STWR - Share The World's Resources

In a recent letter to Tim Grosser, Chairperson of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Committee on Agriculture, a large number of politicians, NGO’s and individuals have petitioned for the right of each nation to protect its own agriculture.

The petition was organised by Devinder Sharma and Helge Christie, prior to the WTO's agricultural negotiation sessions, which will attempt to create a framework for agricultural trade by 27th July 04. The aim of the petition is to set out three immediate steps that will protect the interests of farmers in the developing as well as developed countries. These steps will increase the capacity for a country to consume its domestic produce, there by directly reducing levels of poverty and hunger.

Click Here To Sign The Petition

The full letter, together with the list of signatories is presented below:

WTO AGRICULTURE:

Letter To
Ambassador Tim Groser,
Chairperson,
WTO Committee on Agriculture,
Geneva.

EACH NATION SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO PROTECT ITS AGRICULTURE!

Food is a basic human right and therefore not just like any other commodity. Almost 90 percent of the agricultural products in the world are consumed domestically and thus in practice remains outside international trade. Only 10 percent of world agriculture products are traded internationally. Rules for international trade in agricultural products should be rules for the 10 percent traded internationally and not for the 90 percent consumed domestically.

As the WTO tries to make a framework for agricultural trade within July 27. 2004, we propose the framework to be based on:

Principle:
Each nation should have the right and obligation to produce basic foods for its own population and ensure food sovereignty. All efforts should be to reduce poverty and eliminate hunger.

Measures:

1. Restore import protection through quantitative import restrictions or tariffs.
This will be an effective measure for each country to secure special strategical products and will serve as the special safeguard mechanism to protect rural livelihoods.

2. Protect farmers’ income by state support on products for domestic consumption, but not on products for export or products that ends up on the world market (and thus will function as hidden or indirect dumping of foods).

3. Export subsidies, export credits and credit insurance should be eliminated.
There is a need for an effective system of market regulation and supply management that stops dumping.

Signatures:

