IP rights under investment agreements: the TRIPS-plus implications for enforcement and protection of public interest by Ermias Tekeste Biadgleng (South Centre) | 30 Aug 2006
July 2006 by GRAIN | 30 Jul 2006 Seedling - July 2006 This Seedling is a special combined April and July 2006 issue. This Seedling is a special combined April and July 2006 issue.
Plantations, GM trees and indigenous rights by Anne Petermann and Orin Langelle | 26 Jul 2006 Seedling - July 2006 The damaging effects of monoculture tree plantations are being resisted around the world. Timber plantations have occupied large tracts of indigenous and agricultural land and have been responsible for the loss of biodiversity and the pollution and depletion of water and soils. Such plantations are owned by large corporations with little concern for the surrounding communities or environment. Now, the addition of genetically modified (GM) tree plantations can only make the situation worse. This article argues that the development of GM trees needs to be stopped now. The damaging effects of monoculture tree plantations are being resisted around the world. Timber plantations have occupied large tracts of indigenous and agricultural land and have been responsible for the loss of biodiversity and the pollution and depletion of water and soils. Such plantations are owned by large corporations with little concern for the surrounding communities or environment. Now, the addition of genetically modified (GM) tree plantations can only make the situation worse. This article argues that the development of GM trees needs to be stopped now.
Tarnishing Silver Bullets: Bt Technology Adoption, Bounded Rationality and the Outbreak of Secondary Pest Infestations in China by Shenghui Wang, David Just | 26 Jul 2006 "Seven years after the initial commercialization of Bt cotton in China, we show that total pesticide expenditure for Bt cotton farmers in China is nearly equal to that of their conventional counterparts, about $101 per hectare. Bt farmers in 2004 on "Seven years after the initial commercialization of Bt cotton in China, we show that total pesticide expenditure for Bt cotton farmers in China is nearly equal to that of their conventional counterparts, about $101 per hectare. Bt farmers in 2004 on
Voices in the green desert by Silvia Ribeiro | 22 Jul 2006 Seedling - July 2006 In March 2006 women entered the tree nursery at the Aracruz Celulosa pulp mill in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and destroyed a million eucalyptus seedlings and its laboratory. This was a protest against the serious social and environmental impact caused by the expansion of the “green desert” – the vast eucalyptus monocultures that are spreading across southern Brazil. In March 2006 women entered the tree nursery at the Aracruz Celulosa pulp mill in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and destroyed a million eucalyptus seedlings and its laboratory. This was a protest against the serious social and environmental impact caused by the expansion of the “green desert” – the vast eucalyptus monocultures that are spreading across southern Brazil.
Fairtrade and global justice by James O'Nions | 20 Jul 2006 Seedling - July 2006 Until very recently, ‘fairly traded’ goods were only available at shops run by development charities like Oxfam, and church bazaars. The range was small, and awareness of the fair trade concept limited. Yet recently fair trade – or Fairtrade, as it has branded itself – has become big business. You can choose Fairtrade coffee in mainstream outlets like Starbucks across the global North, and in the UK, more than 1,000 products are now certified as Fairtrade with awareness of what the mark means now at 50% of the population according to a recent poll. On an international level, the industry estimates it benefits five million producers worldwide. Yet with multinationals moving to cash in, and supermarkets approaching Fairtrade as just another niche market, can it avoid being co-opted by the market system it was set up to challenge? Until very recently, ‘fairly traded’ goods were only available at shops run by development charities like Oxfam, and church bazaars. The range was small, and awareness of the fair trade concept limited. Yet recently fair trade – or Fairtrade, as it has branded itself – has become big business. You can choose Fairtrade coffee in mainstream outlets like Starbucks across the global North, and in the UK, more than 1,000 products are now certified as Fairtrade with awareness of what the mark means now at 50% of the population according to a recent poll. On an international level, the industry estimates it benefits five million producers worldwide. Yet with multinationals moving to cash in, and supermarkets approaching Fairtrade as just another niche market, can it avoid being co-opted by the market system it was set up to challenge?