Decolonizing Our Minds and Our Lands: Reviving Seeds, Culture and African Strength

[marmar]

Decolonizing Our Minds and Our Lands: Reviving Seeds, Culture and African Strength

Wednesday, 16 December 2015 00:00
By Gathuru Mburu, Other Worlds | Op-Ed

Gathuru Mburu is an ecologist and activist from Kenya. He is cofounder of the Institute for Culture and Ecology and part of the African Biodiversity Network, which is a member of the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa.

Recolonization is happening. There is a second scramble, not just in Africa, but across the global South. Corporations started it. We need to name and shame these corporations - Monsanto, Syngenta, Cargill, and the program promoting them, AGRA (A Green Revolution for Africa) - to take this battle to the next level.

The wars [of conquest of Africa] have not actually ended - the artillery has just transformed into a different type against us farmers today. All of us are fighting.

Organizing From the Grassroots, to the National, to the International

The problems we're facing today can't be solved by individuals. The way to fight the war is through a collective approach.

The African Biodiversity Network is working to bring communities across Africa together and connect them to strengthen the grassroots. Communities are reviving their culture and their seeds, and forming local alliance which we call "communities of practice." Then we connect these communities of practice at the local, national, and regional level, and they form active coalitions.

This is why the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa formed, which consists of 13 networks collectively covering 40 of the 54 countries. We have huge strength. We can actually change farming, seeds, and culture en masse in Africa. ...............(more)

http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/34054-decolonizing-our-minds-and-our-lands-reviving-seeds-culture-and-african-strength

[roody]

1. Knr

[ffr]

2. Monsanto, Syngenta, Cargill

I have to wonder what percentage of the people who work for these organizations eat and bring home for their families and children to eat. Is it better than 90% who eat the products they companies they work for produce. Or do you think its much lower?