Dr Vandana Shiva is an Indian scholar, environmental activist, food sovereignty advocate, and anti-globalization author. Shiva, currently based in Delhi, has authored more than twenty books.
She is one of the leaders and board members of the International Forum on Globalization [ Ссылка ] (along with Jerry Mander, Ralph Nader, and Jeremy Rifkin), and a figure of the anti-globalization movement. She has argued in favor of many traditional practices, as in her interview in the book Vedic Ecology [ Ссылка ] (by Ranchor Prime). She is a member of the scientific committee of the Fundacion IDEAS [ Ссылка ], Spain's Socialist Party's think tank. She is also a member of the International Organization for a Participatory Society [ Ссылка ]. She received the Right Livelihood Award in 1993, an award established by Swedish-German philanthropist Jakob von Uexkull, and regarded as an "Alternative Nobel Prize".
Miguel Robles is the founder and core organizer of the annual Soil Not Oil International Conference [ Ссылка ] ; previously he organized 4 editions of the “Justice Begins with Seeds Conference”[ Ссылка ]. Artisan, poet, farmer, permaculture designer and activist, he has founded several organizations in Mexico and the US and launched countless campaigns of great social impact, during his continuous involvement in various social struggles related to globalization, democracy, human/immigrant rights and in recent years focused in environment and food justice. He is the Co-founder of the Bay Area Latin American Solidarity Coalition (BALASC) [ Ссылка ], and one of the founding members of the Californians for GE Food Labeling Coalition.
After many years living in the Mission District of San Francisco and Portland Oregon, he moved back to Mexico where he currently works on his agro-ecological project in San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas [ Ссылка ], called Yok Jinix where he lives with his dog Sombra.
The 6TH Soil Not Oil Online Conference was co-organized by Navdanya International and the Soil Not Oil Coalition and this year, will emphasize the deadline to stop the 6th Mass Extinction which has been linked to loss of biodiversity and the spread of new viruses to which humans have not been in contact yet, causing a new trend of pandemics with unknown implication for human societies. It is why we advocate for agro ecological food systems, regenerative Ag, Ecosystem Restoration and any other tool that will help decarbonize and re-carbonize soils, we promote resilience and will continue connecting people from Kenya Mexico, India, Argentina, Brazil, Australia, Canada, Puerto Rico, Cuba the USA and other countries where there are projects worthy to learn about.
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Global food security and the lives of future generations are at risk. The Soil Not Oil Coalition is part of a growing global movement headed by scientists, environmental organizations and citizens who share concerns and collect data that show that the decline in soil health is the result of the use of fossil fuels since the 1800's and the extended use of agro-chemicals in industrial agriculture since the 1960's. Those factors along with deforestation, acidification of the ocean and disruption of ecological cycles, have created a problem that can best be solved thru educating humanity on the tools and techniques available to sequester carbon back into the soil . We believe that restructuring land management practices is key to combating climate disruption, restoring water cycles, reducing global environmental pollution, stopping ocean acidification, re-establishing biodiversity, and revitalizing local economies across the planet.
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Navdanya and the Navdanya movement was created by Dr. Vandana Shiva 30 years ago in India to defend Seed and Food sovereignty and small farmers around the world. Navdanya pioneered the movement of seed saving and seed freedom, which began in response to the crisis of erosion of agricultural biodiversity and introduction of GMOs and patents on seeds through intellectual property rights (IPRs) and so-called ‘free trade’ agreements. It has long fought against biopiracy, the patenting of indigenous knowledge by self-interested multinational corporations and won cases related to Neem, basmati rice and wheat in India.
Navdanya promotes a new agricultural and economic paradigm, a culture of food for health, where ecological responsibility and economic justice replace the present greed, consumerism and competition which have become dominant in society. It aims at regaining the common good as a foundation for a renewed sense of community, solidarity and culture of peace. [ Ссылка ]
