|
SAFeAGE
ALERT
WHO
IS PROFITEERING FROM THE ‘FOOD CRISIS’ JUNE
2008 |
PATENTING CLIMATE GENES -- AND CAPTURING THE CLIMATE
AGENDA
The
world's largest seed and agrochemical corporations are stockpiling hundreds of
monopoly patents on genes in plants that the companies will market as crops
genetically engineered to withstand environmental stresses such as drought,
heat, cold, floods, saline soils, and more, reports ETC Group. BASF, Monsanto,
Bayer, Syngenta, Dupont and biotech partners have filed 532 patent documents on
so-called 'climate ready' genes at patent offices around the world. In the face
of climate chaos and a deepening world food crisis, the gene giants are gearing
up for a PR offensive to re-brand themselves as climate saviours.
http://www.etcgroup.org/en/materials/publications.html?pub_id=687
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOOD CRISIS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ GMOs NOT THE ANSWER - JEFFREY SACHS
The
EU should provide structural aid to increase yields from peasant farmers in poor
countries if it wants to help the global food crisis rather than just throwing
emergency food aid at the problem, American economist Jeffrey Sachs told the
European Parliament. 'Rather than just shipping expensive food aid, we should be
helping the poorest of the poor to grow more food,' he said. Sachs said he would
like to see more funding on research into improved seed varieties. However, he
stressed that this meant conventional crops, along with increased use of
fertilisers and small-scale irrigation, and not GMOs. As Sachs is normally a
spokesman of first resort for the GM lobby, this appears to be a significant
departure.
http://euobserver.com/9/26084
+ MULTINATIONALS MAKE BILLIONS IN PROFIT OUT OF GROWING FOOD CRISIS
The
World Bank says that 100 million more people are facing severe hunger. Yet some
of the world's richest food companies are making record profits, reports the UK
Independent on Sunday. Monsanto last month reported that its net income for the
three months up to the end of February this year had more than doubled over the
same period in 2007, from $543m (£275m) to $1.12bn. Its profits increased from
$1.44bn to $2.22bn. Cargill's net earnings soared by 86 per cent from $553m to
$1.030bn over the same three months.
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/multinationals-make-billions-in-profit-out-of-growing-global-food-crisis-820855.html
http://tinyurl.com/55nced
+ MONSANTO PROFITS FROM FOOD CRISIS
A
story on the financial website Kiplinger.com begins with this advice to
potential investors: 'Everywhere you look people are grumbling -- and in many
cases rioting -- about the high price of food. Before you buy a 20-pound bag of
rice at Costco, consider hording shares of Monsanto.'
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/5/6/monsantos_harvest_of_fear
+ MAKING A KILLING FROM THE FOOD CRISIS
The
world food crisis is hurting a lot of people, but global agribusiness firms,
traders and speculators are raking in huge profits.
A new report by GRAIN - http://www.grain.org/2/?id=39 and in PDF
http://www.grain.org/2/?id=39&pdf
+
U.S. USING FOOD CRISIS TO BOOST GM CROPS
The
Bush administration has slipped a controversial ingredient into the $770 million
aid package it recently proposed to ease the world food crisis, adding language
that would promote the use of GM crops in food-deprived countries. This is in
spite of the fact that no evidence links GM crops to higher yields.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-food-crops_14may14,0,7229990.story
+ BUSH BLAMES INDIANS FOR FOOD CRISIS
US
President George W Bush is arguing that prosperity in countries like India has
triggered increased demand for better nutrition, causing the global rise in food
prices. But Vandana Shiva says, 'The myth that Bush is propagating is a
"growth myth". While the Indian economy has grown, the majority of
Indians have grown poorer because as a result of globalisation, they have lost
their land and livelihoods. Most Indians are, in fact, eating less today than a
decade ago. The per capita availability of food has declined from 177 kg per
person per year in 1991 to 152 kg per person per year.'
http://203.197.197.71/presentation/leftnavigation/opinion/op-ed/why-bush-is-wrong-in-blaming-indians.aspx
+ GM PROMOTED AS ANSWER TO FOOD CRISIS
The
claim that GM is the answer to the current food crisis is being made constantly
at the moment by GM promoters, even though the biggest study of its kind ever
conducted -- the International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology
for Development (IAASTD) -- recently concluded that
(1) GM is not the answer to world hunger, and
(2) small-scale farmers and ecological methods deliver best for the poorest and
hungriest.
