GB No. 2(21)/96
Agriculture was one of the more important subjects discussed at the GF Congress. It turned out that the issue is very close to the problem of transportation. I think that slowly emerges something that can be presented to the society as the "green alternative".
The considerations below are also a voice in the discussion on the LIST 21 and the big politics. I believe that it is better to start from the basics and, first of all, to keep in touch with the society, not with officials. If we gain public support some of the officials can be sacked and then others may change. I must stress that I remain skeptical to a quasi-ideology of non-governmental organisations. One of the reasons is that they often feed on governmental money. The show of reluctance towards politicians, politics and political parties seems to me as rather pretended. The circle of the so-called NGO's is not that pure at all. However, I agree that the way I suggest is longer and more strenuous. You must travel all around the country, learning more about which to write and speak. Then it turns out that some issues require deeper consideration as paper, people and their questions are more demanding than computers and officials ... It also turns out that most ecological problems appears to be a political ones at the same time.
I am surprised that so few leaders of the Polish green movement take the opportunity of the GF Congress to meet with ecological youth. Why were Janusz Korbel, Prof. Skolimowski or Jacek Bożek absent? We could have had a really interesting discussion there. Perhaps they are not invited to such events - but that can be overcome. Thus the Congress may not have left us with the feeling of dissatisfaction and the loss of time. We should also change the manner of the meetings aimed at introducing cultural changes; the changes cannot be directed towards squandered time, unprepared discussions, lousy food and loosely treated hygiene (no sufficient infrastructure). Jadzia Łopata put it excellently, saying that the aim is to combine simplicity and quality of life; she was a paragon of that herself.
I share Cinek's enchantment with the Białowieża forest (during one and a half hour long bike trip I passed about ten cars) and I agree with the idea that all future congresses should be organised there. It would be nicer and of symbolical meaning. Well, experience is the best way to learn how to organise such meetings. Thus the following congresses would be better and better, though the last was not bad. I thank the staff for its organisation and the choice of location.
Olaf Swolkień
reprinted from Zielone Brygady, Nov. '96
transl. M. Maciejewska
We, participants of the 9th Congress GF, appeal to the Association of Healthy Food Producers EKOLAND to take care that all the products marked with the EKOLAND logo are sold in environmentally friendly containers.
Especially the plastic packages should be eliminated. They decrease the quality of food to lower, increase the amount of hazardous waste and impair the image of EKOLAND as a truly ecological organisation. We believe that all products of EKOLAND should promote containers made of paper, glass, flax, osier and other natural and environmentally friendly materials.
Participants of the 9th Congress
of the Green Federation
We, the participants of the IX Green Federation Congress held in Białowieza, Poland, appeal to all political and social forces of the Republic of Poland for thinking over their position on agriculture in Poland.
The belief of the necessity for so-called Polish agricultural restructurisation that dominates current political programs, and as promoted by mass media, is the reason for our protest and concern. Virtual "restructurisation" means bankruptcy of hundreds of thousands of family farms, huge social problems connected to the unemployment in rural areas, catastrophic food quality and a worsening of the environmental state. It will also cause damage to our tradition and culture which is a part of our national identity.
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| Visit to the Białowieża National Park |
We think that restructurisation would destroy the historic chance in which Polish agriculture now finds itself. It is necessary to use the opportunities of the current Polish agricultural structure instead of making the same mistakes as so-called developed countries; mistakes which led to land and water degradation and damage to traditional rural communities. Large numbers of small-scale family farms creates a base for development of the newest trend in the western agro-food policy: organic farming. Only healthy products with the highest quality coming from such farms have a chance to be sold and compete with cheap (because of subsidisation) but contaminated and harmful food from western Europe. We need a conscious policy which supports peasants producing organic food and the sale and promotion of such products. New and independent workplaces could be created, instead of unemployment, overpopulated cites and the problems connected with these factors.
It could give our country an authentic, economic independence based on a healthy environment and fertile ground instead of one based on chemicals and harmful food "factories". It is also the cheapest and most effective way of improving societies health situation. The value of the Polish landscape could also be saved, which is a basis for ecological tourist development. All of the above mentioned factors will support the sustainable development of the country, based on the most fundamental one: healthy agriculture.
Białowieża, 31st of August 1996
Jadwiga Łopata, ECEAT -Poland
and participants of the IX Green Federation Congress
For more information contact:
Jadwiga Łopata
ECEAT -Poland
Głębock 24
58-535 Miłków
tel./fax: +48 75 610 218
Darek Szwed
Green Federation - Krakow Group
"Food for the Next Millenium" Campaign
Sławkowska 12
31-014 Kraków
tel./fax +48 12 222 264
or 222 147
email: ehkozuch@cyf-kr.edu.pl
reprinted from Zielone Brygady, Nov. '96
transl. M. Maciejewska