The Global People’s Caravan
Rural peoples are rising to confront unprecedented global hunger, displacement, and environmental and climate destruction. They hold imperialism–or the dominance of the wealthiest countries’ elites and their corporate giants–accountable. For truly deep-rooted policy reforms that can address the multiple crises plaguing the world’s peoples, rural peoples movements must be strengthened.
The Global Peoples’ Caravan for Food, Land, and Climate Justice is built upon the Global People’s Summit’s vision of radical food systems transformation. It aims to mobilize rural communities and advocates from around the world by uniting their voices on critical issues related to food, land, and climate, and demanding accountability from governments and corporations.
4 Pillars of Radical Transformation of Food Systems
Right to adequate, safe, nutritious, and culturally-appropriate food
People’s Food Sovereignty
Peasant Rights to Land and Resources
People-Led Agroecology
#ForwardTheFuture
The Caravan will culminate in a counter-summit challenging the agenda of the UN’s Summit of the Future in September 2024, a high-level gathering to “forge a new global consensus on what our future should look like.” However, current policy directions on food, land, and climate promote business-as-usual dead ends. Rural peoples who feed the world must take an active and leading role in shaping the future of the people and planet.
The Caravan brings together rural communities to discuss their shared vision for a just, equitable, healthy and sustainable food system. In community consultations, the Caravan will highlight local struggles and campaigns. Rural peoples’ policy demands will be captured through a people’s declaration. These declarations will make clear policy directions on food, land, and climate justice that rural peoples across the world want–as opposed to the “future” envisioned by big corporations.
For 2023, the Caravan will build up to the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) of the UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Caravan will kick off in the Philippines in mid-October, signaling the start of similar caravans or actions in various countries throughout November, culminating in COP28.
COP 28: Global People’s Speakout
Rural peoples are the most affected by the impacts of the climate crisis. Yes, their voices remain unheard in the UN climate talks and other policy spaces. The Caravan is organizing a petition campaign addressed to COP28 policymakers and negotiators. It contains the specific demands of rural peoples on addressing the climate crisis, including the need to replace fossil-fuelled food systems with people-led agroecology, and to stop land and resource grabs in the name of false climate solutions. The petition will be presented at the Global People’s Speak Out during COP28.
Led by the Peasant Movement of the Philippines, hundreds of farmers, agricultural workers and fisherfolk from the regions of Southern Tagalog, Central Luzon, Negros and Bicol converged in Manila in a protest marking the anniversary of the Philippine government’s sham land reform program, as part of the Global People’s Caravan. 
Led by Pakistan Kissan Mazdoor Tehreek (PKMT), community consultations & mobilizations served as a platform for in-depth discussions on current issues on food, land and climate. In Pakistan, small-scale and landless farmers grapple with the repercussions of IMF-imposed conditionalities that lead to corporatization of food systems and land grabbing. 
Led by BARCIK, youth groups, farmer, IPs & fisherfolk held actions, dialogues, seed fairs, and food exhibitions in Rajshahi, Satkhira, Netrakona and Manikganj Districts in Bangladesh. Around 800 people were mobilized around demands for agroecology, food sovereignty and climate justice. 
Led by Caritas & LODC, rural women in Nepal conducted a traditional food demonstration to promote culturally appropriate and locally available food through agroecology, and to demand an end to fossil fueled agriculture. 
Led by Vikalpani, rural women in Sri Lanka conducted a petition signing for Rural Peoples Demands for COP28 in the town of Bhuthala, Monaragala. 
Led by Sindhudurg Diocesan Development Society, the Dhangar nomadic tribe in Maharashtra, India joins the People’s Caravan! With livestock, farming and forest cultivation as a source of food and livelihood, they face threats to rights to their ancestral lands and access to natural resources. 
SHISUK held community consultations and seed sharing in Basora and Chapatoli villages in Bangladesh to empower rural women and promote agroecology and food sovereignty. 
Keystone Foundation facilitated community consultations in tribal villages in Purulia district, West Bengal, India, tackling the issues of traditional agriculture vs chemical farming, indigenous seeds, and climate change impacts, culminating in local marches. 
Led by BARCIK, youth groups, farmer, IPs & fisherfolk held actions, dialogues, seed fairs, and food exhibitions in Rajshahi, Satkhira, Netrakona and Manikganj Districts in Bangladesh. Around 800 people were mobilized around demands for agroecology, food sovereignty and climate justice. 
Community consultation in Odisha, India (by Odisha Partners) 
Community consultation in West Bengal, India (by Keystone Foundation) 
Community action in West Bengal, India (by Keystone Foundation) 
Local paddy preservation as part of the Caravan (by Caritas Nepal) 
Community consultation in Nepal (by Social Work Institute) 
Climate justice march in Pakistan (by PKMT) 
National consultation in Pakistan (by PKMT) 
Global Day of Action vs. UNFSS +2 in the Philippines 
Global Day of Action vs. UNFSS +2 in the Philippines 
Thai peasants and advocates join the Caravan 
Indonesian peasants and advocates join the Caravan 
Vietnamese peasants and advocates join the Caravan 
Community consultation in Bangladesh (by BARCIK) 
Global Day of Action vs. UNFSS +2 in Indonesia 
Community action in Bangladesh 
Petition signing for COP28 in Manila, Philippines 
Launch of People’s Caravan in Cambodia 
Launch of People’s Caravan in Bangkok 
Launch of People’s Caravan in the Philippines 
Launch of People’s Caravan in Bangladesh
