National Seminar on Land Rights of Internally Displaced Communities and Women

WFFP urges full implementation of UN Law of seas to solve issues in international wates

PUDUCHERRY: The World Forum of Fisher Peoples has sought a permanent solution to tackle the issue of arrest and incarceration of fishermen crossing the national borders and entering the territory of neighbouring countries.

The Chairperson of the Pakistani Fisherfolk Forum and Co-Chairman of the WFFP Muhammad Ali Shah, today said the five-day international conference of the WFFP Coordination Committee, which concluded here yesterday, discussed several challenges confronted by fisherfol ..

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http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/48132227.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

WFFP urges full implementation of UN Law of seas to solve issues in international waters

Read more at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/48132227.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

PUDUCHERRY: The World Forum of Fisher Peoples has sought a permanent solution to tackle the issue of arrest and incarceration of fishermen crossing the national borders and entering the territory of neighbouring countries.

The Chairperson of the Pakistani Fisherfolk Forum and Co-Chairman of the WFFP Muhammad Ali Shah, today said the five-day international conference of the WFFP Coordination Committee, which concluded here yesterday, discussed several challenges confronted by fisherfol ..

Read more at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/48132227.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

WFFP urges full implementation of UN Law of seas to solve issues in international waters

Read more at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/48132227.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

VOTER’S PLEDGE

As citizens of Sri Lanka, we have realized that we have a serious responsibility for the future of our country. We must be very conscious of it and feel the gravity of the situation. We cannot allow this historic moment to slip us by. Each of us and everybody has some work to do. We must propagate the message of electing only the deserving candidates and giving no chances at all to the evil ones to come back to power. The party is immaterial; it is the person that matters. I shall summarize the method of choosing the deserving candidates into five principles like ‘pansil’. They would be actually a pledge of citizens to bring about good governance. 01. The first one is for the eradication of corruption. I WILL VOTE ONLY FOR A CANDIDATE WHO DECLARES HIS ASSETS AND PUBLISHES THE SAME IN THE NATIONAL NEWSPAPERS FOR THE PERUSAL OF THE PUBLIC. Let us not send thieves to the parliament. Those known to be corrupt, connected to mega-deals, mentioned in the COPE reports must never go near the Diyawanna waters. Those who were MPs in the previous regime and have visibly accumulated great wealth must not only declare their assets but show how they came around to own so much. The honesty and the integrity of the candidates must be clearly seen. They must show that they are selflessly coming forward to serve the nation and the people. It is not enough they show their assets only to the Elections Commissioner. Those who are reluctant to declare their assets to the public are simply not trustworthy and do not deserve our valuable vote. 02. The second one is about the eradication of violence from public life. I WILL NOT VOTE FOR A VIOLENT CANDIDATE WHO IS KNOWN TO HAVE MURDERED PEOPLE, HAVE CONNECTIONS TO THE UNDERWORLD OF DRUGS, PRSOTITUTION ETC. TRAVELS ARMED SURROUNDED BY BOUNCERS AND BODYGUARDS AND BEHAVES GENERALLY LIKE A THUG IN PUBLIC. Those who cannot control their anger, who when in power take revenge from the political opponents, who take the law in to their hands, who intimidate and humiliate police officers, administrative officers and ordinary citizens of the country, who when they travel on our roads disregard traffic rules are simply not suitable to be the leaders of this country. 03. The third one is for the eradication of nepotism and favouritism. I WILL NOT VOTE FOR A CANDIDATE WHO ALREADY HAS A RELATIVE OR A FAMILY MEMBER IN THE PRESIDENCY, THE PARLIAMENT OR THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. Our politicians are mere mediocre, non-productive parasites. There are exceptions, of course. The truth of the matter is they are fattening themselves on our national wealth. They are shamelessly rapacious and greedy. It is enough that there is one parasite in the immediate or the extended family of the candidate. We, the voters, need not go and make them, a whole family of, a tribe of, parasites. Also it is more dangerous for power to be concentrated in one clique or family for it will invariably devalue the democratic rights of the people. If more than one member of a certain extended family is presented as candidates at the coming elections, no one should be voted for in that (extended) family and sent to the parliament. 04. The fourth principle is for the eradication of political opportunism. I WILL NOT VOTE FOR A CANDITATE WH HAD CROSSED OVER FROM THE LOSING PARTY TO THE PARTY IN POWER. Changing sides for ministerial posts, to avoid corruption charges or for other perks is an indecent act. It is an ignoble betrayal of those poor voters who placed their trust in her/him. What is the purpose of electing the party or the man we want if he has the freedom to change the sides and choose the principles of one party for another? What is the value of our vote? It has absolutely no value. We, the citizens, have been reduced to mere ciphers, mere rats of no consequence. Of course, they will justify their actions. They will have hundred and one reasons to show how selfless and nationalistic their action was. But we know who they are, born liars utterly untrustworthy who have sold their souls for a mess of pottage. 05. The last, the fifth one is for stopping apprentices, novices, fools and clowns from entering the parliament. I WILL VOTE ONLY FOR A CANDIDATE WHO HAS EXPERIENCE IN POLITICS OR IN COMMUNITY SERVICE FOR TEN YEARS AT LEAST, NOT BECAUSE OF HER/HIS POPULARITY IN SPORTS OR IN CINEMA NOR BECAUSE OF BEING SOMEBODY’S SOMEBODY. The Parliament is not a training school where novices go to learn politics. It is the supreme body of legislators who run the country and plan for its future. It is a profession of great responsibility that demands a high level of maturity; let us not make it a joke. To be a politician one must have first the experience of serving the people for a considerable time either as a professional or in some social organization at the grass roots level. One can also become a candidate in the Pradeshiya Sabha, move on to the Provincial Council and after at least ten years of solid learning through experience and honest commitment to the people seek people’s mandate to represent them in the Parliament. One can add more qualifications for better service to the people. These five precepts are the minimum necessary. Now let us get down to work. Promote and propagate these ideas whenever and wherever you get a chance