Articles at the following links from knowledgeable sources confirm IAASTD's
analysis and reject GMOs as a solution:
http://africasciencenews.org/asns/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=369&Itemid=1
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/may/06/food.internationalaidanddevelopment
http://www.foodfirst.org/en/node/2115
+ WHO REALLY TRIGGERED THE FOOD CRISIS?
More
and more analysts are identifying the Bush inspired corn-ethanol boom as the key
catalyst in sending food prices skyrocketing. The price increase for other
commodities followed that of corn - after it had been rising for months, with
corn directly contributing to many of the price hikes by pulling acreage away
from other crops such as wheat and soya. Of course, it didn't help that the EU
followed suit in cranking up 'biofuel' demand without properly researching the
likely consequences.
What has not had sufficient attention is the question of who drove these rushed
'biofuel' policies. In the case of the EU, the biotech industry is known to have
been amongst those on whom the Commission relied for guidance in developing its
disastrous biofuel targets. The Bush Administration similarly relied on big
agribiz interests in developing its ethanol policy - a policy that's netted
those same interests a fortune while providing the biotech industry and its
supporters with a new platform from which to promote GM crops as the solution to
the food crisis they helped to create!
As Bruce Babcock, a professor of economics and director of the Center for
Agricultural and Rural Development at
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/letters/article3867740.ece
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/world_us/20080504_How_shortages__stockpiles_led_to_a_global_food_crisis.html
http://www.corporateeurope.org/agrofuelfolly.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
GM HUMANS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ SCIENTISTS CREATE FIRST GM HUMAN EMBRYO
UK
watchdog group Human Genetics Alert has discovered that American scientists have
created the world's first GM human embryo, without notifying the public or the
media. In response, HGA's director Dr David King called on the British
government to halt its plans to legalise GM embryos in the Human Fertilisation
and embryology Bill (HFE Bill). Few MPs were even aware of the plans. HGA and an
international group of civil society organisations called for an international
moratorium on such experiments until there has been a full debate. A team of
scientists based at
http://www.geneticsandsociety.rsvp1.com/s157da5xe1x
http://www.geneticsandsociety.rsvp1.com/article.php?id=4081&mgh=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.geneticsandsociety.org&mgf=1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ NEW STUDY SHOWS BT COTTON PROBLEMS IN ANDHRA PRADESH
The
huge hype of Bt cotton has once again trapped cotton farmers in Andhra Pradesh.
A 2007-2008 study by the Deccan Development Society and the AP Coalition in
Defence of Diversity shows that Bt cotton farmers suffered 10% less profits than
the farmers who cultivated non-Bt and practised non-pesticidal (NPM) methods on
their farms. The study found:
***Bt farmers suffered 10% less returns than the non-Bt farmers practicing NPM
methods
***Bt farmers had to invest 18% more on pest management than the NPM farmers
***Bt farmers had to invest 9% more for cultivating cotton as against the NPM
farmers.
The two groups that led the study have demanded that the state and central
governments order comprehensive scientific research into the adverse impact of
Bt cotton cultivation on human, animal and soil health. They advised the
government against depending on the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC)
for information as it relied on a handful of scientists whose loyalty to the
farming community was questionable. In fact, a senior member of the GEAC was the
president of ISAAA, a global GM promotional body backed by the biotech industry.
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/11/stories/2008051157920200.htm
+ ORGANIC COTTON PROJECT SAVES FARMERS FROM SUICIDE
An
organic cotton project initiated by the textile manufacturer Arvind Ltd in 33
villages in
http://tinyurl.com/6jhtwy
+ SENIOR SCIENTIST CONDEMNS INDIA'S GM CROP TRIAL REGULATION
Scientist P. Bhargava, appointed by order of the Supreme Court to monitor the
activities of the GEAC, India's apex regulatory body on GM crops, says Mahyco's
field trial data on biosafety is 'shocking' (Mahyco is Monsanto's Indian
subsidiary). Bhargava has raised strong objections to the quality of data
provided by Mahyco in the final trials for Bt brinjal before its commercial
release. He also asked for a review of data on Bt cotton approved in 2002. He
has asked for independent tests to determine safety rather than just the data
that the company provided.
http://www.indianexpress.com/story/306823.html
+ ASIA UNENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT GM CROPS
Asian
countries are less than enthusiastic about GM crops, says an article for AFP.
+ FARMERS DEMAND BAN ON GM CROPS
Nearly
a thousand people, including hundreds of farmers, gathered in New Delhi on 6 May
under the banner of 'Coalition for a GM-Free India' to demand a total ban on GM
crops and food. They urged the political parties to take a categorical stand on
GM technology in the run-up to the general elections. 'It is an unwanted,
irretrievable, undesirable technology,' they said. Several members of Parliament
addressed the rally.
