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Regular updates from our international partners War on Want often receives news from our partners around the world. You can read about their first hand experience in the fight against poverty here.
Fighting corporate expansion on the fringes of the Amazon The women of the Movement of Women Babaçu Breakers, or MIQCB, have been through hard times. To defend their right to access the babaçu nut, the primary source of their income, women nutbreakers, known as quebradeiras, have stood firmly in opposition to large landowners who want to clear the land for mining, cattle ranching and biofuel production. Now, in partnership with War on Want, the MIQCB quebradeiras are beginning to reclaim their way of life.
The costs of economic liberalisation in Zambia
The liberalisation of Zambia’s economy mandated by the IMF and World Bank has led to an increase in unemployment and deepening poverty. This summer War on Want visited workers in Zambia’s informal economy to find out how they are coping in the aftermath of failed market reforms.
Iraq news: Transfer of IFOU activists reversed War on Want is supporting the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions (IFOU) in Basra, and its efforts to protect trade union rights and oppose the privatisation of Iraq’s natural resources.
Blood, Sweat and Tears: Las maquilas in Honduras
Over the last 20 years, sweatshops, or maquiladoras as they are known in Latin America, have become an integral part of the Honduran economy. Honduras is now the 4th biggest exporter to the US worldwide and the largest exporter in Central America.
New partnerships from the margins of society
As part of War on Want’s work to improve the lives of people living on the margins of society in precarious working and living conditions, we have recently formed two new partnerships with organisations that fight evictions among shack dwellers and council estate residents in South Africa’s urban areas.
Palestinian detained after Nakba commemoration The Alternative Information Center (AIC) is a joint Palestinian-Israeli human rights organisation. It campaigns and conducts research on Israeli and Palestinian societies as well as the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. War on Want met with the AIC on a recent visit to Jerusalem.
War on Want supporting farmers in the global food crisis 07 May 2008
As rising global food prices have made headlines in recent weeks, War on Want interviewed Dr. Lionel Weerakoon from the Movement for National Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR). He explains how the current situation has affected Sri Lankan farmers, and how MONLAR is working towards securing food justice.
War on Want supports MONLAR’s work with local farmers to develop sustainable farming techniques and regain control of production systems.
Victory in South Africa! 01 May 2008
War on Want has been following the case of the Johannesburg residents who sued the water company for placing illegal limits on their provision of water. The residents were supported by War on Want partner organisation Anti-Privatisation Forum. Now, in a major victory for the residents, the Johannesburg High Court has declared prepaid water meters unlawful and unconstitutional.
A sweatshop worker tells her story Arifa is a garment worker in Bangladesh. She sews clothes primarily for Wal-Mart, but her factory takes contracts from other brands as well. Arifa is a member of the National Garment Workers Federation (NGWF), a Bangladeshi union that War on Want has supported for 10 years.
Kenyan flower workers crisis The run up to Valentine’s Day is the key period for flower farms in Kenya, which make 40% of their annual revenues in February and March. But the unrest that broke out after Kenya’s contested elections in December has now spread to the flower growing region around Lake Naivasha.
Targets of water privatisation have their day in court The ongoing conflict in Phiri, Soweto in South Africa has pit poor residents against Johannesburg Water Ltd and the City of Johannesburg over free access to water. The Anti Privatisation Forum (APF), supported by War on Want, has been assisting the Coalition Against Water Privatisation (CAWP) in their efforts to secure a fairer deal for the unrepresented poor majority. The report below comes from the CAWP.
Struggle for Housing in Kliptown, South Africa Continues Residents of Kliptown, a residential area near Soweto, have been living with a housing crisis for over a decade. Recent protests were met with gunfire from local police. Anti Privatisation Forum (APF) organiser Silumko Radebe has written an update of how they are fighting for the basic rights of Kliptown’s residents.
Syngenta's corporate militia attack Via Campesina members in Brazil A private military and security company hired by global agribusiness Syngenta has shot and killed 32 year old Valmir Motta, father of 3, and severely wounded six other on 21 October 2007 in Santa Teresa do Oeste, in the Brazilian state of Paraná.
