GMWatch News Review archive

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WEEKLY WATCH number 272
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from Claire Robinson, WEEKLY WATCH editor
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Dear all:

Don’t miss a revealing but shocking article that looks in depth at the research finding that glyphosate (Roundup) herbicide causes birth defects when applied in doses much lower than what is commonly used in soy fields.

Claire <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
www.gmwatch.org / www.lobbywatch.org

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CONTENTS
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LOBBYWATCH
AUSTRALASIA
RESEARCH
EUROPE
ASIA
THE AMERICAS
AFRICA
FOOD SECURITY
COMPANY NEWS
FOOD SAFETY

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LOBBYWATCH
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+ SHANE MORRIS PAINTS HIMSELF AS MARTYR AND VICTIM
Shane Morris, the Canadian government bureaucrat at the centre of the “wormy corn” scandal, has written a letter to the journal Nature Biotechnology painting himself as a martyr to the truth and a victim of anti-GM activists. He claims, “a scientist's reputation quickly becomes a target when he confronts GM mis- or disinformation”.

You may have thought that Morris was the aggressor in the wormy corn affair, given his legal threats against the web hosts of GM-Free Ireland and GMWatch that led at one point to the plug being pulled on the GMWatch website. But that's not the way Morris tells it to the journal's readers. In his effort to paint himself as victim, Morris even claims "comments" were posted on an anti-GM website "regarding my wife".

What were these hurtful or scurrilous remarks? The only "comment" we could find anywhere was in a profile of Morris on the GM-Free Ireland website:

"He is married to bioethicist Vardit Ravitsky (a faculty member at the Department of Medical Ethics and a fellow at the Center for Bioethics, at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia) who claims "any new technology is 'value neutral'".

These "comments" are straightforward and factual, but why did GM-Free Ireland bother to mention Morris's wife at all? It turns out that Morris sent a letter for publication to the magazine Private Eye, implying he had been the victim of a long-standing conspiracy to sabotage his research. The Eye told us this letter was sent not just in Morris's name but in the name of "Vardit Ravitsky", who was identified as a "bioethicist" but not as Morris's wife!

After investigation, Private Eye dismissed the Morris/Ravitsky letter because of Morris's failure to answer their questions about the many inconsistencies in his claims, not to mention the fact that a co-author of the "wormy corn" paper, whom they contacted, failed to support Morris's allegations.
GM-Free Ireland: http://www.gmfreeireland.org/morris/index.php
Corn on the cobblers: http://www.gmfreeireland.org/morris/privateeye.php
Morris’s letter: http://bites.ksu.edu/news/133666/09/07/10/lessons-biopolitics
Profile of Morris: http://www.spinprofiles.org/index.php/Shane_Morris

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AUSTRALASIA
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+ DON’T WASTE SCIENCE CASH ON GM
Precious science dollars should not be wasted on GM research, New Zealand Green Party MP Jeanette Fitzsimons says.

The New Zealand government is hardening its approach to Crown research institutes (CRIs) and their requirement to make money. The eight CRIs have been advised that failing to return a dividend to the Crown, as they have been able to do in recent years, may not be tolerated.

Fitzsimons, the Green Party's GM spokeswoman, said New Zealand science funding was limited and it should not be "poured down the black hole of GM crops, as it has been in this country now for well over a decade".

"One of the problems we have got with science funding ... is nearly all the public funding available requires industry to put in 50 per cent. You can find plenty willing to put in 50 per cent to a GM project because they will then hold patents, but it's hard to get funding for researching, say, better agricultural processes, which will not give anyone a patent.”
http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/national-news/2597995/Don-t-waste-sc ience-cash-on-GM-Fitzsimons-says
Fitzsimons’ recent speech on GM: http://tiny.cc/IcVzQ

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RESEARCH
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+ TRANSGENES IN MAIZE FURTHER EVIDENCE
A recent study reported the results of an extensive survey for transgenes in landrace Mexican maize, using protein based tests for Cry1Ab (Bt) and EPSPS (Roundup). The study found transgenes in 3.1% and 1.8% of samples, respectively, from samples taken in 2001, 2002, and 2004.

Based on these results, the assumptions of the Mexican government that transgenic maize field release in areas of commercial production will not contaminate landraces seems unlikely. It also confirms earlier studies that has found traces of trangenes in maize varieties in various parts of Mexico.

The full document is available at: http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0005734

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EUROPE
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+ 14 EUROPEAN STATES WANT GM OPT-OUT CLAUSE
Fourteen European member states among them France, Poland and Portugal say each of the 27 nations of the EU should be allowed to decide whether or not to allow GM cultivation on their territory.

