Do Our Habits Translate Into Support for Food Producers?
In the year 1996, during the second conference of Via Campesina, the International Day of Peasants' Struggle was institutionalized as a way to honor the death of the 19 landless peasants that died during the slaughter of Eldorado, Brazil.
The Woman Post | Catalina Mejía
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The events that happened on 17 April 1996, caused great shock in the international community since various members of the Landless Workers' Movement (MST) were killed by members of the Military Police of the State of Para. La Via Campesina, which is a movement that coordinates peasant organizations as well as small producers, rural women, indigenous communities’ rural workers, and landless peasants, demanded justice and promoted the mobilization of peasants in Brazil and further in Latin America.
Despite the great importance of peasants and their work to ensure food security in the world, which means providing physical and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food, they still face several challenges such as poverty, lack of finances, poor access to education and in many cases they are trapped in conflict situations. Hence, there are many organizations that are working towards bettering the living and working conditions of peasants around the world.
As a way to honor the death of the members of the Landless Workers' Movement (MST), this year The Woman Post invites you to read carefully through this small list of ways in which we can all support peasants and their work:
1. Consume locally and ecologically
Search for producers near your home and purchase their products. You will definitely save time at supermarket queues, and you will favor local peasants.
2. Change your diet: shift to plant-based products
Excessive meat consumption has shown to impact health in a negative way. Your immune system will also benefit from this diet.
Also read: 2021 AND THE PRESERVATION OF LIFE IN FORESTS
3. Don’t waste food
Wasteful food translates into greenhouse emissions and waste of water and land. Shop only the food you will consume and store it in ways that reduce waste.
4. Prefer seasonal foods
When making smart choices about eating seasonal foods, you can help local farmers while taking care of our planet.
5. Suggest the manager of your grocery store to supply foods from local producers
This can help create awareness at different levels of the importance of supporting local farms.
6. Stay home but don’t remain silent
We can all help by demanding our governments to establish policies that support indigenous people, rural workers, farmers, food producers, and fishers.
