This past June, WhyHunger and partners hosted representatives from La Via Campesina in North America and the Caribbean who were in NYC to discuss their work and personally invite funders and foundations to participate in building grassroots democracy.

La Via Campesina is the largest social movement in the world, with a membership of over 250 million farming and fishing families representing 150 organizations in 70 countries.  They work in solidarity to preserve rural culture and tradition and to defend the rights of  indigenous people, women, small- and medium-scale farmers and fishermen around the world. Members of La Via Campesina work at every level in society, from supporting families locally, to meeting with regional, national and international government officials.

La Via Campesina also understands the need to address broad, contemporary challenges such as climate justice. Together, they tell the story of the devastating impact that climate change has on small-scale farmers, illustrating how solutions proposed by the United Nations for small-scale producers are ineffective.

This coming November and December, the United Nations will host the 17th Annual Convention on Climate Change (COP 17) in Durban, South Africa. There, La Via Campesina will represent the importance of democratic social movements in the climate change movement.

Get involved and support La Via Campesina in Durban.   Visit the international website and the North American Chapter website. Click here to Learn about and support the members of La Via Campesina in North America.