Brazil sees rapid rise in land conflicts, Catholic agency reports
Jun 3, 2021 catholic news service
Kayapo indigenous people block a key Brazilian grain highway during a protest in Novo Brasil Aug. 18, 2020. The tribe said in a statement that the federal government has not consulted them on a plan to build a railway next to their land. (Credit: Lucas Landau/Reuters via CNS.)
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 registered the highest number of land conflict incidents in Brazil since 1985, the Catholic-affiliated Pastoral Land Commission reported.
SAO PAULO Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 registered the highest number of land conflict incidents in Brazil since 1985, the Catholic-affiliated Pastoral Land Commission reported.
A spate of mass killings in Niger’s Tillabery region has raised the spectre of broader civil strife. Most worrying is the ethnic dimension to the crimes. Authorities should move quickly to prioritize civilian protection lest vigilantes take matters into their own hands.
Colombia: State terror won’t stop the struggle
By Martha Grevatt posted on May 11, 2021
Since April 28, workers in Colombia have been waging a general strike. The strike was provoked by the third of three recent tax “reforms” imposed by the right-wing government of President Iván Duque. The new taxes squeeze workers at both ends, by raising taxes on personal income and charging sales taxes on basic food items.
First day of Colombian general strike, Bogotá, April 28
This creates tremendous hardship for Colombian workers, whose average monthly pay is equal to around $310 well below the worldwide average and less than typical monthly rent for a three-room apartment in the capital of Bogotá. (quora.com) While workers will see their taxes go up by as much as 500%, Duque has cut taxes for transnational corporations and plans to spend billions of workers’ tax money on new jet fighters.
29/04/2021
FORTHCOMING (MAY 2021):
Indigenous Peoples’ Food Systems: Insights on sustainability and resilience from the front line of climate change
This publication, co-published by FAO and the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, includes a compilation of eight Indigenous Peoples food systems profiles carried out across the world. Attention is given to their climate resilience and sustainability elements, portraying Indigenous Peoples’ food systems contributions to the global debate on sustainable food systems.
book by the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA)
According to this year’s edition – which includes an article on FAO – throughout 2020, Indigenous Peoples were disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, they proved their resilience by setting up their own networks and solutions, connecting communities to help transfer information and goods, and implementing traditional methods of protection. The publication als