Iraqis fight the oil law The Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions (IFOU) held their third annual conference on privatisation in September. The event, supported by War on Want, is the first time oil union leaders from all over Iraq have met together to form a united front.
The Zambian cut flower industry War on Want recently visited our partner National Union of Plantation and Agricultural Workers (NUPAW) in Zambia. This photo essay documents their inspiring story and how they are overcoming their struggles in our gallery.
Honduran sweatshop workers make themselves heard
For the first time ever, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has agreed to hear complaints of human and labour rights abuses from garment workers in Honduras.
Violence and displacement in Colombia
The violence that has plagued Colombia has intensified in recent months. Residents live amidst the constant brutality of paramilitary and other armed groups fighting to gain control of the region. Vulnerable and without any protection, residents are forced to flee their homes.
Palestine: Supporting farmers, protecting livelihoods Olive oil was the backbone of the Palestinian agricultural economy, providing jobs for 65% of the population. However, the last five years have the left the industry in tatters.
Garment workers in Sri Lanka face union busting War on Want's partner organisation the Free Trade Zones and General Services Employees Union (FTZGSEU) organises garment workers both inside and outside the export processing zones (EPZ) in Sri Lanka, including employees of Star Garments Ltd. With 6,000 employees, Star Garments is one of the biggest garment manufacturers in Katunayake Free Trade Zone.
Battleground Buenaventura On 31 May 2007 our partner, Palenque el Congal, took part in a demonstration that demanded that national and international bodies take action to confront the dismal situation in the port city of Buenaventura. What follows is Palenque's summary of the situation in Buenaventura and their demands from both the Colombian government and the international community.
The water is ours! Singing against water privatisation in South Africa
Landless Workers Mobilise Across Brazil Every April War on Want partner organisation the Landless Workers' Movement in Brazil (MST) hold a series of coordinated actions to protest the slow pace of agrarian reform. The protests - known as Red April - culminate on 17 April, the 11th anniversary of the killing of 19 small farmers by police.
Below, MST explain what they stand for and list their demands of Brazil's federal and local governments.
Partners sound the Alarm on Brazilian Biofuels As oil prices continue to rise governments are looking for alternative sources of energy. Fuels made from organic materials like corn, sugarcane, soy and castor beans – known as biofuels – are looking more attractive.
Full Tanks, Empty Stomachs War on Want partner Movimento Sem Terra (Landless Workers Movement) has been highly critical of the Brazilian government's support for biofuel at the expense of food crops. Brazil is already the world's leading producer of ethanol. Earlier this year MST, along with War on Want partner Via Campesina, wrote an open letter explaining their position.
What follows is a passionate defence of smallscale farming and a critique of Brazil's sugarcane industry. Sugarcane is a key component of ethanol.
Brazilian biofuels: Who benefits?
War on Want partner MST (Movimento Sem Terra, or Landless Workers’ Movement) has produced a new report criticising the Brazilian government’s commitment to ramping up ethanol production at the expense of small farmers. The MST understands the challenge of finding new sources of renewable energy, but is adamant that the rights of small farmers and landless people must be protected in the production of alternative fuels.
The future of Iraq's black gold Iraq's political future is very much in flux, but oil continues to be the central feature of their political landscape. Iraq’s oil brings in huge revenues, yet the Iraqi people are struggling amidst constant violence as the oil is being sold off to foreign multinationals.
Threats and persecution against the “Bochica Workers Union” in la Ceja - Colombia, Antioquia On the 28th of January, a group of workers of the company EXPORTACIONES BOCHICA S.A. CI, located in the municipality of La Ceja, Antioquia, created a union under the name “Unión de Trabajadores de Exportaciones Bochica S.A. CI”. Careful measures were taken to follow the necessary legal procedures, allowing the union to register itself legitimately under Colombian labour law.
