Spin Walk/Fixed science TV debate/ESF genetics meets

[Guest guest]

Spin Walk/Fixed science TV debate/ESF genetics meets

" GM WATCH " <info

 

Tue, 12 Oct 2004 12:32:33 +0100

 

Spin Walk/Fixed science TV debate/ESF genetics meets

http://www.gmwatch.org

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The Spin Walk is highly recommended and will have definite GM

relevance. Don't miss item 3 for spin TV!!

1.Upcoming SpinWatch event - Spinwalk at the European Social Forum

2.Genetics related meetings at the European Social Forum 2004

3.Science TV debates fixed by usual suspects!

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1.Upcoming SpinWatch event

 

Spinwalk at the European Social Forum on Friday 15 October 2004

 

Join the SpinWatch guided walk of some of the key PR and lobbying

offices in London. This event will be of interest to activists

interested in corporate propaganda (including biotech) who are in

London for the European Social Forum.

 

The walk begins at 9.15 outside University of London Union on the

corner of Malet Street and Torrington Place, opposite Waterstone's

bookshop and will last approximately three hours (including a break

along the way!).

 

Numbers are limited. Please book by email admin

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2.Genetics related meetings at the European Social Forum 2004

 

London - October 14-17th

http://www.genewatch.org/esf.htm

 

GeneWatch is working with other groups to organise a series of

seminars and workshops on genetics and related issues at this year's

European Social

Forum. These meetings will be an ideal opportunity to meet and

discuss the important issues with others from Europe and around the world.

 

Find out meeting details: http://www.genewatch.org/esf.htm

 

You can find out more and how to register (GBP20-GBP30 for individuals

for three days) at: www.fse-esf.org

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3. Science TV debates fixed by usual suspects

 

A little while back Channel 5 TV in the UK upset big pharma and

related interests when it ran a drama programme about the possible

link of the MMR vaccine to autism. The drama was followed by a debate

featuring Dr Mike Fitzpatrick - part of the LM network - and Evan

Harris MP, who were among those attacking the programme makers and the

critics of the MMR vaccine.

 

Channel 5 has obviously been heavily lobbied to make amends as now it

is to run a series of science " debates " which are billed as " providing

everyone with the chance to have a say on science " but do the exact

opposite to judge from the panel below.

 

The 4 panelists include:

+LM-er Mike Fitzpatrick

+Evan Harris MP (virulently pro-GM, etc.)

+Mark Henderson of The Times whose headlines on GM say it all:

*GM grass to put club golfers on par with the best

*GM crops could revive endangered wildlife

*GM cotton boon for Indian farmers

*Bananas 'will slip into extinction without GM'

*Stupidity just another disease to cure, says DNA pioneer

*Attack on safety of GM crops was unfounded

*New GM rice could transform the fight against famine

*BBC incited eco-terror on GM drama website

*Protesters 'censor' GM crop benefits

*Modified crops help man and wildlife

http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=947 and

+Stephen Minger is an embryonic stem cell pioneer

 

The panel appears to have been dreamt up by Susan Greenfield's Royal

Institution whose science Media Centre is headed by Fiona Fox - also

part of the LM group like Fitzpatrick. LM's specialty is organising

debates which are supposedly balanced but actually carefully

orchestrated to promote their own agenda - see here for more:

http://www.lobbywatch.org/p1temp.asp?pid=40 & page=1

Also on Fox

http://www.lobbywatch.org/profile1.asp?PrId=45

 

Ri launches headline debates - come and discuss science in the news!

 

The Royal Institution (Ri) and Channel Five (Five) have joined forces

for the very first time to deliver the Headline Debates, an exciting and

innovative new series of debates focusing on the latest science

stories to hit the headlines, providing everyone with the chance to

have a say on

science when it is at its most exciting and controversial.

 

Join Five's Sheena McDonald, for the inaugural 'Headline debate' at the

Ri this Wednesday 13 October 2004 at 7.00pm which will see

contributions from:

- Dr Michael Fitzpatrick (GP, columnist and author of MMR and autism:

what parents need to know)

- Dr Evan Harris (Lib Dem MP for Oxford West & Abingdon, Shadow Health

Secretary until 2003 and member of both the BMA Medical Ethics

Committee

and the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee)

- Mark Henderson (The Times science correspondent)

- Dr Stephen Minger (Director of the Stem Cell Laboratory at King's

College London and derived the first human embryonic stem cell line in

the

UK)

 

The panellists and the audience will debate controversial issues such

as fertility, the 5-in-1 vaccine, stem cell research and cloning, as

well as any other topics that may hit the headlines over the next two

weeks.

 

As this event has a 'Question Time' style we need your questions to

make the evening a success. Please submit your burning questions to

the panel

in advance by emailing events

 

The debate should be over by 8.15pm after which you are invited to

continue the discussion with other members of the audience in the

library over a glass of wine.

 

Tickets are GBP8, GBP5 concessions. To book please call the events

team on 020 7409 2992 or log onto www.rigb.org

 

 

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