community-based science and technologies

dossier

Center for International Policy

Latin America: The Downside of the GM Revolution

> by Carmelo Ruiz-Marrero

As genetically modified soybeans take over vast tracts in South America and reports flow in of genetic contamination of local corn in Mesoamerica, grassroots resistance to biotech crops has also grown. The protests form part of people’s movements across the hemisphere that tie together a rejection of neoliberalism and agribusiness, and call for land reform, food sovereignty, and sustainable agriculture. Read full document "Latin America: The Downside of the GM (...) read

date of on-line publication : 19 December 2007

dossier

The Biosafety Information Centre

Genetic Engineering and Omitted Health Research

Some of the most crucial scientific questions concerning the health effects of genetic engineering (GE) and genetically engineered organisms (GEOs) were raised up to twenty years ago. Most of them have still not been answered at all, or have found unsatisfactory answers. We believe, as Mayer and Stirling said, “in the end it is often the case that those who choose the questions determine the answers”. Will another twenty years pass before societies realize the urgent need for public funding (...) read

date of on-line publication : 24 October 2007

RAJA Kanaga, Third World Network

North East Asia seeing explosive growth in patenting

Worldwide filings of patent applications have grown at an average annual rate of 4.7% with the highest growth rates experienced in North East Asian countries, particularly the Republic of Korea and China, according to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). In the 2007 edition of its "Patent Report: Statistics on Worldwide Patent Activities", WIPO said that patents granted worldwide have increased at an average annual rate of 3.6% with some 600,000 patents granted in 2005 (...) read

date of on-line publication : 26 September 2007

GenderIT

Do women’s access to ICTs lead to empowerment?

> Patricia Litho, July 2007

Is there a direct connection between empowerment and access to information and communication technologies? Patricia Litho interrogates this question through the CEEWA ICT project case study in rural Uganda. She examines the conceptualisation of empowerment, and its relationship with infrastructure, skills, connectivity, access and participation. Read more read

date of on-line publication : 26 July 2007

Third World Network

Action not talk needed on bio-piracy, says Brazil

More concrete action and less repetitive talk is needed on preventing bio-piracy in the World Intellectual Property Organisation, according to the Brazilian delegation, speaking at a meeting here of WIPO’s inter-governmental committee (IGC) on intellectual property, genetic resources, traditional knowledge and folklore. Brazil, represented by Mr. Guilherme Patriota, gave a critical assessment of the IGC discussions and said that some countries were continuing to make repetitive statements (...) read

date of on-line publication : 26 July 2007

dossier

African Centre for Biosafety (ACB)

Monsanto’s GM Drought-Tolerant Maize in South Africa

During March 2007, the South African GMO authorities gave Monsanto permission to conduct experiments involving GM drought tolerant maize in open field trials in South Africa. As a result of the extremely limited opportunities for civil society to intervene in GMO permit applications in South Africa the African Centre for Biosafety (ACB) was prevented from objecting to the application in a timeous manner. Nevertheless, we offer this paper as a contribution to the biosafety discourse and our (...) read

date of on-line publication : 25 June 2007

Reject genetic engineering of smallpox, NGOs urge WHO

> Global Trends by Martin Khor

A campaign has been launched to request the World Health Organization (WHO) not to proceed with a project involving the genetic engineering of the smallpox virus and instead to ensure that all remaining stocks of the virus are destroyed within two years. A proposal to the WHO to allow the genetic modification of small pox virus was first initiated by the United States at a WHO technical advisory committee, which recommended its acceptance to the WHO’s executive board. The proposal will (...) read

date of on-line publication : 24 April 2007

dossier

Greenpeace

Rice industry in crisis

> Greenpeace Report, january 2007

Major rice markets close doors to genetically engineered rice after contamination of the global food supply chain. In 2006 a series of scandals erupted as world rice supplies were discovered to be contaminated with unapproved genetically engineered (GE) rice varieties. Field trials of GE rice in the US and the illegal sale of rice seed in China led to unapproved GE rice entering global food supply chains. Contaminated food stocks were found and pulled from shelves in European stores. (...) read

date of on-line publication : 12 February 2007

Technology transfer for the poor

http://www.scidev.net/Editorials/ind (...)

Developing countries must adopt effective policies on technology transfer that meet the needs of all social classes, including the poorest.
There is a common misconception that the single most important factor in science and development is the need for adequate funding for relevant research. This type of thinking - sometimes described as the « science push » model of development - tends to focus on the proportion of a country’s gross national product spent on research and development.
But spending on research is part of a broader picture. An arguably larger role is played by government policies affecting the practical application of scientific knowledge. This usually involves embedding such knowledge in technological products and processes, what is widely described as « technology transfer ».  read

date of on-line publication : 30 January 2007

dossier

Africa contaminated by unapproved GM rice from the United States

> Friends of the Earth Africa, briefing paper

Food aid and commercial imports sent to West Africa are contaminated with illegal GM rice. The revelations of contamination by illegal GM rice in the food supply in Europe and Japan prompted Friends of the Earth to monitor the rice supply in West Africa, a region that imports most of the rice destined to Africa. Samples collected were sent in October 2006 to an independent laboratory in the United States. Testing results have confirmed that contamination by illegal GM rice LL601 has (...) read

date of on-line publication : 4 December 2006