Freedom” has become a contested term. We refer to people’s freedom to live and earn a livelihood, to have access to vital resources — seed, food, water and land. But “free trade” rules are written by corporations in order to destroy people’s lives and livelihoods, their cultures and democracies by commodifying and privatising every aspect of their lives.
For example, the Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement of the World Trade Agreement imposes patents on seeds and patents allow biotechnology corporations like Monsanto to prevent farmers from saving seeds.
