Other New Technologies

Extreme Monopoly: Venter's Team Makes Vast Patent Grab on Synthetic Genomes

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ETC Group
News Release
8 December 2007
www.etcgroup.org

Extreme Monopoly:

Venter’s Team Makes Vast Patent Grab on Synthetic Genomes

Six months ago ETC Group exposed the Venter Institute’s controversial patent applications on the world’s first human-made living organism built entirely from synthetic DNA (dubbed “Synthia” by ETC Group). Newly published patent claims reveal an even bigger grab for ownership of synthetic life.

A suite of patent applications lodged by J. Craig Venter and his colleagues claims exclusive monopoly on a wide swath of synthetic biology and demonstrate a not-so-subtle move to position Venter’s company, Synthetic Genomics, Inc., as the ‘microbesoft’ of synthetic...   Read More












Categories: BANG/Convergence, Biotechnology, Intellectual Property & Patents, Other New Technologies

Geoengineers prepare to pollute Philippine Seas as International Ocean Dumping Body Meets

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Categories: Other New Technologies

Backgrounder: Ocean Nourishment Corporation plans imminent urea dumping experiment in Southeast Asian seas

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Categories: Geoengineering, Human Rights / Farmers' Rights, Other New Technologies

Patenting Pandora’s Bug: Goodbye, Dolly...Hello, Synthia! J. Craig Venter Institute Seeks Monopoly Patents on the World’s First-Ever Human-Made Life Form

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Patenting Pandora's Bug

Goodbye, Dolly...Hello, Synthia!
J. Craig Venter Institute Seeks Monopoly Patents on the World's First-Ever Human-Made Life Form

ETC Group Will Challenge Patents on "Synthia" - Original Syn Organism Created in Laboratory

Ten years after Dolly the cloned sheep made her stunning debut, the J. Craig Venter Institute is applying for a patent on a new biological bombshell - the world's first-ever human-made species. The novel bacterium is made entirely with synthetic DNA in the laboratory.

The Venter Institute - named for its founder and CEO, J....   Read More

Categories: BANG/Convergence, Biodiversity & Genetic Resources, Biological Warfare, Biotechnology, Geoengineering, Intellectual Property & Patents, Nanotechnology, Other New Technologies, Synthetic Biology

Civil Society/Labor Coalition Rejects Fundamentally Flawed Dupont-ED Proposed Nanotechnology Framework

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April 12, 2007

To All Interested Parties:

We, the undersigned, submit this open letter to the international nanotechnology community at large.  We are a coalition of public interest, non-profit and labor organizations that actively work on nanotechnology issues, including workplace safety, consumer health, environmental welfare, and broader societal impacts.   

DuPont Chemical Company (DuPont) and Environmental Defense (ED) jointly have proposed a voluntary “risk...   Read More














Categories: Human Rights / Farmers' Rights, Nanotechnology, Other New Technologies, Other

ETC Group Warns that US Government’s Push for Geoengineering is Unacceptable

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Gambling with Gaia

On the Eve of the Release of UN Climate Change Report
ETC Group Warns that US Government’s Push for Geoengineering is Unacceptable

On the day before the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) sounds its loudest alarm yet, ETC Group warns that some OECD states, led by the United States, are betting on a pie-in-the-sky techno-fix to address climate change. “Geoengineering” refers to the intentional, large-scale manipulation of the environment to bring about environmental change. With no hope for Kyoto, little political will to ask industry or...   Read More









Categories: Biodiversity & Genetic Resources, FAO, Geoengineering, Nanotechnology, Other New Technologies, Public / Private Relations

Gambling with Gaia

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ETC Communiqué
Issue # 93
January 2007                                             

Gambling with Gaia

With hopes for Kyoto dimming, some governments may conclude that
massive earth restructuring is the only feasible way out

Issue: Kyoto is fading and carbon trading is a farce. Recognizing this, OECD states can either “bite the bullet” and adopt socially-responsible policies to dramatically cut fossil fuel use and useless consumption or, they can hope for a...   Read More









Categories: BANG/Convergence, Biodiversity & Genetic Resources, Biological Warfare, Biotechnology, Corporate Concentration, Geoengineering, Human Genomics, Human Rights / Farmers' Rights, Intellectual Property & Patents, Nanotechnology, "New Enclosures", Other New Technologies, Public / Private Relations, Synthetic Biology

Extreme Genetic Engineering: An Introduction to Synthetic Biology

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News Release
ETC Group
January 16, 2007
www.etcgroup.org

Extreme Genetic Engineering: ETC Group Releases Report on Synthetic Biology

Findings to be presented at World Social Forum in Nairobi - 20-25 January

A new report by the ETC Group concludes that the social, environmental and bio-weapons threats of synthetic biology surpass the possible dangers and abuses of biotech. The full text of the 70-page report, Extreme Genetic Engineering: An...   Read More

Categories: BANG/Convergence, Biodiversity & Genetic Resources, Biological Warfare, Biopiracy, Biotechnology, Intellectual Property & Patents, Nanotechnology, Other New Technologies, Synthetic Biology

Nanotech Rx-Medical applications of Nano-scale technologies: What Impact on Marginalized communities?

