The clamour for 'commons' by Brewster Kneen and GRAIN | 28 Oct 2006 Seedling - October 2006 Privatisation digs deeper into our lives, and at the same time everything these days seems to be proclaimed a ‘commons’ (that is, something to which everyone, or everyone in a certain context, has right of access): water, air, seeds, even food, health and education. It’s a very popular notion, at least in the anglophone part of the world. Part of the trend towards ‘reclaiming the commons’ is an effort to fight against privatisation. And that is good. But if the movement to recognise and build old or new commons does not handle the concept carefully, it could actually facilitate privatisation. It is especially crucial to distinguish ‘commons’ from ‘public’ and to remember that ‘commons’ are supposed to be about communities. Privatisation digs deeper into our lives, and at the same time everything these days seems to be proclaimed a ‘commons’ (that is, something to which everyone, or everyone in a certain context, has right of access): water, air, seeds, even food, health and education. It’s a very popular notion, at least in the anglophone part of the world. Part of the trend towards ‘reclaiming the commons’ is an effort to fight against privatisation. And that is good. But if the movement to recognise and build old or new commons does not handle the concept carefully, it could actually facilitate privatisation. It is especially crucial to distinguish ‘commons’ from ‘public’ and to remember that ‘commons’ are supposed to be about communities.
Swapping Striga for patents by GRAIN | 26 Oct 2006 Seedling - October 2006 Later this year some Kenyan farmers will be planting a new kind of maize seed – StrigAway – a maize seed that is resistant to the weed Striga. Are farmers simply swapping the stranglehold of the Striga weed for the treadmill of patented seeds and herbicides? GRAIN reports on the introduction of StrigAway in Kenya. Later this year some Kenyan farmers will be planting a new kind of maize seed – StrigAway – a maize seed that is resistant to the weed Striga. Are farmers simply swapping the stranglehold of the Striga weed for the treadmill of patented seeds and herbicides? GRAIN reports on the introduction of StrigAway in Kenya.
Haloa by Walter Ritte and Bill Freese | 24 Oct 2006 Seedling - October 2006 Genetic modification and bioprospecting threaten not only local farmers’ control over their natural resources but also the culture that sustains their communities. Walter Ritte and Bill Freese describe the Hawaiian experience. Genetic modification and bioprospecting threaten not only local farmers’ control over their natural resources but also the culture that sustains their communities. Walter Ritte and Bill Freese describe the Hawaiian experience.
Sharing FTA experiences by GRAIN | 22 Oct 2006 Seedling - October 2006 As FTAs (free trade agreements) are being signed around the world, their impact on society as a force pushing for deregulation and privatisation is starting to be felt. And grassroots struggles are fighting back. But these struggles, on varying issues, are often cut off from each other. So in July 2006 a workshop brought together 60 participants, from 19 countries, all of whom have been fighting FTAs, to share their experiences and to build a strategy to fight FTAs. As FTAs (free trade agreements) are being signed around the world, their impact on society as a force pushing for deregulation and privatisation is starting to be felt. And grassroots struggles are fighting back. But these struggles, on varying issues, are often cut off from each other. So in July 2006 a workshop brought together 60 participants, from 19 countries, all of whom have been fighting FTAs, to share their experiences and to build a strategy to fight FTAs.
David and Goliath: Central America's Battle over Free Trade by GRAIN | 20 Oct 2006 Seedling - October 2006 Stop CAFTA Coalition, “Monitoring report: DR-CAFTA in Year One” Stop CAFTA Coalition, “Monitoring report: DR-CAFTA in Year One”
Foundations for GM crops in West Africa are being built: a battle looms ahead by GRAIN | 18 Oct 2006 Seedling - October 2006 On the surface all appears quiet in West Africa when it comes to GM (genetically modified) crops. Yet, under the surface, the pressure on governments, researchers and farmers’ organisations to accept GM crops is huge. And in reaction resistance is building up, both within each country and also in a large network of activists and farmers across Africa. A polarised battle looms. On the surface all appears quiet in West Africa when it comes to GM (genetically modified) crops. Yet, under the surface, the pressure on governments, researchers and farmers’ organisations to accept GM crops is huge. And in reaction resistance is building up, both within each country and also in a large network of activists and farmers across Africa. A polarised battle looms.
Green Revolution ( Africa) Beta programme out now (trial version only) by GRAIN | 16 Oct 2006 Seedling - October 2006 As Microsoft's Gates prepares to throw US$ 100 million at a "new" Green Revolution for Africa, GRAIN questions whether the reliance on the private sector is really going to benefit the poor. As Microsoft's Gates prepares to throw US$ 100 million at a "new" Green Revolution for Africa, GRAIN questions whether the reliance on the private sector is really going to benefit the poor.
Lorenzo Muelas Hurtado by Oswaldo Braga de Souza | 12 Oct 2006 Seedling - October 2006 Lorenzo Muelas Hurtado is a member of the indigenous Guambiano people in Colombia. Lorenzo Muelas Hurtado is a member of the indigenous Guambiano people in Colombia.
Mana Tuturu: Maori Treasures and Intellectual Property Rights by GRAIN | 10 Oct 2006 Seedling - October 2006 Barclay is a Maori film-maker, and this book is 75 per cent about copyright issues and 25 per cent about patents on life. The most interesting aspect of reading it, apart from learning about Barclay’s own experience trying to make the film industry respect Maori principles, is looking at conflicts over intellectual property through the eyes of someone who works with moving images... Barclay is a Maori film-maker, and this book is 75 per cent about copyright issues and 25 per cent about patents on life. The most interesting aspect of reading it, apart from learning about Barclay’s own experience trying to make the film industry respect Maori principles, is looking at conflicts over intellectual property through the eyes of someone who works with moving images...
Copyright in the global South by GRAIN | 8 Oct 2006 Seedling - October 2006 GRAIN takes a look at the Copy/South Dossier which shows the increasing commodification of information all wrapped up and protected by copyright. Not good news for the global South. GRAIN takes a look at the Copy/South Dossier which shows the increasing commodification of information all wrapped up and protected by copyright. Not good news for the global South.