally coined by members of Via Campesina in 1996 [1] to refer to a policy framework advocated by a number of farmers', peasants', pastoralists', fisherfolk, Indigenous Peoples', womens', rural youth and environmental organizations, , genetically modified organisms ge·net·i·cal·ly modified organism n. Abbr. GMO An organism whose genetic characteristics have been altered by the insertion of a modified gene or a gene from another organism using the techniques of genetic engineering. , biodiversity biodiversity: see biological diversity. biodiversity Quantity of plant and animal species found in a given environment. Sometimes habitat diversity (the variety of places where organisms live) and genetic diversity (the variety of traits expressed , and intellectual property rights. Transnational corporations Any corporation that is registered and operates in more than one country at a time; also called a multinational corporation. A transnational, or multinational, corporation has its headquarters in one country and operates wholly or partially owned subsidiaries in one or more control the whole food chain. For more information about family farmers, contact the National Family Farm Coalition, (202) 543-5675 or www.nffc.net. For more information about the World Trade Organization, here are some links: www.wto.org, mexico.indymedia.org, www.corpwatch.org, and www.citizen.org. |
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