|
|
||
|
||
 |
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Alert: Stop Release of 1st Temperate GE Tree (Plum)
The US Department of Agriculture is accepting public comments between now and July 17, 2006 on a petition that would allow commercial growing and marketing of the first genetically engineered (GE) plum trees. If approved, this would remove all regulatory oversight of this GE variety, a virus-resistant plum tree known as the Honey Sweet Pox Potyvirus Resistant plum. This would open the door to GE varieties of many other related stone fruits, such as peaches, apricots, cherries and almonds, that are susceptible to the same virus. Ironically, this virus is not even found in the US today according to the USDA, and is certainly not a significant agricultural problem here.
waking up to breakfast in amsterdam, dying for soya in south america...
last week I had breakfast with two lovely activists in a squat in amsterdam. we had no soya milk, but strangely enough, soy was in almost everything else on the table except for the coffee (curdling? yick). but where does this soya come from, and why are kids dying for it to reach our tables? this interview begins to tell the story....
Eucalyptus Industry applies pressure to allow genetic
The subject of the genetically modified trees entered the lineup of the COP8 on this Thursday, March 30th. Korea and Venezuela presented a text that asked the moratorium on plantations or experiments with genetically modified trees, until more profound studies have been conducted. This discussion was not approved during the morning, which made possible meetings between countries and its delegations, before the discussion got resumed in the afternoon. The lobby of big corporations that form part of the Brazilian Delegation succeeded in getting the lawyer for Embrapa, Dr Simone Meira Dias, to represent Brazil. Simone, contradicting the agreement reached by the Delegation, spoke against the moratorium, as did Canada and Austria. Audio:: NGO Biogaucha Defense | Claudio Roberto, executive secretary of MMA Articles:: Brazil without leadership | Lobby of biotechnology companies | Brazil start world’s biggest forestall experiment| Field Work | CTNbio web site | NGO Biogaucha Defense web site Older Features:: Three Countries block MOP3 | Brasil defends labelling, but biosafety is not granted | Expotrade prevents sale of organic meal | Via Campesina pressures the Brazilian Government at UN conference opening | Via Campesina's Parallel Convention Takes Shape | Worldwide Convention will discuss biosafety at Curitiba Related Links:: Biotech IMC | Coptrix | Mea Bulletin | CDB web site | Brazilian government web site about CDB | Eco Info | UK Agricultural Biodiversity Coalition | FBOMS
"We're practically in a play"
With this sentence, Fernando Mathias, from the Social-Environmental Insitute, sums up the indecision of the Biological Diversity Convention (CDB-COP8) on the matter of access to genetical resources and division of benefits. According to him, the conflict of interests between countries that hold genetical resources (underdeveloped) and countries that hold the tecnology to explore them (developed) is being moved to foruns where developed countries are stronger, like Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), World Trade Organization (WTO) and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Reinforcing the tesis of the ending of CDB's competences, the president of the US, George W. Bush, has sent to the american congress a law project for a 50% reduction on the amount of resources sent to the Global Environment Facility (GEF). GEF is responsible for maintaining CDB, which is in serious danger of becoming unviable in case the project is aproved.
Terminator rejected! A victory for the people
Just an hour ago here in Brazil, the Chair of the UN meeting announced that governments have agreed to reject language that would have undermined the moratorium on Terminator.
VIA CAMPESINA PRESSURES Brazilian GOVERNMENT IN THE OPENING OF THE CONFERENCE OF THE UN
At the monday's afternoon(03/13), in the metropolitan region of Curitiba, the Via Campesina carried out a march during the opening of the MOP3. The peasants were pressure the brazilian government for that this mark favorable position to make clear the labelling of genetically modified shipments. Around 500 militants entered marching in the Expotrade Pinhas, to participate of the Global Forum of the Civil Society, organized by NGOs and social movements. know more: [MOP3] march 13rd | Notes about debates 13/03
Biosafety agreement reached in Curitiba
Interesses comerciais vencem na MOP3
Contamination case in organic agriculture - Catalonia (Spain)
Last Sunday 26th February 2006, more than 50 persons cut down a contaminated organic maize field, and burned the nearly 4 tonnes of maize in protest for the situation organic farmers are living in Catalonia as a consequence of the expansion of GM maize fields.
