The greatest tragedy. 950 people fleeing Africa died in the Sicilian Channel, between April 18 and 19, 2015, on their way to Europe. Yet another dramatic consequence of political myopia incapable of working for the common good. Commentary by Dario Dongo, founder of Great Italian Food Trade.
Needless to say, how it feels in situations like these. Even more serious is the frustration in reading and hearing about ‘defending the borders,’ ‘preventing the landing of thousands,’ bombing boats and occupying ports of embarkation.
But how is it possible that no one thinks about the real cause of the problem? How does one limit one’s gaze to the ultimate phase of the disaster, worrying about preventing masses of human beings from crossing a strait, without thinking about what brought them to the North African shores after months of equally perilous journey through the Maghreb?
Where did they come from, these creatures? Mostly from the Horn of Africa, where drought is little compared to the land robbery and forced exodus associated with it. So why not focus efforts on those same areas, to provide these peoples with what they need to avoid any misfortune?
Food sovereignty first and foremost. From words to deeds, enforce the Guidelines for Responsible Management of Lands, Forests and Watersheds, which have been agreed upon in FAO for years at CFS (Committee on World Food Security) and yet in fact never enforced. Those responsible for the land robbery are sovereign wealth funds and investment funds listed on the London Stock Exchange as well as Wall Street, perhaps even the Milan Stock Exchange (see numerous reports by The Oakland Institute).
The so-called land grabbing must be stopped. To force the economic and financial actors responsible for land robbery to take responsibility for it (international crimes against humanity), to return to indigenous peoples the funds already stolen, and to compensate for the damage by funding programs for inclusion and support of small-scale local agriculture. Referring to eco-agriculture models of course, the only one that can ensure the long-term sustenance of populations.
Further insights at www.ilfattoalimentare.it/parlamento-europeo-sostenere-agricoltura-paesi-via-sviluppo-fermare-crisi-alimentari.html
(Dario Dongo)
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
