Fwd: GEN2-7

Daniel Worley (dan.worley@mindless.com)
Tue, 09 Feb 1999 18:04:04 -0400

>X-Sender: rwolfson@pop3.concentric.net
>Date: Sun, 7 Feb 1999 16:42:37 -0500
>To: info@natural-law.ca
>From: Richard Wolfson <rwolfson@concentric.net>
>Subject: GEN2-7
>X-MIME-Autoconverted: from quoted-printable to 8bit by smv08.globecomm.net
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>
>Biotech News, by Richard Wolfson, PhD
>
>Reprinted with permission from the February 1999 issue of Alive: Canadian
>Journal of Health and Nutrition, 7436 Fraser Park Drive, Burnaby, BC V5J
>5B9
>
>Award to Fired rBGH Reporters
>
>Investigative reporters Jane Akre and Steve Wilson were recently awarded
>one of the top honors in journalism in the US: an Award for Ethics from the
>national Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ). The journalists,
>working for a FOX-TV affiliate in Tampa, Florida, refused to alter a
>documentary on genetically engineered bovine growth hormone (rBGH).
>
>According to the society President Fred Brown, Jane Akre and Steve Wilson
>"lost their jobs for refusing to incorporate false information into an
>investigative story about bovine growth hormone and then waged a
>post-employment campaign to make sure the record was set straight."
>
>In recognition of their commitment to reporting the truth, Akre and Wilson
>received a standing ovation from the national conference of US journalists.
>Mr. Wilson said, "To what extent can viewers and readers be served if
>journalists Š start giving into pressure to falsify or slant their
>reports?" (See http://www.foxBGHsuit.com)
>
>European Opposition to Biotech Industry
>
>Internal documents from Monsanto show the biotech giant is considering
>crisis management over skyrocketing public opposition to genetically
>engineered foods. Despite a multi-million dollar advertising campaign in
>Europe, support for genetically modified foods is at an all time low.
>
>"At each point we keep thinking that we have reached the low point ... but
>we apparently have not," writes the author of the papers, Stan Greenberg, a
>US poll adviser who has worked for President Clinton, Tony Blair and German
>Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. In the fall of 1998, 51% of UK consumers
>said genetically engineered ingredients are unacceptable, compared to 44% a
>few months earlier, and 35% in 1997.
>
>UK Government Burns Biotech Canola
>
>A field of herbicide-resistant canola was destroyed in UK after it
>pollinated nearby plants. The biotech canola was planted only two meters
>away from normal canola. Regulations dictating a buffer zone of at least 6
>meters were violated.
>
>Regulators and environmentalists are concerned that herbicide-resistant
>crops could cross-pollinate with other species and produce
>herbicide-resistant superweeds that create havoc for agriculture and the
>environment. The UK Government is considering prosecuting the biotech
>companies involved, Monsanto and Perryfields, for allegedly contaminating
>the environment.
>
>France Restrains
>
>French Agriculture Minister Jean Glavany defended France's cautious stance
>over crop genetic engineering. "If there is a risk to be taken, I would
>take that of over-precaution over that of being blind or unworried," he
>said.

>
>France is torn between environmentalists concerned about the risks and
>foreign firms eager to import genetically manipulated seeds. France is
>also resisting pressure for the European Commission, which is beginning
>legal proceedings against France for delaying authorization of several
>genetically altered crops.
>
>Brazil to Halts Biotech Soy
>
>Japan has refused genetically engineered soy from Brazil, forcing Brazilian
>authorities to halt approval for cultivation of biotech soybeans. Soy
>exports from Brazil to Japan total $1.5 billion US, which is about 30% of
>Japan's soy imports. Consumer action in Brazil, including a lawsuit filed
>by the Brazilian Institute for Consumer Defense (IDEC), has also been
>instrumental in halting the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture's approval of
>Monsanto's glyphosate-tolerant soybeans.
>
>Texmati Boycott
>
>The Basmati Action Group (based in British Columbia) has launched a boycott
>against Texmati rice, and other products of Rice Tec Corporation (USA).
>Rice Tec claims to have invented the basmati rice they sell under the trade
>name, "Texmati."
>
>The corporation insists it has "invented" a "novel" variety of basmati by
>cross-breeding natural basmati rice varieties. These natural varieties
>have been cultivated in India and Pakistan for centuries. The purpose of
>the boycott is to heighten awareness of the patenting of life-forms for
>corporate profit, which has also been termed "biopiracy." Rice Tec
>products also include "Jasmati" and "Kasmati" rice. (See
>http://www.eciad.bc.ca/~lolin/basmati/)
>
>..............
>
>News Bulletin, By Dr. Joe Cummins
>Professor Emeritus of Genetics, University of Western Ontario:
>
>Experiments on Pig to Human transplantation are scheduled to begin this
>March at University Hospital, London, Ontario according to the London,
>Ontario news media.
>
>The local press have refused to publish information about the international
>moratorium on Pig to Human transplantation. The media report the $millions
>provided by Novartis and the suffering of those awaiting transplantation.
>The only concern expressed are the ethical concerns of animal rights and a
>few religious fanatics.
>
>The British exports to Canada clearly signal multinational corporations
>efforts to get around the legitimate concerns over spread of ERV viruses in
>virulent form from pigs to people. Sadly the bureaucrats of the Canadian
>government are providing the people of southern Ontario as white mice in a
>dangerous experiments, while cowardly newpersons cheer them on and report
>public relations for large corporations.
>
>According to UK government documents forwarded by Paul Davis
><devatalk@mcmail.com>
>
>UK supplied 19 transgenic pigs to Canada for breeding and 12 for research
>in April 1998.
>UK supplied 19 transgenic pigs to Canada for breeding and 8 for research in
>Sept 1998.
>
>
>
>_________________________________________________________
>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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