A Movement
All over the world, groups, organizations and collectives are fighting to take back control of their lives - starting with their food and agriculture systems.
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The Forum
From August 16th to 21st 2011 the Nyeleni Europe Food Sovereignty Forum will take place in Krems, Austria.
Nyeleni | a History
Nyéléni is a woman who left her mark in the history of Mali, as a woman and as a great farmer. She stands for the struggle for food sovereignty.
Participation
If you want to come to the Forum - join the delegation in your country. Throughout Europe people are organizing to come to the Forum - get involved and find the contact in your region below.
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PARTICIPATION
Participation at the Forum is only possible if you join your national Delegation.
Find the contact person in your region HERE
Nyeleni was a woman ...
"In Mali there is a powerful symbol which could serve as the symbol of food sovereignty. It's a woman who left her mark in the history of Mali, as a woman and as a great farmer. When you mention her name everyone knows what this name represents. She is the mother who brings food, the mother who farms, who fought for her recognition as a woman in an environment which wasn't favourable to her. This woman was called Nyéléni. If we use this symbol everyone in Mali will know that it's a struggle for food, a struggle for food sovereignty." (Ibrahim)
"Nyéléni was an only child, which in Africa was considered a curse. Nyéléni, as a girl and only child of her parents, suffered in her youth from all the mocking her parents were subjected to. She secretly resolved to remove this slur that men had cast on her by defeating them on their own ground, that is to say agriculture and working of the land.
To every suitor she repeated endlessly that marriage could wait, that first she had a mission to accomplish as a homage to her family, to women, to all women. This was her priority. Nyéléni took part in farming competitions and defeated all the champions with the best reputation in her village and in the surrounding region. Her reputation grew. The more arrogant men would challenge her, day after day, and to their disgrace they were all defeated.
Nyéléni's reputation grew beyond the limits of her region, she became a living legend. This is the time when her renown was established and she earned respect. And so the legend says that it was at the beginning of winter, which is the rainy season here, that she domesticated fonio/angry rice, that cereal you ate today. It's also thanks to Nyéléni that we have a variety of millet called samio, that is 'small millet'. Nyéléni's father was called Nianso, her mother was called Saucra, she came from Siracoro. Unfortunately history does not tell us whether one of her suitors ever married her, and therefore whether she ever had children. This is the story of Nyéléni." (Oussaman)
- Nyéléni Declaration
LATEST UPDATE
NYELENI - UPDATE MAY
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A note on COMMUNICATIONS and MOBILIZATION
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A QUESTIONAIRE which needs to be completed by National processes and delegations
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An update from the FINANCE group
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Forming the DELEGATION from your country
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FORM for filling in the names for the delegation
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NYELENI UPDATE MAY EN
NYELENI UPDATE MAY DE
NYELENI UPDATE MAY ES
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Upcoming Events
Honduras Fotoausstellung und Diskussions-Veranstaltung
Soziale Netzwerke in der biologischen Landwirtschaft
Transformation der Lebensweise
Photo Galleries
Goals and Objectives
The key goals of the forum:
Strengthening, broadening and building a movement for Food sovereignty in Europe by;
- Reinforcing our common understanding of what Food Sovereignty means in Europe
- Identifying common challenges and obstacles to Food Sovereignty in Europe
- Constructing common strategies to make Food Sovereignty a reality in Europe
Objectives:
- Strengthen local actors for food sovereignty
- Build a sense of common purpose and understanding, as well as a joint agenda for action
- Celebrate the struggle for food sovereignty already underway in Europe
- Inspire and motivate people and organizations to work together
Based on key values of trust, transparency and participation
A grassroots process - building the forum
Read more about how the Forum will be organized here
International Nyeleni Newsletter
Click on the banner for the latest version of the Nyeleni Newsletter - this newsletter was developed as an educational tool for the grassroots of the movements struggling for food sovereignty which participated in the Nyeleni Forum in Mali in 2007
Subscribe to the update list for NYELENI Europe 2011
More information: What this mailing list about and how does it work?
Background Documents
Building on the work of the past - find out more here about the documents which provide our shared understanding of Food Sovereignty
6 Principles of Food Sovereignty:
6 Principles of Food Sovereignty 6 Principios de Soberania Alimentaria
6 Principes du Sauverainete Alimentaire
6 Prinzipien der Ernährungssouveränität
6 Principii ale Suveranitatii Alimentare
Food Declaration -
http://www.europeanfooddeclaration.org/
Useful links:
http://www.epfs.eu/content.aspx?l=007?=ENG