Another silver bullet for Africa? by GRAIN | 22 Sep 2006 Two leading US private charitable foundations – Rockefeller and Gates - have proclaimed a “new” Green Revolution for Africa. $150 million are to be poured into the continent in the form of new seeds, and in efforts to get small farmers to grow them. Yet none of this is new. It is the same recipe, using the same ingredients, and pushed by the same agency that perpetrated the original Green Revolution starting in the 1950s. It failed in Africa then because it failed to listen to – failed even to ask – the indigenous farmers, who had worked their land for generations. Two leading US private charitable foundations – Rockefeller and Gates - have proclaimed a “new” Green Revolution for Africa. $150 million are to be poured into the continent in the form of new seeds, and in efforts to get small farmers to grow them. Yet none of this is new. It is the same recipe, using the same ingredients, and pushed by the same agency that perpetrated the original Green Revolution starting in the 1950s. It failed in Africa then because it failed to listen to – failed even to ask – the indigenous farmers, who had worked their land for generations.
Turn to transgenics spurs GM-free zones by EcoAméricas | 22 Sep 2006 Fighting GM corn in Colombia. With thanks to http://www.ecoamericas.com/ Fighting GM corn in Colombia. With thanks to http://www.ecoamericas.com/
Germán Vélez talks about GMO free zones by EcoAméricas | 22 Sep 2006 With thanks to http://www.ecoamericas.com/ With thanks to http://www.ecoamericas.com/
Fighting FTAs: An international strategy workshop by Organised by FTA Watch with bilaterals.org, GRAIN and Médecins Sans Frontières | 20 Sep 2006 This workshop brought together, for the first time, movements from many different countries which have been fighting FTAs and BITs. Participation hinged on people who have been directly involved in grassroots struggles to derail these agreements. Nearly 60 participants came from 19 countries across every time zone. Rather than attempting to set up a new network or build a common agenda, the workshop's objectives were to share people's experiences fighting FTAs in different countries and to build strategy ideas to strengthen national, regional and international struggles against FTAs. This workshop brought together, for the first time, movements from many different countries which have been fighting FTAs and BITs. Participation hinged on people who have been directly involved in grassroots struggles to derail these agreements. Nearly 60 participants came from 19 countries across every time zone. Rather than attempting to set up a new network or build a common agenda, the workshop's objectives were to share people's experiences fighting FTAs in different countries and to build strategy ideas to strengthen national, regional and international struggles against FTAs.
IP rights under investment agreements: the TRIPS-plus implications for enforcement and protection of public interest by Ermias Tekeste Biadgleng (South Centre) | 30 Aug 2006
July 2006 by GRAIN | 30 Jul 2006 Seedling - July 2006 This Seedling is a special combined April and July 2006 issue. This Seedling is a special combined April and July 2006 issue.
Plantations, GM trees and indigenous rights by Anne Petermann and Orin Langelle | 26 Jul 2006 Seedling - July 2006 The damaging effects of monoculture tree plantations are being resisted around the world. Timber plantations have occupied large tracts of indigenous and agricultural land and have been responsible for the loss of biodiversity and the pollution and depletion of water and soils. Such plantations are owned by large corporations with little concern for the surrounding communities or environment. Now, the addition of genetically modified (GM) tree plantations can only make the situation worse. This article argues that the development of GM trees needs to be stopped now. The damaging effects of monoculture tree plantations are being resisted around the world. Timber plantations have occupied large tracts of indigenous and agricultural land and have been responsible for the loss of biodiversity and the pollution and depletion of water and soils. Such plantations are owned by large corporations with little concern for the surrounding communities or environment. Now, the addition of genetically modified (GM) tree plantations can only make the situation worse. This article argues that the development of GM trees needs to be stopped now.