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Date: Mon, 5 Oct 1998 17:48:18 +0100
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From: Richard Wolfson <rwolfson@concentric.net>
Subject: GE News
Sunday Journal-Register
Springfield, Illinois
October 4 , 1998
PIRATES OF THE SOYBEANS
A Christian County farmer will pay Monsanto $10,000 for pirating Roundup
Ready soybeans.
Since bringing its much-heralded Roundup Ready soybeans onto the market,
the St. Louis biotech giant has loudly and aggressively pursued farmers who
violate patents by saving and replanting seed. Those efforts have expanded
as Roundup Ready technology is already well on the way to dominating the
soybean market and Roundup Ready corn was planted commercially for the
first time this year.
The company last week released information about several seed piracy
cases pursued by the company, including the Christian County settlement,
but would give no further information. "We're using these as examples at
this stage," said Monstanto spokeswoman Karen Marshall.
Elsewhere in Illinois, a father and son from Edwards County agreed to pay
$15,000 fro replanting seeds.
Monstanto named only one soybean grower, David Chaney of Reed, Ky., whose
settlement included a $35,000 royalty. He admitted to saving Roundup Ready
soybeans, replanting some and trading some to neighbors.
Monstanto may inspect all the property and production records of Chaney
and the others involved for five years. Chaney did not sign an invoice
statement at the time of purchase but was nonetheless liable, apparently
due to patent violations.
..........
The next two articles are from
The Gene Exchange
which is put out by
the Union of Concerned Scientists (USA) email ucs@ucsusa.org.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
A Public Voice on Biotechnology and Agriculture
More Rain on the Parade
Low-Yielding Bt cotton in Arkansas
According to the April 1998 Cotton Grower, Bt-cotton growers in
Arkansas had less than a banner year last season. A University of Arkansas
study of several Bt and non-Bt cotton fields showed that on average Bt
cotton yielded fewer pounds and lower income per acre. One farm showed a
remarkable difference in yield--Bt cotton produced 168 fewer pounds per
acre than the non-Bt variety. Bt cotton, on the farms studied, yielded an
average of 24 fewer pounds per acre. Also, the new varieties required more
growth regulator to synchronize plant development and had to be picked
twice at harvest. Non-Bt cotton is typically picked only once.
The Gene Exchange
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
-
A Public Voice on Biotechnology and Agriculture
EPA Requires Large Refuges
Agency moving in right direction
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has, for the first time,
conditioned Bt-corn approvals on the establishment of large refuges. The
Agency's most recent approvals of Bt crops--Novartis Bt popcorn and
AgrEvo's Bt field corn--include requirements that farmers plant either 40
percent or 20-30 percent of their corn acreage in refuges of non-Bt corn,
depending upon whether or not they spray with insecticides. Earlier Agency
approvals of several Bt-corn varieties did not require refuges of specific
sizes. The refuges required for Bt cotton were only 4 percent unsprayed or
20 percent sprayed.
The new EPA requirements are similar to recommendations in UCS's report Now
or Never: Serious New Plans to Save a Natural Pest Control.* UCS, and the
scientists who wrote the report, recommended that 50 percent of a farmer's
corn acres be planted in non-Bt-corn refuges if treated with insecticides
and 25 percent if not treated.
EPA's refuge requirements follow the recommendations developed by a group
of federal and university entomologists** working on resistance in corn
systems. Their recommendations offer two refuge options. Farmers who prefer
treating their non-Bt refuges with insecticides must establish non-Bt field
corn or popcorn on at least 40 percent of their corn acreage. Farmers who
choose not to spray are allowed to plant a smaller refuge. In either case,
non-Bt refuges must be close to the Bt crop--within 1500-2000 feet for
field corn and one-half mile for popcorn.
Non-Bt refuges are needed to delay the evolution of Bt resistance in pest
populations. The refuges are havens where Bt-susceptible insects are
expected to survive. By mating with Bt-resistant insects that develop on Bt
corn, the susceptibles help dilute the resistance trait in the insect
populations.
*To obtain Now or Never, send $14.95 plus $3 shipping/handling to UCS
Publications, Two Brattle Square, Cambridge, MA 02238-9105, or phone
617-547-5552.
**The North Central Regional Technical Committee of entomologists
associated with a USDA research project on the European corn borer and
other pests.
