Is Philanthropy the Enemy of Justice?

Philanthropists pushing GM crops in developing countries claim to be providing food security, but many of the local peoples these projects are intended to help want nothing to do with GM crops. Unfortunately, philanthropists are the ones with the money, so they are the ones who make the decisions. In this sense, philanthropy does not necessarily mean justice.

Read more here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jan/27/philanthropy-enemy-of-justice

Gates defends focus on High-Tech Agriculture

We have been asked a million times why he comes down on the side of hi-tech–here’s his answer. AW has analyzed his fallacies.

Read more here:

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/01/24/gates-defends-focus-on-high-tech-agriculture/#ixzz1kRaOeDKi

Land-grabbing continues to threaten local peoples and food security

Partner organization The Oakland Institute published a report in 2009 detailing what they describe as a “land rush,” or the fervent rush of private investors involved in land-grabbing in Africa. Investors from all over the world are lured to Africa by the promise of cheap and productive land with which they can grow food for export. All of this comes at the expense of the local people, many of which have been relocated to new villages with little to no resources available with which to grow food.

Read Oakland Institute’s report here:

http://www.oaklandinstitute.org/great-land-grab-rush-world%E2%80%99s-farmland-threatens-food-security-poor

A recent example of this behavior can be found in Ethiopia, where the government is currently leasing out 3.6 million hectares to foreign investors, and many indigenous people are being removed from their homes. While the Ethiopian government denies “forcing” anyone from their homes because the land being leased is “uninhabited,” investigations done by US-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) show that the current residents of the land never had a formal title, which allows the government to bypass laws that would protect these populations from relocation.

Read more on this here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16590416

CAGJ and AGRA-Watch members on Envoye Special

Last year two CAGJ & AGRA Watch members were interviewed for the French version of 60 minutes, Envoye Special, for a program focused on the Gates Foundation’s support of GMOs and partnerships with Monsanto. The showed aired last week, and you can watch part of it in this clip (and understand it if you know French)! Unfortunately the interview with CAGJ was cut, but it’s a great expose! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QYQip7Zm6M&feature=youtube_gdata

Debaters on the Diane Rhem Show discuss labeling GE Foods

The US is currently the world leader in genetically engineered crop production. Listen to debaters 

 Thomas Redick from the Global Environmental Ethics Counsel; Gardiner Harris, a science reporter for The New York Times; and Gary Hirshberg, president of Stonyfield Farm, Inc discuss whether the FDA should repeal its decision from 1992 and begin to require labels on genetically modified foods. This national labeling campaign is supported by CAGJ as it allows consumers to have the choice to boycott GE foods. 

Leading scientist says agroecology is the only way to feed the world

Hans Herren, Ph.D, specializing in sustainable agriculture, participates in an interview offering his opinions about what is most beneficial for the current world food crisis. His conclusion: GMOs are hurting food security especially in Africa, and the focus should instead be on new and participatory research into sustainable agricultural practices which can then be passed down to local farmers. 

Read the interview here: 

http://www.nongmoreport.com/articles/december2011/scientistsaysagroecologyfeedsworld.php

Tanzania Farmers say No to GMOs