Special Appeal: CAGJ’s Vision for Food Sovereignty

CAGJ Organizing Director Simone Adler calling for agroecology & climate justice during our recent action at the Gates Foundation on October 30, 2019.

Organizing for food sovereignty means holding a bold vision for transformation of our global food system while creating change on the community level. CAGJ’s AGRA Watch campaign does just that – by building partnerships with farmer networks across the African continent, we organize in solidarity from Seattle. This October, we brought several African leaders here to share their work, connect with local farmers, and take action to resist the Gates Foundation’s interventions in African agriculture.

Please consider a tax-deductible gift to CAGJ to support our solidarity work with the African food sovereignty movement, as well as local food justice campaigns!

Many of you came to our community potluck we organized with our long-time Kenyan partners who founded G-BIACK: Grow Biointensive Agriculture Centre of Kenya. Listening to them present about their incredible farmer training and women’s empowerment work, I thought back to my experience meeting with them as well as other small-scale farmers and activists in Kenya one year ago. I saw how farms practicing agroecology demonstrate solutions to hunger, poverty and climate change despite widespread corporatized agriculture, ongoing colonialism and land grabs across Kenya. While they were in Seattle we facilitated exchanges between G-BIACK and Black-led urban gardens and farms.

These connections with farmers leading agroecological solutions are what inspire me to continue this work. Will you make a donation to keep the AGRA Watch campaign going?

Later in October, I had one of those moments when all the nitty-gritty tasks of transnational campaign work come to life. There we were, rallying in front of the Gates Foundation’s headquarters with the Coordinator of Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa, Million Belay, and activist author Timothy Wise. Together we chanted, “Agroecology is the solution, not a failing green revolution!” Later that evening, Million and Tim presented about the Battle for the Future of Food in Africa at Town Hall. Million talked about the productivist paradigm of agriculture pushed by philanthrocapitalists like the Gates Foundation, which focuses on biotechnology and agrochemicals. The event reinforced the importance of AGRA Watch’s role in challenging the Gates Foundation and amplifying AFSA’s Agroecology for Climate Action campaign.

CAGJ is continuing our strategic assessment and planning process in 2020; We envision a stronger AGRA Watch campaign, more action for food sovereignty, and publishing our research on the Gates Foundation’s latest attempts to control the narrative around agricultural development. This is why we have a big goal of raising $10,000 by the end of the year.

Your end-of-year gift to CAGJ/AGRA Watch will help us achieve our vision and strengthen our local organizing in solidarity with the African food sovereignty movement. Become a Monthly Sustainer at $20/month, or make a one-time donation today!

With gratitude,

Simone Adler, Organizing Director

P.S. You can Venmo us @CAGJ-Seattle or mail a check to our office at 1322 S Bayview St, Seattle WA 98144.

Can’t donate but want to support? Share this email and our CAGJ and AGRA Watch Facebook memes – Thank you! #CAGJVision2020

 

Photo of AGRA Watch rallying with Timothy Wise and Million Belay outside the Gates Foundation on October 30, 2019: Agroecology for the Climate, Not Corporate Biotech!

 

Posted in Agra Watch Blog Posts, Events, Food Justice Blog Posts, News, Slider, Trade Justice Blog Posts.

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