The Story of Bt Cotton in India by Gene Campaign | 16 Nov 2005 The report contains information gathered from diverse sources from 2001 till March 2005. This in the form of articles, press releases, reports of fields studies done by a number of agencies including the governments of those states where Bt cotton was cu The report contains information gathered from diverse sources from 2001 till March 2005. This in the form of articles, press releases, reports of fields studies done by a number of agencies including the governments of those states where Bt cotton was cu
Report of a Fact Finding Teams visit to Badwani district, Madhya Pradesh by Monitoring & Evaluation Committee and Beej Swaraj Abhiyan of Madhya Pradesh | 31 Oct 2005 Report of an investigation into the wide-spread problems with wilt in Bt cotton fields in the area Report of an investigation into the wide-spread problems with wilt in Bt cotton fields in the area
October 2005 by GRAIN | 30 Oct 2005 Seedling - October 2005 The latest issue of Seedling further explores what we have come to call 'convergence': the ways in which people are resisting the push for monopoly rights over information in different sectors. The main feature is a panel interview from people working in different sectors in the fields of free and open software (FOSS), access to medicines, seeds, communications and the media. There is also an article about the synergies between the movements fighting for free seeds and free software, and some other convergence-related and -unrelated pieces. The latest issue of Seedling further explores what we have come to call 'convergence': the ways in which people are resisting the push for monopoly rights over information in different sectors. The main feature is a panel interview from people working in different sectors in the fields of free and open software (FOSS), access to medicines, seeds, communications and the media. There is also an article about the synergies between the movements fighting for free seeds and free software, and some other convergence-related and -unrelated pieces.
IPR epicenters a geography of intellectual property by Peter Drahos | 28 Oct 2005 Seedling - October 2005 Where is intellectual property policy made? Governments make intellectual property law, but where does the policy thinking that lies behind the law come from? More than a decade ago I, along with my colleague John Braithwaite, set out to answer this question. Where is intellectual property policy made? Governments make intellectual property law, but where does the policy thinking that lies behind the law come from? More than a decade ago I, along with my colleague John Braithwaite, set out to answer this question.
Convergence by GRAIN | 25 Oct 2005 Seedling - October 2005 Seedling approached a number of people working in different sectors and from different perspectives and get their views on the possibilities for convergence. Our ten-person panel includes people working in the fields of free and open software (FOSS), access to medicines, seeds, communications and the media. (large page - on slow connections, may take a while to download) Seedling approached a number of people working in different sectors and from different perspectives and get their views on the possibilities for convergence. Our ten-person panel includes people working in the fields of free and open software (FOSS), access to medicines, seeds, communications and the media. (large page - on slow connections, may take a while to download)
Software and seeds: lessons in community sharing by Roberto Verzola | 22 Oct 2005 Seedling - October 2005 In many countries, control over information has become a big issue. An underlying aspect of this control has been the use – or threat of use – of force to establish control. The aim is often to prevent information from being freely exchanged, creating an artificial scarcity that keeps information prices high. The fight to protect such freedoms is being fought out in many different arenas. Roberto Verzola explores the synergies, similarities and differences between those trying to protect the freedom of innovators in the worlds of software and seeds. In many countries, control over information has become a big issue. An underlying aspect of this control has been the use – or threat of use – of force to establish control. The aim is often to prevent information from being freely exchanged, creating an artificial scarcity that keeps information prices high. The fight to protect such freedoms is being fought out in many different arenas. Roberto Verzola explores the synergies, similarities and differences between those trying to protect the freedom of innovators in the worlds of software and seeds.
The FAO seed treaty: from farmers' rights to breeders' privileges by GRAIN | 18 Oct 2005 Seedling - October 2005 The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture – sometimes called the ‘seed treaty’ – was adopted by UN Food and Agriculture (FAO) member states in 2001 and came into force in 2004. Governments that signed on are now working out implementation details. Far from its roots in the struggle to assert farmers’ rights as a counterforce to breeders’ rights, the Treaty has ended up being mainly about granting new privileges to industry. It will give seed companies free access to most of the world’s public genebanks without any obligation to share their own materials in return. The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture – sometimes called the ‘seed treaty’ – was adopted by UN Food and Agriculture (FAO) member states in 2001 and came into force in 2004. Governments that signed on are now working out implementation details. Far from its roots in the struggle to assert farmers’ rights as a counterforce to breeders’ rights, the Treaty has ended up being mainly about granting new privileges to industry. It will give seed companies free access to most of the world’s public genebanks without any obligation to share their own materials in return.
Blue fishers, blue genes: fishy undercurrents in post-tsunami Asia by GRAIN | 15 Oct 2005 Seedling - October 2005 At the same time as Asia’s fisherfolk are urging their governments to help re-establish artisanal fisheries after last year’s tsunami, an international ‘tsunami-recovery’ consortium is suggesting that they should abandon their livelihoods and find employment elsewhere. The fisherfolk also face other challenges – from growing pressures to switch over to industrial aquaculture and fishering, and the introduction of genetically modified fish. At the same time as Asia’s fisherfolk are urging their governments to help re-establish artisanal fisheries after last year’s tsunami, an international ‘tsunami-recovery’ consortium is suggesting that they should abandon their livelihoods and find employment elsewhere. The fisherfolk also face other challenges – from growing pressures to switch over to industrial aquaculture and fishering, and the introduction of genetically modified fish.
The corporation - psychopathic and immortal by GRAIN | 12 Oct 2005 Seedling - October 2005 Review and summary by GRAIN of the book and film "The Corporation" by Joel Bakan. Review and summary by GRAIN of the book and film "The Corporation" by Joel Bakan.
Whither Biosafety? In these days of Monsanto Laws, hope for real biosafety lies at the grassroots by GRAIN | 11 Oct 2005 Across the world processes to draw-up national biosafety laws are increasingly disconnected from the people they are supposed to serve. Drafting typically takes place behind closed doors, between local elites and foreign "experts" of the GM lobby, with corporations close at hand to steer the discussion. Meanwhile, those with the most at stake from any introduction of GM crops, the rural communities, are completely marginalised from the processes. Across the world processes to draw-up national biosafety laws are increasingly disconnected from the people they are supposed to serve. Drafting typically takes place behind closed doors, between local elites and foreign "experts" of the GM lobby, with corporations close at hand to steer the discussion. Meanwhile, those with the most at stake from any introduction of GM crops, the rural communities, are completely marginalised from the processes.