Media Round-up: March 23, 2015 Seattle and London Actions protesting Seed Privatization meeting in London

On March 23, 2015 the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) sponsored a secret meeting in London to promote a recent report they commissioned detailing in clear terms how to privatize the seed and agricultural markets of Africa- without African stakeholders having a seat at the table. CAGJ/AGRA Watch and Global Justice Now coordinated simultaneous actions in Seattle and London.

Photos: See Community Alliance for Global Justice/AGRA Watch photos of Seattle Action here. See Global Justice Now photos of London Action here.

Press Releases

CAGJ Press Release; March 23 Gates Foundation Plots Ways of Profiting from Africa’s Seed Systems: Simultaneous Demonstrations in London and Seattle
CAGJ Press Advisory; March 20 Simultaneous Demonstrations in Seattle and London Oppose Gates Foundation’s Secret Meeting about Seed Privatization in Africa
African Centre for Biosafety Press Release; March 9 White men meet in London to plot ways of profiting off Africa’s seed systems

Coverage of Seattle protest
KIRO TV (video) Demonstrators picket Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
KOMO Radio covered action all day, can’t find link.
Humanosphere Blog Activists protest Gates Foundation plan for African farmers

Coverage of London protest
Inter Press Service  Gates Foundation Slammed for Plan to Privatise African Seed Markets

Coverage of both protests
Common Dreams (Featured) Gates Foundation’s Seed Agenda in Africa ‘Another Form of Colonialism,’ Warns Protesters

CounterPunch Rich Men in London Still Deciding Africa’s Future

Coverage of Issue
The Ecologist (authored by African Centre for Biosafety) Grabbing Africa’s seeds: USAID, EU and Gates Foundation back agribusiness seed takeover
Global Justice Now Blog  The fight for seed freedom
Open Democracy  Secretive and seedy: how aid donors are opening the agribusiness flood gates

Twitter Action: #freetheseeds

Download PDF documents about London meeting:
EGS convention introduction 381kb
EGS convening participant list 229kb
EGS Study Draft Summary 1,4Mb