Even the pro-GM Commission has seemingly changed its GM policy after being mauled in the EU Council in March when it tried to lift national GM bans in Austria and Hungary. A few days before the Council meeting, Karl Falkenberg, the highest-ranking EU officer to work for Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas, confirmed the policy change, stating that the Commission will not approve any GMO against the will of the EU Council in the near future.
http://greenbio.checkbiotech.org/news/austria_pushes_gmo_opt_out_clause

+ CANADA SETTLES WTO COMPLAINT AGAINST EUROPE
Canada settled a trade dispute with Europe on Wednesday that will lead to the country dropping its six-year-old complaint at the World Trade Organization over European restrictions on imports of GM food. In exchange for Canada’s dropping its trade complaint, Europe agreed to meet twice a year with Canadian officials to review the European Union restrictions on GM food. Those sessions will also try to ensure they approve new GM products at the same time.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/16/business/global/16gene.html?ref=business

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ASIA
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+ BIOTHAI WEBSITE HACKED
The website of a Thai NGO which advocated for Thai farmers against foreign agricultural conglomerates has been driven offline after it was hacked and had its information stolen for the third time over the past few years. The BioThai Foundation says its website was hacked whenever it began major campaigns against projects of foreign companies, including their efforts to register GM plants with Thai authorities or expand GM experiments in Thailand.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/30107304/BioThai-website-hacked

+ INDIA: PROTESTS AGAINST BAYER GM RICE TRIALS
On June 22 at Patancheru, Hyderabad, Greenpeace volunteers cordoned off a GM rice field trial of Bayer Bio Science, planted scarecrows, and painted the words ‘Bio Hazard” on it. Noted actor and social rights activist Amala Akkineni was among the protesters. Bayer has pressed charges over 35 individuals, including the general public and media. The charges against the activists are trespassing, causing damage and criminal intimidation.

Amala said, “The Father of our Nation, Mahatma Gandhi led by example and showed that some citizen rights are not to be negotiated. The right to safe food is one of them. We must demand from our government to be responsible and be on the side of citizens. It is an honour to be a part of a just battle.”
http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Amala+raps+Bayer%E2%80%99s+G M+rice+trials&artid=C7HewyjChNo=&SectionID=xAV59odivTs=&MainSectionID=xAV59odivT s=&SEO=&SectionName=BUzPVSKuYv7MFxnS0yZ7ng==
http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_round_up/285739/bayer_clamps_down_on_gm_ri ce_protest_in_india.html

+ INDIAN GOVT PLANS 170 GM CROP VARIETIES
The Indian government has confirmed plans to release 170 GM varieties in 41 different crops, among them more than 25 varieties of GM rice. Scientists at the University of Caen, France, have already said the release of Bt brinjal (aubergine) should be forbidden, as it 'present[s] a serious risk for human and animal health'.

The government said it plans to introduce GM tomato, brinjal and cauliflower in the country within the next three years. This is the first time the agriculture ministry has promised to introduce GM food crops, although there have long been claims thatBt brinjal was about to be introduced.
http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_round_up/285739/bayer_clamps_down_on_gm_ri ce_protest_in_india.html
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMDkvMDcvMTUjQXIwMDM wMg==&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom

+ EUROPEAN GENETICISTS WARN INDIA AGAINST GM CROPS
Two leading European geneticists have cautioned India not to accept GM crops and food. They said that these products were rejected in Europe and were being willfully dumped in India by the multinational corporations as they could not find enough market in Europe.

The chair of the department of molecular biology in the University of Caen, France, Prof Gilles-Eric Seralini shared with the Indian press the findings from his latest research on the adverse impact of herbicides like glyphosate.

Prof Michael Antoniou, reader in the department of medical and molecular genetics in King’s College, London said : "The only responsible use of genetic engineering is in a contained clinical laboratory setup. The extreme complexity with which genomic regulation works has not been understood by the best of geneticists and it should be remembered that GMOs released in the environment cannot be recalled. Precautionary approach is the only way forward with this technology."
http://myrighttosafefood.blogspot.com/2009/07/european-geneticists-caution-india .html

+ PHILIPPINES MUSLIM LEADER: AVOID GM FOOD
Muslim leader Imam Omar Betita, of Negros Occidental, Philippines has advised Muslims that GM foods “may indeed have to be avoided” as scientists have not reached a consensus that they are safe.
http://www.visayandailystar.com/2009/July/14/businessnews2.htm

+ PHILIPPINES FARMERS URGE GOVERNMENT NOT TO BACK DOWN
Multi-sectoral groups in the province led by MASIPAG, a network of farmers, scientists and NGOs that practice sustainable agriculture, staged a rally at the Provincial Capitol grounds to urge the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental not to back down on the implementation of the ordinance banning GM products.
http://www.thenewstoday.info/2009/07/09/farmers.group.urge.sp.html

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THE AMERICAS
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+ MONSANTO SOY HERBICIDE’S HEALTH RISKS
A shocking in-depth article has been published about the research of a leading Argentine embryologist, Dr. Andres Carrasco, which found that glyphosate, patented by Monsanto under the name Roundup, causes birth defects when applied in doses much lower than what is commonly used in soy fields.

Dr Carrasco’s research was on amphibians, but as the article points out, “Embryological study is based on the premise that all vertebrate animals share a common design during the development stages. This accepted scientific premise means that the study indicates human embryonic cells exposed to glyphosate, even in low doses, would also suffer from defects.”

