Guest guest Posted August 19, 2004 Report Share Posted August 19, 2004 > WEEKLY_WATCH_86 > " GM_WATCH " <info > Thu, 19 Aug 2004 23:26:43 +0100 > --------------------------- > WEEKLY WATCH number 86 > -------------------------- > from Claire Robinson, WEEKLY WATCH editor > --------------------------- > > The biotech industry has been indulging in its usual > shadow-play, issuing plugs for GM for India that > appear to emanate from India itself, but which on > closer examination turn out to come from everywhere > but! (FOCUS ON ASIA) > > It's also invented yet another " grassroots " front > group, this time in France (LOBBYWATCH). > > Don't miss an important counter-event to the big > biotech bash coming up in September in Cologne, > Germany (EURO-NEWS). > > Claire claire > www.lobbywatch.org / www.gmwatch.org > > --------------------------- > CONTENTS > --------------------------- > LOBBYWATCH > FOCUS ON ASIA > FOCUS ON AFRICA > EURO-NEWS > AUSTRALIA > THE AMERICAS > CAMPAIGN OF THE WEEK - UK > DONATIONS > > --------------------------- > LOBBYWATCH > --------------------------- > > + BIOTECH'S " RADICAL RURAL CAMPAIGNERS " > An article in The Independent (UK) refers to " the > surprise emergence in France of a group of radical > rural campaigners claiming to be in favour of > open-field [GM] experiments " . > http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=4239 > > They recently turned up ready for a fist fight at > Loiret in France when about 160 anti-GM activists > took part in decontaminating a field of GM maize. > (see EURO-NEWS below) > > So who are these " radical rural campaigners " with a > taste for genetic contamination? > > According to the article, they're led by Pierre > Pagesse, " a farmer and the managing director of the > French biotechnology firm Biogemma " . Pagesse is also > described as " president of Limagrain, a leading > European seed company of which Biogemma is the > research arm. " > > In terms of sales, Limagrain ranks as the 4th > biggest seed company in the world, with only DuPont > (Pioneer), Monsanto and Syngenta outselling it. Like > those agrochemical giants, Limagrain has invested > heavily in GM crop R & D and has undertaken GM field > trials. > > In 1994 Limagrain took over the seed production > assets of the French agrochemical giant > Rhone-Poulenc, through an exchange of shares, which > led to the creation of Limagrain Genetics > International - 83% owned by Limagrain and 17% by > Rhone-Poulenc. The two companies also developed > common research programmes for developing GM crops > within a joint venture. > > The biotech firm Biogemma was created by Limagrain > in July 1997. In April 1998 RhoBio, a subsidiary > common to Biogemma and Rhone-Poulenc was formed. > RhoBio went on to become a joint venture with > Aventis Crop Science and then Bayer Crop Science. > > According to a report on Limagrain's innovation > strategy, " At the same time that it created > Biogemma, Limagrain also made the strategic decision > to concentrate on biotechnology and agro-industrial > activities, and to dedicate *all its resources* > towards this goal. " (emphasis added) > > In other words Limagrain bet its shirt on biotech. > As the report notes: " biotechnology is one of the > central themes for the company; and mastering > biotechnology is seen as necessary if the group is > to keep its identity and independence... resources, > such as the company's capacity for research and > development, are [therefore] earmarked for > biotechnology. " > > The report identifies as a key challenge to this > strategy: " the acceptability of GMOs " . It also notes > that, " ironically " , investment in genomics " may > provide a way to avoid transgenic methods altogether > delivering it from the current controversy " . > http://www.agbioforum.org/v4n1/v4n1a09-joly.htm > > Under the leadership of Pierre Pagesse, however, > controversy, rather than being sidestepped, is being > embraced! > > As Limagrain has farmers as shareholders and > stakeholders, they may wish to consider the quality > of Pagesse's strategic thinking and whether it isn't > time for more intelligent leadership. > > Limagrain also owns the US-based company Biotechnica > Agriculture. Limagrain Canada is owned by Monsanto. > http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=4239 > > --------------------------- > FOCUS ON ASIA > --------------------------- > > + ISAAA CHIEF BACKS TERMINATOR IN INDIA! > When confronted with the problem of > cross-pollination of non-GM plants, the only > solution Clive James, chairman of the > industry-backed GM crop promotion body ISAAA, can > offer is the Terminator! This, he complains, had had > to be shelved at the behest of " the Greens " . > > James was speaking at the recent big pro-GM > " International Conference on Agricultural > Biotechnology: Ushering