Sources: EPA Pesticide fact sheets: 4/98--"Bacillus thuringiensis CryIA(b)
delta-endotoxin ...in corn" and 5/98--"Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies
tolworthi Cry9C protein...in corn," OPPTS, Washington, D.C.; K. Ostlie et
al., "Bt corn and European corn borer: long-term success through resistance
management," NCR Pub. 602, Univ. Minn. Ext. Ser., St. Paul, 1997.
...........
Third Global Days of Action Against Genetic Engineering--October 2-16, 1998
Dear Activist Friends,
The Campaign for Food Safety (formerly called the Pure Food Campaign) and
activists from around the world invite you to join us and participate in
the October 2-16, 1998 Global Days of Action against genetically engineered
foods, life patents, and factory farming. During the weeks of Oct. 2-16,
consumer, farm, animal, and public interest organizations from several
dozen nations will be holding simultaneous protests, press conferences, and
public education events in front of supermarkets, corporate headquarters,
and government offices to strengthen the growing global campaign for
sustainable agriculture and food security.
The October Global Days of Action (GDA) will be the third annual series of
coordinated international actions against agricultural biotechnology and
life patenting. The first two GDA generated significant media coverage and
strengthened the growing global network of public interest non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) concerned about food, biodiversity, and economic
sustainability.
The GDA, of course, are just one of the many manifestations of a growing
international challenge mounted by civil society against the "Global
Biotechnocracy" of the gene engineers and the transnational corporations.
Indeed in Europe nearly every day has now become a continental "Day of
Action" against gene foods and crops--with boycotts, direct action, and
public debate reaching unprecedented levels. In addition strong citizen
campaigns continue to develop in Japan, Australia, India, and Asia--and
now, finally, signs are emerging of a potential mass anti-GE movement in
North America, South America, and Africa as well.
In this era of intensified economic exploitation and corporate
globalization, consumers worldwide are being subjected to an increasing
industrialization and contamination of the food supply and the environment.
In this context, progressive, green, and democracy-minded people have no
choice but to organize and campaign on a transnational basis. Isolated and
fragmented, civil society is no match for Monsanto, Novartis,
Hoechst/AgrEvo, Dupont, and the other giant chemical and pharmaceutical
corporations. But by campaigning and organizing together on an
international basis we can win the battle for a sustainable future and a
global Democracy.
So let us help strengthen our "Global Biodemocracy" Movement by carrying
out joint actions October 2-16, which will begin on Gandhi's birthday (Oct.
2) and culminate on World Food Day (Oct. 16). And following the example of
anti-GE campaigners in Europe, let's make every day a "Global Day of
Action" against genetic engineering and for sustainable and organic
agricultural production.
Our GDA Clearinghouse has received word of a number of protests around the
USA and the world for October 2-16. Many actions are still being planned.
Here are the actions and contact people we know about so far:
North America:
New York City. On October 12, so-called "Columbus Day," there will be an
anti-Genetic Engineering rally at 11:00 a.m. at the Central Park West
entrance of the Natural History Museum, site of Monsanto-sponsored
"Biodiversity Hall." For further information contact: Maris Abelson Tel.
212-865-8928 email <Fred@inch.com>
Boston. On October 15 at 11:45 a.m. New England Resistance Against Genetic
Engineering (RAGE) will hold a rally in front of the Environmental
Protection Agency at 1 Congress Street in downtown Boston. Among other
actions, RAGE representatives will present government EPA officials with a
petition to ban GE foods. For further information contact: Nancy Oden Tel.
207-434-6228 email <cleanmaine@nemaine.com>
Philadelphia. On October 15 at noon there will be a protest demonstration
in front of the Federal Building, including puppets and street theatre. For
further information contact: Elizabeth Fattahipour Tel. 610-527-8882 email
<mead@sas.upenn.edu>
Burlington, Vermont. On October 6, there will be a teach-in entitled "From
Green Revolution to Gene Revolution: The Biotech Threat to Sustainable
Agriculture" at the City Hall Contois auditorium. On October 9 at noon at
the Church Street side of City Hall there will be a rally and march,
including street theatre, costumes, and speakers. For further information
contact: Brian Tokar Tel. 802-229-0836 or 802-865-0120 email
<briant@earth.goddard.edu>
Chicago. On October 15 in Chicago at 11:30 a.m. there will be a rally in
the Federal Plaza, followed by a march to the Board of Trade and the USDA
office. For further information contact: Bob Rudner email <brudner@pg.net>
Port Townsend, Washington. There will be a Northwest US regional activist
meeting on October 4 from 9 a.m. to noon on "Building a Mass Movement
Against Genetic Engineering and Factory Farming" at the Provender Alliance
Annual Conference. Keynote speaker will be Ronnie Cummins of the Campaign
for Food Safety. For further information contact: Ronnie Cummins Tel.
