Growing Resistance, Harnessing Diversity: A Regional Workshop on Hybrid Rice and Farmers’ Seed Alternative

Peasants led by the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP, Peasant Movement of the Philippines) commemorated the anniversary of PD 27, the bogus land reform program of the Marcos dictatorship, on October 21, by a week-long series of protests and a relief mission to Central Luzon.
KMP said that the October peasant campaign would deal mainly on the call for Genuine Land Reform and the immediate need of peasants distraught by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng for relief and rehabilitation. They have also called for justice for the victims of human rights abuses under the Macapagal-Arroyo regime.
Press Release: Lok Sanjh Foundation, October 26 2009
On October 15, 2009, the Lok Sanjh Foundation and the Pakistan Dehqan Assembly organized a conference on rice and the food crisis, focusing on small farmer livelihoods. More than 600 farmers, tenants, landless workers and partner organizations from different parts of the Sheikhupura region participated in the event, which was part of the Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific (PAN AP) People's Year of Rice Action (YORA).
In a joint statement today, the MASIPAG (Farmers and Scientist for Development of Agriculture), GRAIN (Genetic Resources Action International), KMP (Peasant Movement of the Philippines ) and APC (Asian Peasant Coalition), slams global hybrid rice program and call for the closure of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).
Wan Hailong, PEAC ( China )
Dr. Chito Medina, MASIPAG ( Philippines )
Vlady Rivera, GRAIN (International)
Danilo Ramos, APC (Regional)
Tel. No. +3793083
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 05:31:00 09/30/2009
LP standard-bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s position to simply leave Hacienda Luisita runs counter to social justice and agrarian reform. The actuation of Hacienda Luisita’s management, giving farmers an Oct. 30, 2009 ultimatum “to discontinue and desist from using, cultivating, planting or possessing the lands,” shows that the Cojuangco-Aquino family will not let go of the property.
24 September 2009
ADB President to Attend Hanoi Forum on Social Impacts of Economic Crisis
MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Haruhiko Kuroda will visit Viet Nam on Monday to attend a major international conference on the social impacts of the global economic crisis.