Corporate conquest, global geopolitics: Intellectual property rights and bilateral investment treaties by Aziz Choudry | 26 Jan 2005 Seedling - January 2005 Since the breakdown of World Trade Organisation talks in Cancun in September 2003, there has been much talk of the rise of bilateralism. But bilateral trade and investment agreements aren’t so much replacing the multilateral agreements that have foreshadowed them in the last decade as working with them to create a ratcheting system to increase the levels of intellectual property protection worldwide. Interestingly, and perhaps more significantly, bilateral trade and investment agreements are also proving to be quite effective in pushing the foreign policy goals of the US and EU. Since the breakdown of World Trade Organisation talks in Cancun in September 2003, there has been much talk of the rise of bilateralism. But bilateral trade and investment agreements aren’t so much replacing the multilateral agreements that have foreshadowed them in the last decade as working with them to create a ratcheting system to increase the levels of intellectual property protection worldwide. Interestingly, and perhaps more significantly, bilateral trade and investment agreements are also proving to be quite effective in pushing the foreign policy goals of the US and EU.
Berlin Manifesto for GMO-free Regions and Biodiversity in Europe by European Conference on GMO free Regions | 25 Jan 2005 "In most cases and for most species there is no realistic chance for coexistence between GM and non-GM farming, just as there is none between silence and noise in a room." "In most cases and for most species there is no realistic chance for coexistence between GM and non-GM farming, just as there is none between silence and noise in a room."
Territory, autonomy and defending maize by Carlos Santos interviews Aldo Gonzalez | 24 Jan 2005 Seedling - January 2005 Aldo Gonzalez is an indigenous person from the Mexican state of Oaxaca, where community organisations are leading a major resistance movement against the contamination of native maize by transgenic seeds. The movement is guided by the ancestral relationships between people and their natural surroundings. Politically, the resistance movement is linked to the struggle for autonomy by and for local communities, and is rooted in a particular indigenous vision of the world. In Oaxaca and in other Mexican states, defending maize is a cornerstone of defending a community's autonomy . Aldo Gonzalez is an indigenous person from the Mexican state of Oaxaca, where community organisations are leading a major resistance movement against the contamination of native maize by transgenic seeds. The movement is guided by the ancestral relationships between people and their natural surroundings. Politically, the resistance movement is linked to the struggle for autonomy by and for local communities, and is rooted in a particular indigenous vision of the world. In Oaxaca and in other Mexican states, defending maize is a cornerstone of defending a community's autonomy .
Biotechnology and the Political Ecology of Information in India by Glenn Davis Stone, Human Organization 63:127-140, 2004 | 24 Jan 2005 Case study of Bt cotton in India that looks at how GM crops can contribute to deskilling. Case study of Bt cotton in India that looks at how GM crops can contribute to deskilling.
Diversa dominates global search for blockbuster microbes by GRAIN | 22 Jan 2005 Seedling - January 2005 In the last decade the US' Diversa corporation has expanded its bioprospecting activities all over the globe, placing it very high if not top of the list of the worlds bioprospectors. In the last decade the US' Diversa corporation has expanded its bioprospecting activities all over the globe, placing it very high if not top of the list of the worlds bioprospectors.
Food Health Bribery by Antje Lorch, IndyMedia | 18 Jan 2005 In-depth article on Monsanto's attempts to bring Bt cotton into Indonesia. In-depth article on Monsanto's attempts to bring Bt cotton into Indonesia.
ISAAA Report On Bt Cotton In India - Success & Failure by Ashok B Sharma, Financial Express (India) | 17 Jan 2005
Uncultivated food: food that money can't buy by SANFEC | 16 Jan 2005 Seedling - January 2005 The presence of uncultivated food in the food systems of South Asia is a survival issue for many of the poorest families, some of whom rely on uncultivated food for 100% of their dietary needs. This article underlines the critical connection between the conservation of the local diversity of food sources and the broader social goals of poverty alleviation, livelihood enhancement and sustainable development. The presence of uncultivated food in the food systems of South Asia is a survival issue for many of the poorest families, some of whom rely on uncultivated food for 100% of their dietary needs. This article underlines the critical connection between the conservation of the local diversity of food sources and the broader social goals of poverty alleviation, livelihood enhancement and sustainable development.
Monsanto found guilty of offering bribes to facilitate Bt cotton in Indonesia by Various | 11 Jan 2005 Click on title link for various articles. Click on .pdf link below for the complete SEC complaint. Click on title link for various articles. Click on .pdf link below for the complete SEC complaint.