GM WATCH'S REVIEWS OF THE YEAR

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GMW: The main events of 2004 - 10 PERSPECTIVES

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Thu, 27 Jan 2005 21:45:50 GMT

 

 

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GM WATCH'S REVIEWS OF THE YEAR

http://www.gmwatch.org/p1temp.asp?pid=57 & page=1

 

These reports provide brief summaries of some of the main events of

2004 with links to further information. Some reports also have appendices

of relevant news reports.

 

GRAIN on GM crops worldwide

GM-free zones continued to expand in Europe and around the world. In

Africa small farmers took clear stands against the heavy GM push, as did

indigenous peoples in Mexico. The science behind GM was also

increasingly shown to be too simplistic, reductionist and outdated.

http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=4784

 

Italy - Review of the year

By the end of 2004 almost 2,000 Italian towns and cities and the

majority of Italy's regions had declared their territory GM-free. In

addition, a law severely restricting the planting of GM crops had

received the

backing of the Italian Government despite a fierce campaign of

disinformation by the pro-GM lobby.

http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=4801

 

France - Review of the year

2004 was a busy year in France for those involved in campaigning

against GM crops. There was much action at both local and national

level, as

well as overtly and covertly in the fields, to keep GM crops and GM

food out of the food chain.

http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=4766

 

Japan - Review of the year

Consumers in Japan have been very active opposing GMO since 1996, and

have achieved several notable victories over the years, but in 2004 came

the most remarkable victory of all when people power brought the global

biotech juggernaught to a grinding halt.

http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=4767

 

California and Hawaii: Luke Anderson on grassroots actions

2004 was possibly the most inspiring year on record as far as local

activism on genetic engineering issues in the US is concerned. In Vermont

79 towns passed resolutions against GMOs while the State government

passed a groundbreaking seed-labelling bill, the first of its kind in the

US. In California in March, voters in Mendocino county passed the first

law in the US to ban GMO releases into the environment, despite more

than $600,000 pumped into the county by the biotech industry in a massive

disinformation campaign. Other counties have followed suit.

http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=4772

 

The Philippines - GM deception

Monsanto's Bt corn is distributed in the Philippines without proper

labels. Farmers are seldom informed that the seeds they are getting are

genetically-engineered. Often, it is the government which buys the seeds

from Monsanto or its distributors, and these are then distributed for

free or at subsidized prices to unsuspecting farmers. The area of GM

crops is expanding only through stealth, deception and the complicity of

officials.

http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=4795

 

Kenya's bumper crop of lobbyists

In 2004 suspicions that the GM industry is targeting Kenya as the

doorway to East Africa were confirmed. Pro-GM lobby groups based in

Nairobi

have been attempting to influence policy in favour of GMOs. In

response, a coalition of NGOs has emerged. 2004 was also the year when

the GM

industry's best known showcase crop for Africa was shown to be a hoax.

http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=4787

 

England and Wales - Review of the year

The GM industry has effectively pulled out of the UK, and there is now

not a single GM variety in the seed listing pipeline. A host of NGOs,

consumer organizations and special interest groups took on - and

defeated - the GM multinationals, the British government and a GM

propaganda

industry which is well resourced and knows all about media manipulation.

http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=4770

 

Scotland - Review of the year

The movement for GM-free zones in Scotland is steadily increasing with

virtually the entire North of Scotland maintaining and extending this

position during 2004. The Scottish Parliament came within a vote of

blocking GM crop cultivation across the whole of the UK.

http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=4775

 

Australia - The farmer's view

2004 in Australia was a rewarding year for those with concerns

regarding GM crops as, despite gaining Federal approval, GM canola has

not been

grown commercially in any Australian state, due to State moratoriums

and bans

http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=4758