I’ve said before, the protests in Mozambique weren’t just about food, but about a constellation of injustices. There’s still good coverage of the events in the press, but the most insightful analysis I’ve seen so far comes from UNAC, the Mozambican National Peasant Union. Attached is their statement on recent events – in Portuguese only at the moment, though in English soon. The key point: há algo de podre no reino da globalização – There’s something rotten in the kingdom of globalisation. More here: Posicao da UNAC Manifestacoes de 1 e 2 Set
6 Replies to “Mozambique update: There’s something rotten in the kingdom of globalisation”
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please share the english translation when it appears!
Great job Raj, can’t wait for English translation!
Yes, please Raj. Do publish the english version of the National Peasant Union statement. I desperately want to know THEIR viewpoints.
Portuguese to English translation (Google)
Given the popular manifestations of Days 1 and September 2, 2010
NO TO VIOLENCE! NO TO REPRESSION!
YES TO FOOD SOVEREIGNTY!
In the past 1 and September 2, there was popular in some neighborhoods Maputo, Mozambique’s capital, and the city of Matola, a town industrial belt of Maputo, the popular manifestations of serious violence, looting property of others, public and private, by some elements of the population, anda very violent repression of the police forces, and it may deplore thedeath by bullet, confirmed thirteen persons, including two children.
UNAC, National Farmers Union, condemns both the use of repression and blindof lethal force by the police, as the wanton destruction of property, vehicles, petrol stations and other physical structures by elements of population. Moreover, the UNAC deeply deplores the death of innocents, whichwere in the wrong place at the wrong time. Our hope that in a countrythat says “the rule of law,” such a situation does not repeat NEVER.
One of the elements underlying the popular uprisings is risingthe price of bread – almost simultaneous with the increase of energy prices
electricity, supply of drinking water and fuel (the latter havingknown regular increments in the past few months). The tension among the people already
was present for months due to the increased cost of living. We regret that again, who is in law has not been realized until the manifestations ofLast week happen.
The bread, although Mozambique is not a wheat producer, has become a foodeveryday basics to thousands of families in urban Mozambique. It is known thatWheat, like other food goods, is quoted on stock exchanges worldwide, becomingthus a good value with very volatile and subject to speculation, which depends onups and downs of the markets. In this case, the rising price of wheat atworld, would be derived, among other reasons, the cut in supply by Russia, which was casualty in the past weeks, large-scale fires,which reached the producing areas of grain. How then to justifybush fires in the Russian could have such disastrous consequences for populations Africa, particularly Mozambique and more?
Assessing the situation we just saw in our country (which probablyrepeat will not only Mozambique but also in other African countries, ashappened in 2008 and for the same reasons, so-called “hunger riots”with the rising price of rice in various parts of the continent and beyond) isobvious that “something is rotten in the kingdom of globalization.” Note that once again,the countries of the so-called “third world” are victims of crises that the “worlddeveloped “produced. Hence our strong doubts if this really is the model we, the so-called “poor countries”, we should follow.
UNAC as we reiterate today what we have been demanding the national level, but also at international level within the Via Campesina: our governments – andMozambican government in particular – have to carry out political commitmentslong term in order to rebuild national food economies. Countries donors have a very large weight in the general budget of the country we callthe governments of these countries to respect the commitments of the Paris and Accraregard to respect for national sovereignty in setting the agenda of our Country
A high priority should be given to domestic food production to minimize dependence on the international market. Peasants and small farmersshould be encouraged through better prices for their products and marketsstable, to produce food for themselves, their communities and cities.
This means increased investment in peasant agriculture insmall and medium-sized farms to meet the domestic market as well asmeasures to control imports of cheap food.
UNAC wants insite here in the term “peasant agriculture”, as opposed to “Agriculture large-scale shift to export”: peasant agriculture meansit builds on the peasants and farmers, having a rolesocial and cultural development, ensures a quality food production, organic and suitablehabits and customs, local food, free from speculation in stock markets worldwide.
