“The Doha round, often referred to as the “development round,” is producing more crises than it´s progress in development. Pascal Lamy, Director General of WTO, consistently presents the policies of his organization as a panacea for the economies of the world. However, after 15 years of opposition to WTO policies, farmers and peasants of all parts of the world are referring to the institution as the World Crisis Organization”.

According to La Via Campesina, the WTO is responsible for the ultra-liberal policy of the European Commission that puts the European small farmer community at risk of bankruptcy. The statement points out that the recent milk strike of Europe is directly linked to the dismantling of milk quotas imposed by the WTO, and that many Swiss peasants have started a “revolt” since September “to denounce the lower farm-gate prices and the stranglehold on distribution by intermediaries in the sales chain”.

The statement also denounces the negative influence of the WTO requirements on countries such as Korea and India. With reference to India, La Via Campesina states “ In early September, 50,000 farmers flooded on to the streets of Delhi to protest their government’s contradictions. The Indian trade minister has promised to protect Indian agriculture, but endorsed WTO negotiations that endanger the livelihood of more than two thirds of the Indian population.”.

These reasons are the basis for the presence of leaders of peasant struggles in Geneva, to denounce the effects of the WTO policies and propose alternatives, based on the people´s right to food sovereignty.

Photo: http://omovimento.wordpress.com/