Join the People's Camp on Food Sovereignty against the WTO,
Hong Kong December 2005

People's Camp on Food Sovereignty
Pesticide Action Network - Asia Pacific (PANAP), People's Coalition on Food Sovereignty (PCFS)
December 15-17
Venue: Victoria Park

The People's Camp is a space for grassroots people to put forward their protests against the WTO and to forge solidarity with others who wish to do collaborative work under the Food Sovereignty platform. The People's Camp will have tribunals, seminars, workshops, protest actions, exhibits, Rice Festival and other cultural events. It is being organized by Pesticide Action Network Asia Pacific (PANAP) and the People's Coalition on Food Sovereignty (PCFS) together with 40 People's Organisations and support NGOs from all over Asia and other regions. It aims to raise awareness and understanding of the WTO issues and gather people's testimony and voices on the impact of the WTO on their lives. Also, it aims to develop capacity of grassroots organisations towards collective actions on the WTO and strengthen solidarity among groups and forge higher level of cooperation for future collaborative actions on the WTO and other trade issues. It aims as well to present concrete proposals and position of grassroots organisations to their WTO negotiators.

December 15
Rural People's Tribunal of AoA (9 am-5 pm)
Organiser: Asian Peasants Coalition

December 16
Speak Out of Agricultural Workers, Building Solidarity for their Rights and Welfare -
Organised by Coalition of Agricultural Workers (CAWI) (9 am-5pm)
Organiser: Coalition of Agricultural Workers International (CAWI)

December 17
Asian Workshop on TRIPS: Defending Farmers' Rights against Patents on Life (9 am-5pm)
Organisers: Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), Magsasaka at Siyentista para sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura (MASIPAG), No Patents on Life (NPOL)-Asia and Asian Peasant Coalition (APC)

Asian Action to Stop GM Rice! (10 am-12 noon)
Organiser: No-GMO Coalition Japan

Launch of Case Studies on the Impact of AFTA on Food Security in Asian Countries (2-5 pm) (to be confirmed)
Organiser: South East Asian Council for Food Security and Fair Trade (SEACON)

Rice Festival
Pesticide Action Network - Asia Pacific (PANAP), Save Our Rice Campaign
December 11-18
Venue: Victoria Park

Rice means life to us in Asia. Rice is an integral part of the way of life and the spirit of Asian peasants and people. It is this grain that has shaped much of the culture, diet and economies of billions of people in Asia. For Asians, life without the sustenance of rice is simply unthinkable. To protect rice means also to protect the spirituality of the people and to preserve the wisdom of rice culture.

Since the WTO is dealing with rice as a mere commodity, being subject to international trade regulations, it is essential to break this paradigm and make the strong link of rice cultivation with the Asian way of life visible. Therefore, the Rice Festival aims to regain rice for the Asian peasants and people, highlighting the rich culture developed out of rice farming communities, as well as the related wisdom of these communities.

The Rice Festival will start with a cultural night on December 11, where local artists and cultural groups from India and the Philippines will perform. At the same time, various groups from all over Asia will inform about their rice culture by means of photo exhibitions and traditional rice dishes will be served. There will be open space for discussions, exchange of experiences and further networking. It is essential that various farmers groups are given the opportunity to exchange seeds and to learn from each other.

December 11
Opening of Rice Festival (6pm to 7pm)
(Right after the Rally and before the HKPA Cultural Programme)

December 11-18
Rice Festival Mobile Cultural Performances
Exhibitions on Five Pillars of Rice Wisdom