from Claire Robinson, WEEKLY WATCH editor
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Dear all

The encouraging news at the end of a long week of talks in Kuala Lumpur is that the Biosafety Protocol is back on track, and looks stronger than ever, thanks largely to the work of the Africa Group. (AFRICA GROUP'S VICTORY OVER U.S. AT BIOSAFETY MEETING)

Something else that emerged from Kuala Lumpur this week was news of important new research by Prof Terje Traavik pointing to yet more evidence of serious health dangers from GM foods and vaccines. (RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK)

And don't miss a brilliant ARTICLE OF THE WEEK by George Monbiot exposing the hypocrisy of those who vilify the MMR vaccine researcher, Dr Andrew Wakefield, while remaining as silent as the grave on the countless conflicts of interest of scientists who support, rather than threaten, industry's agenda.

George Monbiot points out that the crime for which science's "new Dr Evil is being punished is everywhere. The scientific establishment is rotten from top to bottom, riddled with conflicts far graver than Dr Wakefield's."

Ironically, the same weekend that the UK media was full of fulminations against Wakefield, an article was prominently published in The Observer pointing out that leaked government documents revealed Lord Sainsbury, well known for his financial and other interests in the biotech industry, had played an active part in a ministerial meeting which developed a strategy for promoting the interests of the, er... biotech industry! This article failed to appear in later editions after, it is rumoured, the paper's editor was successfully lobbied by "Sainsbury's people".

Dragging the truth about the terrible cost of corporate science into the public arena is, as George Monbiot points out, an increasingly difficult task and one that often now falls to non-scientists. Monbiot notes that "Friends of the Earth are currently being sued by the biotech company Bayer to prevent them from exposing its data on the environmental and health effects of glufosinate ammonium, the herbicide used on the GM maize the government wants to approve for planting in Britain. By all accounts the figures make grim reading. But if Bayer gets its way, neither we nor the government will be allowed to see them before the decision is made." (ARTICLE OF THE WEEK)

Look out also for some telling comments on the UK government's attempts to assist Bayer, Bush and the rest of the Biotech Brigade by edging towards GM maize commercialisation - see QUOTES OF THE WEEK. In fact, it now looks as if the government may not be able to give the go ahead for at least another year, thanks to the the furore following the publication of the leaked Cabinet documents disclosing their intention to press ahead. (OTHER HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK - UK)

We've had quite a week here at GM WATCH. Someone took an axe and a can of petrol to the local telephone exchange for our server, knocking our sites and lists off-line for several days. It's great to be back in action in time to report on a remarkable week.

Finally, our thanks to all of you who have donated to GM WATCH. For those who would also like to help us to continue our work, you can donate online in any one of five currencies via the secure and (relatively) simple PayPal system, 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.

We appreciate your support.

Claire    [email protected]
www.ngin.org.uk / www.gmwatch.org

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CONTENTS
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*AFRICA GROUP'S VICTORY OVER U.S. AT BIOSAFETY MEETING
*QUOTES OF THE WEEK
*RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK
*OTHER HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK - UK
*OTHER HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK - GLOBAL
*ARTICLE OF THE WEEK
*HEADLINES OF THE WEEK
*SUBSCRIPTIONS

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AFRICA GROUP'S VICTORY OVER U.S. AT BIOSAFETY MEETING
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+ Teresa Anderson of Gaia reports: "The last week of UN CBD meetings in Kuala Lumpur was exclusively focused on the Biosafety Protocol. There were fears that in spite of the urgent need to develop and strengthen many issues, the United States delegation would continue in their efforts to undermine the Protocol. Indeed, the US lobbied hard to weaken the agreement, claiming that the labelling and liability wanted by other nations was unrealistic for trade. The US is not even a signatory of the Protocol, but that did not stop them from trying to interfere. But developing countries, particularly the Africa Group, (led by Dr Tewolde Egziabher) kept the agenda firmly focused on what was needed. They argued convincingly and effectively for the adoption of labelling and documentation requirements, as well as progress in the issue of liability.

"So the Biosafety Protocol is back on track, and looks stronger than ever, thanks largely to the work of the Africa Group. This makes the claims by the US and UK governments that GM crops are wanted by Africa look all the more foolish."

+ Reuters reports: Countries across Asia, Africa, Europe and most of Latin America have agreed to tighter rules governing trade in gene-modified seeds, prompting dismay among major producers such as the United States.

Negotiators from nearly 90 countries struck a deal in Kuala Lumpur on Friday requiring detailed information on shipments of GM crops such as maize, cotton and soy, to help importers decide whether to accept them, going way beyond what exporters wanted.

They also set terms for talks to thrash out a framework to fix blame for problems due to trade in the controversial technology, along with systems of redress and