From June 3 to 11, 2022, Dr. Vandana Shiva, President of Navdanya International, took part in a series of events and festivals in various locations in Italy and France.
On June 3rd in Naples, on the occasion of the Berlingueriana event, a debate was held, on the themes of Dr. Vandana Shiva’s latest book From Greed to Care – The necessary revolution for a sustainable economy (Dall’avidità alla cura – La rivoluzione necessaria per un’economia sostenibile – Emi). The debate featured Arturo Scotto, Fulvia Bandoli, Piero Bevilacqua, and Alberto Capasso. From the discussion it emerged how caring for the democracy of the Earth represents the decisive challenge to save the ecosystem and the food sovereignty of peoples. The authentic meaning of economy as ‘care for the common home’ needs to be recovered, in opposition to the current extractive paradigm aimed solely at profit. This requires a revolution in the way we produce and consume.
On June 4, students and teachers of the Montalcini-Ferraris Institute of Saviano and Marigliano had the opportunity to attend Dr. Vandana Shiva’s Lectio Magistralis on the theme, “Towards the necessary Ecocene”, with Anna Savarese of Legambiente and Councillor for the Environment of the Municipality of Giugliano, and Mariateresa Passarelli. During the conference, emphasis was placed on the need for renewed human solidarity, in contrast to the current trend of the global economy, characterised by a small group of powerful people committed to extracting every resource from nature to the detriment of the rest of the world.
Photo: Infinitimondi
In Rome, on June 5, on the occasion of Eirenefest, a dialogue was organised with Dr. Vandana Shiva and Nadia El-Hage, international expert on food ecology and former director of the FAO (United Nations). They analysed the characteristics of the current predatory economy based on neo-liberal policies and how this is shaped by the greed paradigm of large corporations at the expense of common goods, indigenous knowledge, health, democracy and food sovereignty.
The future of the next generations can only be safeguarded by choosing the path of care and respect for the Earth, which implies a profound transition of the global economic, cultural and environmental paradigm. On the highly topical subject of new genetic engineering technologies, which are being promoted as the new solution to the food crisis, Dr. Vandana Shiva observed how every time a food crisis arises, this becomes an opportunity to introduce a new technology that is not necessarily useful. The paradigm of industrial agriculture, which does not restore fertility to the soil and biodiversity, but poisons them, must be challenged. The new technologies of genetic engineering only serve to ensure that large multinational corporations can continue to impose patents on seeds and genetic traits, and sell agrochemicals.
The event ‘Deep Ecology and Regenerative Agriculture‘, held in Rome on June 6 and organised by the Italian Buddhist Union (UBI) and Navdanya International, in collaboration with the Rome City Council, outlined the foundations of a programme that intends, first and foremost, to promote a cultural campaign. Learning the true value of ecology, and protecting all the levels of biodiversity on our planet, is the first step towards the necessary transformation of the current industrial production and distribution systems. Especially as, according to major reports, are largely responsible for the current environmental and health crises.
“We must remember what life is all about. We have become distracted and, over the course of a few decades, everything has been objectified and commodified. We must reject the systematic attack on knowledge systems, what I call Epistemicide,” stated Dr. Vandana Shiva during the presentation of the partnership between the two organisations. She recalled how all living species, including humans, are interconnected, but this connection is in grave danger. “The ongoing war against the Earth is based on fear of the living. It has taken a lot of violence to silence the knowledge about the living. Food connects us all and that is why we must stop considering farmers as mere producers. Agriculture”, concluded the Indian activist, “is care for the Earth and farmers are its custodians and those who know how to regenerate it.” (Video)
Following the institutional greetings of Pierluigi Sanna, Deputy Metropolitan Mayor, were the following speakers: Davide Marino, Italian Network of Local Food Policies; Lucio Cavazzoni, President of Goodland; Rosa Vaglio, President of Diritti a Sud; Nicoletta Dentico, Director of the Global Health Programme, Society for International Development; Grazia Francescato, former WWF Italy Leader and Spokesperson for the European Greens; and Silvia Francescon, Head of the Ecology Agenda, Italian Buddhist Union. Concluding the conference were the remarks of Stefano Bettera, UBI Communications Officer, who emphasised how care and interdependence are at the root of the Buddhist message. “The Earth is going through a crisis with no precedent in history. We are all called to play a part: in the face of this global emergency, even religious groups must enter the debate and provide answers and useful tools to save our common home. We can no longer stand still: now is the time to act, to come forward and work together, because what we have in our hands is a global responsibility, both for us who live on this planet today and for those who will follow in our footsteps tomorrow”. (Photos). For the occasion of World Environment Day, Dr. Vandana Shiva also launched a Manifesto on Economies of Care and Earth Democracy, during this event.
