China detains five in meat probe by Financial Times | 6 Aug 2014 China | United States | corporations Chinese authorities have detained five employees of a US-owned company accused of relabelling expired meat amid allegations of systemic violations at a key supplier to McDonald’s, KFC and other fast-food chains in China and Japan. Chinese authorities have detained five employees of a US-owned company accused of relabelling expired meat amid allegations of systemic violations at a key supplier to McDonald’s, KFC and other fast-food chains in China and Japan.
GMOs promote poverty and dependency in Africa by Nnimmo Bassey, Million Belay, and Mariam Mayet | 25 Jul 2014 GMOs The recent article, GM scaremongering in Africa is disarming the fight against poverty, published in the Guardian’s PovertyMatters Blog on 21 July 2014i, is a thinly veiled attack on those of us in Africa and elsewhere who are deeply skeptical of the supposed benefits that genetically modified (GM) crops will bring to the continent. Based on a report by London-based think-tank Chatham House, it represents paternalism of the worst kind, advancing the interests of the biotechnology industry behind a barely constructed façade of philanthropy. The recent article, GM scaremongering in Africa is disarming the fight against poverty, published in the Guardian’s PovertyMatters Blog on 21 July 2014i, is a thinly veiled attack on those of us in Africa and elsewhere who are deeply skeptical of the supposed benefits that genetically modified (GM) crops will bring to the continent. Based on a report by London-based think-tank Chatham House, it represents paternalism of the worst kind, advancing the interests of the biotechnology industry behind a barely constructed façade of philanthropy.
Dario Ruggiero interviews GRAIN staffers by Dario Ruggiero | 24 Jul 2014 land grabbing | seeds & biodiversity Dario Ruggiero of 'LT-Economy' interviewed GRAIN staffers Ramon Vera and Henk Hobbelink. Ramon talks about the struggles around seeds, and Henk zooms in on the issues of land grabbing. The full magazine which contains other interesting interviews and articles, can be downloaded here. Dario Ruggiero of 'LT-Economy' interviewed GRAIN staffers Ramon Vera and Henk Hobbelink. Ramon talks about the struggles around seeds, and Henk zooms in on the issues of land grabbing. The full magazine which contains other interesting interviews and articles, can be downloaded here.
Report: big firm pays reporters by Bangkok Post | 16 Jul 2014 Thailand | corporations An Asian agribusiness giant spends 50,000 dollars a month to influence media and social networks in Thailand to keep its image positive, according to a report from the Thailand Information Centre For Civil Rights and Investigative Journalism (TCIJ) – the money goes to reporters, radio hosts, websites and others. In the wake of the report, Charoen Pokhpand Foods admitted the firm had set aside a budget for the press, but insists that the process was accountable and transparent. An Asian agribusiness giant spends 50,000 dollars a month to influence media and social networks in Thailand to keep its image positive, according to a report from the Thailand Information Centre For Civil Rights and Investigative Journalism (TCIJ) – the money goes to reporters, radio hosts, websites and others. In the wake of the report, Charoen Pokhpand Foods admitted the firm had set aside a budget for the press, but insists that the process was accountable and transparent.
A new look at land-grabs in the global South linked to EU biomass policies by Almuth Ernsting | 7 Jul 2014 land grabbing | corporations | climate crisis A new look at land-grabs in the global south linked to EU biomass policies, report by Almuth Ernsting of Biofuelwatch A new look at land-grabs in the global south linked to EU biomass policies, report by Almuth Ernsting of Biofuelwatch
How 'the new DDT' wreaks havoc on the bottom of the food chain by Stephen Leahy | 26 Jun 2014 food crisis | seeds & biodiversity “It’s the new DDT but different,” said Ole Hendrickson, a former scientist at Environment Canada. “Instead of wiping out the top of the food chain, killing hawks and eagles as DDT did, neonics are wiping out the bottom of the food chain,” “It’s the new DDT but different,” said Ole Hendrickson, a former scientist at Environment Canada. “Instead of wiping out the top of the food chain, killing hawks and eagles as DDT did, neonics are wiping out the bottom of the food chain,”
The new scramble for Africa infographics by WDM | 19 Jun 2014 land grabbing | corporations | Angola | Kenya | Mozambique | Senegal | Tanzania In the nineteenth century scramble for Africa, European colonial powers took control of the continent’s land, resources and people. Today’s multinational corporations, aided by governments, are taking control over Africa’s food system. Great infographics by WDM In the nineteenth century scramble for Africa, European colonial powers took control of the continent’s land, resources and people. Today’s multinational corporations, aided by governments, are taking control over Africa’s food system. Great infographics by WDM
Revealed: Asian slave labour producing prawns for supermarkets in US, UK by The Guardian | 16 Jun 2014 Myanmar | Thailand | corporations | Cambodia Slaves forced to work for no pay for years at a time under threat of extreme violence are being used in Asia in the production of seafood sold by major US, British and other European retailers. Slaves forced to work for no pay for years at a time under threat of extreme violence are being used in Asia in the production of seafood sold by major US, British and other European retailers.
