Corporate Accountability Project: Latest additions

Working Group Updates - AAI Africa Corporate Impacts on the Rural poor

aai — Thu, 17 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

This WG has two substantial actions planned: (1) developing a corporate power map (AICC and UFADHILI) which will dovetail its work with the AAI market share matrix work; and (2) FATNEA and VEDCO will lead a situational analysis of the impacts agribusiness has on the rural poor throughout Africa. Herment Mrema (Uganda) of NuCafe chairs this WG and can be reached at mrema@ugandacoffee.org

Working Group Updates - AAI Africa Trade Agreement & Practices

aai — Thu, 17 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

This newly-formed WG will focus their research on corporate influence on EPAs, Investment & Services, and Government Procurement. The WG will first map this influence throughout the continent, share this current information with other interested groups, link to broader advocacy efforts, and invite European allies (SOMO), and others such as the Tax Justice Network, Friends of the Earth International, and Our World Is Not for Sale, to assist them in this process.

Working Group Updates - AAI Africa Food Sovereignty

aai — Thu, 17 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Concerned about the declining biodiversity and variety of food due to the promotion of GMOs and monoculture farming; the farmersâ€™ loss of control over production resources such as seed, knowledge, etc.; and the overt and overt glorification of hybrids and GMOs often using skewed data, this WG will focus its efforts on indigenous foods.

Working Group Updates - North American US Farm Bill

aai — Thu, 17 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

During March 7-10 AAI, in collaboration with the National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture, RAFI USA, WORC, and other sustainable ag groups, participated in a Washington, D.C. fly-in to lobby congress and their staffers. There were seven teams comprised of four people and each team included a livestock producer, contract grower, minority farmer, and faith-based or development activist. This event generated a positive response, resulting in a large letter-writing campaign to support a Competition Title in the upcoming U.S. Farm Bill.

Regional Developments - Asia

aai — Thu, 17 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Asia:Â AAI is planning an Asia Knowledge Network Meeting during the time of the Asian Rural Sociological Association (ARSA) Congress in Beijing, China from 8-10 August 2007. AAI will maximize on the presence of rural sociologists and other academics attending the ARSA Congress who share critical perspectives on corporate control of food production and distribution systems. Dr. David Birch of Griffith University, Dr. Yvonne Underhill-Sem of University of Aukland, Professor Josefa "Gigi" Francisco, Dr.

Working Group Updates - AAI Africa Genetic Engineering & GMOs

aai — Thu, 17 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

This WG is interested in full disclosure of GMO crops through Africa, the IPR issues currently affecting Africa, and the state of biosafety regulations in place. The group is seeking collaboration with other countries (India, Brazil, China, US) to analyze the impact this technology has on small farmers and the environment. Its first actions will be to identify and strengthen the networking of all actors throughout Africa with concerns about GMOs; to identify and document biosafety bills throughout Africa; and strengthen and provide input for the development of biosafety bills and policies.

Working Group Updates - AAI Supply Management

aai — Thu, 17 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

The Supply Management Working Groupâ€™s second meeting took place on March 8th at the CIRAD research centre in Nogent-sur-Marne, France.Â It was attended by 35 peopleÂ from Europe, Africa and North America. The meeting brought into sharp focus the common interest which African and Canadian farmers in particular see in supply management.

Regional Developments - Africa

aai — Thu, 17 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Africa: The first AAI African Forum was held from 26-28 March 2007 in Nairobi, Kenya, with 32 participants from 8 African countries, representing 30 NGOs of all the various AAI stakeholder groups. The primary goal of this Forum was to highlight the issue of corporate control in the agri-food system in Africa and to establish ways that stakeholders can work together on this issue. Through a series of small group work, the participants decided AAI is an important vehicle for addressing corporate control in the agri-food system in Africa.

Calendar of Events and Activities

aai — Thu, 17 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Early MayÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Hemispheric Social Allianceâ€”Ag Working Group, Cuba

14-15 MayÂ Â Â Â Â Â AAI Collaboration with IATP on Global Dialogue on
Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â US,Â Canadian and EU on Agricultural Policies â€“ Wash. DC

15 MayÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â AAI EU Supermarket Working Group â€“ Brussels

28-29 MayÂ Â Â Â Â Â Reconciling Human Rights & Trade:Â
Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The New Development Agenda; AI, IATP,
Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â N- SÂ Inst.Â SocialÂ Watch

Working Group Updates - EU Regulating Supermarkets

aai — Thu, 17 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

This working group aims to raise awareness of the negative impacts of buyer power on farmers, workers, the environment and independent retailers and lobby the European Parliament and Commission to introduce new rules to curb supermarket growth and power.