Enviado por Kathy Jo Wetter el
We've just read the article, "Lessons on Ethical Decision Making from the Bioscience Industry" - this is not a joke - which appeared in the May issue of PLoS Medicine and is available on the Internet. The authors are Jocelyn E. Mackie, Andrew D. Taylor, David L. Finegold, Abdallah S. Daar and Peter A. Singer. Four of the five authors are at the University of Toronto Joint Centre for Bioethics.
Enviado por ETC Staff el
Se fortalece el llamado del Grupo ETC a una moratoria global sobre investigación de nanotecnología en laboratorios y para retirar del mercado productos que contengan nanopartículas diseñadas, especialmente aquellos que se ingieren, se aplican en el cuerpo o se liberan al ambiente. Es más urgente ahora actuar en ese sentido, después de que las autoridades alemanas retiraron del mercado el limpiador de baños "Magic Nano" -un producto supuestamente nanotecnológico. A fines de marzo al menos 77 personas reportaron problemas respiratorios a después de utilizar el producto. Seis de ellas fueron hospitalizadas y luego dadas de alta tan pronto mejoraron su condición respiratoria. La compañía que vende "Magic Nano" es Kleinmann GmbH, una subsidiaria alemana de Illinois Tool Works (una corporación en el rango de las de Fortune 200, con 650 subsidiarias en 45 países y 49 mil empleados). Kleinmann vende "Magic Nano" en botellas de spray y de aerosol. Se retiraron del mercado solamente los aerosoles. No existe información sobre el compuesto químico nanométrico que usa el producto, ni sobre el problema que pudieran causar las nano partículas o su interacción con los gases que hacen funcionar los aerosoles.
Enviado por ETC Staff el
ETC Group renewed its 2003 call for a global moratorium on nanotech lab research and a recall of consumer products containing engineered nanoparticles. There is particular urgency for those products that are ingested, applied to the body or released in the environment. The need for action is underscored following the decision by German authorities to recall a nanotech bathroom cleaner, "Magic Nano" - purportedly a product of nanotechnology. At least 77 people reported respiratory problems in late March after using the product. Six people were hospitalized but later released when their respiratory distress faded. The company marketing "Magic Nano" is Kleinmann GmbH, a German subsidiary of Illinois Tool Works (a US Fortune 200 corporation with 650 subsidiaries in 45 countries and 49,000 employees). Kleinmann sells "Magic Nano" in a spray pump and as an aerosol spray. The recall only applies to the aerosol spray. There is no information available regarding the nano chemical compound used, nor whether the problem lies with the nanoparticles or with the interaction between the particles and the conventional aerosol propellant.
Enviado por Jim Thomas el
Lucy Sharratt
At 9:30 pm in Brazil, the 8th Conference of the Parties confirmed its decision on Terminator. It is now official.
We see a moratorium on Terminator that is now strengthened.
Enviado por Jim Thomas el
The protests of Via Campesina and Brazils Landless Workers Movement (Movimento Sem Terra - MST) have been critical to the outcomes of this meeting. The protests continue this morning as 6000 peasant farmers are outside greeting buses of delegates as they come in. The protests have been so important in maintaining momentum and reminding delegates what was said last week against Terminator, reminding them how interventions from peasant farmers and Indigenous peoples made them understand the real impacts Terminator would have.
Enviado por ETC Staff el
Movimentos de Agricultores, de Povos Indígenas e de Organizações da Sociedade Civil ao Redor do Mundo Exigem Banimento
É oficial. Os governos na Convenção de Diversidade Biológica das Nações Unidas (CDB), de forma unânime, mantiveram a moratória internacional de facto sobre a tecnologia Terminator - plantas que são geneticamente engenheiradas para produzirem sementes estéreis na colheita. A 8ª reunião da CDB foi encerrada hoje, em Curitiba, Brasil.
Enviado por ETC Staff el
Es oficial. Los gobiernos reunidos en el Convenio de Diversidad Biológica de la ONU (CDB) resolvieron por unanimidad mantener la moratoria internacional de facto sobre la tecnología Terminator -cultivos diseñados genéticamente para producir semillas estériles. La 8ava reunión del CDB terminó hoy en Curitiba, Brasil.
