news05

SLO County Health Commission Votes Unanimously to Expand GMO Task Force

Commission responds to community concerns that existing Task Force is unbalanced and composed primarily of supporters of genetic engineering.

Corporates gain control - Terminator patent granted

The controversial "Terminator technology" patent was granted in Europe on 5 October 2005. The Terminator patent has been approved for all plants that are genetically engineered so that their seeds will not germinate.

SLO County Health Commission Votes Unanimously to Expand GMO Task Force

Commission responds to community concerns that existing Task Force is unbalanced and composed primarily of supporters of genetic engineering.

Sustainable farming can feed the world

On World Food Day, Swiss agricultural specialist Hans Rudolf Herren tells swissinfo that hunger can be overcome if farming practices are improved.

The Public Loses With Task Force Bias: Tribune Get's it Wrong Again

The Tribune again mis-represents SLO GE Free in an October 28, 2005 editorial. The editorial is factually wrong in it's representation of our group as well as the Health Commission GMO Task Force goals. Some facts are contradicted in an article run by it's own paper a week earlier! The editorial also conveniently omits information about the current composition of the Health Commission's GMO Task Force that raised concerns of bias.

Genetically modified soy affects posterity: Results of Russian scientists’ studies

Doctor of Biology Irina Ermakova made public the first research that determined clear dependence between eating genetically modified soy and the posterity of living creatures.

Seedy business: A sustainable-ag champion gets plowed under at Iowa State

Kirschenmann, recently fired director of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, has now paid the price for speaking out on issues like protecting non-GM seeds and participating in the launch last year of the Union of Concerned Scientists' report "Gone to Seed: Transgenic contaminant in the traditional seed supply." He has consistently argued for the urgent need for agriculture to go forward "into a more intelligent, diversified farming system."

Ban trials until Bayer Cropscience pays for damages

"Bayer Cropscience must be made to pay all costs and losses caused by their negligence, not rewarded by allowing contamination without liability redress." said Geoffrey Carracher, Victorian NCF Spokesperson. "Farmers should not be expected to pay for the testing and market losses caused by Bayer Cropscience's obvious negligence."

Chief Scientific Officer in Ireland Accused of GMO Cover-up

Dr. Barry McSweeney, the Chief Scientific Officer of Ireland who used a questionable PhD to obtain his job, attempted to cover-up an official EU study on the risks of GMO crops in 2002.

Roundup back in Schmeiser field

He is as persistent as the Roundup Ready canola that keeps appearing in his fields. Percy Schmeiser is back in the news, threatening to file a lawsuit against his nemesis, Monsanto Canada.

Out of the Lab Biotech-Crop Battle Heats Up as Strains Mix With Others

As genetically modified crops win a growing share of the world's farmland, they are increasingly altering the makeup of traditional crops like Mr. Ballarin's corn. "Biotech pollution," as critics call it, results when genetically modified plants are mixed with ordinary crops by mistake, carelessness or just the wind.

Indian Government admits failure of Bt cotton in 2 States

The State Government has imposed a ban on sale of Bt cotton hybrids of the company during kharif 2005. In Rajasthan too some Bt cotton had performed poorly due to inadequate rain, a long dry spell and high temperature during the crop's growth period, the Minister said.

Swiss OK Moratorium on Genetically Altered Crops

Swiss voters approved a referendum Sunday to tighten curbs on genetically modified farm products, a divisive topic in a country that already prohibits most of such technology from being used in agriculture.

Independent Scientists Demand A Ban on GM Food & Feed while All GM Crops are tested

 

5-year GMO moratorium is now part of the Swiss constitution

It is a spectacular victory: 55,7% of voters accepted the initiative (people's referendum), as well as all 26 cantons of Switzerland. Even Basel, seat of Syngenta, Novartis and Roche, said Yes to the 5-year moratorium, with 50,8 %, while the canton Jura had with 75,9% the highest majority. 1'125 357 people voted for the initiative, 896'372 against it.