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Nanotech Rx

Medical applications of Nano-scale technologies: What Impact on Marginalized communities?

Issue: Medical applications of nano-scale technologies have the potential to revolutionize healthcare by delivering powerful tools for diagnosing and treating disease at the molecular level. But the current zeal for nano-enabled
medicines could divert scarce medical R&D funds away from essential health services and direct resources away from non-medical aspects of community health and wellbeing. Although nanomedicine is being touted as a solution to pressing health needs in the global South, it is being driven from the North and is designed primarily for wealthy markets. Using nano-scale...   Read More




Categories: BANG/Convergence, Biotechnology, Corporate Concentration, Human Genomics, Intellectual Property & Patents, Nanotechnology, Other New Technologies, Synthetic Biology

Oligopoly, Inc. - Concentration in Corporate Power, 2005

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In Oligopoly, Inc. 2005 ETC Group finds that corporate concentration -- not only in food and agriculture, but in all sectors related to the products and processes of life -- has increased remarkably since ETC's last review two years ago. The report also reveals that a subterranean struggle is underway at the nano-scale to control the fundamental building blocks of life and nature. Corporate investment in nanobiotechnology (or, synthetic biology) could give ultimate control to a very different set of corporate actors.

Categories: Biodiversity & Genetic Resources, Cultural Diversity, Human Rights / Farmers' Rights, Biotechnology, Biological Warfare, Human Genomics, Nanotechnology, Other new technologies, Corporate Concentration, Intellectual Property & Patents, "New Enclosures", Public / Private Relations

Report Prepared for the South Centre - The Potential Impacts of Nano-Scale Technologies on Commodity Markets: The Implications for Commodity Dependent Developing Countries

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"The Potential Impacts of Nano-Scale Technologies on Commodity Markets," prepared for the South Centre, examines the potential impacts of nanotechnology on two sectors - agriculture and mining - in commodity dependent developing countries. Cases studies on rubber, textiles, platinum and copper provide early examples of how economies and workers in the global South could be affected by nanotech's emerging R&D and products.

Categories: FAO, Biodiversity & Genetic Resources, Cultural Diversity, Human Rights / Farmers' Rights, Nanotechnology, Other new technologies, Corporate Concentration, Intellectual Property & Patents, "New Enclosures", Public / Private Relations

Special Report - NanoGeoPolitics: ETC Group Surveys the Political Landscape

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July/August 2005
Special Report - Communiqué No. 89

At the Gleneagles Summit earlier this month, the G(whiz)8 pronounced 'More Science' to be the South's solution to poverty and global warming. Behind the scenes, the leading nano nations are rushing to set the rules for global nanotechnology governance.




Categories: Biopiracy, Biotechnology, Human Genomics, Nanotechnology, Other new technologies, Public / Private Relations

Syngenta -- The Genome Giant?

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Swiss gene giant Syngenta, the world’s largest agrochemical corporation and third largest seed company (see tables) has applied for patents that could effectively allow the company to monopolize key gene sequences that are vital for rice breeding as well as dozens of other plant species. While the Genome Giant "donates" rice germplasm and information to public researchers with one hand, it is attempting to monopolize rice resources with the other. Governments, public sector researchers and the United Nations must re-evaluate and reform their cozy connections to companies like Syngenta.

Categories: Biopiracy, FAO, CGIAR, Biodiversity & Genetic Resources, Cultural Diversity, Human Rights / Farmers' Rights, Biotechnology, Nanotechnology, Other new technologies, Corporate Concentration, Intellectual Property & Patents, Public / Private Relations

Nanotech News in Living Colour: An Update on White Papers, Red Flags, Green Goo (and Red Herrings)

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In sharp contrast to the political climate one year ago, the potential health and environmental risks of some nano-scale technologies are now being openly discussed in Europe and North America. In recent months, governments on both sides of the Atlantic have reluctantly conceded that current safety and health regulations may not be adequate to address the special exigencies of nano-scale materials. Ironically, they’re talking about the need to be proactive, failing to admit that they’re at least one decade late: nanotech products are already commercially available and laboratory workers and consumers are already being exposed to nanoparticles that could pose serious risks to people and the environment.

Categories: Biodiversity & Genetic Resources, Cultural Diversity, Human Rights / Farmers' Rights, Biotechnology, Biological Warfare, Human Genomics, Nanotechnology, Other new technologies, Corporate Concentration, Intellectual Property & Patents, "New Enclosures", Public / Private Relations

The Little Big Down: A Small Introduction to Nano-scale Technologies

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This brochure, The Little Big Down, is based on a larger ETC Group study, The Big Down: From Genomes to Atoms.

Categories: Biodiversity & Genetic Resources, Cultural Diversity, Human Rights / Farmers' Rights, Biotechnology, Biological Warfare, Human Genomics, Nanotechnology, Other new technologies, Corporate Concentration, Intellectual Property & Patents, "New Enclosures", Public / Private Relations