Food and Farming: Time to Choose!
Today 5 June 2002, Friends of the Earth Europe launches a new Campaign for urgent and radical reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) involving Friends of the Earth groups in fourteen European countries. The new Campaign ‘Food and Farming: Time to Choose!’ is being launched in Austria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Wales & Northern Ireland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Scotland and Spain calling on Commissioner Fischler and European Agriculture and Food Ministers to make crucial changes to the CAP:
- Sustainability: CAP should be in line with EU Environment Policy: Farmers should have to meet Minimum Agricultural Standards in order to be eligible for CAP subsidies
- Localisation: CAP should re-localise agriculture and food production in order to reduce the high environmental, social and health costs of excessive food miles.
- Local Diversity: Pillar II funds (Rural Development) in CAP should be increased and dedicated to agri-environmental programmes, regeneration of rural communities, rebuilding local infrastructures, promoting local varieties and breeds and supporting organic farming.
- Quality Food: CAP should be in line with EU Health Policy promoting food health, safety and nutrition i.e. quality food. The negative health effects of agriculture and food production (e.g. heavy pesticide use) should no longer be subsidised.
- Fair Trade: CAP should no longer be detrimental to the interests of developing countries. The EU should send a strong message to the WSSD Summit in Johannesburg by banning export subsidies and demonstrating a clear commitment to sustainable agriculture.
The CAP has been a determining factor in creating an export driven farming industry in Europe. Productivity has increased but at great cost to the environment, to food quality, to biodiversity, to farmers themselves and to the interests of developing countries.
“Over 90% of European Citizens believe that top priorities of the CAP should be food that is healthy and safe and farming that respects the environment . Meanwhile, pesticides levels are increasing. When will the EU finally act?” said Joanna Dober Sullivan, FoE Europe
“CAP until now has been only beneficial for big farmers and Trans National Corporations, at the expense of the majority of farmers and the environment. Prices for farmers have to cover the costs of sustainable production. And the EU should get out of the trap of chasing artificially low world market prices.” said Kees Kodde, FoE Netherlands.
CONTACT:
Food and Farming: Time to Choose!
For interviews on the Campaign contact:
Joanna Dober Sullivan – Campaign Coordinator
+ 32 (0) 2 542 0180 or + 32 (0) 2542 0188 joanna.dober(at)foeeurope.org
Kees Kodde – Campaign Coordinator
+ 31 (0) 205 507 378 or +31 (0) 6 29 59 38 72 kees.kodde(at)milieudefensie.nl
Manfred Mader – Campaign Assistant
+ 32 (0) 2 542 0180 or + 32 (0) 2 542 6102 manfred.mader(at)foeeurope.org
for information on the campaign by country:
Austria: Iris Strutzmann Tel + 43 1 81 25 730 iris.strutzmann(at)global2000.at
Cyprus: Loukia Pavlidou Tel +357 53 47 042 foearth(at)spidernet.com.cy
Czech Republic: Vojtech Kotecky Tel: +42 0 54 52 14 431 vojtech.kotecky(at)hnutiduha.cz
Denmark: Bo Normander Tel +45 353 612 12 bo(at)noah.dk
England, Wales & Northern Ireland: Adrian Bebb
Tel + 44 113 389 99 52 Mobile +44 771 284 3211 adrianb(at)foe.co.uk
France: Cedric Cabanne Tel + 00 33 1 48 51 18 95 cedric.cabanne(at)amisdelaterre.org
Germany: Heike Moldenhauer Tel: + 49 30 27 58 640 heike.moldenhauer(at)bund.net
Greece: Vangelis Stoyannis Tel +30 10 362 43 23 ecologia(at)hol.gr
Hungary: Robert Fidrich Tel +36 1 21 67 297 fidusz(at)zpok.hu
Italy: Laura Radiconcini Tel + 39 06 6868 289 amiterra(at)amicidellaterra.it
Netherlands: Kees Kodde Tel + 31 205 507 378 Mobile: +31 6 29 59 38 72
Poland: Ewa Hadjuk Tel + 48 12 423 20 47 biuro(at)pkegliwice.pl
Scotland: Lang Banks Tel + 44 131 554 9977 Pager + 44 7654 200 937
lbanks(at)foe-scotland.org.uk
Spain: Hector Gravina Tel + 34 933 19 50 22 +34 913 069 900 hgravina(at)nodo50.org
Friends of the Earth is the largest grassroots network in the world campaigning to protect the environment and to create sustainable societies.
Friends of the Earth Europe has member groups in 31 different European countries from Sweden to Spain and from Scotland to Slovakia. With many thousands of local groups all over Europe, Friends of the Earth conducts grassroots campaigns on a wide range of issues such as GMOs, climate change, WTO and corporate accountability.
Check out the website for information on other campaigns at www.foeeurope.org
