Click here for more information on what happened on October 21st.

On November 8, 2007, the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network coordinated solidarity actions in three locations in Canada: Head Office of Syngenta Seeds Canada in Arva Ontario, the Embassy of Brazil in Ottawa and the Consulate General of Brazil in Montreal. At 10:00 in the morning, all observed a minute of silence for Valmir Mota de Oliveira and peasants who have lost their lives in struggles for food sovereignty across the world. At the Head Office of Syngenta Seeds, farm leaders representing 4 locals of the National Farmers Union gathered and attached a sign reading “NFU remembers Valmir Mota de Oliveira killed by Syngenta guards on October 21, 2007” to Syngenta’s sign on the road. In Ottawa, a CBAN delegation met with staff from the Embassy of Brazil who expressed concern over this violence and pledged to request an investigation that would see justice done. In Montreal, a delegation from Union Paysanne joined by local people and a representative from L’Entraide missionnaire and GRAIN delivered a letter of concern to staff at the Consulate General of Brazil.

In addition to the participation of local people and messages of support from grassroots groups across Canada, present at the actions were representatives from the following CBAN Member groups: Canadian Organic Growers, Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario, Inter Pares, National Farmers Union, Union Paysanne, USC Canada.

Click here to see photos from the actions.

Click here to read the CBAN press release Nov 8, 2007.

Click here to read the Via Campesina report of actions across the world.