"El CDB rechazó decididamente los esfuerzos de Canadá, Australia y Nueva Zelanda -apoyados por el gobierno de Estados Unidos y la industria biotecnológica- para terminar con la moratoria sobre las semillas suicidas" dijo María José Guazzelli de Centro Ecológico, una organización agroecológica con sede en Brasil.
Enviado por ETC Staff el
It's official. Governments at the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) have unanimously upheld the international de facto moratorium on Terminator technology - plants that are genetically engineered to produce sterile seeds at harvest. The 8th meeting of the CBD ended today in Curitiba, Brazil.
"The CBD has soundly rejected the efforts of Canada, Australia and New Zealand - supported by the US government and the biotechnology industry - to undermine the moratorium on suicide seeds," said Maria Jose Guazzelli of Centro Ecologico, a Brazil-based agro-ecological organization.
"By consensus decision, all governments have re-affirmed the moratorium on a genetic engineering technology that threatens the lives and livelihoods of 1.4 billion people who depend on farmer-saved seed," said Pat Mooney, Executive Director of ETC Group.
Enviado por Jim Thomas el
by Lucy Sharratt
Today Terminator was discussed again at COP8 - and the moratorium still holds! No country dared to challenge the consensus of last week.
Some governments made slight changes to a specific part of the text but this did not relate to the moratorium it was just enough to make us nervous!
Enviado por ETC Staff el
Los ganadores de los Premios Capitán Garfio a la Biopiratería otorgados en Curitiba son un grupo ecléctico que incluye algunos muy conocidos y a otros que dieron la sorpresa, y especialmente fueron reconocidos por su resistencia grupos que defienden las semillas y se oponen a las amenazas a la seguridad alimentaria.
Se le cayó el sistema a Google el viernes pasado, cuando le dieron su premio Capitán Garfio en la Octava Conferencia de las Partes (COP) del Convenio sobre Diversidad Biológica (CDB). No, no piensen que el servicio de internet se interrumpió en el Expotrade donde la reunión del CDB se lleva a cabo hasta el 31 de marzo. Significa que Google obtuvo un premio inesperado. En total, se entregaron 11 premios en diez categorías relacionadas con la biopiratería y siete premios Cog en seis categorías para aquellos que se oponen a la biopiratería y por su cuidado a toda costa de la biodiversidad del planeta.
Enviado por Jim Thomas el
by Lucy Sharratt
The debate over Terminator came and went in a flash. Well, sort of. The flash followed a week of intensive protest and lobbying after 8 years of consistent pressure and the most recent pressure of the Ban Terminator Campaign.
However, there is another week left to the UN meeting and there could still be trouble ahead. Ministers of the Environment from across the world will now also gather in Brazil (though many Ministers will be missing) and government delegations may look for ways out of what was agreed to on Friday.
Enviado por ETC Staff el
The winners of the Captain Hook Awards for Biopiracyare an eclectic group that includes old favorites and new up-and-comers; Community-based biodiversity efforts win Cog Awards for defending food sovereignty
Google "Crashed" today (March 2006) at the Captain Hook Awards ceremony during the meeting of the Eighth Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). No, this doesn't mean that Internet service was interrupted in Curitiba's ExpoTrade Convention and Exhibition Centre where the CBD meeting is being held through March 31. It means that Google walked away with an unexpected big win - just as the movie "Crash" did a few weeks ago at Hollywood's Academy Awards. In all, eleven Captain Hooks received prizes in ten categories related to biopiracy. There were seven Cog Award winners in six categories related to biopiracy resistance and community-based biodiversity strengthening.
Enviado por ETC Staff el
A broad coalition of peasant farmers, Indigenous Peoples and civil society today (24.03.2006) celebrated the firm rejection of efforts to undermine the global moratorium on Terminator technologies - genetically engineered sterile seeds - at the meeting of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Curitiba, Brazil.
"This is a momentous day for the 1.4 billion poor people worldwide, who depend on farmer saved seeds," said Francisca Rodriguez of Via Campesina a global movement of peasant farmers. "Terminator seeds are a weapon of mass destruction and an assault on our food sovereignty."
