Extractions: @import "misc/drupal.css"; @import url(modules/epublish/epublish.css); @import url(modules/event/event.css); Publishers of PR Watch Topics: corporations democracy biotechnology Source: CounterPunch, May 26, 2005 "Close to 100 New England towns have passed resolutions opposing the unregulated use of GMOs (genetically modified organisms); nearly a quarter of these have called for local moratoria on the planting of GMO seeds. In 2004, three California counties, Mendocino , Trinity and Marin, passed ordinances banning the raising of genetically engineered crops and livestock." In response, "fifteen states recently have introduced legislation removing local control of plants and seeds . Eleven of these states have already passed the provisions into law." The move to deny local control over food was launched at a May 2004 American Legislative Exchange Council forum, where industry groups proposed a "Biotechnology state uniformity resolution." Previously, the tobacco industry used a similar approach. A
Extractions: @import "misc/drupal.css"; @import url(modules/epublish/epublish.css); @import url(modules/event/event.css); Publishers of PR Watch Topics: public relations biotechnology agriculture by Andy Rowell and Bob Burton "T heir level of desperation appears to be increasing," says Michael Hansen, a scientist with Consumers Union in the US, who monitors the activities of the biotech industry as it lobbies for acceptance of genetically modified (GM) foods. Hansen has watched with increasing alarm as the pro-GM lobby escalates its vitriolic attacks on critics. Over the next few months we will witness the final end game by biotech proponents to gain acceptance for GM. The pro-biotech industry has accused its critics of fundamentalism and of hijacking the GM debate to further their own political and trade interests. In reality, the pro-GM lobby is using these very tactics itself. The biotech industry is relying heavily on third parties to push its message, including US and British officials, corporate front groups, a carefully selected group of farmers from developing nations, and a loose coalition that includes right-wing think tanks and even a few ex-Marxists turned libertarians.
Extractions: For immediate release Professor Michael Lipton will deliver a lecture tomorrow at the University of Sussex in support of genetically modified (GM) crops. The lecture, 'Genetically modified crops to reduce world hunger: hard fact, emotional blackmail or Monsanto propaganda?' will be based on a lecture that Professor Lipton delivered to 300 leading agricultural scientists in Washington DC, last month. Professor Lipton will argue that poverty reduction in the developing world in 1970-87 was linked to the rapid growth of yields of main food staples and led to productive farm employment, in the wake of the 'green revolution'. However, the reduction in poverty, the growth of yields in staples and increases in farm employment, left out many of the world's poor. Between 1987 and 1998, both poverty reduction and staple yields growth was stalled. According to Professor Lipton, a development economist, there are limits to feasible redistribution. So the revival of growth in food staples yields is necessary to re-start global poverty reduction. Professor Lipton proposes that genetically modified crop research and development, if properly regulated, are the safest and most promising route to this. However, he argues the present organisation and privatisation of research and knowledge diverts this potentially life-saving new science to trivial uses. Professor Lipton believes that radical changes to the organisation of agricultural research are both necessary and feasible to put this right and to address the issues of food-chain safety, environmental management and biodiversity in developing countries. These are all issues brought into high profile by GM crops.
Extractions: Minister for Human Services DISCUSSION PAPER RELEASED ON GM CROPS A discussion paper on Genetically Modified crops has been released today by the State Government to seek public comment. The paper " Preserving the Identity of non-Genetically Modified Crops in South Australia " aims to canvass community views on the need to preserve the identity of non-GM crops. Minister for Human Services Dean Brown says the purpose of the paper is to encourage public discussion and debate and for the community to express their views. "Health Ministers have already set down a very high standard requiring labelling of foods containing GM ingredients," Mr Brown says. "This gives consumers information in which to make choices. The new food labelling requirements become operative in December this year." Mr Brown says the paper will ensure the government is aware of peoples views and concerns during the development of new laws which may directly impact on South Australians, the States agrifood industry and the biotechnology industry.