Lives and trade union activities at risk in Sri Lanka: Intimidation and threats of abduction On 6 February 2007, three men - including a railway trade union activist and a journalist - were arrested days prior to a planned strike.
War on Want partners in the World Social Forum (WSF)
The 7th WSF took place in Nairobi, Kenya, from the 20th to 25th January were War on Want had the opportunity to meet several partners, share opinions and experiences.
Job cuts won’t halt union struggle for workers’ rights in Colombian flower industry
In a recent shock announcement, multinational fresh-cut flower industry giant Dole will cut the jobs of a third of its workforce in Colombia, condemning over 2,600 to unemployment, many of whom are one parent families living just above the poverty line. Colombian flower worker’s rights have been consistently ignored, characterised by arbitrary dismissal, irregular pay, termination of contracts if workers are unwell or fall pregnant, absence of sick pay, and where union activity has been systematically discouraged through intimidation and sackings.
The truth behind Saint Valentine’s Day; Petals and thorns of a global business While in Europe and North America St Valentine's Day message is love, in countries like Colombia it means greater exploitation, as fresh-cut flower workers are forced to labour in terrible conditions with minimal health and safety conditions and unionisation is actively discouraged amidst a climate of fear.
Report exposes health threats to women workers in Honduran garment factories
The health of women workers in garment factories is being threatened by poor working conditions.
Firm's thugs attack clothes workers A garment workers' leader in Bangladesh disappeared after protesting at a colleague’s dismissal.
Help flower workers defy job cuts Take action now - write to the minister for social protection
War on Want is urging supporters to protest against plans by the world’s biggest producer of flowers to sack more than 2,600 Colombian staff in the wake of the formation of the country’s first independent trade union for flower workers. The US-based multinational, Dole, announced the intention to fire a third of its workforce. But the fact that these cuts would take place in unionised farms has led many observers to accuse Dole of hardening its anti-union stance.
Sri Lankan union wins historic deal A Sri Lankan trade union today celebrated a landmark success against sweatshop-style working conditions, announcing the signing of their first collective bargaining agreement near a free trade zone in Sri Lanka. The news was greeted with euphoria by thousands of workers and labour activists across the nation, including many who have campaigned on these issues for the last 28 years.
Police injure Asda Wal-Mart strikers Police assaulted workers in the Philippines who make goods for Asda Wal-Mart and The Gap as they demonstrated outside their factory over its bosses’ refusal to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement
Thai democracy in crisis Following the 19 September military coup in Thailand, the nation’s democracy is in peril. Regulations imposed by the IMF in the late 1990s hit public institutions already weakened by nearly a decade of corrupt and shiftless leaders. The popular election in 2001 of Thaksin ushered in another corrupt regime. Public opinion had turned against Thaksin earlier this year, but the Thai military stripped the opposition movement of its chance to win control democratically.
Water challenge after children die Five residents in one of South Africa’s poorest areas have mounted a legal challenge against city leaders and company bosses amid water shortages which have brought misery, including the deaths of two children in a fire.
Gunmen kill landless leaders Appeals by War on Want helped Brazilian leaders of landless people regain their freedom from custody – but hired gunmen killed two other leaders of our partner MST (Movimento Sem Terra).
Fighting Child Labour in Guatemala In Guatemala, two thirds of Mayan children suffer from chronic malnutrition. 9 out of 10 of indigenous people live in poverty, and Mayan girls are confronted with discrimination and violence.
Union attacks ‘shoot workers’ threat Bangladeshi union leaders have condemned open threats from government ministers to shoot protesters on sight. In a speech given yesterday, Commerce Minister Hafizuddin Ahmed demonstrated the government’s hardline stance when he asked the garment owners to open fire in case of attacks on their factories in future.
Landmark conference sees worker organisations strengthen cooperation across Asia A number of high profile campaigns in recent years have highlighted the problems workers face when producing goods for high profile companies like Gap and Nike. However, ignoring workers’ basic rights is common practice in many Asian Transnational corporations (ATNCs), yet this remains largely hidden from the public view. In response to this, NGOs and trade unions from across the region met in Bangkok in July 2006 for the ATNC Monitoring Network conference as part of the plan to formulate strategies to strengthen workers’ rights across the region.
