WEEKLY WATCH number 148 (27/10/2005) | |
from Claire Robinson, WEEKLY WATCH editor Dear all: This week we have some seriously disturbing research results on GM soy from Russia (NEW RESEARCH). And Terminator patents have been granted in Europe and Canada (TERMINATOR). The bad news is balanced by a towering achievement in South Africa, which has been persuaded to cease GM imports until a study on the economic effects can be completed (AFRICA). And there are lots of interesting reports on the hype and the problems with GM in India (ASIA and LOBBYWATCH). Finally, the kiwis surely speak for us all when 74.5% of them tell pollsters that they want their food production to stay GM-free; 79% want zero tolerance of GM contamination of seeds; and 77% want zero tolerance of GM contamination of crops in the field. (AUSTRALASIA) Claire [email protected] ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ + ABNORMALLY HIGH DEATH RATE IN PROGENY OF RATS FED GM SOY, SAYS RUSSIAN STUDY With the rats fed GM soy, a massive 55.6% of their progeny were dead within three weeks, compared with 9% of the progeny of rats fed non-GM soy and 6.8% of the progeny of the control group, which was fed a diet without any added soy. Dr Ermakova commented, "The morphology and biochemical structures of rats are very similar to those of humans, and this makes the results we obtained very disturbing." Visit http://www.regnum.ru/english/526651.html to see the data laid out in a table. Also at this URL is an astonishing picture comparing same-age rats from the GM soy group and the control group. The GM soy rat is a fraction of the size of the control rat. Earlier studies from Germany showed that bacterial viral DNA fragments from food were inserted into the chromasomal DNA molecules of mammals. Further work is needed to detect transgenic DNA integrated into the cells' chromosomes. Finally, the report claimed that health risks from isolated DNA have never been detected but that conclusion is wrong! Isolated bacterial DNA or DNA fragments injected, inhaled or eaten are known to promote inflammation and autoimmunity through the CpG [a molecule that stimulates immune system to fight disease] stimulation of innate immunity. There are hundreds of publications dealing with that effect. + BT COTTON HIT BY MORE PROBLEMS IN INDIA This follows the case of a large area of Bt cotton being affected by an unusual disease caused by Tobacco Streak Virus, which normally affects sunflower and groundnut crops and is not known to attack cotton crops. The report says this suggests an "increased vulnerability of transgenic plants to new diseases". Kavitha says that "earlier in the week, there was a large public hearing [jan sunwai] in Dhar district supported by people's movements where scores of farmers testified in front of a large audience consisting of farmers, activists, biotech experts, government and company representatives about the failure being witnessed there in Dhar district. For the companies, however, it seems to be business-as-usual." With nobody fixing liability on them, Kavitha says, they are ignoring the problems and simply carrying on with their notorious marketing gimmicks. |