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Between June 23-25, 2003, the USDA, the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department will host a conference on Agricultural Science and Technology in Sacramento. For developing countries, this means biotechnology. Three ministers from every developing country (except Cuba, and those countries astride the so-called 'axis of evil') will be invited. Add on a press corps in the hundreds, and it's clear that, internationally at least, this is something of a big deal. Here are some reasons to mobilize against it.
In a jaw-dropping affirmation of Monsanto's monopoly control over commodity crops, one of the world's most notorious patents for genetically engineered crops was yesterday upheld by the European Patent Office (EPO) in Munich - this despite a nine year battle by civil society (and industry) to have it revoked. European Patent No. 301,749, granted in March 1994, is an exceptionally broad "species patent" which grants gene giant Monsanto exclusive monopoly over all forms of genetically engineered soybean varieties and seeds - irrespective of the genes used or the transformation technique employed. The patent, attacked as immoral and technically invalid by food security advocates worldwide, was vigorously opposed by Monsanto itself until they purchased the original patent holder (Agracetus) in 1996, and switched sides to make the soybean species patent a major ingredient in its global recipe for crop monopoly.
On May 20, we began the 24-Hour Indignation Fast Against the Macapagal-Arroyo Government and Monsanto, joined by supporters from many parts of the country and of the world. Together, we are ending today that one-fast as well as the 30 days of hunger strike against Bt corn, sealing our common commitment to continue the fight against Bt corn and other genetically-engineered foods until victory is at hand.
A new PAN North America report reveals that several widely-used pesticides are regularly found in California air far from where they are applied at concentrations that significantly exceed levels deemed "safe" by regulatory agencies
Factory farms are expanding into developing countries, bringing these nations a wealth of environmental and public health concerns, finds a new paper by the Worldwatch Institute.
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan first proposed the Global Compact in an address to the World Economic Forum on 31 January 1999. He challenged world business leaders to help build the social and environmental pillars required to sustain the new global economy and make globalization work for all the world's people.
Agricultural workers and their families are being poisoned, rural lands, forests, oceans and waters are devastated, biodiversity is being destroyed, and food is unfit for human consumption. With these words, 140 participants from 17 countries at the First Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific Congress in Manila last week warned the world that industrial agriculture as conducted by transnational corporations is undermining the resources needed to sustain food production.
Brazil will permit the sale of genetically modified soy harvested this year in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, even though it was planted illegally. Consumer and environmental groups are outraged.
Socialist Vietnam is starting to learn the ways of capitalism as its products enter the global market.
An international list of chemicals subject to trade controls will expand to include all forms of asbestos, three pesticides, and two forms of lead if recommendations made by a committee of government appointed experts is approved under the Rotterdam Convention. The international treaty requires exporting countries trading in a list of hazardous substances to obtain the prior informed consent of importing countries before proceeding with the trade.
A coaliton of farmers is fighting to keep Monsanto's "Roundup Ready Wheat" out of Canada. They say GM contamination would threaten exports.
Every weekday at lunch, courtesy of the federal government, more than 27 million schoolchildren sit down to the nation's largest mass feeding.
New Delhi, Feb 19 (IANS) The Indian government Wednesday withdrew the licenses of eight bottled water units following reports there were massive doses of pesticides and other chemical contaminants in their products.
The 21st National Pesticide Forum, Toxics in the Age of Globalization, is a national conference focusing on the adoption of alternative practices and policies to protect our children, workers and communities from the toxic hazards of pesticides in an age of global social, economic and corporate politics. In addition, relevant issues such as health effects, West Nile virus, pesticides in schools, organic agriculture, farmworker justice, habitat impact and much more will be covered in the Forum workshops. This years event is convened by Beyond Pesticides/ National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides, Chemical Connection, Clean Water Action Texas, Environmental Outreach, Public Citizen Texas, Texans for Alternatives to Pesticides, and University of Texas Campus Greens
As corporations consolidate, and the big become the biggest, few have been willing to stand in the path of the economic juggernaut. But then along came some cornhuskers from Nebraska!
A new study maintains that the government is poorly structured to assess possible environmental hazards posed by genetically modified fish.
The fifth in our series of articles on Global Compact companies examines Unilever's response when caught dumping toxic mercury waste from a thermometer factory in Southern India earlier this year. The Anglo-Dutch company recently closed the factory. Community members, however, allege that the multinational has downplayed the dangers of mercury and misled the public in an attempt to cover up the truth. Indian journalist Nityanand Jayaraman reports for CorpWatch.
There's something Kraft's not telling you about what's in Post Cereals, Boca Burgers, Lunchables and hundreds of other products that could risk your family's health and the environment.