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Date: 28 Nov 1998 09:37:29 -0600
From: MichaelP
papadop@peak.org
If you have already seen this, pass it around anyway. I've taken the liberty of re-justifying the text, and correcting a few typos.
If you want to be informed of what is going on around the world on this
matter, please send a message to
listproc@gn.apc.org with the message
Cheers MP
============================= Dear friends,
Monsanto's field trials in Karnataka will be reduced to ashes, starting on
Saturday. Two days ago the Minister of Agriculture of Karnataka gave a
press conference where he was forced by the journalists to disclose the
three sites where field trials with Bt cotton are being conducted (for
background information about the trials, see appendix 2 at the bottom). KRRS activists have already contacted the owners of these fields, to
explain them which action will be taken, and for what reasons, and to let
them know that the KRRS will cover any loses they will suffer. On Saturday
the 28th of November, at midday, thousands of farmers will occupy and burn
down the three fields in front of the cameras, in an open, announced
action of civil disobedience. These actions will start a campaign of direct action by farmers against
biotechnology, called Operation 'Cremation Monsanto', which will not stop
until all the corporate killers like Monsanto, Novartis, Pioneer etc leave
the country. Farmers' leaders from the states of Maharastra, Gujarat and
Madhya Pradesh (states where Monsanto is also conducting field trials) were yesterday in Bangalore to prepare the campaign. The campaign will run under the following slogans:
along with a more specific message for all those who have invested on
Monsanto:
We know that stopping biotechnology in India will not be of much help to
us if it continues in other countries, since the threats that it poses do
not stop at the borders. We also think that the kind of actions that will
be going on in India have the potential not only to kick those corporate
killers out of our country: if we play our cards right at global level and
coordinate our work, these actions can also pose a major challenge to the
survival of these corporations in the stock markets. Who wants to invest
in a mountain of ashes, in offices that are constantly being squatted (and
if necessary even destroyed) by activists? For these reasons, we are making an international call for direct action
against Monsanto and the rest of the biotech gang. This call for action
will hopefully inspire all the people who are already doing a brilliant
work against biotech, and many others who so far have not been very active
on the issue, to join hands in a quick, effective worldwide effort. This is a very good moment to target Monsanto, since it has run out of
cash in its megalomaniac attempt to monopolise the life industry in record
time. It is going now through a hard time of layoffs and restructuration
in a desperate effort to survive, since it cannot pay its bills. It is
also a good time because several recent scandals (like the pulping of the
Monsanto edition of The Ecologist, the whole "Terminator Technology" affaire, the illegal introduction of Bt Cotton in Zimbabwe, etc) have
contributed to its profile as corporate killer, which, being the creators
of Vietnam War's Agent Orange and rBHG, was already good enough, anyhow.
We are hence making a call to: We are making this call for action on the line of Peoples' Global Action
(PGA), a worldwide network of peoples' movements, in order to emphasize
the political analysis beyond our opposition to biotechnology. This
analysis does not only take environmental concerns into account, and is
not limited to the defense of food security - it attacks neoliberal
globalisation as a whole, the WTO regime as its most important tool, and
the global power structures (G8, NATO, etc) as the root of all these
problems. You will find the complete political analysis on the manifesto
of the PGA, which you will find in the web page
http://www.agp.org
The fact that this call for action takes place on line with PGA also has
other implications: If you want to be informed of what is going on around the world on this
matter, please send a message to
listproc@gn.apc.org with the message
subscribe pga-ge on the text body. This way you will be informed about
what is going on in India and in other countries. (The list will be active
a few hours after we send this message).
Please, try not write back to this address, since we will be madly busy in
the next days with the mobilisations. However, if you have good contacts
with international media (CNN, BBC, TV5, etc) and want to help us to get
them here to cover the bonfire at Monsanto's field please let us know as
soon as possible.
Friendly greetings,
Prof. Nanjundaswamy ********************
Appendix 1: "Police Protection to all American Companies in Bangalore
City", article appeared in "Samykta Karnataka", November 25th
Police Protection to all American Companies in Bangalore City
Bangalore Nov. 25th
It has come to light that the American Ambassador in Dehli has written to
the Government of the State of Karnataka asking to provide a strong police
protection to all American companies in the city.
