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First two items via Robert Vint (see reply to address) + press item "Golden rice strain stirs controversy"
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The first article is a News Release from the KMP farmers union in the Philippines, opposing "Golden Rice" and other GM rice crops. The second is a(pro-GM) newspaper report confirming that the Phillipines government is stopping GM research in response to grass-roots protests by farmers.
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Farmers Assail "Golden Rice", Call for IRRI's Closure
NEWS RELEASE
February 26, 2001

Reference: RAFAEL MARIANO, Head of the Secretariat, International Alliance Against Agro-Chem TNCs   KMP Chairperson

The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and the International Alliance Against Agro-Chem TNC's, on Monday, assailed the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) on the recent arrival and planned field testing in the country of a genetically engineered (GE) rice or the so-called "golden rice."

Rafael Mariano, KMP chairperson and Head of the Secretariat of the International Alliance Against Agro-Chem TNC's, said that the "so-called 'golden rice' variety is a genetically modified crop produced by agro-chemical transnational corporation Syngenta AG which aims to squeeze gigantic profit from poor farmers in Asia, particularly in the Philippines."

Mariano also said "the peasantry's experience during the green revolution of the Marcos regime, where numerous rice varieties flood the countryside, shows that the use of "high yielding varieties" (HYV's) did not boost local rice production. Instead, rampant use of HYV's destroyed the natural fertility of the soil and the extinction of local rice varieties."

"IRRI must be closed," Mariano stressed, "it subvert Philippine agriculture because it's researches serves agro-chem TNC's interest for profit. It only intensified the agricultural sector's dependence in buying genetically engineered crops."

The KMP also lambasted IRRI's claim that "golden rice" is the solution to Vitamin A deficiency of farmers and the people.

"Golden rice is absolutely not a solution to vitamin A deficiency because vitamin A is not a problem. The Philippines have rich sources of vitamin A such as fresh vegetables, fish and mineral resources. The biggest problem farmers are facing until now is landlessness," Mariano added.

Mariano also challenged Secretary Leonardo Montemayor of the Department of Agriculture to immediately act on the entry of "golden rice".

"This is a test case to Secretary Montemayor. He must now prove his recent pronouncements that he is against the use and field testing of genetically engineered crops by immediately acting on this matter," Mariano ended. ###
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Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) Peasant Movement of the Philippines URL: <http://www.geocities.com/kmp_phhttp://www.geocities.com/kmp_ph

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The following is a pro-GM report of the Philippines' government decision to stop biotech research
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Biotech row rages
The Manila Times, Philippines, by Manolo B. Jara http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2001/feb/20/opinion/20010220opi6.html
February 20, 2001 archive: http://www.gene.ch/genet.html

THE heated and sometimes bitter debate continues and, this time, biotechnology proponents appear to be on the receiving end.

This occurred when President Macapagal-Arroyo made a statement that henceforth, the government would no longer allow research on genetically-altered crops or genetically-modified organisms (GMOs, as they are more popularly known).

GMO crops are plants which have genetic material from other organisms spliced into them to boost their yield or cut production costs for farmers.

Last week, the President said her government was putting a stop to biotech research, citing a groundswell of opposition to the introduction of GMO crops and foods. "There is great objection to this from civil society. So the Philippines will not be initiating or pushing for this experimentation, she told a Malacang press conference.

Her statement means a 360-degree turn from the policy first adopted by then president Corazon Aquino who was installed in Malacanang by EDSA I that ousted the Marcos dictatorship in 1986. She saw biotechnology as a vital tool, especially its long-range value that would benefit farmers, especially in improving their lives.

President Fidel Ramos continued with this policy and until now his Agriculture secretary, Salvador Escudero, speaks out regularly in favor of biotechnology.

And so did deposed president Estrada and his Agriculture secretary, Edgardo Angara. They even expanded on this by issuing a policy statement that biotechnology would anchor the governmentÕs thrust for national food security.

Now, all this has gone for naught. Herself the direct beneficiary of EDSA 2 that deposed the corrupt Estrada regime, Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo seems to have abandoned a proven approach to agricultural modernization and pandered to the demands of some elements in civil society.

Environmentalists claim that modified plants are a potential hazard. One of the dangers, they say, is that these crops may prove so resilient that they could conquer other plants in their habitat and proliferate unchecked.

Against these "scare tactics" are solid and scientifically-proven arguments that biotechnology could, indeed, help hasten agricultural modernization.

The use of genetically-altered crops as biological control agents, for instance, will reduce drastically the use of harmful chemical pesticides. Their use will also increase farm production without harming the environment.

But with her statement, it looks as if the President will now allow the advances made by Filipino scientists and researchers to go to waste. It will also effectively block the introduction of GMO crops that have proven effective in increasing food output in foreign countries.

Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo is apparently unaware her statement will also put an end to ongoing research being done by a nationwide network of local biotech scientists and researchers. With the Los Banos-based National Institute of Molecular Biology and Technology (BIOTECH) at the lead role, the network consists of 300 researchers based at the University of the Philippines System in Diliman, Quezon City, Manila, Los Ba?os and the Visayas.

Former president Ramos issued Executive Order 526 in 1995, constituting the network. In this light, the President should reconsider her stand and order an in-depth study on biotechnology, particularly its potential benefits.

If she stands firm on her statement, fears are that this would consign the country's agricultural sector to traditional practices and methods akin to confining that sector to the Dark Ages in farming. --- [NB how restrained the goldn rice sales pitch is these days]  Sun Star Network of Community Newspapers, the Philippines   (Online) Monday, February 26, 2001 'Golden rice' strain   stirs controversy LOS BANOS -- After nearly a decade of   research in Europe, the much-acclaimed "golden rice" has finally arrived in Asia, its intended destination. But even before the genetically engineered (GE) rice is transplanted from the laboratory to the fields, it has created controversy. One green group has labelled it "fool's gold."   

The first research samples of golden rice were brought to   the Philippine-based International Rice Research Institute   (IRRI) in January from Switzerland, where the strain was   invented. "The arrival of these initial samples at IRRI is   a very significant step and allows us to finally start on   the required testing processes using local rice varieties,"   said Ronald Cantrell, director of the institute tucked away   in Los Banos, a university town southeast of the capital   Manila. Golden rice has attracted much attention because it   contains building blocks for vitaman A. Deficiency in the   vitamin causes blindness and other diseases. The grain got   its name because it glows with the golden colour of   beta-carotene, the yellow-orange compound that gives   carrots their colour and the world's most common source of   vitamin A. The prospect of offering daily doses of this key   nutrient to millions of Asians in their staple food has   excited researchers and governments. Ninety percent of the   world's rice is grown and consumed in Asia, the world's   most populous continent. Scientists at the IRRI, the   world's leading rice research center, will breed the golden   rice samples, developed originally from the temperate   japonica variety, into tropical indica varieties. "This  would be done through the conventional breeding method of  crossing or via modern genetic modifications to enhance  beta-carotene production," said IRRI plant biotechnologist  Swapan Datta, a key researcher in the closely watched   project. Golden rice currently contains about 10 to 20  percent beta-carotene but "we want to bring that level up   to at least 20 to 40 percent" to suit Asian needs, Datta   said. "It will take us at least three years to send golden   rice for field testing in Asia and another two years before   they are available to farmers," he said. A special   humanitarian board has been established, comprising public   and private sector groups, to make golden rice freely   available to those in need, officials said. The board is   led by German professors Ingo Potrykus and Peter Beyer, the   inventors of golden rice at Switzerland's Federal Institute  of Technology. After months of negotiations, the two   inventors, along with Swiss agribusiness giant Syngenta AG   which held the patent to golden rice, agreed to hand over   the first grains to IRRI for further development. Once the   research is completed, golden rice will be distributed free   of charge to poor farmers in the developing world, IRRI   officials said. But environmental watchdog Greenpeace said   the GE industry was making false promises about golden rice.  European markets have resoundingly rejected GE products,   and local consumers did not want them in their food, it   said. Greenpeace said figures provided by the developers of   golden rice show an adult would have to eat at least 12   times the average of 300 grams of rice daily to get the   daily recommended amount of vitamin A. "It is clear from   these calculations that the GE industry is making false  promises about golden rice," said Von Hernandez, a  Manila-based Greenpeace campaign director for Southeast  Asia. He said golden rice does not address the underlying  causes of Vitamin A deficiency, mainly poverty and lack of   access to a diverse diet. Greenpeace said pill supplements and food fortification were effective short-term measures   to help address vitamin A deficiency. Red palm oil,  naturally rich in vitamin A, should be promoted for   example, it said. But IRRI spokesman Duncan Macintosh said   the institute did not consider golden rice a "quick fix or   silver bullet" for vitamin A deficiency in the developing   world. "But surely any new idea that could allow us to   better deal with such difficult problems as vitamin  deficiency among the poor deserves to be fully investigated," he said. Gordon Conway, the head of the  US-based Rockefeller Foundation which provided funding for golden rice technology, said it was an excellent complement to fruits, vegetables and animal products. "Complete   balanced diets are the best solution, but the poorer   families are, the less likely is that their children will   receive a balanced diet and the more likely they will be   dependent on cheap food staples such as rice," he said. But   Conway agreed that perhaps golden rice had been too hyped.      "The industry's advertisements and the media in general   seem to forget that it is a research product that needs   considerable further development before it will be   available to farmers and consumers," he said. (AFP)