in the Second Green > Revolution " conference in New Delhi. > > In fact, MS Swaminathan, a co-host with James of the > conference, is among those who has denounced the > technology: " In India where there are nearly 100 > million operational holdings, denial of plant-back > rights or the use of the terminator mechanism will > be disastrous from the socio-economic and > biodiversity points of view, since over 80 percent > of farmers plant their own farm-saved seeds. " > > Swaminathan is just one among many who have queued > up to condemn Terminator genes. They included the > FAO Director-General, Dr Jacques Diouf; Dr Gordon > Conway, President of the Rockefeller Foundation; and > The Consultative Group on International Agricultural > Research. Not exactly a bunch of greens! > > For more on ISAAA: > http://www.gmwatch.org/profile1.asp?PrId=66 & page=I > http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=4237 > > + MORE WIT AND WISDOM OF CLIVE JAMES > At the New Delhi conference (see above), James > supported the proposed " single window " for GM > regulation in India. But he was forced to concede > that even under the avidly pro-GM US regulatory > system, no single window exists for GM regulation. > > James also said, Wambugu-style, that he's not saying > GM crops are a silver bullet, it's just they're > " essential " ! > > Next, when cornered over the fact that poverty not > production is the real problem underlying hunger in > India - a country which regularly produces large > surpluses of grain that go to rot because the poor > can't afford them - James was left blithely > claiming, " the transgenic technology can also solve > the problem [ie poverty] by raising the income of > the people " . > > How to support such a claim? Despite all the > evidence to the contrary, James claims that GM > cotton has been a success in India - this off the > back of a discredited one-off survey carried out for > Monsanto by the Nielson marketing agency! > http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=3405 > http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=4237 > > + VANDANA SHIVA SAYS INDIA NEEDS STRONGER REGULATORY > SYSTEM, NOT DEREGULATION > Excerpt from an article in the Financial Express by > Dr Vandana Shiva (GEAC is India's statutory body for > GM crop assessment and approvals), in which she > criticizes attempts to weaken India's GM regulatory > system: > > Those of us who work for independent science, > protection of environment and public health are > calling for a " GEAC Plus " , aimed at strengthening > regulation for biosafety by enhancing the capacities > of the environment ministry in collaboration with > the health and agriculture ministries. Strengthening > regulation for biosafety is also required under the > Cartagena Protocol. Industry however wants a " GEAC > Minus " ; creating a fast track single window > clearance to substitute GEAC. > http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=4234 > > + GOLDEN RICE A DISTANT DREAM FOR INDIA > An article in Business India says fears of > environmental damage and food safety have held up > India's plans to develop varieties of GM > nutrition-enriched rice. > > " Products like salinity- and drought-tolerant rice > varieties as well as the vitamin-A enriched Golden > Rice have been developed but we are not getting the > green signal to go ahead with field-testing, " said > Swapan K. Datta of the Manila-based International > Rice Research Institute (IRRI). > > Fears about food safety of GM agriculture products > continue to be a major hurdle to solutions for > problems like pests, salinity and drought, he > contended. " The different kinds of rice being > suggested for field testing are Golden Rice (named > after its colour), pest resistant Bt rice, iron > enriched rice and varieties of salinity tolerant and > drought resistant rice, " Datta told IANS. > > He said permission for field-testing Golden Rice, > which has a high level of vitamin A, has been sought > in India, the US and the Philippines. " While the US > has granted permission, it is still awaited in India > and the Philippines, " Datta said. > http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=4227 > > GM WATCH COMMENT: Note that the article describes GM > rice as India's " dream " and as part of " India's > plans " but most of the comment is derived from > Swapan Datta, a plant biotechnologist at the > International Rice Research Institute in the > Philippines. > > Datta and the IRRI have been laying the foundations > for releasing GM rice across Asia long before most > people in India, or anywhere else in the world, had > ever dreamt, let alone heard, of GM rice. > > The first work on GM rice was undertaken at IRRI as > far back as 1990. By 1993 IRRI had begun " rice > biotechnology training " courses for Asian > scientists. The