"Terminator directly threatens our life, our culture and our identity as Indigenous Peoples," said Viviana Figueroa of the Ocumazo indigenous community in Argentina, on behalf of the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity.
"Today's decision is a huge step forward for the Brazilian Campaign against GMOs," said Maria Rita Reis from the Brazilian Forum of Social Movements and NGOs. "This reaffirms Brazil's existing ban on Terminator. It sends a clear message to the national government and congress that the world supports a ban on Terminator."
Enviado por ETC Staff el
Una amplia coalición de agricultores, campesinos, pueblos indígenas y organizaciones de la sociedad civil celebran hoy (24.03.006) que los esfuerzos para minar la moratoria global sobre las tecnologías Terminator -semillas diseñadas genéticamente para ser estériles- hayan sido firmemente rechazados en la reunión del Convenio sobre Diversidad Biológica de la ONU en Curitiba, Brasil.
"Este es un gran momento para los 1 400 millones de campesinos pobres en el mundo que dependen de las semillas de la cosecha", dijo Francisca Rodríguez de Vía Campesina, un movimiento mundial de campesinos. "Las semillas Terminator son un arma de destrucción masiva y un asalto a la soberanía alimentaria. Terminator amenaza directamente nuestra vida, nuestra cultura y nuestra identidad como pueblos indígenas", afirmó Viviana Figueroa de la comunidad indígena de Ocumazo en Argentina, en representación del Foro Indígena sobre Biodiversidad
Enviado por Jim Thomas el
by Lucy Sharratt
Discussions on Terminator at the UN COP started this afternoon - actually they started this morning as governments kept intervening to make statements on Terminator, even though the discussions were on another agenda item.
With a Chair who demonstrated great understanding and facilitation skills yesterday when he recognized and thanked the Via Campesina for thier protest in the negotiation hall, Indigenous Peoples were given time to fully express their stance on Terminator.
Enviado por Jim Thomas el
A group of approximately 40 women from the Via Campesina movement - mostly from across the Americas - staged a dignified protest against Terminator on the floor of the negotiations at COP 8 today. They received applause from delegates and the Chair of the meeting recognized their protest and remarked that it was "a heartfelt protest that many of us feel sympathy with.. This reminds us that we are citizens of the world not just of countries". He said the protest will help the discussion on GURTS later in the day.
Enviado por Jim Thomas el
So today is the day that Terminator is expected to come up in the Working Group and expectation and rumour is running high. Over 150 people are wandering around the conference room wearing distinctive white T-shirts which declare that suicide seeds are homicide seeds , there are posters and stickers, flags and placards - the front page of the Eco - the daily new service here - reminds Canada, New Zealand and Australia that 'The world is watching'. Governments are firming up their positions, issuing advance statements. We too are giving press conferences and interviews
Enviado por ETC Staff el
Curitiba, Brazil. After a week that has seen a worldwide mobilisation against Terminator technology, the issue of Suicide Seeds is about to hit the negotiating floor of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) meeting in Curitiba, Brazil (March 2006). Known to the CBD as GURTs (Genetic Use Restriction Technologies), Terminator crops are genetically modified to create sterile seeds at harvest so that farmers must buy new seed every season. Today (22.03.2006) the Ban Terminator Campaign, a global coalition of over 500 organisations, released new financial calculations indicating that Terminator seeds will impose a burden of billions of extra dollars in seed costs on some of the world's poorest nations.
Enviado por Jim Thomas el
As buses of delegates arrived this morning for day 2 of COP8 they were met by hundreds of protesting (and dancing) farmers, peasants, Indigenous People's and NGO's twirling flags, giving speeches, chanting and rallying against Terminator Technology - many of them organised through Via Campesina - the global movement of peasants. Banners with images of coffins proclaimed that "Case by Case = Coffin by Coffin' and that 'Suicide Seeds are Homicide Seeds" .
Enviado por Jim Thomas el
The Eighth Conference Of the Parties (COP8) to the Convention on Biological Diversity opened today, here in Curitiba Brazil, with an indigenous ceremony to Mother Earth, tupthumping speeches and around 3000 delegates frenetically pacing the corridors jostling and negotiating.
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