Mozambique and Brazil join together
Brazil and Mozambique are two countries suffering from very different problems. Although both are former Portuguese colonies, in Brazil the legacy of the former empire has left huge areas of agricultural land in the hands of a few individual landowners. Millions of peasant farmers are left without land and forced into the city's shantytowns, or left with no choice but to work under unfavourable conditions for the big landowners.
Pictures from Sikhula Sonke The Western Cape agricultural sector is regarded as the ‘food basket’ of South Africa. The region is famous for producing fruit, and supplies more than 40% of the European winter market.
Partner News Archive
Latest news from street vendors in Malawi Malawian president Binga wa Mutharika recently gave street vendors in three major cities in Malawi a deadline to vacate their operations in the city centre. Vendors were requested to move to flea markets constructed by the government in Mzuzu, Lilongwe and Blantyre by April 18 2006.
War on Want launches research report on informal economy organisations in Africa
A report highlighting the struggles that informal economy organisations are facing in Africa was launched by War on Want and its partners during a seminar on 3-4 May 2006 in Lilongwe, Malawi.
Hasta la Vista Terminator… War on Want is pleased to report success for our international partners in the battle against Terminator Seeds – seeds sold and controlled by big business, which automatically die after one harvest so as to prevent farmers from re-using their seeds as they have done for many years.
Thousands of British messages of support for Colombian flower workers handed over Colombian flower workers labour in appalling conditions. In December 2005, members of War on Want’s International Programme team travelled to Colombia to participate in a conference of flower workers and business owners, organised by Colombian partner organisation Cactus. At this event, thousands of postcards from British consumers were presented to the business owners expressing the British public’s unwillingness to buy flowers which are grown at the expense of people’s lives, health and living standards.
Hundreds receive human rights diplomas Saturday 10th December 2005 - International Human Rights Day - saw hundreds celebrate completing their human rights diploma in Cali, Colombia. Trade unionists, peasants, indigenous and Afro-Colombians came together in the Universidad del Valle, to receive their diplomas from War on Want partner, Sintraemcali, the public services trade union.
Human Rights in Colombia – international programmes update Paul Moon reports back from two War on Want partners in Colombia and finds that, in the face of huge adversity, people are fighting back – with your help.
New Death Threats Against Political, Social and Union Leaders in Colombia Berenice Celeyta, human rights coordinator in the War on Want partner organisation, Sintraemcali, has revealed that last week she and a number of other political, social and union leaders received death threats. Given the dangerous conditions in which social activists in Colombia work, we call on the Colombian government to investigate these acts and to safeguard the lives of the people who have been threatened.
Government overreacts to peaceful protest The Colombian government continue to disregard people’s basic worker rights. Following a day of police brutality against peaceful demonstrators in southwest Colombia, the Fundación Comité de Solidaridad con los Presos políticos (Committee for Solidarity with Political Prisoners) with whom War on Want cooperates in Colombia, filed this report.
Colombian Government Performs U- turn Under International Pressure The Colombian Flower workers trade union, Sintrasplendor, today celebrated a major victory for workers rights as the Colombian Minister for Social Protection bowed to international pressure and reinstated the union’s registration.
Factory Closures Place Thousands of Livelihoods at Risk A recent wave of factory closures in Honduras has left hundreds of women garment workers in maquilas (central American textile sweatshops) unemployed, without receiving a penny of compensation. This is currently the case for 90 workers who were employed by the Korean-owned textile company Wonchang. This climate of insecurity has been building up since 2003 and has thrown many women and their families into severe poverty. However, some of the women maquila workers are now making a stand and demanding compensation and asserting their right to work.