same year IRRI launched the Asian > Rice Biotechnology Network (ARBN) and began its > release of GM plants in greenhouses. By 1996 work on > the genetic engineering of popular Asian cultivars > was under way. > > IRRI is also part of the Consultative Group on > International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), an > association of public and private donor agencies > that funds 16 international research centres. > > Swapan Datta is rice crop leader of the CGIAR's > Challenge Program on Biofortification, which > involves GM " nutrition enriched " plants - like > Golden Rice. > > CGIAR has Syngenta Foundation on its board, while > IRRI has over the years benefited from the support > of such corporations as Monsanto, Union Carbide > Asia, Bayer Philippines, Eli Lily, Occidental > Chemical, Ciba Geigy (later part of Novartis Seeds > which is now part of Syngenta), Chevron Chemical, > Upjohn, Hoechst, and Cyanamid Far East. > > Far from being " India's dream " , Golden Rice was > invented in the Swiss laboratory of Ingo Potrykus, > and really gained momentum after Monsanto and > Syngenta realised its immense PR potential. Monsanto > man Gerard Barry then moved to IRRI to take control > of the Golden Rice Network, overseeing the release > of Golden Rice in Asia. > > Finally, notice the emphasis in the article on > speed. Recurrent in the statements of GM promoters > in India at the moment, as they strive to fix the > regulatory system, is the need to " speed up the > clearing process " for GM crops - all, doubtless, in > the cause of more readily fulfilling " India's > plans " and " India's dream " . > http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=4227 > > + ICMR PROPOSES GENE TECHNOLOGY REGULATOR > The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has > proposed setting up of a National Gene Technology > Regulator for ensuring safe applications and use of > transgenic technology. It has suggested stringent > norms for ensuring health safety and has proposed > vesting of more powers with the health ministry and > the agencies operating under it. > http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=4228 > > A recent report from ICMR noted, " The safety of > these components of the genetic construct is not > clearly known as they have the potential to induce > toxicity, transfer to gut flora or produce > unintended effects leading to changes that are > relevant from toxicological/nutritional perspective. > Specific safety issues associated with GM foods > include direct or indirect consequences of new gene > product or altered levels of existing gene product > due to GM, possibility of gene transfer from > ingested GM food and potential adverse effect like > allergenicity and toxic effects. " > http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=4177 > > + SPOT THE CONNECTION: THE IRRI > ***Last week MS Swaminathan was centre stage at a > big pro-GM conference in New Delhi, which his > Foundation helped organise. > ***Also in action last week was Gurdev Khush as the > lead signatory on a letter, authored by pro-GM > lobbyist CS Prakash, attacking the Indian Council of > Medical Research for expressing their concerns over > the safety of GMOs. > ***Over the weekend an article appeared in the > Indian press highlighting the views of Swapan Datta > (see above) on how India's " dream " of GM rice was > being held up by regulatory hurdles > > What's the connection? > ***Datta is a leading plant biotechnologist at the > International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). > ***MS Swaminathan is the fomer head of IRRI. > ***During his 35 years with IRRI, Gurdev Khush was > responsible for monocropping vast swathes of Asia > with IRRI rice varieties. > ***For more than a decade now IRRI has been laying > the foundations for the release of GM rice across > Asia. > ***Swaminathan and Khush also actively promote GM > crops on a global stage. Khush, for instance, is > part of the 'scientific network' for 'product and > technology innovation' and development at the > controversial bio-pharmaceutical firm Ventria > Bioscience - currently at the centre of the GM > pharma rice controversies in California and > elsewhere in the US. > > It would be a great mistake to underestimate the > influence and reach of the International Rice > Research Institute which has been working fior more > than a decade to lay the foundations for the release > of GM crops right across Asia. > http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=4233 > For a profile of IRRI: > http://www.gmwatch.org/profile1.asp?PrId=296 > > + SECRETIVE DEAL-MAKING DEVASTATES LIVES > Excerpts from an illuminating article by Ashwin > Mahesh, co-founder of India Together > (http://www.indiatogether.org/agriculture), about > how agricultural decisions made in secret are > killing Indians: > > ...we [india's middle class] have become so deluded > by our minor privileged sphere that we are unable to > comprehend what great numbers of Indians experience. > > The inattentiveness to agriculture has made it > easier for policy decisions to be made that are > catastrophically harmful to the rural poor. > > Hundreds of millions who depend on [agriculture] for > their livelihood have no way of engaging the > secretive deal-making that devastates their lives... > > Another example of the under-the-radar developments > in agriculture is what's happening with genetically > modified (GM) crops. These are plainly risky to > public health, and the claims of improved nutrition > from them are mostly unproven. Don't take my word > for it; that's also what the Indian Council of > Medical Research had to say about this recently. > > There's something else you should know about GM > foods. The 'high-yielding strains' are touted as the > answer to the world's problems of starvation and > malnutrition. But how true is that? ...What is > really being starved is the truth, while GM foods > that are banned in many European countries are now > being pushed in the Third World under the banner of > benevolence. > http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=4229 > > --------------------------- > FOCUS ON AFRICA > --------------------------- > > + BEWARE OF GM FOODS - TANZANIA VICE-PRESIDENT > Africa should not be forced to accept GM foods, > Tanzania's Vice-President Dr Ali Mohamed Shein said. > He said African countries must give serious > consideration to related consequences before > accepting GM foods under the pretext of fighting > hunger. > > Dr Shein made the remarks in Dar es Salaam when > opening the Ninth Session of the Council of > Ministers of the African Regional Industrial > Property Organisation (Aripo). > > " If we want to ensure that our countries are not > turned into experimental grounds, we need to develop > and have the requisite capacity at both the national > and regional levels. This will enable us to assess > the safety of the genetically modified foods to the > health of our people and to the protection of our > environment, " he said. > http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=4236 > > + TWELVE REASONS FOR AFRICA TO REJECT GM CROPS > Zachary Makanya points out that Africa is in danger > of becoming the dumping ground for the struggling GM > industry and a laboratory for frustrated scientists. > The proponents of GM > technology sell a sweet message of GM crops bringing > the second green revolution and the answer to > African hunger, but a closer look makes it clear > that GM crops have no place in African agriculture. > Makanya gives twelve reasons > why... Read on - > http://www.grain.org/seedling/?id=294 > > Look out also for 'GM Sweet Potatoes: misspent > millions' > http://www.grain.org/seedling/?id=294 > > And see AUSTRALIA (below) for the latest hype and > false claims of a leading South African regulator. > > ------- > EURO-NEWS > ------- > > + GM LOBBY MEETS IN COLOGNE > From September 12-15 the Agricultural Biotechnology > International Conference (ABIC 2004) will meet at > Cologne's trade fair center. According to its own > publicity, the ABIC is one of the " internationally > most important conferences on biological and genetic > technology " for " scientists, industry > representatives, investors and politicians. " On the > program: Philippe Busquien (EU Commissioner for > Research), North Rhine-Westphalian Premier > Steinbryck, Robert Zoellik (US trade representative > - invited), and the 20 biggest agribusiness and food > multinationals of the world: Monsanto, Nestle, > Bayer, CropScience, Pioneer Europe, Syngenta and > BASF. > http://www.abic2004.org/index.html > http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=4231 > > + PROTESTS AND COUNTER-CONFERENCE > The better alternative: social justice and > ecologically sound agriculture: > On September 12-13 the lobbyists from industry, > science and politics will have to reckon with those > who are not impressed by their PR events and myths > of progress. They are the countless critics of GE in > farmer's organizations of the South and Europe, in > consumer, environmental and church groups, and > initiatives against the neoliberal world economic > order. > > Protest Action: Monday, September 13, 2004, from > 10:30 a.m. at the Cologne Fair: Critical > organizations and initatives will make it clear that > the high-tech solutions from the laboratories and > corporate meetings are not wanted. > > Coordination: Regina Schwarz, > Anti_ABIC_Aktion, Tel. 0221-37 31 02 > Alternative Conference 12 Sept. Maternushaus > (Kardinal-Frings Str. 1-3) 15:00 - 20:00 > > Speaking on global trade, genetically manipulated > food and patents: > Vandana Shiva (India, Research Foundation for > Science, Technology and Ecology) > Other speakers: > http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=4231 > > For more information: BioSkop e.V., Erika Feyerabend > erika.feyerabend > Tel. 0201-53 66 706; Misereor, Bernd Nilles > nilles Tel. 0241 - 442515 > Directions: www.maternushaus.de/wegbeschreibung.html > http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=4231 > > + VOLUNTARY REAPERS TEAR UP GM FIELD IN THE LOIRET, > FRANCE [see LOBBYWATCH above for more on this story] > About 160 anti-GM activists took part on Saturday > afternoon in the tearing up of a field of GM maize > near Pithiviers (department of Loiret). The > activists, supported by the Confederation Paysanne > and the Greens, gathered following a request from > the " Voluntary GM Reapers Collective " on a field at > Greneville-en-Beauce, a few kilometres from > Pithiviers. > > Notably, amongst these were the green > representatives Verts Yves Contassot, assistant to > the mayor of Paris, with responsibility for the > environment, and Francine Bavay, Vice President of > the regional council for the d'Ile-de-France region. > http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=4231 > > --------------------------- > AUSTRALIA > --------------------------- > > + LOBBYIST/REGULATOR TELLS AUSTRALIAN FARMERS GM > FOODS ARE SAFE > Prof Jennifer Thompson has been telling Australian > farmers and others that GM crops are stringently > tested for health risks. " These GM crops have been > tested rigorously, almost as if they were toxins, > and no conventional food has ever been tested like > that, " Thompson is quoted as saying. > > Yet a study by Professor Ian Pryme and Rolf Lembcke, > published in 2003 in the journal Nutrition and > Health, found there were just ten published studies > on the health effects of GM food or feed and that > the quality of some of these was inadequate. The > researchers also noted that several of the > independent studies provided evidence of potential > harm. > > Prof Thompson, on the other hand, says she is so > certain that those GM crops that have been approved > for commercial release are as safe or are even " far > safer " than non-GM food, that she would be willing > to put her " head on a block " over the issue. > > A leading expert in the field of GM food testing > told us, " I don't think that her head on the block > would be worth having as there is nothing in it. " > > What is so shocking about Jennifer Thompson's > detachment from scientific reality is that we are > not dealing with just some biotech lobbyist. > Thompson has been a key figure - probably, the key > figure - in shaping South Africa's regulation of GM > crops since its first regulatory body SAGENE, which > Thompson chaired, was established under South > Africa's apartheid regime. > > Thompson is still an official advisor on regulatory > decisions today. At one and the same time she's a > leading figure in a whole series of biotech-industry > backed lobby groups, eg AfricaBio, ISAAA, the > Council for Biotechnology Information and the > African Agricultural Technology Foundation. > http://www.gmwatch.org/profile1.asp?PrId=170 > > No wonder South Africa has had such a rapid uptake > of GM crops when the line between lobbyist and > regulator is non-existent. > http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=4238 > > + PROTESTS AT BIOFESTIVAL 04 > > Lorraine Ford reports how protesters were active at > the BioFestival 04 conference in Melbourne. Two > protesters were taken away by police, and a > one-sided public " GE Debate " featured security > checks at the entrance door, and much audience > unrest. > > Protesters also destroyed four large vases of GM > flowers displayed at the entrance to an exhibition > of biotech wares at the BioFestival 04 conference. > Two protesters were taken away by police. > > Earlier, protesters wearing black gags and holding > aloft banners and placards had demonstrated their > objections to GM foods, crops and animals outside > the conference. > http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2004/08/76292.php > > --------------------------- > THE AMERICAS > --------------------------- > > + GM CORN PLANTING PLATEAUS, BRINGS LOWER INCOME FOR > FARMERS > In March a much-hyped USDA survey of corn farmers, > done before corn planting was underway, projected > that 46 percent of corn acres would be planted to > GMO varieties in 2004. After planting was completed > and the seed was in the ground an American Corn > Growers Foundation (ACGF) survey found only 34.4 > percent - almost the same as last year. > > According to Dan McGuire, CEO of the ACGF, " This > survey suggests that US corn farmers may well be > taking the concerns and demands of foreign consumers > and importers into account in their planting > decisions by