Biotechnology Australia Site - Media Releases 2003 Farmers adopt a pragmatic approach to GM crops. (media Backgrounder Slight rise in concerns about GM foods and crops. (media backgrounder http://www.biotechnology.gov.au/index.cfm?event=object.showContent&objectid=0B91
Extractions: For Immediate Release: June 20, 2002 Study Details Announced at June 25 National Press Club Briefing in Washington, D.C. What: A review of current scientific literature comparing the environment impacts of biotechnology-derived and traditional crops indicates that soil, air and water quality all benefit from the responsible use of current biotechnology-derived soybean, corn and cotton crops. Dr. Teresa Gruber, executive vice president of the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST), along with the researchers who prepared the report and representatives of the United Soybean Board, will present the study findings and respond to questions from the media. When: Tuesday, June 25 from 9:30-11:00 a.m. (Eastern) Where: National Press Club, Zenger Room, 529 14th St. NW, 13th Floor, Washington, D.C. Who: A team of researchers affiliated with Washington State University, the University of Illinois, Clemson University and the National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy conducted the study on behalf of CAST, a non-profit organization composed of scientific societies and individual members. CAST assembles, interprets, and communicates science-based information regionally, nationally, and internationally on food, fiber, agricultural, natural resource, and related societal and environmental issues. The United Soybean Board, a farmer-led organization which oversees the investments of the soybean checkoff on behalf of all U.S. soybean farmers, commissioned the study.
AIAST-Media Releases blue logo to the right to download the letter to Dr Diamond and the AIAST media Release. But what happens when GMcrops are eventually released? http://www.aiast.com.au/media.php
Extractions: Water Sharing Strategies On Track Released May 2005 We are getting the balance right but there is a way to go yet, was the overall conclusion emerging from a well-attended symposium held at the Rich River Golf Club, Moama, southern NSW on Friday 29 th April 2005. AIAST invites the author of Collapse to look again Released March 2005 A couple of weeks ago a new book was released by American academic and author Dr Jared Diamond. Collapse how societies choose to fail or survive addresses the collapse of earlier civilisations and links these to mismanagement of natural resources.
Extractions: Scientists Publish Evaluation of Biotech Crops, Underscoring Safety and Benefits ST. LOUIS, MO, December 15, 2000 Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology The scientific report reviews scientific research on crops protected against insect pests with a gene from Bacillus thuringiensis Bt ), a common soil microbe, including studies which demonstrate that Bt crops are as safe as conventional plant varieties and these products provide significant economic, environmental and agricultural benefits. Bt crops have been commercially available since 1996," said Dr. Roy Fuchs, director of regulatory science at Monsanto Company, a coauthor of the paper. The evaluation reviewed data on three major Bt crops - corn, cotton and potatoes - that have been commercialized in several countries, rapidly adopted by farmers, and studied extensively by scientists around the world. "The combined safety and performance studies combined with years of experience have shown that Bt crops are providing important benefits on many different levels," said Dr. Fuchs.
Extractions: Monsanto Welcomes ISAAA Report Highlighting Success for Biotech Crops in Developing World ST. LOUIS (Jan.10, 2002) - Monsanto Company welcomes today's report by the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA), which demonstrates the growth in use of plant biotechnology around the world and its importance to improving agriculture in the developing world. "This report puts an important focus on the economic, environmental and health benefits biotechnology can bring the developing world, including increased yields, reduced pesticide use and disease resistance," said Robert Horsch, Ph.D., Vice President for Monsanto's Technology Cooperation program. According to ISAAA's "Global Review of Commercialized Transgenic (GM) Crops," biotech crop acreage in developing countries in 2001 represented more than one-quarter of total global biotech crop acreage. "Farmers in developing regions are beginning to have access to modern agricultural tools like biotechnology that will help grow more and better food, care for the land, and protect the environment," said Horsch. "Plant biotechnology tools also help increase farmers' productivity and, in turn, their income, resulting in a reduction in poverty in their communities."
Extractions: back to biokoya co-globalize rat haus Index ... tree This paper is reproduced here with permission of the source organizations that funded it: the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and the UK Department for International Development who state at the bottom of this: "Panos Briefings are intended to stimulate informed public debate and may be freely reproduced, in whole or in part, with acknowledgement." The original exists at http://www.oneworld.org/panos/briefing/brief30.htm NOTE: the original employs the convention of underlining text for emphasis . Given the degree of HTML syntax errors (making it difficult to ascertain just how much of what was actually underlined was intended), and that it is this ratitor's belief that underlining is more difficult to read in hypertext, all such text exists here in italics Panos Media Briefing No 30A (re-issue) February 1999 GREED OR NEED? Genetically modified crops TABLE OF CONTENTS The Birth Of Genetic Engineering Genetically Modified Crops: The Industry Case GM Crops: The Critics' Case A Question Of Trust?
