WEEKLY WATCH number 236
from Claire Robinson, WEEKLY WATCH editor
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Dear all:
The lifting of GM moratoria by two Australian states exactly coincides with France's decision to ban GM plantings until safety reviews are carried out. The Australian states seem to have made their decision with reference only to one tiny sector of society - the biotech companies and their supporters.
Watch out for all the latest on the Nature Biotechnology row, including a superb commentary from the Bioscience Resource Project. (SCIENTIFIC MISREPRESENTATION)
Claire [email protected]
www.gmwatch.org / www.lobbywatch.org
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CONTENTS
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SCIENTIFIC MISREPRESENTATION
AUSTRALASIA
EUROPE
ASIA
AFRICA
THE AMERICAS
RESEARCH
THE DOOMSDAY SEED BANK
GENETIC CROSSROADS
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SCIENTIFIC MISREPRESENTATION
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+ RESPONSES TO NATURE BIOTECHNOLOGY
The online version of the December 2007 edition of the journal Nature Biotechnology contains correspondence highly critical of the journal and its editor, Andrew Marshall. At issue is the 'Feature' published in its September edition that effectively gave a free hand to four notorious biotech apologists - Bruce Chassy, Vivian Moses, Val Giddings and Alan McHughen - to make a premeditated attack on the Russian researcher, Irina Ermakova and her study showing the damaging effects of GM soy on rats. For links to all the correspondence http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8589
EXTRACT: 'Publishing edited extracts of her work together with comments of scientists who are well known to uncritically reject even the notion that there may be risks associated with GM crops gives me the strong impression that your journal is politically motivated to (i) defend the dogma that there are no potential health risks associated with GM crops, (ii) destroy the reputation of scientists that dare to challenge that dogma and (iii) prevent such scientists from gaining the resources to continue their work on risks of GM crops and how to avoid them.' - Prof. Carlo Leifert
+ 'EDITOR ADMITS TO SERIOUS ERRORS OF JUDGEMENT'
Commentary from GM Free Cymru, which has played a leading role in exposing the Nature Biotechnology Sscandal.
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8589
+ WHAT IS NATURE BIOTECHNOLOGY GOOD FOR?
A superb commentary from the Bioscience Resource Project points out that the criticisms aimed at Dr. Ermakova's paper apply equally to the papers that are trumpeted by the critics as showing no ill effects from GM soy. The commentators conclude, 'Nature Publishing Group no doubt finds that publishing a magazine [Nature Biotechnology] that does double duty as a science journal and as a trade journal is a highly profitable combination, but equally it is never going to be one that encourages disinterested science.'
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8588
+ PARLIAMENTARY MOTION AGAINST SCIENTIFIC MISREPRESENTATION - TAKE ACTION
If you're in the UK, please urge your Member of Parliament to sign an Early Day Motion against scientific misrepresentation concerning GM crops, as in the Nature Biotechnology and Shane Morris affairs. Michael Meacher MP - the former UK minister for the environment - has tabled an important EDM on the manipulation and misrepresentaion of research on GM crops, and 18 Members of Parliament have already become co-signatories. All the details including how to contact your MP at
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8584
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8583
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AUSTRALASIA
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+ VICTORIA AND NSW LOSE CANOLA TRADE TO WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Western Australian farmers are already reaping financial benefits and trade advantages by maintaining the state's moratorium on growing GM crops, WA agriculture minister Kim Chance says. Chance said the Consumers Union of Japan announced it would cease buying canola from Victoria and New South Wales during a recent Australian visit. It would instead buy WA's GM free canola. A preference by consumers for GM-free food is not just a Japanese phenomenon and is mirrored in Australia, Europe and worldwide, Chance points out. Given WA farmers are receiving substantial price premiums for their GM-free canola, it makes no sense to jeopardise the state's strong market position and begin growing commercial GM crops. http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8576
+ WESTERN AUSTRALIA WON'T RELAX GM BAN
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8572
+ MOST AUSTRALIANS STILL DON'T WANT TO EAT GM FOODS
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8578
+ CLEAN GREEN PROSPECTS TAKE A WHACK
According to figures from Monsanto, some Australian trials of GM canola produced yields 16 per cent below the national GM-free average. In the end, increasing yields won't matter much as broader market access and restriction issues determine the value of GM. The global current trends point towards ever more GM restrictions. The EU moratorium already restricts some 400,000 tonnes of GM canola from Canada but imports 38 per cent of all Australia's clean canola. Japan is considering injecting tighter controls into already tough GM import regulations. Stricter Japanese GM laws could impact 41 per cent, (300,000 tonnes) of Australian canola exports.
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8558
+ HEAD OF GM PANEL IN CONFLICT CLAIMS
Sir Gustav Nossal, chosen t
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