2.Bringing ASEAN Youths Voices to End Food Crisis

RATIONALE

Global food prices have increased by 83 percent in the 36 months leading up to February 2008, while wheat went up by 181 percent.In the last nine months alone, food prices have risen by 40 percent. The real price of rice rose to a 19-year high in March, an increase of 50 percent in two weeks alone. Observers predict the current highs could last into 2009, and prices are likely to remain substantially above 2004 levels until at least 2015.

In many developing countries, local food production has been drastically undermined by one-sided trade liberalisation and structural adjustment programmes, leaving them heavily import dependent and nearly defenceless in the face of price shocks on world markets.

ASEAN as a role of Regional institutions as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations –have facing this problem in their region and have tried to mitigate the situation through regional efforts.

Thus, Youth will be participated and involved in responsible, challenging action that meets the effective suggestion, with opportunities for sharing and raise their voices to be heard for policies and decision-maker. On the participatory activity and the opportunity for Youths’s effort toward “End Food Crisis” goal.

OBJECTIVES

1. To recognize youth as equal partners and provide youth a space to discuss Food Crisis concerns from youths’ perspective.

2. To understand the main causes, impacts and current responses to the food crisis at the country/regional level;

3. To identify the sustainable agriculture needed at the country and regional level as an alternative solutions for food security and food sovereignty;

4. To suggest complementary policies that might be necessary to end the Food Crisis.

5. To come up with common strategies for raising the ASEAN Youths’ advocacy for food sovereignty in response to the crisis;

WORKSHOP DESIGN:

The workshop will be co-anchored by ActionAid (Thailand ) , RRAFA (Rural Reconstruction Alumni and Friends Association), and Working group from ASEAN Youths’ People forum as and advocacy network. The workshop is expect to present innovative ideas for alternative solution on food crisis from youths’ perspective thought activities such as exhibition,demonstration and perfomance .The workshop also empower youths to distribute a declaration and recommendations toward the food crisis at the country and regional level.

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The workshop will fall under the category, Social and Cultural Dimensions of Regionalization and Regionalism, as it provides a forum for youths to participate on policies making . The workshop title is “ Bringing ASEAN Youths’ Voices to End the Food Crisis.”

Topics for Panelists:

1. Topic 1 – Causes and Impacts of the Food Crisis in the Region.
2. Topic 2 – Sustainable Agriculture for alternative solution.
3. Topic 3 – Proposed Policy Solutions to Address the Food Crisis from the view of young generation ( 3 speakers)
4. Panel 3 – Youth Action plan to end Food Crisis.

The workshop will be divided into the following:

Part I – Opening session: (10 min)

Welcome Remarks and Introduction of the Workshop (10 min)

Part II – Panel Presentations (1 hr and 15 minutes)

The panel presentations are basically divided into three parts, 1) understanding the food crisis problem and; 2) looking at solutions to the food crisis; and 3) Action Plan: Strategies for Advocacy with ASEAN.

Panelists will be given 10 minutes each.

Part III – Question and Answer/Discussion (30 min)

Part VI – Closing session and synthesis (5 mins.)