Pointing out the previous repeated attacks on American companies by
'miscreants', the Ambassador has requested the State Government to create
an atmosphere without fear and anxiety for them to work. He has stressed the need for a special security for companies related to
science and technology and also the their hundreds of foreign companies in
the city. Anticipating attack on the offices of Monsanto in Bangalore, tight
security has been provided from today, top police sources confirmed. Police have said in their note that they are providing security for the
company owning the Terminator Technology and having the right to sell
seeds which do not germinate for the second time. In a city where most of
the TNCs are based, the present developments have made them to work with
fear and anxiety. (Translated from Kannada) *********************
Appendix 2: Monsanto under siege in India, message sent on 23rd November
1998
**please distribute as widely as possible**
Dear friends,
On Monday the 16th the public was informed by Indian newspapers that
Monsanto (well known in India for the Terminator Technology) has been
conducting 40 field trials with genetically manipulated cotton across five
Indian states for the last three months. Monsanto is testing a hybrid
cotton seed that has been genetically engineered to produce the Bacillus
thuringiensis (Bt) enzyme. The permission granted by the federal
government in Delhi pertains the states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andrah
Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. Now that peoples'
movements are starting to mobilise on this matter, the same central
government that granted the permission is inviting Monsanto to leave the
country. Monsanto has formed a joint venture with Mahyco (a 30 years old seed
company) to carry out these field trials. According to the media, Monsanto
now owns 26 percent of Mahyco. In the rest of the message I include some excerpts of the newspaper
coverage of this affaire. We will keep you informed of the developments in
this part of the world, which will most probably include a number of
nonviolent direct actions to burn down the genetically modified crops and
kick Monsanto physically out of the country. We encourage you to do
similar actions all over the world maybe we can make Monsanto's
shareholders feel our pressure reflected on the value of their stocks. Friendly greetings,
Prof. Nanjundaswamy President, Karnataka State Farmers Association
swamy.krrs@aworld.net
'Curiously though agriculture is a state subject, Karnataka Government
seems unaware of the trials going on in the State. Agriculture Minister C. Byre Gowda admitted that he had been informend of the ongoing trials but
was unaware of where they were being undertaken in Karnataka or in
Maharashtra.'
(The Indian Express, Bangalore edition, cover page, 16th
November) The trials started three months ago although the 'Ministry of Science and
Technology has admitted that it does not have the requisite regulatoy
regimen to assess the risk of dealing with such transgenic material for
which biosafty guidelines have only now been issued.'
(The Indian Express, Bangalore edition, cover page, 18th November).
In that sense, the
University of Agriculture Science (UAS) Bangalore warned that 'The genetic
modification involved in geneticlly engineered hybrid seeds is a concealed
one that cannot be ascertaiened with existing regulations of the seed act
and quarantine.' (ibid.) B.R. Hedge, Director of Research at UAS, affirmed
that 'The Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) was only now
starting to look at ways which regulatory mechnisms should be put in place
to check the clandestine import of such genetic material. Nevertheless,
for the moment we have nothing ready'
(The Indian Express, Bangalore edition, page 9, 18th November)
The KRRS has issued a deadline to the State Government and Monsanto to
disclose the places where the trials are being conducted and the exact
description of the seeds that are being tested. '"Monsanto should reveal
immediately where the trials are being conducted" failing which "direct
action would follow on the company's office in Malleswaram" he [Prof.
Nanjundaswamy] threatened. "The government can foist 100 cases of attempt
to murder [against us], but we will throw it [Monsanto] out... first from
Karnataka, next from Maharashtra" ... The former professor of law wondered
how the State's Agriculture Minister could be unaware of the trials. "The
Government cannot continue for three minutes" considering its
irresponsible behaviour, he said'. (The Indian Express, Bangalore edition,
page 4, 20th November) 'Monsanto will have to leave the country within a
week. Otherwise we will be forced to throw them out. We have given a day's
ultimatum to the company to furnish details about the seed trials
undertaken in the state and the country.'
(Prof. Nanjundasway in The Times of India, Bangalore edition, page 5 20th
November). Although the field trials are testing BT cotton, the Indian press and
politiciancs seem to be rather confused and are mixing up this issue with
the terminator technology, which has been used by opponents of Monsanto as
an example of the destructive potential of this corporation. However, this
confusion is making it easier for Monsanto to reject any accusation by
denying the use of this technology. Here are some statements about this
issue taken from the last days press.
'Second and Third World markets are the main targets for the terminator
seed.'
William Phelps, Spokesman, Department of Agriculture, USA (quoted in The
Indian Express, Bangalore edition, cover page, 18 November)
'It is not merly the economic factors that threaten the poor farmers of
the world, but it is nature of the Terminator gene itself, since the
pollen from the crops carrying the Terminator will infect the fields of
farmers who either reject, or cannot afford the technology.'
(UAS, quoted in The Indian Express, Bangalore edition, cover page, 18
November) 'This is a terminator of biodiversity, terminator of food security. It is
a damaging technology because pollination pollution can render all
indigenous varieties sterile. This gene will slowly remove all
characteristics of germination from seeds. This means the harvest seeds
cannot be used for sowing during the next seseason. It will also force
seed dependency on farmers who cannot afford to buy seeds. Monoculture was
introduced in the country in 1965 with an aim to provide food security.