Ten years of failure: farmers deceived by GM corn by Masipag | 12 Jun 2014 Philippines | technologies | seeds & biodiversity A decade afer Bt corn was commercialised in the Philippines, farmers explain the devastating socio-economic impacts of GM corn on their lives and livelihoods. A decade afer Bt corn was commercialised in the Philippines, farmers explain the devastating socio-economic impacts of GM corn on their lives and livelihoods.
'Hungry for land' in the Guardian by Guardian | 28 May 2014 land grabbing | corporations | food sovereignty John Vidal of The Guardian covers GRAIN's 'Hungry for land' report John Vidal of The Guardian covers GRAIN's 'Hungry for land' report
Asian farmers unite to stop Golden Rice by MASIPAG et al | 30 Apr 2014 Indonesia | Philippines | technologies | seeds & biodiversity Farmers and sectoral organisations attending a conference in the Philippines have united to stop the commercialisation of transgenic Golden Rice, saying this will decimate indigenous rice genetic diversity, and affect farmers’ rights, people’s health and the environment. Farmers and sectoral organisations attending a conference in the Philippines have united to stop the commercialisation of transgenic Golden Rice, saying this will decimate indigenous rice genetic diversity, and affect farmers’ rights, people’s health and the environment.
Feeding nine billion: Five steps to the wrong solution by Eric Holt-Giménez | 28 Apr 2014 technologies | food crisis | food sovereignty An excellent rebuttal of those that argue that we need more technology to feed the world. By Eric Holt-Giménez of Food First. An excellent rebuttal of those that argue that we need more technology to feed the world. By Eric Holt-Giménez of Food First.
International statement on the current situation in Mozambique by International organisations | 22 Apr 2014 Mozambique International organisations concerned by massive displacements and widespread violence in Mozambique call on the government and the international community to respect and protect the rights of Mozambican peasants. International organisations concerned by massive displacements and widespread violence in Mozambique call on the government and the international community to respect and protect the rights of Mozambican peasants.
Willful blindness: how the World Bank’s 'Doing Business' rankings impoverish smallholder farmers by Oakland Institute et al | 10 Apr 2014 Liberia | Sierra Leone | land grabbing As the spring meetings of the World Bank get underway in Washington, DC, 180 organizations, including NGOs, unions, and farmer and consumer groups from over 80 countries, demand that the World Bank end its Doing Business rankings and its support of the rampant theft of land and resources from some of the world’s poorest people -- farmers, pastoralists, and indigenous communities, many of whom are essential food producers for the entire planet. As the spring meetings of the World Bank get underway in Washington, DC, 180 organizations, including NGOs, unions, and farmer and consumer groups from over 80 countries, demand that the World Bank end its Doing Business rankings and its support of the rampant theft of land and resources from some of the world’s poorest people -- farmers, pastoralists, and indigenous communities, many of whom are essential food producers for the entire planet.
Chile derails ‘Monsanto law’ that would privatise seeds by New Amercia Media | 28 Mar 2014 Chile | seeds & biodiversity | laws & policies | actions This month, rural women, indigenous communities, and farmers in Chile found themselves on the winning end of a long-fought battle against a bill that had come to be known by many in this country as simply, the “Monsanto Law.” This month, rural women, indigenous communities, and farmers in Chile found themselves on the winning end of a long-fought battle against a bill that had come to be known by many in this country as simply, the “Monsanto Law.”