The next trade war? GM products, the Cartagena Protocol and the WTO by Duncan Brack, Robert Falkner and Judith Goll | 1 Oct 2003 Seedling - October 2003 The US-EU dispute over the EU's de facto moratorium on GM crops and products has generated much heat on both sides of the Atlantic. The verdict of the WTOs dispute panel will have significant implications for other countries thinking about rejecting GM crops. It may also be an important case to test the political muscle of the newly adopted Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which the EU may use in its defence. The US-EU dispute over the EU's de facto moratorium on GM crops and products has generated much heat on both sides of the Atlantic. The verdict of the WTOs dispute panel will have significant implications for other countries thinking about rejecting GM crops. It may also be an important case to test the political muscle of the newly adopted Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which the EU may use in its defence.
Global patents for world domination? by GRAIN | 1 Oct 2003 Seedling - October 2003 For three years, a new international patent treaty has been under negotiation at the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) in Geneva. This treaty would pave the way for a future world patent granted directly by WIPO. This is bad news for developing countries and their citizens, who would lose even the limited freedom they have left to adjust patent systems to national development goals. However, it is not too late for the developing world to say no thanks' and stop the negotiating process. For three years, a new international patent treaty has been under negotiation at the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) in Geneva. This treaty would pave the way for a future world patent granted directly by WIPO. This is bad news for developing countries and their citizens, who would lose even the limited freedom they have left to adjust patent systems to national development goals. However, it is not too late for the developing world to say no thanks' and stop the negotiating process.
Conservation International: privatizing nature, plundering biodiversity by Aziz Choudry | 1 Oct 2003 Seedling - October 2003 Conservation International's corporate sponsor list reads like a list of the US top fifty transnational corporations. Biodiversity conservation is at the top of CIs list of goals. But as the list of CIs dubious ventures and questionable partners around the world grows, Aziz Choudry is starting to wonder if it is time to out this multinational conservation corporation and show its true colours. Conservation International's corporate sponsor list reads like a list of the US top fifty transnational corporations. Biodiversity conservation is at the top of CIs list of goals. But as the list of CIs dubious ventures and questionable partners around the world grows, Aziz Choudry is starting to wonder if it is time to out this multinational conservation corporation and show its true colours.
Izwi neTarisiro Zimbabwe's Citizens Jury by Elijah Rusike | 1 Oct 2003 Seedling - October 2003 As Zimbabwe struggles with economic hard times and land reform problems, its farming sector is in disarray. A citizen's jury was held in a bid to improve the quality and relevance of policies that affect smallholder farmers. At a time when GM crops are being billed as the road to food security for Africa, Zimbabwes citizens jury showed that for many farmers, seed of any kind is only one of a large number of factors that affect their ability to feed their families. As Zimbabwe struggles with economic hard times and land reform problems, its farming sector is in disarray. A citizen's jury was held in a bid to improve the quality and relevance of policies that affect smallholder farmers. At a time when GM crops are being billed as the road to food security for Africa, Zimbabwes citizens jury showed that for many farmers, seed of any kind is only one of a large number of factors that affect their ability to feed their families.
Interview with Francisca Rodriguez - Via Campesina's seed campaign by | 1 Oct 2003 Seedling - October 2003 Francisca Rodriguez is part of the international coordination commission of Via Campesina, an international movement which coordinates peasant organisations of small and middle-scale producers, agricultural workers, rural women, and indigenous communities from Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Europe. Francisca Rodriguez is part of the international coordination commission of Via Campesina, an international movement which coordinates peasant organisations of small and middle-scale producers, agricultural workers, rural women, and indigenous communities from Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Europe.
Seed security for Africa's farmers by Fulvio Grandin | 1 Oct 2003 Seedling - October 2003 The World Food Summit of June 2002 was a catalytic event the Africa Biodiversity Network (ABN). Our frustrations with government and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation's support for the genetic manipulation of agriculture inspired the ABN to get organised to represent and support sustainable practices for food security. ABNs position was clear: seed and food security are inseparable for small-scale farmers throughout Africa, as the informal agricultural sector is largely dependant on an informal seed sector for its genetic resources. The World Food Summit of June 2002 was a catalytic event the Africa Biodiversity Network (ABN). Our frustrations with government and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation's support for the genetic manipulation of agriculture inspired the ABN to get organised to represent and support sustainable practices for food security. ABNs position was clear: seed and food security are inseparable for small-scale farmers throughout Africa, as the informal agricultural sector is largely dependant on an informal seed sector for its genetic resources.
Seeds of a new misery by Roger Gbegnonvi | 1 Oct 2003 Seedling - October 2003 As soon as he was out of prison for his crimes' of uprooting GM crops, the Frenchman José Bové went to Larzac. There he advocated civil disobedience to French farmers, in the face of continuing imposition of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the fields of agricultural globalisation. For José Bové and friends to sound the alarm in this way throughout the world, it means that the situation is serious. Do Africans who have been promised happiness at last through the use of GMOs know their fate? As soon as he was out of prison for his crimes' of uprooting GM crops, the Frenchman José Bové went to Larzac. There he advocated civil disobedience to French farmers, in the face of continuing imposition of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the fields of agricultural globalisation. For José Bové and friends to sound the alarm in this way throughout the world, it means that the situation is serious. Do Africans who have been promised happiness at last through the use of GMOs know their fate?
Divide & rule: the politics of US trade policy by Sidney Weintraub | 17 Sep 2003 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3169649.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3169649.stm
TRIPS: From Rio to Cancun: The rights of the peoples are non-negotiable by Silvia Rodriguez, Angel Ibarra and Alejandra Rotania | 10 Sep 2003 Download pdf version Download pdf version
Mercosur for sale? The EU's FTAA and the need to oppose it by Claudia Torrelli | 17 Aug 2003 http://www.corporateeurope.org/eumercosur/MercosurForSale.html http://www.corporateeurope.org/eumercosur/MercosurForSale.html