WEEKLY WATCH number 235
from Claire Robinson, WEEKLY WATCH editor
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Dear all:
Pro-GM lobbyist Dick Taverne doesn't seem to be fooling many people any more with his anti-environmentalist pro-GM diatribes (LOBBYWATCH). His latest offering has been totally demolished by well-reasoned arguments from a series of critics ranging from the award-winning science writer Dr. Colin Tudge, to the former head of Sainsbury's supermarkets.
In Australia, Victoria's premier John Brumby is also taking flack. He won't even discuss how he has come to his decision on whether to lift the State's GM moratorium. We wonder why not? Meanwhile, yet another big food firm has come out in opposition to the lifting of the GM bans. (AUSTRALASIA)
Claire [email protected]
www.gmwatch.org / www.lobbywatch.org
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CONTENTS
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GM FILMS ON YOUTUBE
GM RICE CONTAMINATION
AUSTRALASIA
EUROPE
FOOD SAFETY
ASIA
THE AMERICAS
CAMPAIGN
LOBBYWATCH
AGROFUELS
GM TREES
GENETIC CROSSROADS
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GM FILMS ON YOUTUBE
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+ GM FILMS ON YOUTUBE
Akiko Frid is collecting together good quality GMO films on YouTube. Akiko particularly recommends 'The Genetic Conspiracy' - a film made for German TV that's available in English. For Akiko's list so far: http://nogmo.spaces.live.com/?_c11_BlogPart_BlogPart=summary&_c=BlogPart
More Youtube films: http://www.youtube.com/groups_videos?name=gmo
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GM RICE CONTAMINATION
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+ U.S. GM RICE FOUND IN CHINA SUPERMARKETS
Unauthorized GM Liberty Link rice from the US has been found in Beijing's supermarkets. China does not allow sales or imports of GM rice.
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8513
+ VENTRIA HARVESTS FIRST CROP OF GM RICE
Ventria Bioscience has harvested its first crop of nearly 200 acres of GM pharmaceutical rice at undisclosed locations in Geary County, Kansas. According to Ventria, it's a fraction of what they hope to harvest in years to come.
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8513
+ UNAPPROVED CHINESE GM RICE IN SWEDEN
The National Food Administration in Sweden has announced that it found unapproved GM rice Bt63 in rice noodles from China while they conducted spot checks concerning food from Asian countries.
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8513
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AUSTRALASIA
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+ SUPERMARKET GIANT SPEAKS OUT AGAINST GM CROPS
Australian supermarket giant Coles has joined the organic industry in speaking out against GM food as some state governments appear closer to lifting of their bans on the commercial growing of GM food crops. Coles representative Chris Mara stated, 'Coles listens to our customers and over 90 per cent do not want GM ingredients in their food and Coles' whole private label range... exclude all GM ingredients in response to customer concerns.' The statement follows similar sentiments from Goodman Fielder, Australia's largest food company, Tatiara Meats, Australia's largest lamb exporter, and 250 other food companies who are calling on Australia's state governments to extend their bans of GM food crops.
COMMENT from Louise Sales: 'It is blatantly clear that the food industry doesn't want GE food in their food supply chain and according to recent polls neither do the majority of consumers, farmers or our key export markets in Japan and Europe. Why is the Victorian government so determined to lift the bans? The only other stakeholder that appears to want GE food crops is the biotechnology industry which stands to make a fortune at everyone else's expense if this dangerous, unwanted technology is introduced.'
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8518
+ HEALTH ISSUES NOT CONSIDERED IN MORATORIUM DECISION
The Victorian government deliberately excluded health issues in the report it commissioned from Sir Gustav Nossal, Victoria's chief scientist and a known opponent of the GM moratorium, to help it decide whether to continue or overturn its moratorium on GM plantings.
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8502
+ BRUMBY FACES CAUCUS REVOLT OVER GM CROPS
An article in The Age says Victoria's premier John Brumby is facing a caucus revolt over his push to introduce GM crops, with Labor MPs attacking his arrogance and 'crash-through style' in dealing with the issue. In a rare uprising, up to 40 Labor MPs attended a caucus meeting at Parliament House to voice concerns about the possible lifting of a moratorium in the state of Victoria on GM crops to Mr Brumby and agriculture minister Joe Helper.
At the meeting, MPs asked Brumby to show them a report by Victoria's chief scientist, on the impact that lifting the ban would have on farmers and the state's food exports, but were rebuffed by Brumby.
The caucus meeting put concerns about the health, environmental and political impacts of lifting the moratorium to Brumby, including potential damage to the state's green image and challenged Brumby over how the decision was being made.
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8524
+ DEMOCRATS BID TO EXTEND GM BAN IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA
The Australian Democrats will move to extend a ban on GM crops in South Australia until 2013. The current moratorium on GM crops is due to expire at the end of March next year. State Democrat MP Sa
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