Another World is Possible!

Another World is Possible!

NAMA has teamed up with the National Family Farm Coalition to put together two panels discussing strategies for redirecting funds, socially responsible investments and credit to ensure that family farmers and community based fishers do not go out of business as the recession in our rural communities deepen.  Two 2 hour panels to beheld at Cobo Hall: O2-40 on Wednesday, June 23rd starting at 1 p.m. The discussion are broken up with a 20-minute break to enjoy the harvests of our farmer and fisher leaders:

Representatives from farmer, fisher and consumer groups will discuss the strategies available for redirecting credit to ensure that farmers and fishers are not forced out of business as the recession in our rural communities deepen. In order to retain a domestic food economy, farmers, fishers and workers must receive fair prices and fair terms for borrowing necessary capital/credit. A panel discussion will be followed by a question and answer session with the audience.

1. How Does the Concentration and Control of Capital and Subsidized Loans to Corporate Agribusiness and Aquabusiness Threaten Our Food System? What are the strategies to redirect credit to ensure that farmers and fishers are not forced out of business as the recession in our rural communities deepen?

In order to retain a domestic food economy, farmers, fishers and workers must receive fair prices and fair terms for borrowing necessary capital and credit.

20-minute break to enjoy the harvests of our farmer and fisher leaders

2. A Three-Pronged Approach To Fighting Concentration in Fishing and Farming. This includes:

• debunking the myths of efficiency;
• uplifting successful locally based, grassroots models including CSAs/CSFs, cooperatives, farmers markets, local processing plants and community gardens; and,
• strengthening antitrust laws and their enforcement; emphasize the importance of ensuring fair access to credit, capital, crop insurance and disaster assistance as discussed in session 1.

Other workshops and community art and culture programs will take place across the city. The USSF will convene social movements from across the United States and globally. Organizers are reaching out to young people, people of color, unionists, laid off and unorganized workers, welfare recipients, veterans, persons with disabilities, indigenous people, freedom fighters, collectives, and many others. For more information, visit their website.