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Date: Sun, 29 Nov 1998 17:49:25 +0100
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From: Richard Wolfson <rwolfson@concentric.net>
Subject: GENews
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Here is an excellent summary of genetic engineering news prepared by Dr.
Robert Klauber <klauber@kdsi.net>
GMO SUMMARY 11-25 TO 11-29-98
GMO BATTLE RAGES IN INDIA
From: "PROF. NANJUNDA SWAMY" <swamy.krrs@aworld.net>
Nove 23. ….. there is a very heated debate about Monsanto going on
in India since the 16th of November, when a newspaper announced that field
trials with Bt cotton have been going on since four (??) months in
different states. The latest news is that the Central Rural Development
Minister has invited Monsanto to leave the country (before KRRS kicks them
out.)
Nov 28. Monsanto's field trials in Karnataka will be reduced to
ashes in a few days. Today, the Minister of Agriculture of Karnataka gave
a press conference where he was forced by the journalists to disclose the
three sites where the trials with Bt cotton are being conducted. In about
one week, thousands of farmers will occupy and burn down the three fields
in front of as many cameras as possible. These actions will start a
campaign of direct action by farmers against biotechnology, called
Operation 'Cremation Monsanto'.
NGO STOPS MONSANTO IN BRAZIL
November 23, 1998 A lawsuit filed by the Brazilian Institute for
Consumer Defense (IDEC) has temporarily halted the Brazilian Ministry of
Agriculture's approval of Monsanto's glyphosate-tolerant soybeans. The
court has prohibited the Brazilian government from authorizing the
marketing and planting of Roundup Ready soybeans until the case is
resolved. From: Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA
panna@panna.org web site www.panna.org/panna/
CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE IN THE USA
Gardeners Decontaminate Genetic Corn Crop
November 26, 1998. A group of conservative gardeners calling
themselves the California Croppers held a tackle football match early
Thanksgiving morning at the "Gill Tract" gardens, and in the process
destroyed a crop of genetically-engineered corn owned and operated by the
University of California. The Croppers took the opportunity to welcome
biotech giant Novartis, who just signed a multimillion dollar research deal
with UC-Berkeley. "As an informal welcome-wagon gesture, the Croppers would
like to make it clear to Novartis that we will take similar actions against
any future biotech experiments. Don't let our unseriousness make you think
this isn't serious: the security of the world's food supply is at stake.
Source:
<http://users.westnet.gr/~cgian>http://users.westnet.gr/~cgian/
GLOBAL ORGANIC LEADERS CALL FOR GMO BAN
November 25, 1998. The world’s leading organic farming
organisations, have called for an immediate ban on genetically modified
organisms (GMOis), stating that genetic engineering has no place in
agriculture and food as a whole not just in the organic sector.
Delegates from more than 60 countries have issued a joint statement
to governments and regulatory agencies listing their concerns. Source:
Press Release. 12th Scientific Conference of the International Federation
of organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM) which was held in Argentina last
week (16-20 November).
MONSANTO TRACKS DOWN SEED VIOLATORS
The Evansville Courier. An agribusiness company's investigation into
the replanting of its patented soybean seed has spread to Kentucky. [
Monsanto Co. ] has conducted 29 such investigations in Kentucky, and at
least two resulted in royalty settlements -- $35,000 >from a Henderson
County man and $25,000 from a McCracken County grower. The company recently
sent letters to customers detailing efforts to crack down on farmers who
save seeds from patented crops to plant the next year.
