Cornucopia’s Take: Recent research in Germany suggests that three-quarters of all flying insects in Germany are gone. The German Ministry of the Environment opposed the recent vote in the European Union to continue using glyphosate, a likely accomplice in the so-called “insect Armageddon.” However, the German Minister of Agriculture voted to continue its use, causing public outcry. This year’s “We Are Fed Up” demonstration against Big Ag in Germany included 33,000 citizens.
Food is Political! 33,000 Are Fed Up With Agri-Industry!
ARC2020
 |
33,000 citizens – including 160 tractor driving farmers – made their way through the winter streets of Berlin on Saturday to tell the world – food is political! #EssenIstPolitisch
This year’s Wir Haben Es Satt (We are fed up) demonstration featured a wide and colourful array of people from a number of food farming and environmental perspectives.
This year’s focus was on farmers – loss of farmers and small scale farmer’s rights, and land access. Highlighted also were GMO free food, refugee solidarity, animal welfare, food sovereignty, fair trade, bee friendly agriculture, climate and environment, CAP reform for rural and ecological improvements.
Some creative posters were on display as even, which sometimes fused incongruity and poetry, humour and solid, tactic props. Campact’s birds, bees and butterflies were especially popular.
“Never again Minister Smith” was a popular chant as the people snaked their way around town, to the sounds of jazz bands and drummers, and in particular the percussive pounding of pots and pans, which punctured the stark cold Brandenberg air.
Minister Smith’s Agriculture Ministry’s decision to vote for Glyphosate at European level. Smith voted for glyphosate, despite the Ministry for Environment opposing this. Typically, when two ministries differ, Germany adopts a neutral position. Smith went against this ,which was a scandal in Germany.
“Agri-industry kills” was a common refrain, as was “insect Armageddon”, the latter in reference to the recent research which suggested ¾ of all the flying insects of Germany have disappeared in just a few decades.
ARC2020’s special contribution was to bring French Senator Joel Labbe over to speak, and, moreover to continue on his advocacy and indeed policy work. Labbe was the driving force behind the successful banning of herbicides from public use in France. This means that public parks, schools forests and other areas are no longer treated with these agri-chemicals in France. Further restrictions are coming in in the coming months and years.
Now the French Senator is working to have his achievement introduced into different EU member States, including Germany.