Angry farmers demanded why the government had forced Bt cotton upon them without
being aware of the consequences. They told how:
***Yields started falling after three years, and now the crop was not worth
harvesting.
***Existing pests developed resistance, new pests appeared. They now spend more
on pesticides than they did on hybrids.
***Soil quality has deteriorated so much that nothing grows after Bt cotton is
cultivated and harvested.
***All those who came into contact with the cotton suffered allergies.
***Cattle died in large numbers and fell sick after being fed Bt cotton straw.
In Andhra Pradesh, post mortem revealed the role of the Bt toxin.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Murli Manohar Joshi commented, 'Bt variety of
crops will act as TB (tuberculosis) for the Indian farming industry if continued
to be used.'
http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/06/stories/2008050654831000.htm
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/07/stories/2008050758540300.htm
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
AUSTRALASIA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ ABARE PRODUCES ANOTHER BOGUS REPORT TO PUSH GM CROPS
The Network of Concerned Farmers (NCF) has slammed ABARE (Australian Bureau of
Agricultural and Resource Economics) for its latest economic report titled
'Economic Impacts of GM crops in Australia', claiming that it is based on
misinformation and driven by the federal government protecting its investments
in GM technology. No additional seed costs or user fees were incorporated and it
was assumed all farmers would grow GM, which removed the costs of segregation.
No market loss or penalties were integrated but a market premium was assumed for
GM crops AND a price reduction was claimed for consumers. The funding for this
project was provided by the Rural policy division under the National
Biotechnology Strategy (NBS) introduced in 2000.
+ CONSUMERS AND FARMERS MARCH AGAINST GMOs
Consumers and farmers are marching in
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ MONSANTO'S HARVEST OF FEAR
From interview by democracynow.org with James Steele, who recently published an
excellent article in Vanity Fair on Monsanto's corporate practices:
'Pilot Grove is in the midst of one of [the] great soybean growing areas. And
Monsanto has been targeting farmers and a seed co-op in that area over the last
few years, accusing them of patent infringements. ... They've targeted many
farmers there, and upwards of two dozen, the last time I looked at things, had
settled with the company, had not gone to court, had just reached some
confidential agreement.
'But the co-op, the seed co-op that is sort of the pivotal unit in that county,
did not agree to a settlement. They felt, how in the world can we agree to this?
We -- farmers bring us seeds. We don't know whether these are traditional seeds
or whether these are genetically modified seeds. They're basically saying, 'You
want us to be a policeman of our customers.' So they resisted, and they're in
court over this.
'But as a result of this, Monsanto has unleashed the full weight of its
investigative forces in this little county. No less than seventeen surveillance
videos by private investigators have been made of farmers in and around this
town. I mean, this was eye-opening to us, the idea that a company is out there
videotaping farmers, apparently, in their fields, coming out of stores. I'm not
exactly sure where some of these videos were taken, but the court record refers
to those. And these are part of the evidence that they gather to then confront
farmers and say, "Look, you need to settle. You need to come clean. You're
infringing on our patent. It's time to really make an agreement with us."'
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/5/6/monsantos_harvest_of_fear
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
LOBBYWATCH
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ BLACK OPS ON GREEN GROUPS
Here
an interview with the journalist who uncovered how a private security firm spied
on Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and other environmental organizations,
including many anti-GM groups. The security firm was run by former Secret
Service officers who infiltrated groups, collected their phone records and
confidential internal documents, and even went through their trash. The
information was then passed on to public relations firms and corporations
involved in environmental controversies. Monsanto was on the firm's client list.
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/4/14/black_ops_on_green_groups_private
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE AMERICAS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ MOST AMERICANS DON'T WANT TO BUY GM FOOD - BUT THEY HAVE NO CHOICE
According
to a CBS News/New York Times poll, 53 percent of Americans say they won't buy GM
food. But it's not labeled, so they have no choice. Nutritionist Marion Nestle,
a former FDA advisor, said,
'They [the industry] didn't want it labeled because they were terrified that if
it were labeled, nobody would buy it.'
http://cbs4.com/national/CBS.News.New.2.721469.html
+
Member of the legislative assembly Gregor Robertson (who is bidding to become
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=8c10deca-2005-455f-ad29-2381ec8cb3c9
http://www.grain.org/2/?id=39&pdf
For
more detailed coverage of GE issues in