holding their GMO corn acres to only > about a third of the total acres they planted to > corn this year. " > > McGuire added, " Even with the projected record yield > for 2004, farmers will average $5.51 less gross corn > income per acre than in 2003 because of lower > prices. The 142 bushel per acre yield in 2003, at > the average price of $2.40, would have provided > gross per acre income of $340.80, while the > projected 149 bushel, record average per acre yield > for 2004, at the average price of $2.25, will > generate only $335.29 per acre, and of course many > farmers will get less than that average price and > have lower than average yields. > > " Low corn prices have not delivered increased corn > exports as promoted by advocates of current farm and > trade policy. Plus, attempts by the US government > and agribusiness to force foreign markets to accept > biotech corn varieties has not been a > customer-oriented strategy to say the least. It > appears that the majority of US corn farmers are > putting the customer first and factoring that into > their seed choices. " > http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=4232 > > US corn exports to Europe dropped by 96% in 1999 > because the US could not provide non-GM corn. In > 2000 US corn was hit by the GM Starlink fiasco. And > quite apart from the export problems, for all the > hype about GM corn, it has had a negative economic > impact on US farms, as another USDA report revealed. > http://www.btinternet.com/~nlpwessex/Documents/usdagmeconomics.htm > > + SIERRA CLUB OBJECTION TO PHARMA CORN > Prodigene wants to grow 725 acres of pharma corn in > Texas. A detailed letter from the Sierra Club, the > US's biggest wilderness conservation group, to US Ag > Sec Ann Veneman, objecting to this cretinous plan is > at > http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=4232 > > + FOOD INDUSTRY ALARMED ABOUT PHARMA CROPS > The Grocery Manufacturers of America, one of the > biggest food industry trade groups, is speaking out > against a plan by ProdiGene to cultivate genetically > engineered pharmaceutical corn in Frio County, > Texas. Texas-based ProdiGene gave the biotech > industry a black eye two years ago when the > company’s pharmaceutical corn crops were mismanaged > in Iowa and Nebraska. In a letter to the U.S. Dept. > of Agriculture, GMA said the government is not doing > enough to regulate crops engineered for > pharmaceutical and industrial purposes. > > Spokeswoman Stephanie Childs said that if any of the > plant-made pharmaceuticals made it into the food > supply, " It’s our brands that get damaged. " > > For more info visit: www.pharmcrops.com > > + US CONSUMERS HAPPY WITH GM FOOD? > Despite the hype that US Consumers are happy with > their food system , trust the FDA and contentedly > consume GM food, the exponential growth of the $5.3 > billion US organic industry tells another story. The > U.S. market for organic foods and beverages > increased 81% from 2001 to 2004 > > According to Mintel, consumers are opting for > organic foods and beverages on the belief that > organic farming practices - which exclude > fertilizers, pesticides, genetically modified > products and hormones - can help produce a safe > final product. In 2004 about 44% of Americans > purchased organic foods at least occasionally. > http://217.204.41.132/cgi/NGoto/2/67387549?435 > > + ARGENTINA: FARMLAND FIGHT MOVES TO WOODS > General Pizarro, a one-telephone town in the > northern province of Salta, gained notoriety last > month when environmentalists chained up bulldozers > to protest the sale of a nearby nature reserve. > Plans to raze forests have sparked wider fears that > a push north by Argentina's farming frontier could > sacrifice the environment at the altar of growth [GM > WATCH COMMENT: There is no evidence that GM soy has > provided growth for Argentina and plenty of evidence > that it has devastated the economy and plunged > people into poverty]. > > A boom in GM soybeans in Argentina, the world's No. > 3 soy producer, has brought farming to plots never > before seeded. After a surge in prices, soy is now > grown on half of all farmlands, and northern > provinces represent 16 percent of that acreage, up > from 9 percent a decade ago. > > Environmental groups say clearing trees for big > farms or ranches will bring few jobs and do great > ecological harm, undermining long-term growth. > http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=4231 > > + MONSANTO STILL CONDUCTING SECRET GM WHEAT TRIALS > IN CANADA > Monsanto is breaking a pledge made earlier this year > that GM wheat testing would be abandoned. > http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2004/08/17/587920-cp.html > Canadian geneticist, Prof Joe Cummins comments, " The > article [above] exposes the absolute subservience of > Canadian