When Green Revolution Technology introduced monoculture it was thought the
method would be very effective. Terminatorgene is being dubbed as a second
Green Revolution Technology. This, too, will prove ineffective.
Genetically modified seeds are polluting the local species. It will not
solve the food problem, in fact it will terminate food security along with
biodiversity.'
(Prof. Nanjundaswamy, quoted in The Times of India, Bangalore edition,
page 5, 20th November) The sincerity of Monsanto can be easily assessed by the usual roguish
reply it gave to the critics: 'Monsanto will only bring to India, products
and technologies which are consistent with what India wants and its laws
aprove.... Monsanto has not, and will not, bring to India any technology
that will adversely affect the environment, current agricuture practices
and force farmers to use any technology it provides.'
(Monsanto statement quoted in Deccan Herald, Bangalore edition, page 9,
21th November) Yesterday the Union Minister for Rural Development, Babagouda Patil,
declared that 'Monsanto wil be asked to leave India'
(headline, The Times of India, Bangalore edition, page 5, 23 November). 'He said that he recieved Information that Monsanto is developing and
conducting field trials on the "terminator gene" seeds at a private farm
in Ranebennur taluk of Haveri district. "I have informed the Prime
Minister and Union Agriculture Minister", he said. He said he knew the
complications arising out of the issue due to WTO stipulations. "But the
government will not compromise on this issue as crores of farmers' lives
will be in danger. The terminator gene seed will pose a serious threat to
Indian agriculture." The Union cabinet is expected to deliberate on the
issue besides initiating measures to close Monsanto's buisness operations
in the country... He said that the Center would not hesitate to withdraw
from WTO if its provisions threaten our very existence.'
(The Times of India, Bangalore edition, page 5 23rd November) Date: 28 Nov 1998 16:06:49 -0600 The Irish Times
© Copyright 1998
The fallout over this week's programme in RTE's Big Science
television series has increased, with the Irish biotechnology
industry and a leading research agency supporting claims by
the biotechnology company [ Monsanto ] that it was unfair and
inaccurate.
The US multinational has asked RTE to outline how it intends to repair
damage to the company
caused by the programme entitled Safe Harvest which focused on crop
production and genetically
modified (GM) foods. The complaint to RTE's director general, Mr Bob
Collins, has been
supported by the Irish Bioindustry Association.
BioResearch Ireland, which has research units in five universities, has
also submitted its
objections to the State agency Forfas, which advises on science and
technology policy and
financially supported the Big Science series.
A Monsanto spokesman said it was awaiting a reply from RTE. If this was
not satisfactory, a
complaint would be made to the Broadcasting Complaints Commission. The
programme's
makers have defended its contents, insisting it was not an attempt to
denigrate Monsanto or
biotechnology.
Monsanto's main objection, said its Irish business manager, Dr Patrick
O'Reilly, was the absence
of representatives of the biotechnology industry or regulatory authorities
charged with monitoring
and approving this technology from a human and environmental health point
of view. "It also
paints a picture of organic farming as a provider of food for the
developing world which is
dangerously misleading."
IBIA director Mr Matt Moran said he was "shocked to see a programme
purporting to promote
science being so totally imbalanced". But Green Party TD Mr Trevor Sargent
accused Monsanto
of "throwing their weight around, just as they have done in agriculture",
as it was dissatisfied
with reliance on agriculturalists' views.
Safe Harvest producer-director Ms Moira Sweeney said it was making "a
passionate case for
biodiversity" and highlighting the role of farmers, who may be overlooked
in a race towards
using this new technology. It looked at other technologies and different
forms of harvesting, and
interviewed farmers using Monsanto technology.
It was not, she said, an endorsement of organic farming. Even the most
radical voice, Dr
Vandana Shiva, accepted there was a place for considered application of
biotechnology with a
democratic input. But given their objections, they now accepted there was
a case for including the
views of biotechnologists and a Monsanto representative.
Date: 30 Nov 1998 20:45:29 -0600 By Mary Jane Otto ,
Daily Californian (U. California-Berkeley) (U-WIRE) BERKELEY, Calif. -- Students are drawn to UC Berkeley
because of its standing as a public institution, representing an
open exchange of ideas, independent research and uncensored
academic dialogue.
What many of these students may not know is that corporations
are becoming increasingly present on this campus and others
across the country -- a presence that could ultimately threaten
the tenets of public education.
In the past 12 years, state funding has declined from 52 percent
of the total budget to 34 percent of the budget. As a result,
the university has had to look elsewhere for funding.
"There is no question that this reduction in state funding has
created a greater interest for this university to raise money
privately and build relationships with industry," said UC
Berkeley Assistant Chancellor John Cummins.
According to last year's budget, 66 percent of the university's
total funding came from private sources. Of this money, a
reported 29.5 percent -- $51.3 million -- is from corporations.
