Community Alliance for Global Justice Programs
We make connections between workers' rights, agriculture, climate change and global trade. CAGJ aims to 'Strengthen Local Economies Everywhere' by supporting community self-sufficiency through our three programs:
- Food Justice Project- CAGJ members are taking action to ensure that local sustainable production addresses workers' rights, immigrant rights, equitable food distribution and fair trade. Monthly Teach-Outs visit local farms and food producers to learn about their challenges and successes, to lend a hand by planting, weeding, or harvesting, and to learn more about how CAGJ can support local policies for food justice.
- AGRA Watch - This new campaign led by CAGJ has become a recognized leader in holding the Gates Foundation accountable for their participation in the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). AGRA Watch opposes genetic engineering and exploitative, unsustainable agricultural policies, and demands that the Gates Foundation be more transparent in its policies. We support African initiatives and programs that foster farmers’ self-determination and food sovereignty, rather than policies that make Africa dependent on industrial, corporate-controlled agricultural models.
- Trade Justice - CAGJ has consistently worked for trade policies that support the needs of local people rather than corporate interests, and we helped convene the state-wide Washington Fair Trade Coalition. CAGJ has organized locally to support fair trade legislation such as the TRADE Act (Trade, Reform, Accountability, Development, and Employment) as well as to halt the expansion of NAFTA to Central and South America.
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
On November 27-29th CAGJ organized the "People's Summit" to commemorate the ten-year anniversary of the WTO Protests by re-invigorating seasoned activists and inspiring a new generation of global justice leaders. Over 500 people attended a weekend of events that included a conference at Seattle University with 30 workshops and 50 local and nationally recognized leaders in the global justice and food justice movements.
CAGJ is currently publishing "Our Food, Our Right: Recipes for Food Justice." a handbook on how to grow and preserve your own food, support sustainable local and global food economies, and support the struggles of immigrant workers and fair trade campaigns. We are currently seeking support to increase distribution of this grassroots guide to the wider community and to make copies available for free to low income community members.