The activities reflected the movement’s diversity, which faces different problems in each country, but showing the common root of said problems which lies in the ruling model aimed to be imposed by the agriculture and food transnational corporations.

The celebrations included seminars in Honduras, Brazil and Indonesia, celebrations in Madrid and Halifax, a gastronomic fair to celebrate the publication of a recipe book in the Basque Country. There was also strong reflection, such as the ceremony in Turkey to mark the death of the peasant leader who died three years ago on April 17.

La Via Campesina issued a press release saying that in this international day of struggle, all the voices get together to expose the abuses of transnational corporations. In several countries the target were the transnational corporations, while in others the emphasis was on the appropriation of lands and the impact of GM monoculture plantations.

The peasant movement also presented its alternatives to this ruling model, which aim to confront and oppose the giant international agribusiness corporations.

As part of their commitment to build alternatives, over three thousand members of La Via Campesina participated in the peoples conference on climate change that is taking place in Bolivia, in order to reflect the urgency of addressing the climate crisis through a radical change in the production and consumption models.

(For more information on the activities of the peoples conference on climate change, please visit http://www.radiomundoreal.fm/Conferencia-de-los-Pueblos-sobre?lang=en).

Photo: Vía Campesina