In 1977, private sources contributed $12.6 million to the
university. In 1997, this number jumped to $174.2 million.
These facts beg the question, in what direction is the
university headed, toward the privatization of a public school?
And, even more important, will this merger with big business
have an effect on education?
Of the university's many colleges, the College of Natural
Resources, the College of Engineering and the Haas School of
Business receive among the highest amounts of private funding.
These schools, not coincidentally, have the closest ties to big
business.
"There is no question that professional schools have ties to
their corporate sector based on their alumni," Cummins said.
"This relationship may give those schools an advantage over the
humanities, but there are things the university can do to
counterbalance this."
For example, he said, the university can work to raise
additional funding for the humanities departments through
focused and specialized attention from the university's
development office.
Recent groundbreaking deals between the university's colleges
and private firms have drawn heightened attention to the debate
over privatization.
The College of Natural Resources and the biotechnology firm
Novartis signed a multimillion dollar contract last week that
will fund research within the college. Although university
administrators said the deal is a great step forward for
building the college's integrity, some students and faculty are
worried that the agreement may hinder the freedom of university
research.
But, according to one College of Natural Resources official, the
fear that corporations are somehow running things is unfounded.
"There are checks and balances within the university to ensure
that the work here goes on as it is supposed to," said Rosemary
Lucier, director of college relations for the College of Natural
Resources. "Corporate giving has a definite positive impact on
research -- it expands the possibilities of what is already
going on."
For example, the increasing cost of research, caused by the
continuous need for updated technology, creates a greater
financial need in order to remain competitive with other leading
universities.
One administrator at the College of Engineering, who declined to
give her name, said there has been a long-standing relationship
between the professional field and the engineering department.
"Students need to be aware of what they need to know in order to
function in the working world," she said. "We need to stay on
the cutting edge of research and, as a result, we need to
maintain a relationship with big business."
Corporate funding remains a very complex issue, however. To
begin with, there are several types of corporate donations. Some
gifts may be given in support of the general operations of the
university as a whole, while others may be applied as gifts
given for specific research or special projects.
According to UC Berkeley spokesperson Jesus Mena, the faculty on
campus are conscious of any and all stipulations that may be
attached to corporate donations.
"The faculty here is heavily guarded against becoming an arm of
the corporate industry," Mena said. "They come here for the
express purpose of conducting research that is independent from
corporate influence."
And while corporations do contribute money, there are often
strict guidelines surrounding these donations to ensure faculty
independence, he added.
Despite these claims, students across the country are concerned
with corporate influence over public universities. While they
recognize that state funding is declining across the nation,
some have said they do not feel this validates the corporate
funding trend.
Eric Brakken, chair of the Associated Students at the University
of Wisconsin at Madison, is involved in a national council that
has been discussing the corporatization trend. He said that
increasing corporatization fundamentally changes what public
education is for and who it is designed to serve.
"The function that society has given to public universities is
for students and faculty to engage in broad, uncensored public
debate," Brakken said. "We have to make a decision about whether
we are going to look for private sources to buy us out or
whether we are going to really fight on the front for what
public education is about."
Here at UC Berkeley, student groups have expressed concern about
a potential corporate takeover of the university. Senior Bonnie
Koo, co-founder of the student group Nindakin, which fights for
environmental and economic justice, said the effect on students
is actually indirect.
"Corporations are being allowed to recruit in all fields because
of their contributions," Koo said. "Instead of the general
education public universities are supposed to provide, this
institution has become a training ground for big business
employment."
While faculty members throughout the university are quick to
dismiss the notion that these types of corporate funds have any
impact on the quality of public education, some students
maintain that in the long run the effects could be drastic.
(c) 1998 Daily Californian
http://www.dailycal.org
Just send the following message to
ge-mail@lofthouse.com "Add my name to the Consumer Right to Know Petition for the
mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods."
Make sure to include your name and address in USA
(which will only be used for this petition).
For more info, hard copies of the petition and for friends
without email to sign, call toll-free: 1 877 REAL FOOD
(1 877 732 5366) or visit the Mothers for Natural Law web site:
http://www.safe-food.org
Date: 30 Nov 1998 22:01:06 -0600 Hi!
If you've been wondering why Monsanto stock has been inching up after its earlier collapse a couple of months ago, here's the primary reason I believe. Their new arthritis drugs is due to be approved shortly. The article below talks about the FDA advisory panel. Please keep in mind that FDA advisory panels are generally stacked with drug and "food" industry reps. Monsanto's drug might be relatively safe or it might leave a path of destruction, but the FDA will approve it either way.
Best Wishes,
- Mark -----------------------
[Reuters, Nov. 30, 1998]
A drug for treatment of arthritis pain, the first of a widely anticipated group of new pain-relieving drugs, goes before a Food and Drug Administration advisory panel this week.