UNAC stresses the need to look more positively to agriculture peasant. Neoliberal policies were gradually some of the formatting us, that “farmers produce only for subsistence,” therefore “is not They that can give a qualitative leap towards the development and what is needed is that agriculture is business and more business, “hence the paranoia of agriculture large-scale or “agribusiness.” Several examples in support of this argument are presented to us and that, therefore, is that she should follow. This is what is propagates and implements in the developed countries and beyond.
What happens is that the food crisis will succeeding each other periodically as it moves in this direction. It is true, however, that countries involved in this model produce much more than they need, but a much of its population suffers. A very trendy this model is that of our neighbor South Africa is known, however, that in this country for millions starve and even in some cases worse than in our rural areas, it is not spoken. Here is where the problem lies.
The family sector benefiting from incentives and policies that lead to your growth – access to credit, land, water, technology, services adequateextension – can produce more and, at the outset, contributinggreatly to the distribution. The production and distribution are in jail. Notnecessary for producers of food marketers are speculatorsfood to make a strong contribution to sustainable development and Sovereignty Peoples’ food. This is to be deeply analyzed, because errorlarger, is staying in the wrong!
Events like last week in Mozambique corroborate theOur vision of struggle: the food is not any commodity. It unacceptable that a population, mostly poor, stay at the mercy of the marketsworld to eat or not eat, when a country like Mozambique have land and natural resources more than sufficient to ensure food for boththe field as to the cities.
We have welcomed the measures announced by the Government of Mozambique in the past 7 daysSeptember, to contain price increases and calm the spirits. However, urge the Government to proceed with long-term sustainable measures tothat have been taken no more a mere palliative, not the entire systemour country’s food is revisited. We further call upon the Government to improvemechanisms of collaboration with farmers and rural plans government for the future.
How UNAC, our duty and our mission is to continue fight for familiesMozambique’s cities and countryside, ultimately, our country as a whole, the scopeFood Sovereignty.
NON-VIOLENCE! NO TO REPRESSION!
YES TO FOOD SOVEREIGNTY!
Where peasants United Venceremos
Maputo, September 8, 2010
UNAC
Rua Valentim Siti, No. 30, R / C
Maputo
Tel: 21,306,737
Email: unac.adv @ gmail.com
I second rae’s motion above. Please give us an english translation when available. I do speak spanish but not well enough to understand that document.
However, the fact that “There’s Something Rotten In the Kingdom of Globalization” is something I and many others have well known for some time.
Why?
Anyone who really dersires can easily find out why. It has to do with the historical origin of what GHW Bush referred to as the coming “New World Order.” Many other Elitist, such as David Rockefeller, have mentioned it too. People intuitively feel and know that we MUST have world peace, but the New World Order of totalitarian control is NOT peace but Tyranny in its most virulent and vile form.
Yes, it is true that planet earth needs peace. We need to realize that we are ONE people. Human beings on a beautiful planet for which we are to be careGIVERS showing high respect to the entire web of life. We need to be ONE practically. The fact is, we ARE already ONE in reality but only a few are even dimly aware of that fact. All the divisions are an illusion of egoistic fantasy.
However, we do NOT need Totalitarian Control by selfish greedy Elitist Despots over the bodies, minds and souls of human beings. And that is exactly what GW Bush was referring to when he mentioned a “New World Order.” He is an important part of a (small) group of Elitists that think this way and have thought this way for many many generations. The vain traditions of the fathers are continued through bloodlines who deem themselves “superior” to all other beings. The ultimate racism. And they do these abominations in the name of Almighty God. It is the ultimate in false piety.
