Thanks to Stokely for another Quote of the Day -- this one from Matthew Herbert one of four people found guilty by a sheriff in Edinburgh of crop damage during a GM protest:
"The fact the law found us guilty of doing something which is morally correct means we should question the law, not the people acting in this way."
- Matthew Herbert quoted in Express article, "CAMPAIGNERS VOW TO FIGHT ON DESPITE VERDICT", 16th Jan 2001
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some items radically shortened:
1. Canberra team seeking patent for new virus
2. Disease-resistant calf cloned in Texas
3. Biotechnology shares tumble - article
4. url for Henry A. Wallace Center environmental assessment
5. Blair supports HLS
6. Citibank cut ties with HLS
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1. Canberra team seeking patent for new virus
SIMON GROSE:
The Canberra Times January 17, 2001, Wednesday
The Canberra research team that announced the creation of a new virulent form of the mousepox virus last week has applied for a provisional patent on the work and is investigating the possibility of using it as a control agent for mice. The director of the Cooperative Research Centre for Pest Control, Dr Bob Seamark, said yesterday that the patent application was lodged in June last year.
Although details are confidential, it is understood to centre on the insertion of genes for interleukin 4 into viruses to increase their potency. The CRC researchers made the discovery after inserting IL4 genes into mousepox with the aim of increasing the immune response triggered in mice. However, it had the opposite effect, killing all unimmunised mice and half those immunised against mousepox. The work was done in bio-secure facilities at the John Curtin School of Medical Research. Despite warning that this technology could be used as a tool in biological warfare, the CRC has been working on using it to control mice numbers. 'This opens up the opportunity of having it in our kitbag,' Dr Seamark said. ... He acknowledged that the CRC's research involves risks but he is confident that these are being properly managed.
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2. Disease-resistant calf cloned in Texas
Monday, 18 December 2000 14:31 (ET)
COLLEGE STATION, Texas, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- Texas A&M University researchers Monday trotted out a cloned calf they said is resistant to diseases such as brucellosis and tuberculosis and could change livestock breeding around the world.
The month-old bull was cloned using cells that were frozen for 15 years, which the researchers said was the longest time that genetic material had ever been maintained by cryopreservation, thawed, and then successfully used in cloning.
"The impact of cloning disease-resistant cattle is potentially monumental," said Dr. Garry Adams, one of the Texas A&M researchers.
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3. Biotechnology shares have tumbled as markets have become sceptical about the many breakthroughs the mapping of the human genome was supposed to have heralded. The Independent, p.19, today
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4. "Transgenic Crops: An Environmental Assessment," Prepared by the Henry A. Wallace Center, January 10, 2001 http://www.winrock.org/transgenic.pdf
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5. The Prime Minister is reported to have endorsed the right of Huntingdon Life Sciences to carry out legitimate research, but the Government's support has not been voiced strongly enough (!), according to a number of biotechnology companies. (The Times, p.2, today)
This is the company where Novartis/Imutran ran their horrific xeno transplant experiments, the promised inquiry into which was quashed by Blair minister Jack Straw.
...
Blair puts pressure on bank to support Huntingdon
By David Firn in London
Published: January 16 2001 16:58GMT
Financial Times 16-01-2001
Tony Blair, the UK prime minister, on Tuesday put pressure on the Royal Bank of Scotland to continue its support for Huntingdon Life Sciences, the drug testing laboratory that is being targeted by animal rights activists.
In a move seen as putting pressure on the bank Mr Blair said animal rights activist should not be allowed to force legitimate research companies out of business.
Protestors have targeted the bank, which is in negotiations to extend HLS's £22.5m ($33m) overdraft. Ending the facility could force HLS out of business.
The prime minister's spokesman said thousands of jobs in medical research were threatened by the protests, which could force the industry to move abroad.
Shares in HLS jumped and by midday were up nearly 43 per cent. By close the shares were up 57 per cent at 2-3/4p.
News 17-01-2001
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6. Citibank cut ties with HLS
Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty today (17/1/01) received a letter from Citibank indicating they have severed all their links with Huntingdon Life Sciences. Citibank's nominee company previously held nearly 10 million shares in HLS.
The letter is reproduced below:
Dear Sirs
Please note that all the HLS shares that were held in the name of Vidacos Nominees Limited (‘Vidacos’) on behalf of clients (not ‘own account’) are no longer held in the name of Vidacos nor any other Citibank company and, therefore, any connection with HLS has ceased.
Yours sincerely
Jennifer Scardino
Director of Corporate Affairs