Rio+20: a historic turning point or a flop?
This year marks 20 years since the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.The original summit's full name was the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. It was there that the three conventions on climate change, biodiversity and desertification were adopted. The fight for what will be the outcome of this year's conference is well underway.
-
More and Better is active in the Rio+20 preparations
The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development / Rio+20 is a top priority for More and Better in the first half of 2012. We are working successfully to get agriculture and food issues to be at the core of the Rio+20 Conference and several member organizations are involved both nationally and internationally in the preparation of Rio. Read more...
-
Rio+20: disappointing and very weak zero draft
The so called zero draft of the outcome document for Rio+20, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, came out in the beginning of January. The document is very disappointing and weak. It is filled with good words and intentions about sustainable development and poverty eradication, but almost empty of concrete actions, policies for real changes and commitments.
-
UN declares the International Year of Family Farming
The 22nd December 2011, the UN General Assembly has declared 2014 the International Year of Family Farming (IYFF). For the first time in history, an International Year has been promoted by Civil Society.
-
Rio+20: Battles around models of agriculture
More and Better has worked together with many other organizations and institutions to influence governments and the UN to put sustainable agriculture at the center of the Rio+20 Conference (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 10-22, 2012). About 140 organizations have now signed on the document Rio+20 Time to act! which was also sent to the conference secretariat as a formal proposal. The document can still be signed on the webpage; signatories organizations will be invited to the email-list for the work on Rio+20 and agriculture. Read more...
-
Take part in documenting small scale ecological agriculture and how to transform non-sustainable agriculture
Small scale food production contributes significantly to feeding the world, drastically reduces poverty, cools the planet and revives local ecologies and economies. But this is not well recognized by policy and decision makers. It is, therefore, necessary to document this better and show that providing the enabling environment to develop more viable small and medium scale food production systems would be the most cost-effective way to for the important challenges we face today ...
-
Rio + 20: Time to Act!
Since last year, More and Better has worked with an informal group of CSOs organizations, to influence the preparatory process of Rio+20.
The result is being summed up in a document made available in English, French, Spanish and German. A number of CSOs organizations concerned with Rio+20 key issues has already signed on to the document. If your organization wants to support this document or provide comments/suggestions, please write to rio2012agcso@gmail.com and visit http://www.timetoactrio20.org/ for more information and regular updates. -
What characterizes international discourse and action on investment in agriculture today?
We are pleased to publish the presentation made by Nora McKeon at the workshop held in Yaoundé, Cameroun, at the beginning of May, with a focus on 'Investment in Agriculture in Africa.' The event was organized by PROPAC in cooperation with EAFF, ROPPA and PAFO and the economic support of Terra Nuova, Practical Action, Concord, More and Better and FAO.
While waiting for the final report of the workshop (to be finalized in the coming week) the input provided by Nora McKeon can definitely give you a brief picture of the main issues debated in the Yaoundè workshop concerning the international context of agricultural investments.
-
Rio+20 will be important!
By Aksel Naerstad
Twenty years after the Rio Earth Summit, the UN Conference on Environment and Development (1992), and forty years after the first huge UN Conference on Human Environment, held in Stockholm (1972), a new UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) will take place in Rio, June 4-6, 2012, preceded by the third and last Preparatory Committee (Prep Com). The preparation process started a year ago. Everyone who really care about environment and development should be aware of the Rio+20 Conference in 2012. It might be a good possibility for some important and positive decisions, but could also do more harm than good. Our engagement, over the next 14 months, will be crucial on the outcome. -
More and Better at the Annual General Assembly of the Global Donor Platform for Rural Development
Elisabeth Atangana, president of Pan-African Farmers Forum (PAFFO), president of the Plateforme Régionale des Organisations Paysannes d'Afrique Centrale (PROPAC), and co-coordinator of More and Better, attended the Annual General Assembly of the Global Donor Platform for Rural Development that was held in Tunis, the 13th and 14th of January. The objectives of the Assembly were to identify options for improved networking among Platform members, to exchange on processes, activities and messages leading up to the 4th High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan; to help agree some key themes for the 2011 work programme.
-
Rio+20: opportunities and challenges
by Aksel Nærstad
The Earth Summit on sustainable development held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 was a very important event. The conference adopted the Climate Convention, the Convention on Biodiversity, and the Agenda 21. In 2012, in Rio, there will be another United Nation Conference on environment and development: the Rio+20 conference. More and Better is taking active part in the preparations and works together with other organizations and networks in order to get ecological small scale agriculture to be a key issue at the conference.