This abomination of World Totalitarian Control is already being accomplished by the total takeover, long methodic infiltration and manipulation of 1) World Finances, 2) Politics (all parties)–in order to control both sides of every issue, factions are infiltrated and pitted against each other, 3) State Educational Systems (which are actually DIS-educational systems to dumb down the population), 4) Militarism without conscience under the fraudulent guise of “National Defense”, 5) News Media–which is 100% propaganda 6) Suppression of genuine Energy Solutions, 7) constant Social Engineering using various means of very sophisticated mind-control techniques which have gradually been brought fully into play since human experimentation was begun by those who became the Nazis and continued here in the U.S. and Russia AFTER World War 2–as well as creating conflicts by pitting sects against one another and 8) FOOD manipulation–get rid of what they refer to as “useless eaters” in their documents. These are just 8 of the most important means of control.
Another important one is the continual generation of FEAR. A very good tool for manipulationg whole societies. The goal is World Hegemony–A Fascist Totalitarian New World Order manipulated over a long period of time into power. This goal is GENERATIONAL. It has a long history and we are now living in its culmination.
And these things are NOT imaginary as the controllers themeselves would have you believe. They are long and very WELL documented in history. They are proven. Just take a careful look around you and you will see the fruit of it for yourselves.
And how did this happen? Where did it come from?
It is easy to find out. Just Goggle these terms: Sabbatean, Zionism, Secret Societies, Secret Technologies, Origins of the CIA, Mind Control, Social Engineering, The Rothschilds, The Federal Reserve System etc. Find out the HISTORY of these things and you will know what is behind todays Globalism, where it came from, who manipulated it into being and what the goal actually is.
That goal is in full opposition of the interests of every human being on the planet for the sake of total ammoral despots who, lately, have stolen TRILLIONS in broad daylight, shown the utter corruption of the entire Judiciary systems and subverted liberty in every way possible. Human rights meaan nothing to these Tryants. Genocide is carried out without conscience. Brutal Wars are manipulated into a CONTINUAL WAR. Peasants are driven off their lands to be made slaves, and meanwhile, the public is distracted by American Idol, a Mosque in a Moslem neighborhood four blocks away from ground zero, and Britanny Speer’s ass while being zombified by a paycheck (half of which has been stolen from them) a ballgame and a beer.
Of course, they have been made very placid and docile by years of being ooisoned by their Sodium Flouride laced municiple drinking water. It is the Zombification of America because the America people are the only thing standing in the way of this World Totalitarian Dictatorship.
Learn to connect the dots.
Now is the time for a great awakening to occur. There are hopeful signs.
What the Criminal World Tyrants have in mind is 100% contrary to all Life, morals and human decency and unbeknownst to them, total Psychotic self-destruction. There is a Universal Law of Cause and Effect in continual operation. Those who would deceive others are themselves deceived the most.
These are the days in which all of this is now coming to a head, as all the chickens now come home to roost.
namaste
Here’s the UNAC statement more readable.
NO TO VIOLENCE! NO TO REPRESSION!
YES TO FOOD SOVEREIGNTY!
In the past 1 and September 2, there was popular in some neighborhoods Maputo, Mozambique’s capital, and the city of Matola, a town industrial belt of Maputo, the popular manifestations of serious violence, looting property of others, public and private, by some elements of the population, and a very violent repression of the police forces, and it may deplore the death by bullet, confirmed thirteen persons, including two children.
UNAC, National Farmers Union, condemns both the use of repression and blind of lethal force by the police, as the wanton destruction of property, vehicles, petrol stations and other physical structures by elements of population. Moreover, the UNAC deeply deplores the death of innocents, which were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Our hope that in a country that says “the rule of law,” such a situation does not repeat NEVER.
One of the elements underlying the popular uprisings is risingthe price of bread – almost simultaneous with the increase of energy prices electricity, supply of drinking water and fuel (the latter having known regular increments in the past few months). The tension among the people already was present for months due to the increased cost of living. We regret that again, who is in law has not been realized until the manifestations of last week happen.