In Florence, on June 7, Dr. Vandana Shiva presented her latest book From Greed to Care – The necessary revolution for a sustainable economy (Dall’avidità alla cura – La rivoluzione necessaria per un’economia sostenibile – Emi). The launch took place at the Sibilla Aleramo conference hall in collaboration with the Library ‘Biblioteca delle Oblate’ and the City of Florence, together with Nadia El-Hage and Gloria Germani, philosopher and writer. Vandana Shiva remarked: “I wrote this book ‘From Greed to Care’ because if we do not act in this sense, soon 90% of people will be considered disposable. The current path of humanity is clearly not sustainable, as it is destroying life on Earth. The non-sustainability and multiple emergencies that are endangering the very infrastructure of life are increasingly threatening the survival of the human species. Humans are also a threatened species, like any other. A future for all life on Earth and for all people can only come from care. Greed does not leave enough ecological space for all, while care amplifies our capacity to live together. Therefore, care is the revolution of our times”.
A meeting with the title ‘Agriculture and Freedom‘ took place in Florence on June 8, with Carlo Triarico, president of the Italian Association for Biodynamic Agriculture, and Nadia El-Hage. During the debate, the attacks on biodynamic agriculture, which has recently taken place in Italy, were discussed. Dr. Vandana Shiva emphasised how, also in this case, the importance of care has been lost sight of. Biodynamic agriculture actually takes care of the seed, it takes care of the soil, it takes care of the farmers. The economy of care is the only possible future for the sustainability of agri-food systems, because it creates abundance and life for soils, plants, animals and humans. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Navdanya International and the Association for Biodynamic Agriculture through which all farmers who want to co-design the future of caring for the planet are called to join forces.
In Turin, on 9 June, on the occasion of Cinemambiente film festival, a lively discussion on the topic “The Earth against the War” took place, between Dr. Vandana Shiva and Don Luigi Ciotti, president of Gruppo Abele, Libera and Casacomune, and presided by Lucio Cavazzoni, president of Good Land.
On June 10, the ‘Women and the Climate Crisis’ Round Table organised by Casacomune took place. Dr. Vandana Shiva spoke on the theme “Free Seeds: beyond the chains of economy and finance for the freedom of the world”. Together with Dr. Vandana Shiva, Eleonora Evi, Anna Brambilla, Isabella Pratesi, Suzanne Mbiye Diku, Michela Favaro, Mirta Da Pra, Don Luigi Ciotti and the founder and artistic director of Cinemambiente, Gaetano Capizzi. (Video).
Dr. Vandana Shiva pointed out how the war in Ukraine has made financial speculation on the food sector possible, and how this phenomenon is rooted in the forced introduction of intensive agriculture and the free trade regulations set by the WTO with the onset of globalisation in the early 1990s. Food has been turned into a commodity, a financial asset. But food cannot be reduced to a commodity. Food is the nourishment of society, culture and life. The industrial agricultural model is causing the destruction of biodiversity. Pesticides and insecticides are driving insects to extinction, herbicides like RoundUp/Glyphosate are driving plants, insects and the soil organisms that depend on them to extinction. It is necessary to stop the wars against the soil, and its workers and our bodies, and to develop an agriculture of peace.
On June 11, in the Jardin De Brantes in Sorgues, France, the public launch of “Mothers’ Gardens” collective project by AMMAR Seeds took place, inaugurated by Dr Vandana Shiva, with Bela Gil, Brazilian chef and activist, and Jean-Michel Florin, coordinator of the French biodynamic movement (Mouvement d’Agriculture Bio-Dynamique) and co-leader of the Biodynamic Section at the Goetheanum in Switzerland. Dr Vandana Shiva also visited the Steinhardt Schools biodynamic garden, cared for by the students in the neighbourhood. The 2-day event was the last slot of this tour on the issue of care and preservation of biodiversity, and included talks, knowledge sharing and reflecting on the theme “weaving seeds of dreams”, with leaders from a wide range of fields, all of whom uphold respect for the Earth and the transmission of knowledge at the heart of their narratives.