BRITISH SUPERMARKETS SEEK NON GMO FOOD
Following the initial lead given by Iceland Frozen Foods, other big
food retailers, including supermarket giants Tesco and Sainsbury, are
seeking contracts with suppliers who can guarantee GM-free food. This
requirement is being driven by consumer demand. From: Mark Griffiths
FRICS, Dreweatt Neate, is European rural policy adviser for the RICS. Tel:
+44 (0)1962 842233
GMO POLLEN GENES SPREAD UP TO A KILOMETER
An experiment in Svalov, Sweden indicated that pollen can spread
as much as a kilometer from the genetically engineered potato fields. From:
Prof. Joe Cummins e-mail: jcummins@julian.uwo.ca
NORTH AMERICAN BOYCOTT AGAINST RICE TEC CORPORATION CALLED
November 29, 1998. The Basmati Action Group (BAG) has
launched a North American boycott against the products of Rice Tec
Corporation of Alvin, Texas, USA. Rice Tec claims to have invented the
basmati rice they sell under the trade name, "Texmati" (Rice Tec products
also include "Jasmati" and "Kasmati" rice). The purpose of the boycott is
to heighten awareness of the issue of life-patents, organize public
condemnation of this process and demonstrate that the patenting of life
will be costly - not profitable - to those that pirate indigenous knowledge
and nature's creative capacities. We ask that you support the Basmati
Action Group in our boycott of all Rice Tec products.
..................
BASMATI ACTION GROUP (BAG)
c/o 1957 Kitchener St. Vancouver, B.C. Canada V5L 2W6 Tel. (1-604) 255-4910
E-mail: basmati-action@sfu.ca Website:
http://www.eciad.bc.ca/~lolin/basmati/
NORTH AMERICAN BOYCOTT AGAINST RICE TEC CORPORATION CALLED
November 29, 1998
The Basmati Action Group (BAG) has launched a North American boycott
against the products of Rice Tec Corporation of Alvin, Texas, USA. Rice
Tec claims to have invented the basmati rice they sell under the trade
name, "Texmati" (Rice Tec products also include "Jasmati" and "Kasmati"
rice). The purpose of the boycott is to heighten awareness of the issue of
life-patents for corporate profit, or biopiracy
Why support a boycott on Rice Tec?
Basmati rice has been grown in the Punjab region of India and Pakistan for
centuries. Working with nature's own creative capacities, farmers in this
area have, over time, cross bred and cultivated this distinct form of rice
known for its fragrant aroma and unique taste. For the farmers of India
and Pakistan, basmati rice is a vital subsistence food and source of
income.
In 1997, the powerful United States Patent and Trademark Office accepted
Rice Tec's application to patent basmati rice (patent # 5,663,484). By
cross-breeding two basmati rice varieties this corporation insists that it
has "invented" a "novel" variety of basmati and has patented it as "basmati
867." The basmati varieties used to "invent" Rice Tec's "basmati 867" are
farmers' varieties bred over centuries in South Asia.
The crux of the issue is not whether the basmati rice variety bred by Rice
Tec is "novel" and therefore patentable or not because the facts show that
it is not. The real issue is that no one should be able to hold a patent
over a life form. By taking out a patent on "basmati 867" Rice Tec is
participating in what has been described as "biopiracy."
Biopiracy is the theft of indigenous knowledge, the theft of the creative
capacities of nature and the false claim by patent holders - mostly
corporations - that they created the life form they have pirated. Biopiracy
lays the groundwork for the colonization of creation - of life itself - by
scientists and, ultimately, the corporations they work for.
................
Thanks to "NLP Wessex" <nlpwessex@bigfoot.com> for posting this:
Subject: GM crops use wider range of chemicals
Date: Sun, 29 Nov 1998
Below is a report of contact herbicide released by Zeneca in Canada earlier
this year. It is particularly interesting to see Zeneca marketing this
product as an effective way of controlling GM crop volunteers which have
been genetically modified to be resistant to Roundup and are therefore no
longer controllable using glyphospate.
It is significant that this represents a formal acknowledgement by a
biotechnology company that GM herbicide resistance has now become a serious
agronomic problem for farmers. It is also a defacto admission that the
introduction of GM herbicide resistant crops will necessitate the use of a
wider range of chemical types in agriculture.
The need to use additional chemical types in order to control volunteers
from harvested crops of its own glufosinate-ammonium tolerant "Liberty
Link" varieties has also previously been acknowledged by Pierre-Louis
Dupont, AgrEvo's European head of marketing -: "However, in the case of
Liberty Link products, farmers will be using a chemical which is not
currently used for volunteer control."(Farmers Weekly 13th March 1998).
