International Labor Roundtable
May 9 2008
The Global Food Crisis: Building Alliances for Sustainable Agriculture at Home and Abroad
The cost of food is rising dramatically all over the world. In the US, working families are paying more for basic foodstuffs. In some countries, skyrocketing prices have led to widespread unrest. Food riots have been reported in Africa, the Middle East, South Asia and Latin America. The World Bank recently warned that 33 nations are now at risk of social unrest because of rising food prices. Violent food protests have even taken place in developed countries such as Italy.
As the UN Commission on Sustainable Development 16 (CSD 16) convenes to discuss agriculture, an international labor delegation will be in New York to emphasize the important role workers and trade unions have to play in the implementation of sustainable development.
Representatives from the IUF, La Via Campesina, the Teamsters, United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1500, will present campaigns and research, connecting local sustainable development campaigns to the global trade policies. The goal of this roundtable will be to bring together local and international representatives of food sector trade unions to discuss strategies and policies that promote sustainable agriculture and greater access to healthy affordable food.
Discussion leaders:
- Angela Lomosi, International Trade Union Confederation- Africa Region
- Omara Amuko, International Union of Food Workers (IUF)
- Pat Purcell, Director of Special Projects, UFCW Local 1500
Date: May 9
Time: 11:30am – 2:00pm
Location: Cornell ILR Conference Center, 16 East 34th Street, 6th Floor
RSVP: Jo-Ann Perkins at jp326@cornell.edu
