Blog: December 2011
16/12/2011
"African Agriculture has been ignored by UN Climate Change discussions!" bellowed the South African minister for Agriculture, Tina Joemat-Pettersen at the high-level launch of Climate Smart Agriculture during the Durban climate negotiations. "We need your ideas to over throw this dictatorship of Climate Change! No Agriculture, No Deal!"
Her words echoed those of South African president Jacob Zuma, whose own rhetoric forcefully pushing for a deal on Agriculture had raised eyebrows for ignoring UN etiquette that prefers its host countries to act as impartial facilitators.
08/12/2011
New Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) launches to African beats
It certainly wasn't an event typically seen during the fortnight of UN climate negotiations here in Durban. An audience singing joyfully along with women farmers, Southern African youth grinning as they performed traditional dances, and the whooping and ululations ringing around the room, would have been enough to make you remember this day as something rather special and different.
07/12/2011
PRESS RELEASE: The Gaia Foundation, The Green Belt Movement, EcoNexus
[COP17, Durban] At the UN Climate Change negotiations in Durban this week, the World Bank and developed countries are claiming that agriculture carbon offsets will bring money for African agriculture.
02/12/2011
Groups warn against Zuma's agriculture prize at COP17
Press release from Gaia Foundation, African Biodiversity Network (ABN), Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) & EcoNexus
Date: Friday 2 December 2011
South African president Jacob Zuma has declared his intention to have a decision on Agriculture at the UN COP17 climate negotiations in Durban; while the World Bank is promoting so-called "Climate Smart Agriculture" and carbon offsets as the future of African agriculture and climate solutions.