The drug, Celebrex, made by Monsanto Co. unit G.D. Searle, is in a class of drugs known as COX-2 inhibitors that should be better suited for long-term use because they do not attack the stomach lining like other nonsteroidal anti-infammatory drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen.
An estimated 16 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis, the degenerative disease of the joints that affects virtually everyone over the age of 75.
At the advisory meeting tomorrow, Celebrex might also be recommended for the early stages of rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks its own joint tissues that affects about 1 percent of the population.
The FDA is not bound by the advice of its advisory committees but usually follows their recommendations.
The market for such drugs looks huge as the population ages. "I think $3 [billion] to $4 billion a years is almost a given," independent drug industry analyst Hemant Shah told Reuters.
Merck and Co. Inc. has submitted a similar drugs called Vioxx for FDA approval. Searle plans to co-market Celebrex with Pfizer Inc.
COX-2 drugs hold the potential to curb hospitalizations and deaths in people at highest risk for gastrointestinal problems, said Dr. Lee Simon, a rheumatologist and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.
Complications such as ulcers and stomach perforations cause 7,000 to 20,000 deaths a year, according to Stanford University researchers. Sold by prescription and over the counter, NSAIDS are taken by a least 13 million Americans for arthritis.
"These new drugs are a light-year development forward from a safety point of view," Simon, who has been an investigator for several Celebrex studies, added.
Simon said COX-2s will also be important for patients who need to have surgery. Often they have to stop taking traditional anti-inflammatory drugs up to two weeks prior or just after surgery because they can cause bleeding.
COX-2 inhibitors affect cyclooxygenase-2, an enzyme made by the body in response to pain or trauma.
Date: 1 Dec 1998 02:57:55 -0600 November 30, 1998
Xinhua via NewsEdge Corporation : LONDON (Nov. 29) XINHUA - A
Scottish scientist is on the brink of making medical history by
becoming the first person to clone a human embryo, The Sunday
Times reported Sunday.
Dr Austin Smith, director of Edinburgh University's center of genome
research, is expected to pioneer a revolutionary form of cloning by
giving every baby an embryonic "twin," from whom spare body parts
can be grown and life-threatening diseases treated.
He is in consultation with the Roslin Institute in Edinburgh which
created Dolly, the first cloned mammal, and said that within the next
12 years it would be routine for every baby to have an embryonic
clone.
"All it takes now is financial investment," he said. "This therapy will be
the medicine of the next century."
A working party from Britain's Human Fertilization and Embryology
Authority and the human genetics advisory commission will report to
the government within the next few weeks.
It is understood that it will recommend approval of new "therapeutic"
cloning but come down firmly against reproductive cloning by
replicating a living human being.
If the group's report is accepted by ministers, it would mean that
Britain could be the first to clone a human embryo, The Sunday
Times said.
Date: 1 Dec 1998 18:13:40 -0600 The Evening Post,
Supplied by New Zealand Press Association
© Copyright 1998
Neil Kirton says he felt strong US pressure over modified
foods.
Claims that the US bullied New Zealand over the testing and labelling of
genetically modified
food were backed yesterday by former associate health Minister Neil Kirton
who says he was
visited on the issue twice by an "aggressive" US Ambassador Josiah Beeman.
Mr Kirton said Mr Beeman visited him twice in February or March of 1997
after he called for the
compulsory labelling of genetically modified food.
"He made two trips to my office, from memory," he said.
"On the first occasion it was the first time I had had a visit from a
diplomat to see me.
"I was struck dumb by the aggression showed by Beeman to my stance, and
the bullying tactics
he used," Mr Kirton said.
Mr Kirton said Mr Beeman claimed his stance would affect US-New Zealand
trade relations. He
understood Mr Beeman was in contact with other Ministers on the issue,
including Trade Minister
Lockwood Smith.
The American Embassy could not be reached for comment.
Mr Kirton said that after he was sacked as Minister, his replacement and
then New Zealand First
colleague Tuariki Delamere had decided to support the stance on
non-labelling promoted by the
Australian-New Zealand Food Authority, despite the strong opposition of
the NZ First caucus at
the time.
"There was a very, very vigorous and acrimonious debate in the NZ First
caucus because he had
made the decision without getting approval (from caucus)."
Mr Kirton said he supported labelling because he believed consumers had a
right to know what
was in food they were buying.
Mr Delamere said yesterday he had "never had any contact from anyone in
the US Government"
about the issue.
He was responding to a claim by Alliance health spokeswoman Phillida
Bunkle and Greens
co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons that the Government was being pressured over
the issue.
They cited Cabinet papers that said the US and Canada were concerned about
the approach
advocated by the Australian-New Zealand Food Authority and its effect on
others, including the
European Union. The papers also said such an approach could potentially
end any chance of a
New Zealand-US Free Trade Agreement.