NAFSO actively took part the seed caravan which was organized the Food Week of action from 11-16 October. From Murugandi and at Vavunia, Medawachchiya at North at the first day, Palwehera and Dambulla at Second day, at Hambantota, Tangalle, Dondra and Matara on 4th day, Galle, Ambalangoda, Balapitiya on 5th day and the final day at Fort. We were able to conduct 4 seminars in Hambantota, and Dondra as well as Pitiwella and Balapitiya among fisheries communities.

We post this message here to keep record of our engagement and solidarity on Seed and Food Sovereignty Caravan for future references.

Success of Scholarship Examination!

Punsara Kavinda,  my cousin son has passed the 2014 Scholarship examination with 183 marks and district rank of 23rd. This is a big achievement as a primary school there are another 2 children have also exceeded 150 margin at the exam. This is important achievement as village school children perform well with protecting the danger of closing down with many reasons as officials claim.
There may be hundreds of such clever students drop out from schools due to lack of opportunity to enrole even for primary education.
Punsara, we wish you all the best.
Congratulations!

People agitate In the streets: Women are in the forefront

NAFSO joined with the farmers and other groups agitated against  the seed act today. Sri Vimukthi Women were the group represented mainly and joined the struggle in Colombo with the concerned agitators.
The agitators say this is a killing to farmers and food systems in the country. The agitators expected to hand over a petition to the minister of agriculture though minister did not come to receive the petition.
Then 5 leaders went in side the agriculture ministry and handed over the petition with alternative proposals to the propoaed seed act.
We all are in the struggle and continue till the end and change the seed act.

People agitate against proposed seed act

The Movement for Protection of Right to Seed will launch a massive campaign at Pelawattha Junction Colombo protesting against the nelwy proposed Seed act of 2013.

While vehemently opposing to the proposed act, the movement has come up with an alternative Seed act as a replacement. The world is moving towards agro- ecological approach for farming. IN this context, as the use of chemicals goes down and the chemical producing companies are attempting to retain their profits with pushing the national states to introducing new policies on agriculture which help to use chemicals in the agriculture in the countries. The newly introduced seed act is one of an example of such attempts as we analyze the situation.
The right to produce traditional seeds no more after introduction of the new seed act.
Women, who happened to be the practitioners of sees producers generation to generation will not be allowed any more. This will further marginalize women and deprive their rights.
We, as NAFSO will join the campaign as this is also part of our process to build up change, Change with Reforms in fact.

Following is the poster prepared by the Movement to invite all those concern for the campaign.