ID :
266435
Fri, 12/07/2012 - 18:58
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/266435
The shortlink copeid
Alliance of Sustainable Food Security Calls for "Green Revolution”
Doha, December 07 (QNA) - The 38-States Alliance of Sustainable Food Security has underlined the importance of taking tangible steps in organic agriculture and soil conservation as the best natural way to absorb carbon emissions to preserve the earth planet.
The alliance pointed out that it is high time for the world to launch a "green revolution" to secure food for all, noting that more than 800 million population across the world and especially in the developing countries are scarcely attain their basic food requirements, owing to several obstacles including low income, supply and demand instability in addition to the natural or human catastrophes, in spite of the reported food supplies increase.
This came during the session the alliance’s representatives held on the sidelines of the 18the conference of the States parties to the Convention of the United Nations Framework on Climate Change (COP18) in Doha, Qatar and in the presence of each of Garham Watson, the European parliament representative, Alexander Cabral, of the General Administration of Environment in the Republic of Guinea Bissau and Ms. Hiro Shuli from Vietnam.
"The alliance's representatives warned that hunger and food scarcity , shortage of drinking water, especially in African countries and some other regions in Asia, have forced the farmers to change farming methods and crops to ensure the adequate food, despite the high temperatures, floods and storms", said Ms. Shuli in her statement before the session.
Elaborating she said that the population in these regions are suffering from floods , storms and water scarcity in addition to the ongoing sea water level , the matter which always affect the water and food resources.
The alliance is an opportunity for high-ranking representatives from the community of nations to meet and discuss climate change solutions. Technology is one of the strongest forces for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating the negative consequences of climate change as global warming. And most of the technological solutions that hold the key to our success are already available today.
Ms. Shuli further stressed in this concern the importance of working out integrated mechanisms for cycle use of carbon dioxide, noting that diminishing forests and green spaces cause the increase of carbon dioxide and global warming.
She also reviewed a pioneering experiment in Shiu Taipei community which had already succeeded in reducing by 75% the carbon emissions through making a special generator for wind energy by converting recyclable materials to energy sources for instance cooking oils were converted into an alternative for diesel and building green roofs from fruits and vegetables along with adopting the organic nutrition program in more than 3,000 schools.
For his part, Alexander Cabral said that the majority of the population in Guinea Bissau depends on natural resources, agriculture, forestry and fisheries adding that in order to ensure food security despite the difficult natural conditions the population in Guinea Bissau seeks to grow genetically modified crops in collaboration with a number of countries in anticipation of the climate change.
"Agriculture in Africa, which is considered the basis of the economy lacks advanced technology and is therefore limited to ensure sustainable food security", said Cabral.
Addressing the session as well was Garham Watson who emphasized the full support of the European Union for this initiative referring to the resistance being exercised on part of a number of powerful industrial lobbies, the matter which calls for strengthening of working with farmers and the non-governmental organizations (GNOs) and those with advanced thinking to achieve a sustainable life for future generations.
"Food security and the transition from fossil energy to green energy is one of the main priorities of the EU to achieve in the context of cooperating with nature instead of acting against it", said Watson.
The aforesaid alliance comprises 38 countries namely ; Armenia, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde Islands, the Comoros , Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho , Malawi, Mali, Myanmar, Mongolia ,Mozambique, the Philippines ,Sao Tome , Slovenia, Zambia , Georgia, Bangladesh, Gambia, Nigeria, Congo, Togo, Guinea, Angola, Swaziland, Eritrea, Yemen, Morocco, Iraq, Afghanistan, Oman, Samoa, Panama and new Guinea.
The alliance’s member states are seeking to formulate and implement sustainable food security policies in all the member States
Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa, is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962.
It is noted that the combined effects of climate change, energy scarcity, and water paucity require that we radically rethink our agricultural systems. Countries can and must reorient their agricultural systems toward modes of production that are not only highly productive, but also highly sustainable.
Following the 2008 global food price crisis, many developing countries have adopted new food security policies and have made significant investments in their agricultural systems. Global hunger is also back on top of the international agenda. However, the question is not only how much is done, but also how it is done and what kinds of food systems are now being rebuilt. (QNA)