WEEKLY WATCH number 231
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from Claire Robinson, WEEKLY WATCH editor
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Dear all:
Look out for a very useful summary of the disturbing results of animal feeding studies to date on GM foods (FOOD SAFETY) and a superb overview of the mounting opposition to GMOs in Japan (ASIA).
If you've been bemused by the recent series of attacks on Al Gore's film on climate change, don't miss this week's LOBBYWATCH. The people behind the attacks have been fingered as the corporate front group the Scientific Alliance and its backers, acting in consort with the LM network-connected film director, Martin Durkin. Both the SA and LM will be familiar to GM Watch readers as lobbyists for GMOs. While their views constantly reach the media under the guise of being independent, few journalists bother to probe their real agenda or corporate links.
Claire [email protected]
www.gmwatch.org / www.lobbywatch.org
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CONTENTS
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AUSTRALASIA
ASIA
AFRICA
EUROPE
FOOD SAFETY
THE AMERICAS
BIOFUELS
LOBBYWATCH
TAKE ACTION!
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AUSTRALASIA
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+ JAPAN URGES AUSTRALIA TO CONTINUE GM CROP BANS
A delegation representing Japanese food buyers has arrived in Australia to lobby state governments to maintain bans on GM food crops. Moratoria on commercial GM food crops in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia are due to expire next year and are being reviewed. If the bans are lifted, GM canola crops could be planted. Anti-GM campaigner Ryoko Shimizu says the delegation represents almost three million Japanese consumers who would not want to buy GM canola. ''Now we import from Australia because of the GMO free status. So I believe it would damage the export market for Australian farmers,'' he said.
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8371
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8387
+ GM FOOD LOBBY TARGETING AUSTRALIA, WARN COLUMBANS
As the GM food lobby pressures Australian states to lift their moratoria on GM crops, the Columban Centre for Peace, Ecology and Justice (PEJ) has issued a statement saying that GM food is a threat to food sovereignty. The moratoria were imposed in 2003-4. The Columban's statement says, 'The Columban Centre for Peace, Ecology and Justice's (PEJ's) primary concern is that the sheer strength of the pro-GM crop lobby in Australia will eventuate in States lifting their moratoria, giving the green light for GM food production which, once implemented, is irreversible. Where is the respect for life and God's creation when the simple human right to decide on what you consume can be imposed unawares? The reasons for the moratoria have not changed since 2003, in fact evidence from overseas and events in Australia have highlighted the importance for continuing the prohibitions.'
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8374
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ASIA
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+ WORLD FOOD DAY - BOYCOTT GM CORN, SOYA, CANOLA
On World Food Day, October 16, Kavitha Kuruganti of the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture put out a call to consumers to boycott GM corn, soya and canola products. Consumers were reminded that the Government of India's recent decision to exempt GM food products from regulatory processes as well as labelling violates their right to safe food and their right to know.
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8378
+ JAPANESE CONSUMERS WON'T ACCEPT GM
Superb overview of the high level of opposition to GMOs in Japan, complete with contact details and websites for further information. Conclusion: '...consumers in Japan will not accept GM food and GM agriculture, and they are building more and more alliances to say 'No!' to GMOs.'
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8385
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AFRICA
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+ MOST SOUTHERN AFRICAN FARMERS WILL NOT BENEFIT FROM GM
Agronomists and environmentalists who attended a three-day workshop on Economic Partnership Agreements and the need for the protection of farmers' rights which was held last week in Harare said modern biotechnology is very expensive in terms of access, affordability and suitability for smallholder farmers in developing countries.
Said Noah Zerbe, author of ''Biotechnology and Rural Development: Implications for Southern Africa Agriculture'', ''The benefits of biotechnology will not be felt evenly. Some will benefit, others will not. Or perhaps more accurately, in Southern Africa, some will benefit, most will not.''
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8375
+ KENYA: BIOSAFETY BILL RAISES CONCERNS
Street protests marked the debate on Kenya's controversial Biosafety Bill 2007 that has just gone through its second reading in Parliament. MPs also voiced concerns, including over poor farmers being at the mercy of Western companies selling expensive inputs. Questions were also raised as to why key financiers have given a wide berth to organic farming in Africa, yet international markets are desperately in need of organic products. The Kenya Biodiversity Coalition, an organisation composed of 43 NGOs, farmer associations, consumer and community groups, has decried the deliberate weakening of the Bill so that the importation and commercialisation of GMOs can be ''h[a]ssle-free.'' The coalition also takes issue with the Bill's failure to incorporate the views of farmers and ordinary Kenyans.
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8370
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