regulators to Monsanto. The wretched > bureaucrats and submissive politicians earlier > squandered millions of taxpayer dollars on the > Monsanto project, and the shameless bureaucrats > demanded direct and over > the table payments to themselves from > corporations... Corporate control of of news media > is such that there is little public knowledge and > no publicity on the numerous unsafe field tests of > dangerous pharm crops as well as the " food " > constructions. The Canadian regulatory machinery is > operated in a manner famously sneaky and > underhanded. The practice is so successful in Canada > that government and academic bureaucrats are > beginning to be sought for employment in other > countries dominated by corporations. The bottom > line is that the promises and pronouncements of the > Canadian government are empty and other countries > need to test all the food or feed > exported from the country broadly to detect > fraudulent contamination with transgenes. " > > --------------------------- > CORPORATE TAKEOVER OF SCIENCE > --------------------------- > > + NON-CONFIRMIST SCIENTISTS " STRUGGLE TO BE HEARD " > Scientists with unorthodox views face an uphill > struggle to be heard in Britain, a researcher > claimed. The first instinct of Britain's scientific > community was to shut out any dissenting voice, said > Swedish expert Dr Lena Eriksson. Non-conformist > scientists were likely to be driven into exile and > find themselves in conflict with the establishment, > she said. > > The picture was very different in Sweden where > controversial scientists were allowed to " have their > say " in order not to create adversaries. > > Dr Eriksson, from the Cardiff School of Social > Sciences, said British scientific intolerance was > helping to undermine the public's faith in science. > She said: " A good example of this is with new > technologies such as genetically modified foods. The > media are often blamed for presenting a misleading > image of science, but to some extent, public > perception of such scientifically and politically > charged issues turns on the way scientists present > themselves to the outside world. > > " The image of a scientific establishment attacking > and punishing individual researchers with > contentious results - such as the MMR vaccine > controversy - has done little to inspire public > trust in science. " > > Dr Eriksson interviewed about 30 scientists in > Britain and Sweden working in the field of genetic > modification. The results showed that British > scientists felt it was crucial to prevent > " mavericks " gaining legitimacy, which meant > distancing themselves from anyone whose ideas were > too controversial. In Sweden the view was that > ousting dissenters was likely to backfire. > > British scientists were also more accepting of > management and employer control over the publication > of their material. They saw it as necessary for > their own protection in a hostile world, while their > Swedish counterparts tended to resent excessive " red > tape " . Dr Eriksson said in Britain dissenters were > driven to find an alternative audience, which put > them at odds with the scientific community to which > they once belonged. > http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=4230 > > GM WATCH COMMENT: Judging by the treatment of Drs > Chapela and Hayes at Berkeley, Dr Losey at Cornell, > and the recently sacked scientists at Health Canada, > the heavy-handed suppression of unpalatable > judgments or research is not just a British problem. > > ------- > CAMPAIGN OF THE WEEK - UK > ------- > > + PLEASE WRITE TO ASDA > In a few months' time all milk sold at Asda > supermarkets will be from a few selected farms > through a dedicated supply chain. The contracts are > still being written and it is an opportunity to get > " no-GM feed " in there. Recently a campaigner spoke > to Chris Brown (the person responsible for milk > purchasing at Asda). The campaigner said Brown gave > all sorts of reasons why he was not of a mind to do > so, e.g. " hard to define in law " , " what about > genetically modified additives? " > > Then, says the campaigner, Brown said his customers > are not interested in the issue: " I've not had a > letter on GM for the past three years. " Maybe it's > time he did! > > Please write to the manager of your local Asda > asking if the milk in store is from cows that have > eaten GM feed and send a copy of your letter by > email to Chris Brown: Chris.Brown > > ------- > DONATIONS > ------- > Our thanks to all of you who have donated to GM > WATCH. You can donate online in any one of five > currencies via PayPal, at > http://www.gmwatch.org/donate.asp OR by cheque or > postal order payable to 'NGIN', to be sent to: NGIN, > 26 Pottergate, Norwich, NR2 1DX, UK. 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