The bread, although Mozambique is not a wheat producer, has become a food everyday basics to thousands of families in urban Mozambique. It is known that Wheat, like other food goods, is quoted on stock exchanges worldwide, becoming thus a good value with very volatile and subject to speculation, which depends on ups and downs of the markets. In this case, the rising price of wheat at world, would be derived, among other reasons, the cut in supply by Russia, which was casualty in the past weeks, large-scale fires, which reached the producing areas of grain. How then to justify bush fires in the Russian could have such disastrous consequences for populations Africa, particularly Mozambique and more?
Assessing the situation we just saw in our country (which probably repeat will not only Mozambique but also in other African countries, as happened in 2008 and for the same reasons, so-called “hunger riots” with the rising price of rice in various parts of the continent and beyond) is obvious that “something is rotten in the kingdom of globalization.”
Note that once again the countries of the so-called “third world” are victims of crises that the “developed world produced”. Hence our strong doubts if this really is the model we, the so-called “poor countries”, we should follow.
UNAC as we reiterate today what we have been demanding the national level, but also at international level within the Via Campesina: our governments – and Mozambican government in particular – have to carry out political commitments long term in order to rebuild national food economies. Donors countries have a very large weight in the general budget of the country we call the governments of these countries to respect the commitments of the Paris and Accra regard to respect for national sovereignty in setting the agenda of our Country.
A high priority should be given to domestic food production to minimize dependence on the international market. Peasants and small farmers should be encouraged through better prices for their products and stable markets, to produce food for themselves, their communities and cities.
This means increased investment in peasant agriculture in small and medium-sized farms to meet the domestic market as well as measures to control imports of cheap food.
UNAC wants stress here in term “peasant agriculture”, as opposed to “Agriculture large-scale shift to export”: peasant agriculture means it builds on the peasants and farmers, having a social role and cultural development, ensures a quality food production, organic and suitable habits and customs, local food, free from speculation in stock markets worldwide.
UNAC stresses the need to look more positively to agriculture peasant. Neoliberal policies were gradually some of the formatting us, that “farmers produce only for subsistence,” therefore “is not they that can give a qualitative leap towards the development and what is needed is that agriculture is business and more business, “hence the paranoia of agriculture large-scale or “agribusiness.” Several examples in support of this argument are presented to us and that, therefore, is that we should follow. This is what is propagated and implemented in the developed countries and beyond.
What happens is that the food crisis will succeeding each other periodically as it moves in this direction. It is true, however, that countries involved in this model produce much more than they need, but a much of its population suffers. A very trendy model is that of our neighbor South Africa is known, however, that in this country millions starve and even in some cases worse than in our rural areas, it is not spoken. Here is where the problem lies.
The family sector benefiting from incentives and policies that lead to your growth – access to credit, land, water, technology, adequate extension services – can produce more and, at the outset, contributing greatly to the distribution. The production and distribution are in jail. Not necessary for producers of food marketers are speculators food to make a strong contribution to sustainable development and Sovereignty Peoples’ food.
This is to be deeply analyzed, because error larger, is staying in the wrong!
Events like last week in Mozambique corroborate our vision of struggle: the food is not any commodity. It unacceptable that a population, mostly poor, stay at the mercy of the world markets to eat or not eat, when a country like Mozambique have land and natural resources more than sufficient to ensure food for both the field as to the cities.
We have welcomed the measures announced by the Government of Mozambique in the past 7 days in September, to contain price increases and calm the spirits. However, we urge the Government to proceed with long-term sustainable measures that have been taken no more a mere palliative, not the entire system our country’s food is revisited. We further call upon the Government to improve mechanisms of collaboration with farmers and rural plans government for the future.
How UNAC, our duty and our mission is to continue fight for families of Mozambique’s cities and countryside, ultimately, our country as a whole, the scope Food Sovereignty.
NON-VIOLENCE! NO TO REPRESSION!
YES TO FOOD SOVEREIGNTY!
Where peasants United Venceremos
Maputo, September 8, 2010
UNAC
Rua Valentim Siti, No. 30, R / C
Maputo
Tel: 21,306,737
Email: unac.adv @ gmail.com