FOCUS ON AFRICA http://www.lobbywatch.org/p1temp.asp?pid=37&page=1
Poem by Nnimmo Bassey, of FOE Nigeria, following an apparently successful food security conference in Maputo, Mozambique.
Thanks to Nnimmo's colleague, Adrian Bebb for forwarding this. ------
Mountains of food Oceans of hunger
Mountains of food Oceans of hunger How can this remain the lot of our peoples? From the south and from the north From the east and from the west
When our stomachs rumble
We sing the same song And dance to the same beat
Mountains of food Oceans of hunger Proud people from fertile soils We stamped the earth with bouncing steps Once the rulers of the world Today we are the wretched of the earth Hands stretched out with empty bowls
When our stomachs rumble
We sing the same song And dance to the same beat
Mountains of food Oceans of hunger Diets altered beyond recognition How can we know what we are eating? A simple question: What did you have for lunch? Becomes a subject for scientific debate!
When our stomachs rumble
We sing the same song And dance to the same beat
Mountains of food Oceans of hunger Once enslaved with chains Today ensnared by our belly Shall we eat or shall we not If we are hungry Must we fill our stomachs with poison? We have a right which can't be denied We must decide what we eat, and when and how
When our stomachs rumble
We sing the same song And dance to the same beat
Mountains of food Oceans of hunger We stand on mountains of food Yet food aid is forced on us GE corn GE soya and what have you Many more still undergoing tests
Where did you see such milk of wickedness?
When our stomachs rumble
We sing the same song And dance to the same beat
Mountains of food Oceans of hunger limate change sells us drought When it rains we are sent to tree tops Free trade traders trade us sorrows WTO rules, World Bank, IMF The FAO of the United Nations Abuse, disunite, fool and bemuse a trusting world
When our stomachs rumble
We sing the same song And dance to the same beat
Mountains of food Oceans of hunger The secret is out! The farmers are awake! Consumers arise! Vigilance is the word
Grab your night vision goggles Surveillance is the key
When our stomachs rumble
We sing the same song And dance to the same beat
Mountains of food Oceans of hunger The suspicion of seeds The suspicion of foods The suspicion of forced aid The even secret AIDS That is vital wisdom
When our stomachs rumble
We sing the same song And dance to the same beat
Mountains of food Oceans of hunger Brave Mozambicans Proud liberators We are here in Maputo Farmers, consumers, helpers, environmental warriors Inspired by the land We raise our fists And sound the alarm Never again shall we be taken for a ride!
When our stomachs rumble
We sing the same song And dance to the same beat
by Nnimmo Bassey, Maputo, 17 July 2004
================================================ "Speak up for people who cannot speak for themselves. Protect the rights of all who are helpless. Speak for them and be a righteous judge. Protect the rights of the poor and needy." (Proverbs 31:8-9, GNB) =================================================
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