Some goods news about GMO’s

Thanks to GMWatch, via the SAFeAGE newsletter, I came across a list of good news stories in the global campaign against GMO’s. With permission, I include it in full below.

When it comes to GMO legislation, South Africa usually rolls over for the multinationals. So, it’s particularly pleasing to see some good news in my part of the world. Clover, South Africa’s largest dairy, is now rBST-free. South Africa is one of the few countries that permits rBST. Woolworths, one of the bigger supermarket chains, has stopped buying milk with rBST, and this was probably a factor in Clover’s decision.

More good news is that usually toothless South African GM regulatory body turned down an application to conduct experiments with transgenic sorghum in South Africa. The group lobbying for permission, the African Biotechnology Sorghum Project (ABS), has huge funding behind it, including (amongst others) $450 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation.

Here’s the article (the original is here):

THE BEST OF 2006

2006 saw some huge advances in the global campaign of opposition to the imposition of GMOs.
Here’s a small selection of some of the good news stories that GM WATCH reported.
Much admiration to all the individuals and organisations that contributed to these successes.

TOP RICE EXPORTERS SAID “NO!” TO GM RICE

The world’s two largest exporters of rice agreed to shun genetically engineered varieties. An agreement between rice traders from Thailand and Vietnam protects half the crop traded on the world market from the dangers of GM, and puts mounting pressure on other rice-producing nations to commit to a GM-free rice supply. http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=7337

INDIA’S RICE INDUSTRY CAME OUT AGAINST GM RICE

India’s top rice exporters and farmers unions joined with environmental groups in warning the Indian government against further field trials of GM rice, saying it could jeopardise the livelihoods of millions of poor farmers across the country. http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=7210

INDIA: GM RICE TRIALS DESTROYED

Farmers from the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), representing hundreds of thousands of Indian farmers, torched GM rice fields, starting a trend followed elsewhere in India of enforcing the biosafety measures that were being ignored.. http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=7195

CHINA DIDN’T GIVE COMMERCIAL APPROVAL TO GM RICE

Despite constant predictions to the contrary by pro-GM lobbyists, China – the world’s biggest rice producer and consumer – put off any commercial introduction of GM rice yet again in 2006 amid growing concerns about biosafety and potential loss of markets. http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/news/ng.asp?n=72601-nutrogen-gm-rice-biosafety http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=7369

NO GO AHEAD FOR GM RICE IN IRAN

The director of the Iran’s department of environment, Fatemeh Javadi, announced that a go-ahead for cultivation of GM rice would not be issued. http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=7197

MEXICO REJECTED GM MAIZE

Mexico banned biotech companies from planting GM corn. Mexico is the birthplace of corn and still a storehouse of genetically valuable native species. http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=7139 http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=7196

BOLIVIA TO OUTLAW GM CROPS AND GO ORGANIC

The Bolivian government aims to transform the country into an organic oasis in South America and to outlaw GM crops. http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=7269 http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=6167

ECUADOR BANS GMOs IN FOOD AID

Ecuador’s Parliament has passed a law which bans the presence of GMOs in food aid sent to that country. http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=6565

BRAZILIAN GOVERNOR MOVES TO EXPROPRIATE LAND FROM SYNGENTA

On November 9 Roberto Requiao, Governor of the state of Parana dealt a blow to Syngenta when he signed a decree to expropriate its experimental test site in the public interest after Syngenta illegally planted 12 hectares of GM soybeans at the site.
The action was representative of the growing sentiment among Latin American politicians to resist the increasing power of GM and agribusiness corporations, and was also evidence of the increasing organization and power of civil society in the region. http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=7379 http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=7358

SOUTH AUSTRALIA EXTENDED GM BAN

http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=7289 http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=7045

WESTERN AUSTRALIA PARLIAMENT VOTED DOWN COMMERCIAL GM TRIALS

http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=7028

U.S. FEDERAL COURT RULED BIOPHARM PERMITS ILLEGAL

A federal district judge ruled that the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) flouted both the Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act by not conducting preliminary environmental reviews before permitting the cultivation of drug-producing GM crops throughout Hawaii.

US District Judge Michael Seabright also called USDA’s regulatory heedlessness “arbitrary and capricious” and “an unequivocal violation of a clear congressional mandate.”
The ruling may make it harder to win permits to grow GM crops across the country. Said Honolulu Earthjustice attorney Paul Achitoff, “The days of rubber-stamping these (genetically engineered crop permits) are over. Whenever (the USDA) proposes to issue permits, they’re going to have to examine their impact.” http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=6888 http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=6891

INDIA: SUPREME COURT SAID NO TO GM PRODUCTS AND NEW GM TRIALS

The Supreme Court ordered India’s apex GM regulatory body – the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) – not to give approvals to GM products until further notice. The judges gave the direction on an application filed by Aruna Rodrigues and others in a public interest litigation seeking a ban on the release of GMOs because of their potential to cause major health hazards. http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=7063 http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=7059

INDIAN STATE SAID “NO!” TO GM SEEDS

The chief minister of the Indian state of Uttaranchal said that there would be no permission given to GM seeds in the state. http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=6655

TAMIL NADU GOVT MAY BAN GM CROP TRIALS

“The government may issue a law banning GM crop trials. We hope the Centre [central Government of India] will support us,” said Tamil Nadu agriculture minister Veerapandi Arumugam. http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=7388

EU VOTED TO DEFY WTO RULING ON GM FOODS

European Union environment ministers voted to reject a proposal to force Austria to lift its bans on GM foods and crops. The proposal was tabled by the European Commission in response to a ruling by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) earlier in the year, which stated that the bans broke international trade laws. Austrian environment minister Josef Proll said: “This is a very strong signal by the Council [of Ministers] for the Commission to reassess its policy [on GMOs].”http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=7399 http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=7401 http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=7409

