Spouting Up: Want to let off steam about IPRs? by GRAIN | 20 Sep 2001 Seedling - September 2001 The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) decided to celebrate all the benefits of intellectual property rights with an International Day of Intellectual Property Rights on April 26, 2002. Part of the process leading up to it is an essay contest in response to the question: WHAT DOES INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MEAN TO YOU IN YOUR DAILY LIFE? Shortly afterwards, WIPOUT, an international organisation consisting of academics, artists, musicians, and other activists, launched the Intellectual Property Counter-Essay Contest The counter contest is intended to challenge the over-protection of intellectual property, which is doing much damage to education, health care, the environment, and economic security for millions around the world. The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) decided to celebrate all the benefits of intellectual property rights with an International Day of Intellectual Property Rights on April 26, 2002. Part of the process leading up to it is an essay contest in response to the question: WHAT DOES INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MEAN TO YOU IN YOUR DAILY LIFE? Shortly afterwards, WIPOUT, an international organisation consisting of academics, artists, musicians, and other activists, launched the Intellectual Property Counter-Essay Contest The counter contest is intended to challenge the over-protection of intellectual property, which is doing much damage to education, health care, the environment, and economic security for millions around the world.
Food Aid: Who is getting fed by GRAIN | 24 Apr 2003 Seedling - April 2003 In the last year, the UN’s World Food Programme has twice launched what it has described as the “largest humanitarian operation in history” – first in Southern Africa, and in recent weeks in Iraq. But how helpful have these interventions been and are they really reaching the people who need them? More than ever, the food aid agenda is being driven by the interests of donors rather than recipients. The issue of genetically modified food aid is now also being used by the US, the world’s largest food aid donor, to manipulate the agenda. In the last year, the UN’s World Food Programme has twice launched what it has described as the “largest humanitarian operation in history” – first in Southern Africa, and in recent weeks in Iraq. But how helpful have these interventions been and are they really reaching the people who need them? More than ever, the food aid agenda is being driven by the interests of donors rather than recipients. The issue of genetically modified food aid is now also being used by the US, the world’s largest food aid donor, to manipulate the agenda.
Pastoralism an untold tale of adaptation and survival by GRAIN | 13 Apr 2010 Seedling - April 2010 Across East and West Africa, an estimated 50 million traditional livestock producers are not only supporting their families, their communities and a huge meat and hides industry, but are also demonstrating a rare capacity to adapt to climate change. A new study into pastoralism in Africa’s drylands shows that, despite serious problems caused by bureaucracy, border controls and, more recently, land grabbing, many of the livestock rearers are resourceful, highly productive and financially canny. Across East and West Africa, an estimated 50 million traditional livestock producers are not only supporting their families, their communities and a huge meat and hides industry, but are also demonstrating a rare capacity to adapt to climate change. A new study into pastoralism in Africa’s drylands shows that, despite serious problems caused by bureaucracy, border controls and, more recently, land grabbing, many of the livestock rearers are resourceful, highly productive and financially canny.
USAID: Making the world hungry for GM crops by GRAIN | 25 Apr 2005 This briefing examines how the US government uses USAID to actively promote GM agriculture. The focus is on USAID's major programmes for agricultural biotechnology and the regions where these programmes are most active in parts of Africa and Asia[1]. These USAID programmes are part of a multi-pronged strategy to advance US interests with GM crops. Increasingly the US government uses multilateral and bilateral free trade agreements and high-level diplomatic pressure to push countries towards the adoption of many key bits of corporate-friendly regulations related to GM crops. And this external pressure has been effectively complimented by lobbying and funding from national and regional USAID biotech networks. This briefing examines how the US government uses USAID to actively promote GM agriculture. The focus is on USAID's major programmes for agricultural biotechnology and the regions where these programmes are most active in parts of Africa and Asia[1]. These USAID programmes are part of a multi-pronged strategy to advance US interests with GM crops. Increasingly the US government uses multilateral and bilateral free trade agreements and high-level diplomatic pressure to push countries towards the adoption of many key bits of corporate-friendly regulations related to GM crops. And this external pressure has been effectively complimented by lobbying and funding from national and regional USAID biotech networks.
Rice land grabs undermine food sovereignty in Africa by GRAIN | 26 Jan 2009 Mali, like several other countries in West Africa, recently went from being a net rice exporter to being a major importer. Now the government has embarked on a multimillion-dollar national rice initiative that is supposed to restore self-sufficiency by helping the country’s farmers to produce more. Mali, like several other countries in West Africa, recently went from being a net rice exporter to being a major importer. Now the government has embarked on a multimillion-dollar national rice initiative that is supposed to restore self-sufficiency by helping the country’s farmers to produce more.
Resources by GRAIN | 1 Oct 2002 Seedling - October 2002 We review 17 reports and books in the October issue of Seedling, under headings of Genetic Engineering, IPR, Sustainable Agriculture, Agricultural Trade and Unfair Subsidies, Genetic Resources, and People and Processes. We review 17 reports and books in the October issue of Seedling, under headings of Genetic Engineering, IPR, Sustainable Agriculture, Agricultural Trade and Unfair Subsidies, Genetic Resources, and People and Processes.
The day the sun dies: contamination and resistance in Mexico by Silvia Ribeiro | 27 Jul 2004 Seedling - July 2004
Silent Theft - book review by Brewster Kneen | 15 Jul 2004 Seedling - July 2004 Silent Theft - The Private Plunder of our Common Wealth, by David Bollier, Routledge, 2003, 272 pp. Silent Theft - The Private Plunder of our Common Wealth, by David Bollier, Routledge, 2003, 272 pp.
Climate crisis - Copenhagen - putting agriculture front and centre in the discussions over climate change by GRAIN | 10 Dec 2009 On December 15th, La Via Campesina and a number of other groups will be leading a day of action in Copenhagen to put agriculture front and centre in the discussions over climate change. Although the official Convention is sure to disappoint, these groups will be carrying a message of hope. What they want the world to know is that, in their on-going struggle for food sovereignty, there is a way out of the climate crisis. On December 15th, La Via Campesina and a number of other groups will be leading a day of action in Copenhagen to put agriculture front and centre in the discussions over climate change. Although the official Convention is sure to disappoint, these groups will be carrying a message of hope. What they want the world to know is that, in their on-going struggle for food sovereignty, there is a way out of the climate crisis.
SAVING THE SEED: EUROPE'S CHALLENGE by ALVARO TOLEDO | 25 Apr 2002 Seedling - April 2002 The 1990s have not been a good decade for agricultural biodiversity in Europe. Lack of helpful reform in the Common Agricultural Policy, new legislative restrictions on seeds and a persistent move towards private industry controlling the seed markets has led to further intensification of agriculture and the disempowerment of farmers. But individuals, farmers, communities and non-government organisations are fighting back. Their actions are sometimes even supported with new national and European legislation and funding opportunities. The 1990s have not been a good decade for agricultural biodiversity in Europe. Lack of helpful reform in the Common Agricultural Policy, new legislative restrictions on seeds and a persistent move towards private industry controlling the seed markets has led to further intensification of agriculture and the disempowerment of farmers. But individuals, farmers, communities and non-government organisations are fighting back. Their actions are sometimes even supported with new national and European legislation and funding opportunities.
THE DIRECTIVE IS DEAD by GRAIN | 20 Mar 1995 Seedling - March 1995 The European Parliament stopped a law proposal that would have made life patenting possible in Europe. We look at the background, the history and the implications. The European Parliament stopped a law proposal that would have made life patenting possible in Europe. We look at the background, the history and the implications.