Extractions: Home Uni Students Research ... Home News Search: Any Publication Media Releases Uni News Melbourne Update Staff News Any Topic Business Sport Politics Law Technology Entertainment Education Arts Other Any UniNews UniNews China India Goulburn Valley McMillan Any UniNews Volume Vol 12 (2003) Vol 13 (2004) Vol 14 (2005) Pre-2003 Editions Any UniNews No's No 1 No 2 No 3 No 4 No 5 No 6 No 7 No 8 No 9 No 10 No 11 No 12 No 13 No 14 No 15 No 16 No 17 No 18 No 19 No 20 No 21 No 22 No 23 No 24 No 25 Any Month January February March April May June July August September October November December Any Year Media Release, Thursday 13 December 2001 A small Australian gold mine is becoming the prototype for a radical new way to transform toxic mine waste from an expensive liability into an environmental and economic windfall. Native eucalypt trees and other cash crops, grasses and plants that can extract heavy metals from the soil could soon adorn an experimental tailings dam set up at the Stawell gold mine in the state of Victoria. The concept represents a major shift in the way tailings dams and mine wastes are managed and rehabilitated. The University of Melbourne in collaboration with Stawell Gold Mines Pty Ltd and Curtin University, Western Australia, will test a suite of plants at a Tailings Experimental Research Facility (TERF) that they hope will bring long-term environmental and economic benefits to the region.
Planet Ark : Red Tape, Media Stop Russia Growing GMO Crops Planet Ark gives you up to 40 World Environment News stories every day from the Reuters news agency. Nearly 10000 environmental news stories are fully http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/29761/story.htm
Extractions: Our UK Home Page Select a topic from this pull-down menu Read the latest Reuters World Environment News Look at the latest Reuters Environment News Pictures Receive free daily news headlines via email Search the Planet Ark News Archive Find out about National Tree Day Visit the Planet Ark Media Centre Who are Planet Ark? Find out about Planet Ark's campaigns Find out about the local recycling services available in your area Russia currently does not produce GMOs on a commercial basis, although scientists have been carrying out experiments with genetic modification of livestock and plants for years. Legislation allows imports of GMOs under special permits. So far such permits have been issued for 18 genetically modified food components for human consumption and 55 for animal feeds. "There is no legislative ban on production of genetically modified crops, but all attempts to start cultivating them have failed ... as the existing scheme of registration (of domestically produced GMOs) makes such registration virtually impossible," said Konstantin Skryabin, director of the Biological Engineering centre at Russia's Academy of Sciences.
Abare Media Release 2005 With little rain in sight in south eastern Australia, winter crop production in 200506 is For the three major winter crops, wheat, barley and canola, http://www.abareconomics.com/pages/media/2005/7jun.htm
Extractions: Webmaster Site index Privacy 28 July, 2005 7 June 2005 Poor outlook for winter crops With little rain in sight in south eastern Australia, winter crop production in 2005-06 is forecast to be around 26 million tonnes, significantly lower than last season, the latest Australian Crop Report reveals. The report was released today by Dr Stephen Beare, Acting Executive Director of ABARE. Below average rainfall in the beginning of 2005 and the poor seasonal outlook, particularly in south and eastern Australia, pointed to a reduction in area sown, and reduced yields for the 2005-06 winter crop in these states. For the largest winter crop producing states, Western Australia and New South Wales, the outlook for 2005-06 production is vastly different. In Western Australia, winter crop production is forecast to increase by 16 per cent to over 13 million tonnes. In New South Wales, production is forecast to fall by 55 per cent to around 4 million tonnes. Production in Queensland, Victoria and South Australia is also forecast to be lower, by 27, 16 and 26 per cent respectively. Total Australian winter crop production is forecast to be 17 per cent less than in the 2004-05 season. For the three major winter crops, wheat, barley and canola, both area and production are forecast to fall in 2005-06. Wheat production is forecast to fall by 21 per cent to 16 million tonnes, barley down 13 per cent to 5.6 million tonnes and canola 30 per cent lower at 1.1 million tonnes.
Extractions: The nutrient balance in northern New South Wales and Queensland soils is going backwards and - for some of them - going backwards fast, according to Mike Bell, a specialist soils agronomist with Queensland's Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries at Kingaroy. Dr Bell told more than 140 advisers and leading growers at a recent Grains Research Update in Dubbo part of the reason for the negative nutrient balance - more nutrients taken from the soil in grain than are being replaced by fertiliser - was the success of the region's grain farmers in growing better crops more often, as they became better at optimising use of soil water. Growers had also heeded the expert advice to include new crops in their rotations and more of them were using reduced or zero tillage to do so. Dr Bell leads two major, soil-focused, research projects for the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), which organises an annual round of Updates with the support of its research partners - the NSW and Queensland Departments of Primary Industries, CSIRO, the universities and private consultants. "Fertiliser inputs have not kept pace with removal rates as yields have improved, and the challenge is to lift inputs in reduced or zero till situations," Dr Bell told the Dubbo Update.