Parliamentarians and other political representatives

1. Alan Simpson, MP (Labour), House of Commons, UK
2. Araja Jnanendra (BJP) Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), Karnataka, India.
3. Arnfinn Nergaard, Mayor of Os i Østerdalen, Norway
4. Ã…slaug Haga, Member of Parliament (MP), Centre Party, Norway
5. Audun Lysbakken, MP, SV, Norway
6. B.R. Patil, Janatadal (Secular), Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), Karnataka, India.
7. Basavaraj Bommai (JD -U), Member of Legislative Council (MLC), Karnataka, India.
8. Bhartendu Singh, MLA, Uttar Pradesh, India.
9. Biddi Channabasappa, JD -U), Member of Legislative Council (MLC), Karnataka, India.
10. Bjørn Jacobsen, MP, SV, Norway
11. C. Balakrishna, Janatadal (Secular), Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), Karnataka, India.
12. C.C. Patil, (JD -U), Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), Karnataka, India.
13. Carolyn Leckie, Member Scottish Parliament MSP, UK
14. Chaudhary Manzoor Ahmad, Member National Assembly (MNA), PPPP, Pakistan
15. Chaudhary Qamar Zaman Kaira, Member National Assemblly (MNA), PPPP, Pakistan
16. Cheluvaraya Swamy, Janatadal (Secular), Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), Karnataka, India.
17. Chikkanna Gowder, (JD -U), Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), Karnataka, India.
18. Chris Ballance, Member Scottish Parliament (MSP), UK
19. Dr. Khalid Ranjha, Senator, PML(Q), Pakistan
20. Dr. M.P. Nada Gouda, (JD -U), Member of Legislative Council (MLC), Karnataka, India.
21. Eli Sollied Øveraas, MP, Centre Party, Norway
22. Farhatullah Babar, Senator, Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPPP), Pakistan
23. Frances Curran, Member Scottish Parliament (MSP), UK
24. Ghulam Rasool Sahi, Member National Assembly (MNA), PML(Q), Pakistan
25. H.D. Kumara Swamy, Janatadal (Secular), Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), Karnataka, India.
26. HÃ¥kan Larsson, MP, Centre Party, Sweden
27. Hukum Dev Narain Yadav, ex-minister of state for agriculture, Govt of India.
28. Inger Enger, MP, Centre Party, Norway
29. Khawaja Sheraz Mahmood, Member National Assembly (MNA), PML(Q), Pakistan
30. Krishan Pal Malik, MLC (Lok Dal) , Uttar Pradesh, India.
31. Madan Swamy, (JD -U), Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), Karnataka, India.
32. Magnhild Meltveit Kleppa, MP, Centre Party, Norway
33. Major (R) Tanvir Hussain Syed, Member National Assembly (MNA), PPPP, Pakistan
34. Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Member National Assembly (MNA), PPPP, Pakistan
35. Marit Arnstad, MP, Centre Party, Norway
36. Mian Ahsan, Member Provincial Assembly (MPA), PPPP, Pakistan
37. Morten Lund, MP, Centre Party, Norway
38. Muhammad Safdar Shaker, Member National Assembly (MNA), PML(Q), Pakistan
39. Narayana Swamy, Sr. Vice President, Janatadal (Secular), Karnataka, India.
40. Narendra Singh Sisodia, MLA, Uttar Pradesh, India.
41. Nawab Singh Nagar, Member Legislative Assembly (MLA), Uttar Pradesh, India; and former irrigation minister, Uttar Pradesh.
42. Nehru Olekar, (JD -U), Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), Karnataka, India.
43. Odd Roger Enoksen, MP, Centre Party, Norway
44. Ola D. Gløtvold, MP, Centre Party, Norway
45. Pir Aftab Hussain Shah Jillani, Member National Assembly (MNA), PPPP, Pakistan
46. Pradeep Walia, ex-MLA, Uttar Pradesh, India.
47. Prof. Khursheed Ahmad, Senator, Mutehida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), Pakistan
48. Riaz Fatyana, MNA, Pakistan Muslim League-Quid Group [PML(Q)], Pakistan
49. Robin Harper, Member Scottish Parliament (MSP), UK
50. Rosemary Byrne, Member Scottish Parliament (MSP), UK
51. Rozina Tufail, Member National Assembly (MNA), PML(Q), Pakistan
52. Rt Hon Michael Meacher, MP, House of Commons, UK
53. Rune Skjaelaaen, MP, Centre Party, Norway
54. S.R, Nagaraj, General Secretary, Communist Party Marxist (CPM), Karnataka, India.
55. S.R. Bommai, (Janata Dal - United) Former Chief Minister, Karnataka, and Human Resources Minister, Govt of India, and member Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament) India.
56. Sanaullah Baloch, Senator, Blochistan National Party (BNP), Pakistan
57. Shish Ram Ravi, ex-MP Lok Sabha, India.
58. Shivanna Tiluvelli, (JD -U), Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), Karnataka, India.
59. Shivaraj Sajjan, (JD -U), Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), Karnataka, India.
60. Sreekanta Murthy, President, Janatadal (Secular), Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
61. Sriganaesh, General Secretary, Janatadal (Secular), Karnataka, India.
62. Sriram Redddy (CPM) Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), Karnataka, India.
63. Veerappa Moily, (Congress) Former Chief Minister (CM) and Chairman, Karnataka Tax Reform Committee, India.
64. Vijay Sonkar Shastri, ex-MP, Lok Sabha, India.
65. Virender Singh Sirohi, ex-Revenue Minister UP, India.
66. Virender Singh, Ex-MP, Lok Sabha, India.
67. Viswanath Mamani. (JD -U), Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), Karnataka, India.
68. Viswanatha Patil, Janatadal (Secular), Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), Karnataka, India.
69. Zulfiqar Ali Gondal, Member National Assembly (MNA), PPPP, Pakistan.
70. Shamim Hashmi, ex-MP Rajya Sabha, India
71. Shiona Baird, Member Scottish Parliament, UK
72. Shish Ram Ravi, ex-MP Lok Sabha, India.
73. Shivanna Tiluvelli, (JD -U), Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), Karnataka, India.
74. Shivaraj Sajjan, (JD -U), Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), Karnataka, India.
75. Sreekanta Murthy, President, Janatadal (Secular), Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
76. Sriganaesh, General Secretary, Janatadal (Secular), Karnataka, India.
77. Sriram Redddy (CPM) Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), Karnataka, India.
78. Subhash Yadav, ex-deputy chief minister, Madhya Pradesh, India
79. Sven Bergström, MP Center Party, Sweden
80. Veerappa Moily, (Congress) Former Chief Minister (CM) and Chairman, Karnataka Tax Reform Committee, India.
81. Vijay Sonkar Shastri, ex-MP, Lok Sabha, India.
82. Virender Singh Sirohi, ex-Revenue Minister UP, India.
83. Virender Singh, Ex-MP, Lok Sabha, India.
84. Viswanath Mamani. (JD -U), Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), Karnataka, India.
85. Viswanatha Patil, Janatadal (Secular), Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), Karnataka, India.
86. Zulfiqar Ali Gondal, Member National Assembly (MNA), PPPP, Pakistan

Organisations:

1. ActionAid-Pakistan , Islamabad, Pakistan
2. Ajay Kumar. General Secretary, Andhra Pradesh Vyavasaya Vruthidarula Union AP. India
3. Aksel Nærstad, The Development Fund, Norway
4. Andrianna Natsoulas, Public Citizen, USA.
5. Anjaman Zamindaran, Mardan, Pakistan
6. Anthony Jackson, Munlochy Vigil, Inverness, UK
7. Anthra, Pune/Hyderabad, India.
8. Appropriate Technology Center for Rural Development (ATCRD), Philippines
9. Aurat Foundation, Lahore, Pakistan
10. Badrul Alam, President, Bangladesh Krishok Federation
11. Barbara Panvel, Center for Holistic Studies (India) UK Network coordinator
12. Bonnie Setiawan, Executive Director, Institute for Global Justice (IGJ), Indonesia
13. Caritas Faisalabad, Pakistan
14. Caritas-Lahore, Pakistan
15. Chaiman Walther Schuetz, Dachverband entwicklungspolitischer Organisationen in Kärnten (Umbrella), Austria
16. Chairwoman Dr. Christine Hochsteiner, Buendnis fuer Eine Welt /OeIE (Alliance for One World), Austria
17. DAMAAN Development Organization, D.G.Khan, Pakistan
18. Development Vision , Multan, Pakistan
19. Eco-Conservation Initiative, Islamabad, Pakistan
20. Focus on Global South, Thailand
21. Goth Sudhar Sangat, Khairpur, Pakistan
22. Green Circle Organization, Lahore, Pakistan
23. IBON Foundation, Philippines.
24. Indrani Thuraisingham, Executive Director, Southeast Asian Council for Food Security and Trade (SEACON), Malaysia
25. Integrated Rural Development Foundation (IRDF), Philippines
26. Jonas Vanreusel, FIAN-Belgium
27. Kissan Bachao Tahreek, Sargodha, Pakistan
28. Kissan Sanjh, Lodharan, Pakistan
29. Lok Sanjh, Islamabad, Pakistan
30. Moaj, Chashma (Mianwali) , Pakistan
31. National Kisan Panchayat (National Coalition of Farmers Unions) New Delhi, India
32. NOOR Pakistan, Lahore, Pakistan
33. P.Chennaiah; National Convenor ;National Agricultural Workers Forum, India
34. PATTAN Development Organization, Islamabad, Pakistan
35. Peoples Food Sovereignty Network Asia Pacific, Philippines.
36. Scope Pakistan, Karachi, Pakistan
37. SEARICE, Philippines
38. Shirkat Gah, Karachi, Pakistan
39. Soon Valley Development Program, Khushab, Pakistan
40. Sophia Murphy, IATP, USA
41. South Asia Partnership-PK, Lahore, Pakistan
42. Suman Sahai, Gene Campaign, India
43. SUNGI Development Foundation, Islamabad, Pakistan
44. Sustainable Development Policy Institute, Islamabad, Pakistan
45. TheNetwork For Consumer Protection, Islamabad, Pakistan
46. Village Friends Organization, Main Channu, Pakistan
47. Wasaib Foundation, Pakpattan, Pakistan
48. WomanHealth – Philippines
49. Soon Valley Development Program, Khushab, Pakistan
50. Sophia Murphy, IATP, USA
51. South Asia Partnership-PK, Lahore, Pakistan
52. SUNGI Development Foundation, Islamabad, Pakistan
53. Sustainable Development Policy Institute, Islamabad, Pakistan
54. Swedish Smallfarmers Organisation, Kolmården, Sweden
55. TheNetwork For Consumer Protection, Islamabad, Pakistan
56. Village Friends Organization, Main Channu, Pakistan
57. Wasaib Foundation, Pakpattan, Pakistan
58. WomanHealth – Philippines

Individuals:

1. Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat, former Chief of Naval Staff, India.
2. Anwar Fazal, Former President, International Organisation of Consumers Unions (IOCU), and Former Chairperson, Environmental Laison Centre International
3. Colin Hines (Author ‘Localization- a Global Manifesto’).
4. Dr. Alan Cottey, UK
5. Dr. Caroline Dumonteil, France
6. Dr.agr.Friedrich Mumm von Mallinckrodt, former Principal Technical Adviser UNDP for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security, Germany
7. Lalit Surjan, Editor-in-chief, Deshbandhu Hindi daily, Raipur, India.
8. Peter Rottach, Bread for the World, Stuttgart, Germany
9. Gerhard Hirn (ABL -German Small Farmers´Organisation, member of C.P.E.), Germany
10. Jürgen Wolters (ARA -Association of Rainforest and Biodiversity), Germany.
11. Lalit Surjan, Editor-in-chief, Deshbandhu Hindi daily, Raipur, India.
12. Lutz Ribbe (Euronatur), Germany
13. Peter Rottach, Bread for the World, Stuttgart, Germany
14. Rudolf Buntzel (EED - Church Development Service), Germany.
15. Ruth Tippe (No Patent on Life), Germany

Please send updated copy of signatures before July 13. 2004 (agriculture negotiation session 14-15. July) to coordinator:
Devinder Sharma This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or Helge Christie This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

This letter details out the three immediate steps that we hope will protect the interests of farmers in the developing as well as the developed countries.

Kindly take a look at the letter, and please help to circulate this widely. The idea is that we get it signed by politicians only, preferably sitting parliamentarians and others. However, organisations and persons also support the letter and have asked to sign on.

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