Demonstration against Libero Copper in Mocoa, Putumayo. The march was the first initiative of a four-day event called the Festival in Defense of the Mountain, Water and Life in protest of the copper mining project. March 2022 / credit: Antonio Cascio

Mining Struggle in Colombia Raises Questions About Petro-Márquez Government That Rode to Victory with Indigenous & Peasant Support

A Canadian mining company has appeared to move forward on exploring mining possibilities in Colombia's biodiverse Putumayo department, raising questions about the progressive government of Gustavo Petro and Francia Márquez, who won power by promising environmental protection. Natalia Torres Garzon reports. Photos by Antonio Cascio.

Farmers Shakila and Gulab Mullani have been preserving the kar jondhala seeds for more than 30 years / credit: Sanket Jain

Forced to Compete with Multinational Corporations While Lacking Gov’t Support, Indian Farmers Say UN International Year of Millets Changes Nothing

Over several decades, most Indian farmers have moved either toward commercial crops—like soybean and sugarcane—or toward hybrid varieties of indigenous crops. Meanwhile, grains like traditional millets, which can withstand rapidly changing weather, are on the decline in India. With the Indian government having convinced the UN to declare 2023 the International Year of Millets, what does it mean for Indian farmers? Sanket Jain reports from the western Indian state of Maharashtra.