WEEKLY WATCH number 208 (12/3/2007) | |
from Claire Robinson, WEEKLY WATCH editor Dear all: UC Berkeley's Faustian pact with BP is causing a firestorm of dissent on campus. Look out in particular for a brilliant speech from Dr Ignacio Chapela (BP-BERKELEY DEAL). The US's rice industry is now verging on meltdown. On top of the existing GM contamination problems arising from field trials with two types of GM rice, a popular BASF non-GM rice has now been recalled from the market on the orders of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) after it was found to be contaminated by an unauthorized GM event of unknown origin. Yet the US is still forging ahead with plans to plant pharma rice genetically engineered with human genes in Kansas (THE AMERICAS). Finally, if you're in Europe watch out for CAMPAIGNS. Claire [email protected] ------------------------------------------------------------ URGENT APPEAL ------------------------------------------------------------ If you like what we do at GM Watch, then please help us to continue doing it. PLEASE support us either by making a donation online here: or you can send a check or money order made out to 'NGIN' to GM Watch, 26 Pottergate, Norwich, UK, NR2 1DX. ------------------------------------------------------------ + WHAT BENEFITS? WHAT are the supposed benefits of GM crops? Vaccines in bananas? These do not exist. Vitamin A in rice? This does not exist. Grains with omega 3 fish oil? These do not exist. Drought-resistant crops? These have been developed, but with trait-selective, non-GM methods. GM varieties are at least 10 years away. Productivity gains? In 2005, the Canadian Government's rural assistance was $1.6 billion. Its canola markets were lost to Europe due to its GM status. In more than 10 years of production, with billions of dollars spent on research, there are only two commercial GM traits. The second generation of GM crops has failed to materialise. As shoppers, farmers and the food industry around the world reject GM seeds, crops and foods, it would be a folly to remove GM bans and allow commercial GM crops in northern Australia - especially cotton. ------------------------------------------------------------ + USDA BACKS PRODUCTION OF RICE WITH HUMAN GENES + 3200 ACRES OF PHARMA RICE IN KANSAS - OBJECT! Please comment to USDA, urging an immediate ban on this and all other outdoor production of drugs and industrial compounds in food crops. + FOE CALLS FOR OPEN GROWING OF PHARMA CROPS TO BE BANNED ------------------------------------------------------------ + PROTESTS AT UC BERKELEY + GM RESEARCH DOMINATES BP-BERKELEY PARTNERSHIP |