Mr Kirton said the science select committee had last week called for a
comprehensive account of
how much tax money State-funded Crown research institutes were putting
into a lobbying
campaign here by US company [ Monsanto ] against genetic food labelling
and testing.
He understood Crop and Food Research and other Crown institutes had so far
spent $60,000 on
the campaign.
The Government has yet to make a decision on whether some products should
be labelled.
Ms Fitzsimons yesterday predicted the Government would today approve the
first application for
gene modification, paving the way for New Zealand to be used as a
gene-engineering test ground.
Ms Fitzsimons said the Environmental Risk Management Authority would issue
its first decision
today on applications by genetic engineers, allowing herbicide-resistant,
genetically engineered
sugarbeet in a Canterbury field trial. - NZPA
_____via IntellX_____
Date: 1 Dec 1998 20:48:53 -0600 By Marie McInerney
ADELAIDE (Reuters) - Scientists and biotechnology companies
pursuing genetic research should promote full and open debate on
their work or risk public backlash which could halt their
studies, a leading bioethicist said Monday.
Senior Australian judge Michael Kirby told Reuters the debate on
the cloning of human cells, sparked by the cloning of Dolly the
sheep in Scotland in 1996, highlighted the risks when science
outstrips debate on ethics.
Unless there is a proper, thorough explanation to the
community of the scientific arguments for cloning, the natural
response of a community ignorant of the potential benefits is to
he said.
Kirby is a member of the bioethics committees of the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) and the Human Genome Project, an international effort
to map and sequence all human genes.
Public fears sparked by the cloning of Dolly were heightened
this month with the cloning in the United States of an adult
human cell.
Scientists at the Massachusetts-based biotech company Advanced
Cell Technology said they had fused human cells into cow eggs to
grow stem cells for tissue transplants, not to grow an embryo
that would essentially be a human clone.
Speaking at GeneCom '98, a privately organized international
conference on gene technology, Kirby said efforts to address the
ethical dilemmas posed by genetic research were being hampered
by lack of funds.
He said multinational corporations which stood to make
significant commercial gains from that research should
contribute more to debate, both financially and intellectually -
if only out of self-protection.
Unless you engage the community in debate about these issues,
the result will be that instinctive, intuitive responses will
rule the science and that may not be for the benefit of either
he
said.
Kirby also blamed the media for a lack of serious public debate,
saying its approach to many issues led scientists to remain
trivialized,
We have to develop media reporting of this issue which will
ensure the scientists do not simply retreat into their
he said. Date: 2 Dec 1998 11:31:30 -0600 The Augusta Chronicle
Life sciences corporation [ Monsanto Co. ] may sell its
NutraSweet artificial-sweetener business and other parts of its
nutrition and consumer products operations to help pay for $6
billion in planned acquisitions, a Reuters report said Monday,
quoting analysts who cover the company.
Local NutraSweet plant Manager Bill DeFer declined to
comment and referred questions about the speculated sale to
Monsanto's headquarters in St. Louis. Officials there did not
immediately return calls. NutraSweet employs about 370 people in Augusta.
Monsanto, the St. Louis-based company that operates NutraSweet- Kelco and
Searle plants in
Augusta, announced in November that it will restructure and sell some
businesses as it prepares
to acquire four seed companies for about $6 billion. Monsanto said the
sales would generate at
least $1 billion.
Also Monday, the Justice Department approved Monsanto's $2.3 billion
acquisition of
Illinois-based corn seed company [ DeKalb Genetics Corp. ] , and [ Delta
and Pine Land Co. ] , a
Mississippi-based cotton seed company, announced that its shareowners have
approved its
pending merger with Monsanto.
Date: 2 Dec 1998 22:46:18 -0600 SOURCE: Monsanto Company,
Company Press Release
Friday November 20, 6:20 pm Eastern Time
BEIJING, Nov. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Monsanto Company today launched
the first known Chinese language Web site covering the life
sciences industry. The Web address
http://www.monsanto.com.cn
offers scientists, researchers and students with an
up-to-the-moment information resource on international
activities and the latest from China's fast-growing life
sciences sector -- all translated to Mandarin Chinese.
Throughout China, the Internet is quickly gaining exposure and
popularity as a key source of information and perspective, as it
said Charles M. Martin, chief
Monsanto is proud
to be the first life sciences company to design a Chinese
language information resource for the Internet that addresses a
The searchable Web site features electronic versions of
Monsanto's new Life Sciences Bulletin -- a Chinese language
review of international activities in the life sciences
industry. For students and researchers, a Mandarin glossary of
life sciences terms provides definitions for complex
biotechnology and pharmaceutical words, and to support Chinese
media, the site includes China-relevant media releases.