The MST celebrate after 2 years of occupation
Two years after launching an occupation of disused land in Sao Paulo, Brazil, War on Want partner, the Landless People’s Movement (MST), threw a large party to celebrate the fact that several hundred families from Ribeirão Preto are close to achieving their dream of having their own piece of land on the Barra Fazenda, an enormous landholding notorious for containing acre upon acre of disused land. War on Want’s Paul Moon reports.
Berenice Celeyta – “Another world is possible” Berenice Celeyta is Director of the human rights department of Colombian trade union and War on Want partner SINTRAEMCALI. Here, in a piece originally written for BBC Newsnight’s G8 blog, she talks of her hopes for a better world.
War on Want Project Partner Loses Hand in Letter Bombing Two trade unionists from Colombian War on Want partner, SINTRAEMCALI, were critically injured this week in a savage letter bomb attack.
Bangladesh Factory - and update from our partner The owners of the Spectrum Sweater factory near Dakha, Bangladesh have been arrested and jailed following last month’s factory collapse which left hundreds dead or injured.
Update on Tsunami appeal Huge progress to report on the rebuilding of homes in post-tsunami Sri Lanka - and a massive thank you to those who contributed.
Land reform in Brazil - thousands to march on Brasilia From mid-April to May 2005, thousands of Brazil’s rural workers will march hundreds of miles to converge on the capital of Brazil and deliver a message to the public and the governing Workers Party: land reform is the critical path to Brazil’s development of social equality, food security and a vibrant civil society.
War on want partner tells of post-tsunami privatisation push According to War on want’s Sri Lankan partner, MONLAR, plans prepared by the Sri Lankan Government for rebuilding the nation after the tsunami include a massive programme of water infrastructure development to support the process of water marketing by the private sector.
Bangladeshi Garment workers die in garment factory collapse Spectrum Sweater, a Bangladeshi garment factory producing for major European brands including Zara, Carrefour and Karstadt Quelle, collapsed on April 11th leading to the death and injury of hundreds of men and women.
Brazil’s landless farmers fight back
Rodrigo Moreira is an agronomist working with War on Want partner, Movimento sem Terra (MST), the Brazilian landless farmers’ movement – arguably the most influential people’s movement in Latin America. He’s been on a global speaking tour, educating people about the vital role of the MST in representing the poor in Brazil, and here speaks to Zara Maung.
World Social Forum - Another World is possible War on Want is a major part of the 2005 World Social Forum in Porto Alegre, Brazil.
War on Want partners affected by the Tsunami The Tsunami has wreaked havoc in South East Asia. The livelihoods of millions lie in tatters, and people are in urgent need of help.
MST Killings - take action NOW! On November 20th, five members of War on Want’s Brazilian partner MST (Landless Peoples Movement) were brutally killed by gunmen on a farm occupied by more than 200 families, in the state of Minas Gerais in the west of the country. Eighteen heavily armed men opened fire against a group of rural workers – including children – wounding 13 and killing 5.
Uniting two partners under one struggle In October War on Want partners, the Asia Monitor Resource Centre (AMRC) and the Central American Network of Women Workers met for the first international exchange in Central America. War on Want’s Usha Junge-Hepburn was there.
Workers’ rights? Get outta here! Ten Union leaders and activists were sacked at Volex (Thailand) Co. Ltd, after the President of the Union distributed a union circular, containing demands for basic workers’ rights.
Breaking the Mould for Black Women - Alzira Rufino’s Casa de Cultura Brazil has one of the most unequal societies in the world, and it is black people who make up most of the poorest sections of society. A War on Want project partner is challenging thi status quo. Their inspiring director, Alzira Rufino, spoke to War on Want’s Zara Maung.
Landless Political Prisoners – Take Action! Three leaders from War on Want project partner the MST (landless people’s movement) in Brazil have been arrested, in the latest of a long line of anti land reform moves by local government in the country.
It's not just corporations that are transnational... As multinational companies strive to cut costs and increase profits, it would be easy to assume that staff become isolated and downtrodden. This couldn’t be further from the truth, as Maria Luisa Regalado explained when she returned from an international information exchange with a similar group on the other side of the world.