218-226-4164 email <alliance@mr.net>
St. Louis, Missouri. Event to be announced. Contact: Don Fitz Tel.
314-240-8558 email <Fitzdon@aol.com>
West Palm Beach, Florida. Event to be announced. Contact: Mary Israel Tel.
561-547-5348 email <drizzit1@ix.netcom.com>
Athens, Georgia. Event to be announced. Contact: James Powell email
<jampow@arches.uga.edu>
Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Event to be announced. Contact: Louise Quigley Tel.
414-962-2703 email <lrqckq@aol.com>
Washington, D.C. On October 7 there will be an protest against the MAI
(Multilateral Agreement on Investment) sponsored by Public Citizen's Global
Trade Watch. Issues of genetic engineering and biopiracy will be discussed
within the context of economic globalization and economic colonialism. For
further information contact: Magrete Strand-Rangnes email
<mstrand@citizen.org>
Ottawa, Ontario Canada. Event to be announced. Contact: Lucy Sharrat Tel.
613-235-1672 email <lsharrat@chat.carleton.ca>
Thunder Bay, Ontario Canada. Event to be announced. Contact: Bob Ewing
email <sixdegrees@baynet.net>
Europe:
U.K. "GeneWeek" will include a fortnight of demonstrations, actions, and
"whatever." As part of the UK GDA the group "DNA" (Diverse Nature Alert)
will be presenting "Toxic Planet," a London-based interactive art-house
experience that will run from Oct. 3-10. Contact Genetic Engineering
Network (GEN) Tel. + (44) 181-374-9516 email <genetics@gn.apc.org>
Activists in North East U.K. are also organizing an event. Contact:
Tyneside Action for People & Planet (TAPP) Latest information through their
web site at: http://www.d-n-a.net/users/dnetDDmg/subvert1.htm
Also in U.K. a national Day of Action against the Tesco supermarket chain
on Oct. 2--including stickering, trolley runs, leafletting, mutant
vegetable costumes, etc. For details contact: Tel. +(44) 845-666-2834
(voicemail box 9) Website: http://visitweb.com/totnes
As mentioned earlier, nearly every day is now a GDA in Europe. For upcoming
events Oct. 2-16 in the following countries contact:
Sweden. Contact: Martin Frid. Tel. +46-479-10010 email <mjfrid@hotmail.com>
Netherlands. Contact Stephanie Howard at ASEED. Tel. +31-20-668-2236 email
<aseedeur@aseed.antenna.nl>
Austria. Contact Global 2000. Daniel Hausknost Tel. +(43) 181-257-300 email
<global2000@t0.or.at>
Switzerland. Contact Florianne Koechlin Tel. +(41) 61-411-2634 email
<nopatents@igc.org>
Greenpeace International (all over Europe). email
<Barbara.Kuepper@greenpeace.de>
India:
A street demonstration is planned in New Delhi for Oct. 2, among other
events. Contact: Vandana Shiva Tel. +(91) 11-696-8077 email
<vandana@twn.unv.ernet.in>
Japan:
Events to be announced. Contact: Mika Iba Tel. (81) 333-27-6444 email
<eric@gol.com>
Contact: Setsuko Yasuda email <nishoren@jca.ax.apc.org>
Asia & Pacific:
Contact: Pesticide Action Network/Safe Food Campaign in Malaysia Jennifer
Mourin Tel. + (60-4) 657-0271 email <panap@panap.po.my>
If you plan to organize a joint action/press conference in your country or
local area during the second Global Days of Action, please let us know.
Ronnie Cummins
Campaign for Food Safety/Organic Consumers Action 860 Highway 61
Little Marais, Minnesota 55614
Tel. 218-226-4164
Fax 218-226-4157
email: <alliance@mr.net>
_________________________________________________________
Richard Wolfson, PhD
Consumer Right to Know Campaign,
for Mandatory Labelling and Long-term
Testing of all Genetically Engineered Foods,
500 Wilbrod Street
Ottawa, ON Canada K1N 6N2
tel. 613-565-8517 fax. 613-565-1596
email: rwolfson@concentric.net
Our website, http://www.natural-law.ca/genetic/geindex.html
contains more information on genetic engineering as well as
previous genetic engineering news items
Subscription fee to genetic engineering news is $35 for 12 months
See website for details.
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
--Dan in Sunny Puerto Rico--
dan.worley@mindless.com
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