For those interested specifically in Monsanto, a business unit
overview and listing of products available in China is provided
along with Monsanto's international corporate background, and
China corporate history. The site also allows Web browsers to
submit their name, mailing address, phone and fax numbers, and
e-mail address to receive updates from Monsanto.
As a life sciences company, Monsanto is committed to finding
solutions to the growing global needs for food and health by
sharing common forms of science and technology among
agriculture, nutrition and health. The company's 26,500
employees worldwide make and market high-value agricultural
products, pharmaceuticals and food ingredients.
SOURCE: Monsanto Company
Date: 2 Dec 1998 22:46:18 -0600 Remember last year already:
HUHHOT (April 5, 98) XINHUA - Chinese scientists have succeeded in
transplanting fish genes into beets. The transgenic beet
seedlings can survive temperatures of six to 6.5 degrees below
zero, 2.5 times that of non-transgenic beet.The sowing period
of the beet can come ten to 15 days earlier and its harvesting
period can be extended by ten to 15 days.
The gene came from the anti-frost protein gene of an Arctic fish
imported to Mongolia from Germany in 1992. Li Tianran, a
professor of the Biology Department, and Zhang Jianfeng, a
graduate student under Li, were put in charge of the research.
"It is the first time in the world that animal gene was
transplanted into the beet," Tian Bo, an academician of the
Chinese Academy of Sciences, said.
"It is of great significance for the anti-frost research for
other crops," he said.
Date: 2 Dec 1998 22:46:18 -0600 Or fish into tomato:
BEIJING, May 7 (AFP) - Chinese genetic engineers have developed
a frost- resistant tomato plant by splicing genetic material
from a coldwater fish into tomato pollen, the official Xinhua
news agency reported Thursday. The result of 10 years of
research, the plant can withstand temperatures below -4 degrees
Celsius (24.8 degrees Fahrenheit) for six hours, allowing it to
survive a late frost, the report said. Its seeds are also
cold-resistant and can be planted earlier than ordinary
specimens.
Wang Yong, who led research in the northeastern city of Harbin,
was quoted as saying the resulting fruit contain 15 percent more
vitamin C and "taste better."
Seeds of the super tomatos -- which received government approval
last year -- are selling for 200,000 yuan (24,960 dollars) a
kilogramme, the report said.
Date: 2 Dec 1998 22:46:18 -0600 Or GE corn by Pioneer:
SOURCE Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. (NYSE: PHB), announced today it has
received approval from the
Chinese
government to establish a research center in China. The center will
be
located in Liaoning province in Tieling City. Work there will focus
on the
development of corn hybrids adapted to the specific growing conditions
of
China.
"This is a very significant
step in our ability to offer advanced genetics to the
important market of China," said Hal Thorne, Vice President and
Director of Operations for Africa/Middle East/Asia & Pacific.
"Pioneer is committed to providing increased productivity to the
farmers of China. The establishment of the center will enhance
our ability to leverage Pioneer's worldwide research effort to
serve the China market, both in the short and longer term.
The corn market in China represents more than 50 million
acres. Virtually all of those acres are planted with hybrid seed
corn.
"We have been working with Chinese governmental officials on
a national, provincial and local level for several years to
establish a research location there, said Mr. Thorne. "At all
levels we have seen a great desire and commitment to bring new
genetics, new technology and training to rural China to
increase agricultural productivity. Our new research location
should play an important role in China's continued ability to
feed its huge population."
The new 25-acre research center will be managed by Dr. Dapeng
Bai. He graduated from University of Saskatchewan and was hired
in February 1998 by Pioneer. Dr. Bai is currently overseeing
the establishment and the
maintenance of the facilities. Land for the research location
has been leased from the city's Agricultural Academy with
support from the local government. The registered capital for
this entity is $700,000.
The new Tieling center will be a part of Pioneer's network of
more than 100 research locations worldwide. In Asia, Pioneer
currently has research activities in the Philippines, Thailand,
Indonesia and India. Each contributes genetic material and
data aimed toward development of new seed products for the Asian
market and other Pioneer markets throughout the world.
"Our aim is to understand the growing environments as we
develop new seed products. At the same time, at individual
locations, we are evaluating our corn hybrids' performance in
localized growing areas," said Dr. Richard McConnell, Senior
Vice President for Research. "Our approach to developing and
testing products ensures our customers will have the best seed
products. The new center in Tieling will focus on developing
top performing corn hybrids for the China market."
Pioneer announced in January the establishment of a business
office in Beijing. That office will continue as liaison with
Chinese officials for governmental seed performance testing.
Pioneer hybrids have been
entered in Chinese governmental registration trials since
1994.
Pioneer representatives in Beijing will continue ongoing
discussions aimed at pursuing a variety of potential
relationships for marketing Pioneer products in China. The
Company currently has no sales there.
