Land Rush: Neo-Colonialism in Africa

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In Sub Saharan Africa, the locals have lost their usable land due to land rush practices instituted by their government.
In Sub Saharan Africa, the locals have lost their usable land due to land rush practices instituted by their government.
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Private companies or governments can buy or lease large tracts of land that were formerly used by nomadic people with no concept of private land ownership.
Private companies or governments can buy or lease large tracts of land that were formerly used by nomadic people with no concept of private land ownership.
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"Slow Food Almanac" advocates the belief that people have been too far removed from the cooking and creation of their food, and that simple meals made with love and care are a more rewarding and sustaining experience.

Slow Food Almanac (Slow Food, 2013) argues that something valuable has been lost in this era of fast food and instant gratification. Humanity needs the pleasure meals made with love and attention, and from locally grown ingredients. A global, grassroots organization with supporters in 150 countries around the world, Slow Food International promotes the pleasure of good food with a commitment to their community and the environment. The following excerpt is taken from an interview with Carlo Petrini, founder of the International Slow Food Movement.

The greed of a few making the earth’s abundant resources insufficient

Since 2009, around 60 million hectares of African land have been sold or leased to western multinationals, with 70 percent of these acquisitions concentrated in Sub Saharan Africa. The revealing documentary Land Rushby Hugo Berkeley and Osvalde Lewat for the organization Why Poverty? analyzes an episode of land grabbing in Mali that ended when investors were scared off during the coup d’état of 2012.

We cannot remain silent

In an interview with Italian TV station Rai Storia, Carlo Petrini gave the following comment: “Land grabbing is a phenomenon characterized by exponential growth, increasing from one day to the next. The private companies and governments, that buy or lease this land for long periods, are taking advantage of a situation in which the western concept of land ownership does not exist and many areas are still used traditionally by farming or nomadic peoples. With the consent of rogue local governments, communities are left stranded overnight, unable to work or prosper without the primary resource of all subsistence economies: land. Often we are led to think that this is an inferior economy, but when it feeds the population, gives dignity and is an integral part of local culture, it should be respected and protected, something which unfortunately does not happen.

  • Published on May 28, 2014
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