Hard Work Poverty forces more than two million Guatemalan children into work, many from as young as seven years old. Mayra Kelita is one of them. She spoke to War on Want's John Coventry about an innovative new project, which, with the support of War on Want, is giving children like her the eductation they need.
Click here to send a e-postcard to the President of Guatemala
Guatemalan Child Workers - Take Action NOW Guatemala has the largest economy in Central America, but one of the most unequal societies in the world. The wealthiest 2% control 55% of national wealth, while almost 90% of the population lives below the poverty line. Indigenous Mayan children are especially affected.
Foreign Direct Investment Report "In 2004, War on Want participated in the World Social Forum, held for the first time in India. The event was a great success, with over 100,000 participants from around the world taking part...

In this report, from War on Want, we look in depth at the issues around Foreign Direct Investment and the importance this has to poverty in the South today."
Landless activists arrested - Take action NOW Sixty two members of War on Want partner, the Landless Peoples Movement were detained on the 14th of April, election day, whilst staging a peaceful protest.
10 years on and South Africa's landless are still waiting
Last week, South Africa held its third set of free elections. But despite celebrations of a decade of democracy South Africa remains one of the world’s most unequal countries. This year’s election had a lower turnout than other years, a mixture of apathy and boycotts by discontented groups including War on Want project partner, the Landless People’s Movement (LPM). Patrick Mojapelo, deputy chair of the LPM spoke to Jo Kuper.
Brazil’s Landless – an MST update…
15th April 2004
War on Want programme partner, the MST or Landless People’s Movement of Brazil has increased pressure on the Brazilian government over the last month, occupying around 70 unused farms.
Nuts about Brazil
8th April 2004
The Brazilian rainforest may not be the most likely hotbed of progressive political activism, but War on Want’s newest partner, the Movement of Babacu nut Breakers (MIQCB) is challenging not only these perceptions, but the might of the Brazilian landowners. MIQCB’s head of advocacy visited War on Want recently and explained how people living on the margins are fighting back.
Spread the love... to Colombian Flower Workers
Valentine’s day is one of the biggest days for the flower industry. But as we prepare to shower loved ones with gifts, we should spare a thought for the scores of women who make it possible.
Click here to send an e-Valentine’s card to the flower workers of Bogotá
War on Want seminar at the World Social Forum, Mumbai, India Forming global links around the need for greater corporate accountability and an analysis of the impact of Foreign Direct Investment on social development.
World Social Forum and World Economic Forum – same aims, different realities James Treasure-Evans reports back from the World Social forum, a progressive, inclusive alternative to the corporate love-in taking place in Davos at the same time.
War on Want and New Looks case on Bangladeshi garment factory
New Look's New Look In our on going struggle to improve workers rights in sweatshops and factories in Asia War on Want has been working to engage with UK retail companies to improve conditions of work in the factories that supply their clothes.
Sacked For Striking War on Want in conjunction with Labour Behind the Label is hosting a visit from Project Partner, ABG Teks, an Indonesian trade union standing up for workers rights at sportswear factories.
Bangladeshi Garment Workers in Clashes With Police War on Want partner, the NGWF involved in clashes with police after demanding payment of wages for garment workers.
Landless Peoples' Lawyer Visits UK In Brazil, a tiny minority of the population own massive swathes of the land, much of which lies idle. War on Want project partner, the Movimento Sem Terra (MST) is working to redistribute this land amongst those who need it most.
Workers Reach Agreement With Bosses TIE Asia - Workers Rights Drama
After a long running dispute with factory bosses, War on Want partner, TIE Asia has reported a major breakthrough in the struggle for union recognition at the Jaqalanka factory in Sri Lanka.
WoW Partner Union Reports Success In July we reported on the anti union policy undertaken by management at the Gina Bra Form factory in Thailand. In response to Union pressure, and international solidarity, War on Want partner, TIE Asia has released details of a number of successes for the workers there.