The article points out that the study’s findings are backed up by clinical studies on humans: “Since Argentina's soybean boom in the late 90s, clinical studies have been conducted in communities reporting suspiciously high rates of cancer, birth defects, and neonatal mortality.”
http://americas.irc-online.org/am/6254

+ YELLOW BEAN PATENT RULED INVALID
On July 10, 2009, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled that a US patent on the Enola bean, a yellow bean of Mexican origin, is invalid because none of the patent claims meet the criterion of non-obviousness. The case has been closely watched by civil society groups concerned about biopiracy and the patenting of life. The Court's decision argues that anyone interested in reproducing or improving Mexican yellow beans would have done exactly what the "inventor" Larry Proctor did: "plant the beans, harvest the resulting plants for their seeds, planting the latter seeds, and repeat the process two more times."

"What makes absolutely no sense is that an invalid patent was allowed to stand for more than a decade that's half the lifespan of a patent!" said Kathy Jo Wetter of ETC Group. “Furthermore, although farmers and seed companies on both sides of the border have been denied lucrative markets for ten years, they will not be compensated.”
http://www.etcgroup.org/en/materials/publications.html?pub_id=756

+ TAKE ACTION: OPPOSE MONSANTO ALLY AS FOOD SAFETY OFFICIAL
President Obama is reported to be considering appointing Dennis Wolff as undersecretary for food safety. Wolff changed Pennsylvania's food labeling regulations making it illegal to label milk as "rBGH-free" (produced by cows not treated with recombinant bovine growth hormone). Only under pressure from the Governor of Pennsylvania did Wolff rescind this regulation. Also, he has no food safety experience.
TAKE ACTION oppose Wolff’s appointment as undersecretary for food safety: email David Lazarus, Senior Advisor to the Secretary, US Department of Agriculture Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Sample letter at: http://www.bangmfood.org/take-action/23-take-action/38-take-action-usa-oppose-mo nsanto-ally-in-food-safety-post

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AFRICA
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+ NEW BRIEFING: BIOSAFETY IN AFRICA
The African Centre for Biosafety is pleased to share a new briefing paper: 'The Revised African Model Law on Biosafety and the African Biosafety Strategy’.
The full text can be downloaded from:
http://www.biosafetyafrica.org.za/images/stories/dmdocuments/AU_Biosafety-brief. Pdf

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FOOD SECURITY
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+ TAKE ACTION (US): STOP SENATORS FORCING FAILED GMOs ON DEVELOPING WORLD
A petition to stop the Casey-Lugar Bill, which requires GM technology to be part of the US agricultural research agenda abroad, is at
http://www.examiner.com/x-5148-LA-Environmental-Health-Examiner~y2009m7d12-Actio n-group-says-senators-are-forcing-flawed-GMOs-on-the-developing-world

+ BEHIND THE G8 FOOD SECURITY INITIATIVE: GATES FOUNDATION
President Obama and other world leaders seem to be taking their cue from the Gates Foundation for a new three-year agricultural initiative announced at the G8 summit, says an article in the Seattle Times.

The US-sponsored food security initiative aims to provide poor farmers in developing countries with seeds, fertilizers, infrastructure and other tools to help them boost local food production, a shift from previous policy that emphasized sending food aid from abroad.

The Gates Foundation has also focused on seeds, fertilizer, irrigation and market access in its own programs, spending $2.6 billion on global development so far, most of it for agriculture in Africa.

The Gates Foundation launched the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) in 2006. Now besides the Gates and Rockefeller foundations, the UK's Department for International Development has become another core donor to AGRA.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/thebusinessofgiving/2009450410_gates_found ation_moves_behind.html

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COMPANY NEWS
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+ MONSANTO BACK IN WHEAT
Five years after shelving plans for GM wheat, Monsanto is re-entering the wheat business with the purchase of Montana seed company WestBred LLC. WestBred specializes in wheat germplasm. In June 2009 fifteen groups in the top wheat-exporting countries of Canada, the US and Australia released a joint statement of opposition to GMO wheat. The Canadian Wheat Board has also said it will not support GM wheat until market conditions are right.
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/business/stories.nsf/0/06555D38B7D3DA96862575F4 000557D6?OpenDocument
http://www.reuters.com/article/AGRLIV/idUSN0147935920090601
Who’s lobbying for GM wheat:
http://www.spinprofiles.org/index.php/National_Association_of_Wheat_Growers
http://www.spinprofiles.org/index.php/Growers_for_Biotechnology
http://www.spinprofiles.org/index.php/Allan_Skogen

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FOOD SAFETY
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+ STUDY CRITICISES TESTING OF GMOs
A study conducted by eight international researchers calls into question the reliability of tests of the European Food Safety (EFSA) and the US FDA to assess the health risks of GMOs and pesticides. You can now access the study online at the website of the International Journal of Biological Sciences: http://www.biolsci.org/v05p0438.htm
Article in French: http://actu.orange.fr/articles/sciences/Une-etude-met-en-cause-les-tests-menes-par-Bruxelles-sur-les-OGM.html