Biology:People's Biodiversity festival

The People's Biodiversity Festival is a celebratory assertion that biodiversity is common. It is therefore a "constructive" Gandhian protest against the moves at international fora like the CBD to privatise and monetise biodiversity. One such festival event was held in Nampalli Ground, Hyderabad, India, from October 13 to 16, 2012. The festival reflects the shared concerns and to lay foundation for cooperation and sharing or the seed wealth and related knowledge - for inclusive, ecological self-reliance in harmony with nature.

Overview

About 50 organisations including NGOs, campaign organisations, farmers associations took part in this festival as a form of Gandhian protest against the CBD COP that was being held in a suburb of the city. Each of the themes relating to biodiversity were showcased at the festival through stalls and thematic sessions.

Session themes

Various sessions were held under different themes relating to biodiversity.

Ecological Agriculture & Biodiversity

13 October 2012 - This session started with a presentation of traditional cotton and then discussed various issues related to organic agriculture. The session was coordinated by Rajashekar, Bharat Mansata, and Dr Ramanjaneyulu.

Adivasis and Biodiversity

14 October 2012 - Organised by, National Adivasi Alliance & FOCUS on the Global South, this session mainly discussed on community rights to sustained indigenous use of Earth's biodiversity through indigenous traditional occupations and land & forest use/tenure. The main panelist were Mr. C. Madegowda from Karnataka, Mr. Subhash Majhi from Orissa, Mr. Somaru Baiga from Chhattisgarh, Mr. Venkateshwarulu from Vishakapattanam, Ms. Suman Koreti from Chhattisgarh, Mr. Pablo Solon from Bolivia (executive director of FOCUS) ( Follow this link for the unedited notes on this session :- doccentre.net/wikithon/index.php?title=National_Adivasi_Alliance )

'IPRs, Biopiracy & the Indian Legal Framework'

14 October 2012 - This session was coordinated by Jacob Nellithanam & Bharat, and the speakers includes Dr. Vandana Shiva who also released the book ‘The Global Citizens’ Report on Seed Freedom’

Climate Change & Biodiversity

15 October 2012 - Coordinated by T. Vijayendra & Sagar Dhara

'Open-source Seeds and Seed-savers Network'

15 October 2012 - Organised by CSA and Coordinated by Dr Ramanjaneyulu, Rajashekar & Krishna Prasad

‘Rights of Mother Earth'

15 October 2012 - Coordinated by Afsar Jaffri & Jacob

Biodiversity & Trade'

15 October 2012 - Coordinated by Kannaiyan & Jacob ( Follow this link for the unedited notes on this session :- doccentre.net/wikithon/index.php?title=Biodiversity_%26_Trade )

'GMOs & Bio-safety'

Coordinated by Ramoo & Rajashekar

Land, Livelihoods & Biodiversity'

Organised by NAPM, Coordinated by Saraswati. Jeevan Kumar from Human Rights Forum, SarashWatiKavula, MedhaPatkar were among the speakers. (Unedited notes on this session are at Land, Livelihoods and Biodiversity)

Demonstrated alternatives in stalls

The main strategy of the festival is to showcase the bio-diversity built by the people and other species on this planet. Thus it seeks to demonstrate the various strains of food, grains, vegetables and fruit that have been developed in the commons which should remain in the public domain. It also seeks to encourage in situ propagation by farmers, artisans, and even city inhabitants. This is biodiversity which the proponents believe is a sufficient and a sustainable pool for adaptation to various changes that are being caused by climate change.

Wikithon

Centre for Education and Documentation along with Knowledge in Civil Society with the help of Wikipedia Hyderabad group, conducted WIKITHON during the festival. It was an attempt to show how the tool like WIKI can be used to gather information on peoples knowledge during a public event like this. Various participating organisations contributed to the wikibased system that is created for this purpose, which will be integrated to the Wikipedia. Wikipedia Hyderabad Volunteers, conducted a training on how to use wiki.

Other events as part of the festival

Seed Festivals in Calcutta, Mumbai, Dharti Utsav, held in Anantapur on environment day every year since the 2000s, in different parts of this drought prone districts showcases the various types of millets that can grow well in these conditions. These strains are disappearing. The Dharti Utsav also showcases local varieties of fowl, goat, cattle, which are now being rejuvenated under programmes taken up by civil society in the district. Urban Agriculture demonstrations at the Mahim Nature Park by Urban Leaves. Farmers Market every Sunday in Mumbai by Kavita Mukhi. Seed Satyagraha

External links

• People's biodiversity festival rejects IPR regime
• Biodiversity festival from today
• Activists: Directory of biodiversity will lead to plundering of resources
• ‘Seeds cannot be the monopoly of companies’
• People’s Biodiversity fete challenges CBD
• Conference of protesters
• ‘Bio-diversity meet a farce