This year the World Food Prize was awarded to executives from Monsanto and Syngenta for their pioneering work in GMO research. The move caused outrage worldwide and was challenged with protests, petitions signed by hundreds of thousands, counter meetings, and even an alternative prize, the Food Sovereignty Prize. The World Food Prize is heavily sponsored by Monsanto, Syngenta, and other like-minded organisations, so essentially the biotech companies were honouring themselves. Read more
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Quotes of the monthBruce M Owen and Ronald Braeutigam, in their 1978 book, "The Regulation Game: Strategic Use of the Administrative Process", on how corporate executives can gain control of government risk regulatory policy-making: "Regulatory policy is increasingly made with the participation of experts, especially academics. A regulated firm or industry should be prepared whenever possible to co-opt these experts. This is most effectively done by identifying the leading experts in each relevant field and hiring them as consultants and advisors, or giving them research grants and the like. This activity requires a modicum of finesse; it must not be too blatant, for the experts themselves must not recognize that they have lost their objectivity and freedom of action. At a minimum, a program of this kind reduces the threat that the leading experts will be available to testify or write against the interests of the regulated firms." Michael Crichton, physician, producer, and writer, in a lecture at the California Institute of Technology: "Historically, the claim of consensus has been the first refuge of scoundrels; it is a way to avoid debate by claiming that the matter is already settled. Whenever you hear the consensus of scientists agrees on something or other, reach for your wallet, because you’re being had." More articlesBBC runs ads for GMO technology Read more Suspended prison sentences for pulling up unlawfully planted GM potatoes Read more Russia considers ban on all GMO products Read more Scientific American taken to task for factually incorrect editorial about GM Read more Debunking Prof Anthony Trewavas's stale GM lies over Seralini study Read more No consensus on GMO safety – scientists release statementThis important statement obtained international media coverage, but needs maximum exposure, so please spread the news far and wide and invite qualified scientists and physicians who agree with it to sign on. It's available in English, German, French and Spanish. LINKS Scientists' statement and sign-on List of initial signatories (now at 93) Press coverage in the Daily Mail (UK) and Farmers' Weekly Earth Open Source press release Agbiotech industry expert agrees there's no consensus on GMO safetyThe view that there's no consensus on GMO safety is shared by biotech industry expert Sano M. Shimoda, president and founder of BioScience Securities, Inc., a strategic corporate advisory and investment banking firm in California. Mr Shimoda gave a remarkable presentation about the scientific and technical problems of GM technology at a biotech industry conference. Read more Other GMWatch linksGM NewsNon-GM successesGM MythsGolden riceGM MythmakersGM FirmsGM Songs |
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