Extractions: Dry sowing - while risky - is a viable option for Mallee grain growers and could produce real benefits if crops were managed the right way according to researchers presenting at this week's Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Update at Karoonda. Up to 40% of paddocks in South Australia's Mallee region have been sown with crops before the late break of the growing season in June this year. More than 100 growers attended the GRDC Update at the Karoonda Hotel on Tuesday. Mick Faulkner of Agrilink Agricultural Consultants told growers that dry sowing could reduce seeding time when rain eventuates, maximise the length of the growing season, limit yield reductions due to late-sown crops, reduce the risk of excess rainfall hampering seeding operations, and maximise efficiencies in machinery use and labour. Mr Faulkner suggested that up to 40% of any Mallee farm could be dry-sown in a late season, but said preparation and planning were essential if dry-sown crops were to be viable. Mallee growers should not sow crops dry if there was a risk of wind erosion, an expensive weed problem or substantial disease or insect risk, no subsoil moisture, a risk of poor crop establishment or if there was potential for establishment too early, resulting in a hay-off in spring. Rural Solutions SA's Graham Fromm said herbicide strategy needed to be carefully thought out by growers who had dry-sown their crops. Selecting paddocks for which there was a known history of herbicide use was critical to avoid "surprising" herbicide responses from dry-sown crops. Herbicides could fail in certain dry-sown situations or even damage the crop, he said.
Developing World Media 'lacks Critical Analysis Of GM' - SciDev.Net *Zambia s media rarely sources comments on GM crops from farmers There, the media is supportive of GM crop technology but journalists do not report on http://www.scidev.net/content/news/eng/developing-world-media-lacks-critical-ana
Extractions: [LUSAKA] A survey of the media coverage relating to genetically modified (GM) crops in five developing countries has shown that news stories often lack critical analysis of the issues at stake, and rarely represent the views of farmers. In four of the countries studied â Brazil, India, Kenya and Zambia â the media tended to follow the government line on GM crops while in Thailand the media generally opposes government plans to introduce the crops. The study, by the UK-based Panos Institute, describes Zambia's print media as the least engaged in reporting on GM research and policy of those studied. The media survey was part of a larger study on GM decision-making, entitled GM debate â Who decides? , published last week (20 May). In general, "much of the coverage analysed revealed a lack of analytical (or investigative) reporting", says the report. "Most of the news articles, for example, were based on announcements from government sources â a reflection of the relative weakness of investigative journalism in science-related issues in most developing countries." The Zambian media was analysed between January and June 2004. During that period, says the report, the government-owned
Inaccuracy â Not Bias â Is The Scourge Of The Media - SciDev.Net Such criticism ignores the fact that the main problem is not media bias, One of the common misconceptions about genetically modified (GM) crops is that http://www.scidev.net/Editorials/index.cfm?fuseaction=readEditorials&itemid=157&
Media Advisory: Local Farm Shares Crops With Community Groups media Advisory Local farm shares crops with community groups. Toronto Public Health staff are joining community agencies tomorrow to harvest crops from a http://wx.toronto.ca/inter/it/newsrel.nsf/0/068b7dc22243247e85256ec80075390a?Ope
Media - Call For Open Minds On GM Crops And Biotechnology (28 June) Professor Stephen Powles an agricultural scientist at The University of Western Australia has called on both city and rural Australians to have open minds http://www.uwa.edu.au/media/statements/2001/06/call_for_open_minds_on_gm_crops_a
Extractions: Official Publications Thursday, June 28, 2001 CALL FOR OPEN MINDS ON GM CROPS AND BIOTECHNOLOGY Professor Stephen Powles an agricultural scientist at The University of Western Australia has called on both city and rural Australians to have open minds on biotechnology and the value of genetically modified (GM) crops. Professor Powles warned of the dangers of 'fiction winning over fact' in the community's understanding of the issue. "Currently, in my view, there is not a balanced public debate on the pros and cons of biotechnology, including GM crops. There is far too much misinformation presented as fact by opponents of biotechnology," he said. "Tags such as 'Frankenstein Foods' are incorrect and contribute unnecessarily to public concerns and misinformation. The majority of informed Australians might question whether these criticisms are justified. "As a civilised society with a great depth of goodwill, scientific talent and common sense, we are well placed to consider the biotechnology issues objectively. I am concerned at how the issue is portrayed negatively at present. We must all evaluate biotechnology and its use for GM crops in the open-minded manner that Australians are renowned for.