WEEKLY WATCH number 238 (19/12/2007)

WEEKLY WATCH number 238
from Claire Robinson, WEEKLY WATCH editor
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear all:

The fallout from the descent of previously respectable science journals into mouthpieces for industry lobbyists continues. In the wake of the Nature editorial attacking EU environment commissioner Dimas for suggesting a ban on GM maize types, and the appalling treatment of Dr Irina Ermakova by Nature Biotechnology, two scientists have told us of their disillusionment and disapproval. Still others are going public with their views (LOBBYWATCH). Please take action to show your support for Dimas (EUROPE).

This will be our final Weekly Watch before Christmas, so we'd like to wish our readers and supporters a very happy Christmas. We'll be back at the end of the month with the Monthly Review.

Claire [email protected]
www.gmwatch.org / www.lobbywatch.org

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONTENTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

AUSTRALASIA
EUROPE
ASIA
CORPORATE TAKEOVER
AFRICA
THE AMERICAS
LOBBYWATCH
SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
GENETIC CROSSROADS

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
AUSTRALASIA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

+ JAPANESE PROTEST LIFTING OF MORATORIA
Japanese consumers have protested to the state governments of Victoria and New South Wales in Australia over their decision to allow GM canola cultivation. In October, the 'No! GMO Campaign' asked the two states to keep their GM moratoria in place. Their request was signed by 155 different organizations, representing nearly 3,000,000 consumers.
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8601

+ GM WILL TAINT NATURAL CANOLA CROP
GM canola is certain to contaminate Australia's canola crops, according to a new report which examines the experience of farmers in Canada, where segregation of GM and non-GM canola crops failed after a few years, causing the collapse of both industries.
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8612

+ AUSTRALIAN FARMERS LOSE 'BIG ADVANTAGE'
Terry Boehm, vice-president of Canada's National Farmers Union, says he was puzzled by last month's decision by the Victorian and NSW governments to lift their bans on the commercial production of the controversial crops. 'To lose GM-free canola status is to lose a very big advantage,' he said. Boehm said GM canola varieties had not produced significantly increased yields and cases of contamination had led to lengthy court battles. The country's canola growers had also lost customers in key export markets: China, Europe and Japan.
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8617

+ GM FOODS CAN BE DANGEROUS
There's a good article in The Age by scientist Mitchell Harper about the folly of two of lifting the GM moratoria. Harper details some of the risks of GM crops, including:

***Roundup, used with GM Roundup Ready crops encourages the fungal disease fusarium, and research should be carried out to see if it also encourages other fungal diseases;

***Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, can prevent plants from using beneficial trace metals. If plants lack these nutrients, anything that consumes them will also receive less. Nutritional deficiencies are already impacting livestock farming.
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8605

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
EUROPE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

+ SHOWDOWN FOR EUROPE
Last month, the European Commission's environment commissioner Stavros Dimas said that he plans to reject applications from Syngenta and Pioneer Hi-Bred International for approval to grow two strains of GM maize, on the grounds that the crops could adversely affect the environment. But the commissioners who are respectively responsible for trade, industry and agriculture - Peter Mandelson, Gunter Verheugen and Mariann Fischer Boel - are trying to overturn Dimas's decision.

*TAKE ACTION! Help keep the heat on the European Commission. Write your own, personalised (and polite!) comment on the blog of key commissioners who will decide about the authorisation of GM maize and whose positions are not yet clear - details here http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8599

+ BOVE ESCAPES JAIL, PLANS HUNGER STRIKE
French farmer-activist Jose Bove said he had been spared four months in prison on charges of ripping up GM crops, after a judge converted his sentence to a fine. With 10-15 other activists, Bove plans to go on a hunger strike beginning 3 January in order to win a one-year ban on GM crops.
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8594
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8613

+ CONFERENCE DEMANDS ZERO TOLERANCE
Interesting report on a European conference in December organised by the IFOAM organics body in Brussels, which discussed the future strategy for implementing organic agriculture in Europe and demanded zero tolerance of GM.
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8616

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASIA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

+ GM FOODS IN INDIA - LABEL AND TELL
In September, India's ministry of environment gave up its responsibility of regulating the import of GM foods under the Environment Protection Act 1986 by notifying the exemption of such foods from the regulatory approval processes. Now, consumers have no knowledge at all about what they are eating.
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8615

+ THAILAND: LIFTING GM


Print

Back to the Archive