PAN AP Opened Conference on Food Crisis and Climate Change
Immediate Press Release
September 28, 2009
Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific (PAN AP) officially opened the Asia Pacific Conference on Confronting the Food Crisis and Climate Change with colourful and lively cultural presentations featuring Malaysian performers at the Copthorne Orchid Hotel Penang on 27th September, 2009. The event is participated in by more than 100 delegates from 22 countries who gathered with the aim of strengthening people's movements in asserting and advancing food sovereignty. The delegates are indigenous peoples, women, fisherfolks, peasants, agricultural workers, livestock keepers and consumers.
The conference started with a lion dance welcoming the delegates and Y.B. Pee Boon Poh, Penang State EXCO for Health, Welfare, Caring Society and the Environment who graced and opened the event. There were Malay dances and playing of traditional Indian instruments.
In his opening address, Y.B. Pee Boon Poh said “We hope that this conference will serve as a platform for tackling and sharpening analysis on pressing global issues as they impact on marginalised sectors.”
Dr. Irene Fernandez, chairperson of PAN AP welcomed the participants and set the tone for the conference. She hoped that the conference will be a good venue for discussions on how we can forward the struggle to ensure that there is food for ourselves and the generations to come, as well as, a safe and healthy environment for all of us to live in.
Sarojeni V. Rengam, executive director of PAN AP explained, “Last year, we experienced the food crisis and now, we are facing a disaster in the Philippines due to climate change. Communities, especially the small food producers are being affected and this is something we all need to address.”
The delegates shared their experiences and actively participated in discussions on the threats and challenges of the food crisis and climate change, the role and responses of corporate agriculture, responsible and ethical consumption, and globalisation.
YORA Celebration of Biodiversity Evening
As part of conference, PAN AP’s Save Our Rice Campaign organised and hosted the People’s Year of Rice Action (YORA) Celebration of Biodiversity Evening. The event consisted of an exhibition and bazaar along with the YORA Hall of Biodiversity and Rice for Life Dinner. The event also featured special rituals and a seed exchange between sub-regions in Asia.
The celebration started with a welcoming speech by Mr. Jayankumar from THANAL, India and a rice blessing by an indigenous elder to celebrate the role of rice and biodiversity in our lives and affirm our solidarity in bringing about social transformation.
The YORA Hall of Biodiversity featured the YORA events in various countries through photographs and showcased rice and other traditional local biodiversity-based products of Asia through the exhibit. The following organisations proudly displayed their publications and products: Barcik; Beej Bacaho Andolan; Consumers Korea; Ibon Foundation; Living Farms; PACOS; PAN Philippines; RRAFA, Esan Live Styes Association and Organic Agriculture Centre; SADIA; SAEDA; Sawit Watch; SEVA; SRD; SRED; THANAL and; Vikalpani. Participants were also given special Rice Gifts.
For more information, please visit the PAN AP website at: www.panap.net, or the official conference blog at: http://beaconference.blogspot.com.
PAN Asia and the Pacific
P.O. Box 1170, 10850, Penang, Malaysia
Contact Number: +604 657 0271 or +604 656 0381
Email: panap@panap.net
Website: http://www.panap.net
Pesticide Action Network (PAN) is a global network working to eliminate the human and environmental harm caused by pesticides and to promote biodiversity based ecological agriculture. PAN Asia and the Pacific is committed to the empowerment of people especially women, agricultural workers, peasants and indigenous farmers. We are dedicated to protect the safety and health of people, and the environment from pesticide use and genetic engineering. We believe in a people-centered, pro-women development through food sovereignty, ecological agriculture and sustainable lifestyles.