According to Mr. Thorne, first products for China from
Pioneer's worldwide research efforts may be marketed as soon as
2001.
"We have had seed products in official trials for the past
four years," said Mr. Thorne." We have many details to work
through before we can market products in China, but we have
good material adapted for the market. With the new center at
Tieling coming on line this year, we can expand the number of
hybrids going into governmental trials and will be able to offer
new hybrids to Chinese farmers at an increasing rate."
"As the world leader in increasing agricultural productivity
through genetic enhancement, Pioneer is leading the way in
research devoted to China," said Charles S. Johnson, Chairman,
President and CEO. "We have a great deal of genetic material
that can be important to this market in the near future. China
recently passed a law making protection of proprietary genetic
material a priority. That enables us to conduct research there
with a high degree of
confidence that Chinese farmers and Pioneer can both benefit
from sales of our seed products. We're committed to increasing
productivity in China. We couldn't be more excited about the
establishment of the first private research facility there."
Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. is the world's leading
supplier of agricultural genetics and is a leading integrator
of agricultural technology. Headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa,
Pioneer develops, produces, and markets a full line of seeds,
microbial products, and services to farmers, grain processors,
and other customers worldwide.
Date: 2 Dec 1998 22:46:18 -0600 1998
Xinhua via NewsEdge Corporation : HANGZHOU (Aug. 27) XINHUA -
Chinese genetic engineers, businessmen and securities market
officials have called for more rapid industrialization of genetic
engineering projects.
Participants at a recent natinal symposium on genetic-engineering
industrialization held here urged the early establishment of risk
investment an innovation systems for such projects.
Chinese scientists believe that if they can abandon low-level and
repetitive research, the country's genetic engineering will surely
catch up to world standards.
Wong Yannian, head of the China Society of Biological Engineering,
said China has bred dozens of trans-genetic animal and plant
species.
He said that trans-genetic rice, wheat, rape, rubber tree and cane
seeds developed by Chinese scientists have been applied to field
production.
Wong added that scientists have developed trans-genetic cotton
seeds which can kill at least 80 percent of the cotton boll weevil, and
that 15 varieties of trans-genetic cotton seeds are now in trial
production.
China has also begun factory production of grape, apple, and
banana tube tree seedlings.
He claimed that China has taken the lead in the development of
trans-genetic fish, having developed over 10,000 trans-genetic fish
species.
Chinese scientists have also developed gene-engineered
lean-meat pigs and trans-genetic sheep, he said.
Back to Index
Date: Thu, 26 Nov 1998 17:48:27 +0530
From: "PROF. NANJUNDA SWAMY"
swamy.krrs@aworld.net
Subject: Cremate Monsanto!!
YOU SHOULD RATHER TAKE YOUR MONEY OUT BEFORE WE REDUCE IT TO ASHES.
President, Karnataka State Farmers Association
Tight Security for Monsanto
From:
jim@niall7.demon.co.uk (jim mcnulty)
Biotechnology industry supports objections to GM food programme
From:
jtoth@lisco.com (Joe Toth)
Monday November 30 6:50 PM ET
Berkeley Students and others Wary of Corporate Influence in Education
http://www.dailycal.org
via U-WIRE
http://www.uwire.com
Please sign the Consumer Right to Know Petition
From: Mark Gold
mgold@tiac.net
mgold@holisticmed.com
Aspartame Toxicity Information Center
(Monsanto, Benevia, NutraSweet, Equal, NatraTaste, Neotame)
http://www.HolisticMed.com/aspartame
Monsanto's New Drug
From:
jim@niall7.demon.co.uk (jim mcnulty)
Scottish scientist may be first to clone embryo
From:
jim@niall7.demon.co.uk (jim mcnulty)
Kirton confirms US food bullying
From:
jtoth@lisco.com (Joe Toth)
Monday November 30 4:55 AM ET
Biotech Companies Face Backlash If No Ethical Debate
From:
jim@niall7.demon.co.uk (jim mcnulty)
Monsanto May Sell Nutrasweet Division
From:
jtoth@lisco.com (Joe Toth)
Monsanto Launches Chinese Language Web Site
Monsanto Launches First Known Chinese Language Life Sciences Web
Site.
Latest International Industry Information Provided in Mandarin
From:
jtoth@lisco.com (Joe Toth)
Chinese Scientists Transplant Fish Genes into Beet
From:
jtoth@lisco.com (Joe Toth)
China Engineers Super Tomato With Fish Genes
From:
jtoth@lisco.com (Joe Toth)
Pioneer establishes GE research in China
CONTACT: Tim Martin of Pioneer Hi-Bred International,
515-334-6837
From:
jtoth@lisco.com (Joe Toth)
Industrialization Of Genetic Engineering Projects Urged