Over 23,000 people marched in Berlin this Saturday under the banner ‘We Are Fed Up!’ The march, organised by a broad coalition of organisations including Friends of the Earth Germany, Young Friends of the Earth, and allies working on issues from farming, to beekeeping, nature, animal rights, development and consumer interests, called for organic farming, animal welfare, fair trade and an end to industrial agriculture.
The march also targeted the EU-US and EU-Canada international trade negotiations, and the threat they pose to small-scale sustainable farming and consumer protection in Europe.
Hubert Weiger, chair of Friends of the Earth Germany said: “We are fed up with agribusiness! There can be no future without farmers. The European Commission seems willing to let consumer protection standards rot under the TTIP and CETA free trade agreements. This could bring unlabelled hormone-treated beef and genetically modified food to our supermarket shelves. The federal government must ensure that the consumer protection is strengthened.”
This is the sixth year in a row that protests demanding a fundamental agricultural overhaul have taken place in the German capital during the ‘International Green Week’ – the world’s largest agricultural fair. There is a need for better, safer and more sustainable food and farming.
