Press Releases

NEWS EMBARGOED UNTIL: 12:01 am EDT DEC. 6, 2011 MEDIA CONTACTS: Anuradha Mittal, (510) 469-5228, [email protected] False Climate Solutions Drive Land Grabs in AfricaDurban Should Call for an End to Land GrabbingAn unsavory but major element to the land grab phenomenon in Africa is the "green investment" stance of agrofuel and agroforestry producers.

At the same time that individuals across the US and EU offer support to victims of famine and conflict in Africa, their countries' energy policies and development agendas take food and other resources away from Africans--while also harming the environment. Research released today by the Oakland Institute demonstrates that land grabs--largely unregulated land deals involving foreign corporations and speculators--continue to be promoted as a "development" solution for African nations.

Oakland, CA – As farmer groups and civil society organizations from around the world gather at the International Conference on Land Grabs from November 17-20 2011 in Nyeleni, Mali, The Oakland Institute and the National Farmers Organisation Coordination (CNOP) of Mali are releasing a new report on land grabs in the west African country.

Oakland, CA – Alors que les organisations paysannes et autres groupes de la société civile du monde entier se retrouvent pour une Conférence Internationale sur l'accaparement des terres du 17 au 20 Novembre à 2011 à Nyéléni, Mali, Oakland Institute et la Coordination Nationale des Organisations Paysannes (CNOP) du Mali publient un nouveau rapport sur l'accaparement des terres au Mali.

Dear friend, A lot has happened in just a few months. In June the Oakland Institute (OI) went public with the first three reports and eight briefs on land investment deals in seven African countries as part of its project, Understanding Land Investment Deals in Africa. Our research revealed a disturbing pattern of a lack of transparency, fairness, and accountability and — for the first time — we put a spotlight on the surprising players behind these investments.

Sierra Club has recently become aware of plans by AgriSol Energy to acquire 1250 square miles (3250 square kilometers, 800,000 acres) of land in Tanzania, with plans to introduce biofuel production and large-scale industrial agriculture, including introduction of GMOs. We believe that the people most directly affected, including those living on this land, have not been sufficiently apprised or involved in this project which involves relocation of populations, mechanized agriculture, radically restructured economic relationships and genetically engineered crops.

This is a critical moment in our history, a moment of high expectations from our people and services and high standards of good governance and stewardship from our friends, partners, and donors. Since our independence I have reiterated on several occasions my commitment to ensure that South Sudan enters a new era of good governance, democracy, accountability and transparency.

Media ContactsAnuradha Mittal(510) 469-5228; [email protected] Mousseau(510) 512-5248; [email protected] Oakland, CA– A new Land Deal Brief from the Oakland Institute (OI) exposes that the controversial Gibe III hydroelectric project located in Ethiopia's Omo Valley, portrayed as development, is facilitating the take over of 350,000 hectares (ha) of land for sugar cane and cotton plantations and resulting in state-sponsored human rights violations, which have escaped international attention so far.

New Report from Action Against Hunger and The Oakland Institute. If West African nations do not move decisively towards regional integration, no amount of money, development, or agricultural technology, will be sufficient or effective at ending hunger.

99 peasants of four villages in the rural community of Diokoul, Louga region, just filed a declaration of march planned for July 18, 2011 with the Sub-Prefect of Ndande and the Prefect of Kébémer to claim the land they have been dispossessed by the farm Mametola, allocated to a political-religious authority.