Landless Activists Continue to Be held Without Charge In the August Update, we reported on the arrest of two members of land reform group MST, a War on Want project partner working for land reform in Brazil.
MST sample letter Please email/fax the sample letter below to the following judicial figures in Brazil listed at the bottom of the page.
Land reformers fight for justice
Five MST land reform activists in Brazil were arrested while attending a court hearing in Sao Paulo State on 11 July, according to War on Want project partner, the MST. The arrests are being seen by land reform campaigners as an aggressive attempt to criminalise the struggle of the landless and their constitutional right to agrarian reform.
Hidden Reports
Cape of Good Hope
South African wine producers have never had it so good. Re-engagement with the global economy and a vast improvement in product quality in the region have resulted in South African wines holding a 9.5% share of the UK market. There are now a record 338 wine cellars, and exports have grown from 71.2 million litres in 1995 to more than 176 million litres in 2001.
Urgent action - sample letters supporting Sri Lankan workers Thanks for taking time out to support Sri Lankan garment workers. Simply cut and paste the following sample letters and email to the address at the top of each letter. Please copy your emails to: mailroom@waronwant.org.
Workers too scared to vote for trade union
5 August 2003
Garment workers in Sri Lanka have faced extreme intimidation and death threats while attempting to set up the first trade union in a free trade zone, according to War on Want project partner, the Transnational Information Exchange Asia (Tie-Asia).
New project for Brazilian women In a rural area of Northern Brazil, women workers whose livelihoods depend on harvesting and breaking oil palm nuts live a subsistence existence far below the poverty line, earning less than one dollar a day. But with support from War on Want, the women workers are fighting back through a new regional social movement.
LPM targets abusive farmers War on Want partner the Landless People’s Movement this week launched a new campaign to end the abuse and eviction of South African farm dwellers from predominantly white-owned farms.
Debt cancelled for townships Grass roots social movements in South Africa reminded the country’s government of their support among the urban poor this month after a state-owned utility firm cancelled a massive £109.3 million in electricity arrears.
Township resists May Day eviction While millions of workers around the world celebrated May Day, thousands of poor and landless people in the South African township of Thembelihle defended their community from eviction as the authorities stepped up their long-running battle to clear people from their homes.
Small farmers think big in Brazil A project aimed at commercialising production from recently settled landless people started by War on Want and the Landless Movement of Brazil (MST) has taken root and is now offering hope to thousands of small farmers.
Royle Family star visits South African project
Ralf Little, the long-suffering Anthony in TV's The Royle Family, swapped the Winter chill of Manchester for the lush hills and sunshine of South Africa in February, when he visited a War on Want project as part of the build up to Comic Relief 's Red Nose Day on 14 March.
International exchanges improve the lives of workers Projects officer James Treasure-Evans reports from Sri Lanka, where workers are learning about solidarity through a programme of international exchanges
A victory for the excluded In an unprecedented show of strength, millions of Brazilians have fiercely rejected a proposal for an EU-style free market in South America.
Bangladeshi garment workers stand up for what they deserve Two letters from War on Want's partner National Garment Workers Federation (NGWF) from general secretary Amirul Haque Amin
Mayan child labour project receives funding Campaigning development charity War on Want has been granted funding for a project to support child workers in Guatemala.
South Africa - the battle for land has begun The Third World’s rural poor need land. But they are telling that to the World Bank - Lies Craeynest reports
Banana republic on the edge When War on Want's trade union officer Jackie Simpkins visited Ecuador in May, workers on banana plantations were living on a knife edge - threatened for strike action against appalling and deadly working conditions.
Zambia June 2003 War on Want project officer Lies Craeynest visited our partner in Zambia and discovered how one of Africa’s wealthiest countries had fallen down the development ladder to be overtaken by mass poverty.
Don't forget the flower workers this Valentine's Day This year, Valentines Day will be dedicated to the women workers exploited by Colombia’s $600 million flower industry.
You can show your support for these workers by sending them an e-Valentine's Day card.

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15th April 2004

8th April 2004