Curitiba 2006 - For strict labelling and against terminator seeds
Leaked full report From the WTO about GMO Dispute
These 2 files make up a leaked copy of the secret draft ruling in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) dispute over GM foods.
Reclaiming the Commons: from BioDevestation to BioDemocracy
Running opposite the BIO convention was a counter-convention called "BioDemocracy 2005", which consisted of a smorgasbord of activities aimed at challenging the biotech industry with an alternative vision of peaceful, sustainable and grassroots democracy. As they have done at previous BIO conventions, activists from across the country converged on the "City of Brotherly Love" to bring attention to BIO's closed-door agenda of medicine for profit, genetically engineered agriculture and bioweapons proliferation. previous conventions: San Francisco, 2004 | St. Louis, 2003 I WTO/USDA Sacramento, 2003 I Washington, DC, 2003 BioDemocracy 2005 kicked off on Friday with a Critical Mass bike ride (photos) against Biotech. The following day, a "Reclaim the Commons" open-air Festival brought together organic farmers, community gardeners, alternative health practitioners, artists, puppets, musicians, families, and activists to share knowledge, give-aways, and skills. Food Not Bombs, which was having a concurrent international gathering in Philadelphia to celebrate its 25th anniversary, provided food at the festival as well as at other BioDemocracy events. audio: Audio Recordings of BioDemocracy Conference | Audio from morning biotech - Philly | More audio from morning rally at biodev | GE Trees I Food Not Bombs 25th Anniversary, Keith McHenry Reflections | Scientific Controversies in Genetic Engineering | Percy Schmeiser at BioDemocracy other media: photos 1, 2, 3 video 1 personal accounts: Reportaje personal del BioDemocracy2005 (es) | A Firsthand Account In Philadephia Part One (en) legal situation: Bail for Protesters set at $50,000 | Legal Situation in Philly related sites: phillyimc.org | Reclaim the Commons | biodev.org
Canada denies Tewolde Egziabher visa for the Biosafety meeting
+ CANADIAN GOVT DENIES VISA FOR CHIEF AFRICAN BIOSAFETY NEGOTIATOR - PROTEST!
Legisladores mexicanos abren la puerta a la privatización genética
|
A few weeks ago GM Watch started producing podcasts: audiofiles with interviews and reports on GM issues, adding another dimension to their excellent email list on - to say it in their own words - "the use of hype, propaganda and spin to promote this technology, and on exposing the role played by corporate-friendly scientists, industry front groups, PR companies, lobbyists, and political groups."
It was with relief but mixed feelings that the delegates and observers of the Biosafety Protocol meeting in Curitiba welcomed a last minute agreement on the contentious issue of identification and documentation of international shipments of GMOs in food, feed and for processing. After 4 days of intensive negotiations, which went into 6 a.m. in the morning of Friday in the "friends of the chair" drafting group and lasted until 8 p.m.
Após uma semana marcada pelo impasse da rotulagem de cargas transgênicas,a Reunião das Partes do Protocolo de Cartagena (MOP3) alcançou o consenso pela proposta do contém transgênicos. O acordo foi atingido com a inclusão de um adendo proposto pelo México, que junto com Nova Zelândia e outros países estava bloqueando o avanço das negociações. O resultado pode ser considerado uma vitória das transnacionais de biotecnologia, pois o prazo para regulamentação foi estendido de quatro para seis anos, e foi eliminada a identificação obrigatória de exportações e importações de produtos geneticamente modificados no comércio entre países membros (que adotaram o Protocolo) e aqueles não-membros (que não adotaram o Protocolo). Desse modo o documento final permite importações de transgênicos originados de países não signatários do protocolo, como os EUA. Os EUA, apesar de não ter ratificado o protocolo, mandou uma forte delegação pra fazer o lobby de seus interesses.
After 11 years of negotiations, the final round in the question of trade of GMOs might have started today. Delegates from 
video coverage from 
From June 19 to June 22 in 
En medio de la cortina mediática generada por la sucesión presidencial, el 27 de abril el Senado mexicano abrió la puerta a la privatización de los recursos genéticos mediante la aprobación por unanimidad de la “Iniciativa de ley federal para el acceso y aprovechamiento de los recursos biológicos y genéticos”, lo cual sin duda afectará gravemente, entre otras cosas, la soberanía alimentaria de México, como en el caso del maíz, ya contaminado desde su centro de origen.