GM SOY TO BE BANNED IN ROMANIA

Environmentalists in Romania have secured a victory in getting GM soy banned. Romania was the biggest producer of GM soy in Europe after it began growing it without any control a decade ago. http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=7406

GREEKS DO NOT WANT GMO’s

54 Greek prefectures have passed local bans on GMOs. Theodore Koliopanos, a legislator and former deputy environment minister, said, “All political parties are opposed to GMOs, which is odd because we disagree on everything else.” http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=6566

HUNGARY RESTRICTS GM CROPS

Hungary’s parliament overwhelmingly backed legislation which severely restricted the planting of GM crops, making their cultivation almost impossible. “This is Europe’s, perhaps the world’s, strictest GMO law,”Agriculture Minister Jozsef Graf said. http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=7334 http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=7331

BIGGEST RUSSIAN FOOD AND FEED IMPORTERS GO GM-FREE

http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=7324

GM FOODS TO BE BANNED FROM MOSCOW SCHOOLS

Foods containing GM products will be banned from Moscow schools and pre-school childcare centres. http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=6538

POLISH PARLIAMENT APPROVED BAN ON GM ANIMAL FEED

On July 22 the Polish Parliament appoved a total ban on GM animal feed within 2 years. http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=6802

POLAND BANNED SALE OF GM SEEDS

Poland’s parliament passed a law which removes GM seeds from a national register, effectively banning their sale. http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=6495

EU AUTHORIZED POLISH BAN ON GM MAIZE SEEDS

http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=6519

BASF ADMITTED DEFEAT OF GM POTATO EXPERIMENT

Chemicals company BASF said it would not go ahead with its planned GM potato experiment in Ireland in 2006, and may cancel it altogether.
BASF said it made the decision because of the conditions imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The cancellation may also have been influenced by nationwide opposition from more than 100 farm and food industry groups, resistance by TDs (members of the Irish Parliament) from all parties, two motions passed unanimously by Meath Co. Council, and the threat of further legal action on planning and constitutional grounds. http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=6577 http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=6563

ITALY: ONE TOWN IN FOUR IS GMO-FREE

In a campaign targeting small towns in Italy, one town in four has declared itself “GMO-free”. http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=6577

GM FOODS CONDEMNED IN GLOBAL MARCHES

Thousands of protesters in 70 countries demonstrated against GMOs on 8 April (Joint International GM Opposition Day). Demonstrations were held in Australia, Bolivia, India, South Africa, France, and the US, among other countries. It was reported that 25,000 people protested against GMOs in Andhra Pradesh, India. http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=6426 http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=6427

FRANCE: MONSANTO SEED FACILITY OCCUPIED

In April French farmer Jose Bove and 75 other activists occupied Monsanto’s seed facility in Trebes, France. They demanded that Monsanto and the French authorities stop the import and distribution of GM maize seed into France. Bove was arrested but released a few hours later. This was just one of a series of high profile protests in France in 2006. http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=6452 http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=6484

AMERICANS STILL WARY OF GM FOOD – STUDY

Ten years after GM crops were first planted commercially in the US, Americans remain ill-informed about and uncomfortable with GM food.
Polling also confirmed that most Americans do not like the idea of eating meat or milk from cloned animals. http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=7373

INDUSTRY DOESN’T WANT GM WHEAT

Among the many industry voices raised against GM wheat, Ron Olson, General Mills’ vice president of grain operations said, “The food market is not ready for that. Our stock would get killed.”http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=6994 http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=7007 http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=7362

SANTA CRUZ OK’S BAN ON GM CROPS

Supervisors of Santa Cruz County, California unanimously approved a moratorium on growing GM crops in the county. http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=6664 http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=6620

MISSOURI “PRE-EMPTION” BILL PUSHED BACK BY FARMERS

A bill that would have prohibited the state of Missouri from enacting any seed regulation exceeding federal requirements was pulled from consideration in the Missouri legislature, under pressure from farmers. http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=6618

MONSANTO BACKED GM BILL DIES IN LEGISLATURE

A bill that would have pre-empted local laws placing restrictions on GMOs, failed to make it out of committee in the California Senate and died with the close of the legislative year. http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=6964 http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=6970

US STATE DOESN’T WANT PHARM DRUGS IN FOOD

An Oregon state committee on biopharming made strict recommendations on regulating crops designed to make drugs. http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=7215

Analysis of the committee’s recommendations: http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=7226

U.S. CONSUMERS DUMP rBGH MILK

US milk producers were falling over themselves to ban milk produced from cows injected with Monsanto’s GM growth hormone. http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=7298

VERMONT AG SECRETARY BACKED GM HORMONE BAN

And so too did Stephen Taylor, New Hampshire commissioner of agriculture and a dairy farmer. http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=7104 http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=7116

SOUTH AFRICA’S LARGEST DAIRY WENT rBGH-FREE

Clover Dairies, South Africa’s largest dairy, is now carrying the “rBST-free” label on their cartons to certify that the cows that produce its milk are not injected with Monsanto’s GM growth hormone. http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=7242

NO GATEWAY TO AFRICA’S SORGHUM

The normally lax South African GM regulatory body turned down an application to conduct laboratory and greenhouse experiments with GM sorghum, because of fears it could lead to the destruction of the sorghum varieties prevalent throughout Africa. http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=6732

ECO-FARMING HELPS THE WORLD’S POOR – STUDY

Sustainable farming methods can help the poorest farmers in developing nations out of poverty, research suggests. Scientists found that techniques such as crop rotation and organic farming increased crop yields by an average of 79%, without risking future harvests. http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=7370

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