WEEKLY WATCH number 244
from Claire Robinson, Weekly Watch editor
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Dear all:
Marie-Monique Robin's powerful documentary about Monsanto aroused massive interest when it was broadcast on March 11. The English version's available on DVD from 18 March (MONSANTO MOVIE TRIUMPHS).
As Americans back away from dairy items produced with Monsanto's GM bovine growth hormone Posilac, the New York Times is dubbing Monsanto's attempt to fight back using a 'grassroots' front group as possibly Posilac's 'last stand' (THE AMERICAS).
Claire [email protected]
http://www.gmwatch.org / http://www.lobbywatch.org
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CONTENTS
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MONSANTO MOVIE TRIUMPHS
GM CROP BREAKDOWN
THE AMERICAS
AFRICA
TERMINATOR
CATHOLIC CHURCH
ASIA
AUSTRALASIA
EUROPE
PRESSURE ON SCIENCE
10 YEARS OF GM WATCH
GENETIC CROSSROADS
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MONSANTO MOVIE TRIUMPHS
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+ MONSANTO MOVIE TRIUMPHS
The new must-see film about Monsanto was watched by several million viewers when it was broadcast on the Franco-German TV channel ARTE last Tuesday (11 March), making it the biggest audience ever for an ARTE production. Still more people have seen it since via ARTE's '+7' service which allows the documentary to be viewed again up till March 18. One sign of the massive interest in the film is the response on discussion panels, blogs etc. More than 10,000 responses so far...
+ BUY THE DVD
The ARTE film 'The World According to Monsanto' is available on DVD in several languages at
http://www.arte-boutique.fr/detailProduct.action?product.id=245754
This page says, 'An easy way to order from this webstore for English speaking customers, will be on line the 18th of March.'
+ ARTICLES ABOUT THE FILM
'New movie damns Monsanto's deadly sins' - Greenpeace
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8869
'How to investigate Monsanto?' - Telerama
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8862
'The Monstrous Monsanto Universe' - Le Monde
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8891
+ MONSANTO FILM WEBSITES
Special website designed to accompany the film (French) http://www.combat-monsanto.org ARTE website of the film (French) http://www.arte.tv/monsanto ARTE website of the film (German) http://www.arte.tv/de/wissen-entdeckung/Monsanto-mitGiftundGenen/1912794.htm
+ BOOK OF THE FILM (French)
http://www.arte-boutique.fr/detailProduct.action?product.id=245820
http://www.amazon.fr/monde-selon-Monsanto-dioxine-multinationale/dp/2707149187
+ GM FILMS ON YOUTUBE
Look out particularly for The Genetic Conspiracy - a film made for German TV available in English.
http://nogmo.spaces.live.com/?_c11_BlogPart_BlogPart=summary&_c=BlogPart
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GM CROP BREAKDOWN
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+ SUPERWEEDS ON THE MARCH
In Arkansas, state ag officials are turning to Syngenta to solve the superweed problems caused by Monsanto. Although the current weed resistance problems triggered by Monsanto's Roundup Ready crops may be grim, expert opinion says they could be just 'the tip of the iceberg'. And, unfortunately, reports Tom Philpott of GRIST, the only solutions being proferred to farmers by 'experts' associated with the agribusiness giants involve bombarding their fields with even more agrochemicals.
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8889
+ BT COTTON FACES RISING PEST PROBLEMS
Evidence from China has already shown any initial reductions in pesticide use on Bt cotton being eroded by new pest problems. The researchers warned the same pattern was likely to be repeated over time elsewhere, and this seems to be exactly what's happening - see articles below.
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=7432
+ INDIA: MEALY BUG MENACE RISING
Mealy bug populations on Bt cotton 'have multiplied to assume perilous proportions', reportss an article in the Business Standard.
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8868
+ USA: INSECT PRESSURE SHIFTING
In the Southeast and Mid-South, stink bugs and plant bugs including lygus, tarnished plant bugs and cotton fleahoppers have become the primary problems on Bt cotton, which has provided an ideal environment for stink bugs and plant bugs to flourish.
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8868
+ SUPER BOLLWORM COMETH
In the USA bollworms are developing resistance to Bt cotton - bollworms being the pest that Bt cotton was supposed to kill - and commercial pressures look set to weaken the refuge strategy that might have slowed down rising resistance.
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