The issue of the sustainable use of chemicals in agriculture is not simply
one of quantities used, but also one of the range utilised. The wider the
range used, the wider the range of species potentially adversely affected.
>From this perspective.
it is difficult to see how biotechnology companies can justify their claim
that the use of herbicide resistant GM crops provides a useful contribution
towards sustainability.
(Natural Law Party Wessex)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
----------------------
New Non-selective Herbicide Receives Registration
CANADA NEWSWIRE Thu, Mar 05 1998
CALGARY, March 5 /CNW/ - Over the past decade, many growers have adopted
direct seeding systems in their farming operations. This advancement has
required significant changes in weed management, particularly in the area
of controlling early emerging spring annual weeds. Zeneca Agro is proud to
bring another non-selective herbicide to its product portfolio for Western
Canadian growers. Gramoxone(R) PDQ(TM) non-selective herbicide is a new
product that offers growers fast and complete control of virtually all
annual weeds, and top-growth of perennials, prior to crop emergence.
"This is a new product, with unique features that provides farmers with an
alternative to glyphosate products." says Murray De Pape, Zeneca Market
Lead. "There are agronomic benefits that are not available with glyphosate
products", continued De Pape. "Gramoxone PDQ is a non-selective, contact
herbicide that provides the fastest burndown of all non-selective products
and is rainfast in just 15 minutes - even in cool spring weather!" In
addition, Gramoxone PDQ is rapidly absorbed by the plant and because it is
biologically deactivated on contact with soil, there is no residual
activity.
Time is a precious commodity at seeding time. The biggest advantage of
Gramoxone PDQ over glyphosate, is the speed with which it works. In fact,
growers can spray with Gramoxone PDQ and plant the same day. Gramoxone PDQ
can also be applied post-seeding, but prior to crop emergence. "This
product is also effective on volunteer Roundup Ready (TM) canola, unlike
glyphosate products." said De Pape.
Gramoxone PDQ is registered in Canada for use as a pre-seed burndown in
barley, canary seed, canola (including all transgenic varieties), dry
common beans, field peas, flax, lentils, mustard, oats, rye, solin,
soybeans, sunflowers, triticale, wheat and a variety of horticultural
crops. Gramoxone is also currently sold in more than 100 countries
worldwide, and is the second largest selling herbicide in the world. "We
are very excited about the possibilities for it and growers will be
pleased with its speed and efficacy."
Visual symptoms of weed burndown may appear as soon as 30 minutes
following application, and most weeds are completely controlled in 24-48
hours. Gramoxone PDQ is applied with a ground sprayer at a minimum of 10
gallons of water per acre. Clean water, free of dirt, should always be
used. Clear liquid nitrogen or completely clear liquid fertilizers may also
be used as a carrier for Gramoxone PDQ. Suspension-type fertilizers will
deactivate the product, however.
Said De Pape, "Zeneca is pleased to be able to offer this product to
growers in Western Canada. Gramoxone PDQ is one of the tools in the Zeneca
non-selective herbicide portfolio, which includes Touchdown(R) and
Reglone(R), to help farmers with their weed management."
Zeneca is a $3.3 billion bioscience business with approximately 7,500
employees in Canada and the United States. Zeneca Corp. (in Canada) and
Zeneca Inc. (in the US) are both wholly owned subsidiaries of UK-based
Zeneca Group PLC (NYSE:ZEN), a major $9 billion international bioscience
business, engaged in the research, development, manufacture and marketing
of ethical (prescription) pharmaceuticals, agricultural and specialty
chemical products and the supply of healthcare services.
Gramoxone, PDQ, Touchdown and Reglone are trademarks of a Zeneca Group
Company.
Roundup Ready is a trademark of Monsanto Canada Inc.
(Copyright Canada News-Wire)
_________________________________________________________
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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