Photos: Ammar Seeds
Thumbnail photo: Città metropolitana di Roma Capitale
Upcoming events
DECRESCITA: SE NON ORA QUANDO?, Venezia 7-8-9-(10)settembre 2022
Perché abbiamo bisogno della decrescita
Comune-info, 7 giugno 2022
Press coverage
Von Lorenzo Poli – Pressenza Deutsch, 20. Juni 2022
Vandana Shiva: “Contro la guerra al suolo costruiamo un’agricoltura di pace”
di Matteo Cavallito – Re Soil Foundation, 14 giugno 2022
Por Francesca Biagioli – GreenMe Brasil, 13 de junho de 2022
“Contro l’attacco alla terra dobbiamo costruire un’agricoltura di pace”, Vandana Shiva incanta dal Festival CinemAmbiente
Di Germana Carillo – GreenMe, 10 giugno 2022
Ambiente: Casacomune (Gruppo Abele), domani la voce delle donne contro la crisi ambientale
AgenSIR, 9 giugno 2022
Biodinamica: “Libertà a rischio sui campi e in accademia”
Di Carlotta Iarrapino – Associazione per l’agricoltura biodinamica, 9 giugno 2022
Documento d’intesa firmato l’8 giugno da Navdanya International e Associazione per l’Agricoltura Biodinamica
Associazione per l’agricoltura biodinamica, 9 giugno 2022
Biodinamici, un documento per il futuro del Pianeta
Di Carlotta Iarrapino – Terra e Vita, 9 giugno 2022
‘Il problema del cambiamento climatico è la violenza contro la terra’. Parola di Vandana Shiva
Di Barbara Minafra – Ambient & Ambienti, 9 giugno 2022
L’appello di Vandana Shiva: “Le multinazionali dell’agricoltura speculano anche sulla guerra”
Di Simona Poli – La Repubblica, Firenze, 8 giugno 2022
Agricoltura:appello Navdanya-Apab per comunità del buon cibo – Mondo Agricolo
Ansa.it, 6 giugno 2022
VANDANA SHIVA: “SEMINIAMO UN ALTRO FUTURO, FATTO DI DIRITTI DELLA TERRA, DI PROTEZIONE DELLA DIVERSITA’ BIOLOGICA E RIGENERAZIONE DEL SUOLO E DEL PENSIERO”
Città metropolitana di Roma Capitale, 6 giugno 2022
Vandana Shiva: “I nuovi Ogm? Seguono la stessa logica perversa dei vecchi”
Di Riccardo Quintili – Il Salvagente, 6 giugno 2022
Vandana Shiva: “L’avidità è il vero problema di questo mondo. L’EireneFest è un’alternativa ad Amazon”
Di Lorenzo Poli – Pressenza, 6 giugno 2022
Vandana Shiva: «Viviamo in un’economia genocida, ripensiamo tutto per salvare l’umanità e la Terra»
Di Guido Sannino – Strisciarossa, 6 giugno 2022
«Salvi solo insieme», parola di Vandana Shiva
Di Eleonora Puntillo – Corriere del Mezzogiorno, 4 giugno 2022
Vandana Shiva: “La crisi del cibo voluta dall’avidità dei grandi mercanti”
Di Bianca de Fazio – La Repubblica, Napoli, 4 giugno 2022
Donne e terra ribelli insieme
La Stampa, 3 giugno 2022
Vandana Shiva a Firenze con l’ultimo libro e in difesa della biodinamica
Toscana Chianti Ambiente, 2 giugno 2022
«Crisi del grano, così la finanza ci specula»
Intervista a Vandana Shiva
Di Manlio Masucci, Navdanya International – L’Extraterrestre, settimanale ecologista de il manifesto, 2 giugno 2022
Vandana Shiva: «Così la finanza specula sulla crisi del grano»
Diritti Globali, 2 giugno 2022
Conversazione con Vandana Shiva
Salute Internazionale, 2 giugno 2022
Vandana Shiva a Roma: Ecologia profonda e agricoltura rigenerativa
Terra Viva Verona, 2 giugno 2022
Vandana Shiva: dibattito su ecologia profonda e agricoltura rigenerativa
Pressenza Italia, 1 giugno 2022
Buddisti in Italia: 6 giugno incontro-dibattito a Roma su “Ecologia profonda e agricoltura rigenerativa” con l’attivista ed ecologista Vandana Shiva
AgenSIR, 28 maggio 2022