GM Seeds and the Militarization of Food: An Interview with Vandana Shiva

By Jon Letman /Truthout

Vandana Shiva in Hawaii. (Photo: Kai Markell)

 

Indian physicist and philosopher, activist and ecofeminist pioneer Vandana Shiva talks with Truthout in Hawaii about GMO, the militarization of agriculture, the politics of occupation and the primacy of biodiversity.

Foot soldiers in the battle against corporate globalization and the privatization of commons like land and water have long been aware of Indian physicist and philosopher Dr. Vandana Shiva. An ecofeminist pioneer, today she is best known as an outspoken opponent of the GMOs (genetically modified organisms) being developed by transnational biotechnology and chemical corporations like Monsanto and Dow.

Shiva disputes the notion that patenting genes and controlling the world’s seeds, and thus much of its food supply, will better serve humanity. Biotech companies claim their genetically engineered (GE) crops are able to withstand threats from insects, disease, and man-made pesticides and herbicides while making a serious contribution to feeding an increasingly hungry world.

Meet the Woman Leading a Dangerous Fight to Save Cambodia’s Prey Lang forest

from DW

Mao Chanthoeun is doing all she can to protect Prey Lang forest

Developers and loggers are threatening to permanently destroy Cambodia’s Prey Lang forest, one of Southeast Asia’s last remaining lowland evergreen woodlands. One rural woman is leading the fight to save the region.

When people first meet Mao Chanthoeun, they might not associate this small, slight woman with the dangerous fight to save Cambodia’s Prey Lang forest.

But appearances can be deceiving.

Genetically Engineered Trees for Bioenergy Pose Major Threat to Southern Forests

by Anne Petermann / Global Justice Ecology Project

The bio-forest of the future?

In response to industry plans to develop eucalyptus plantations across the US South[1], environmental groups[2] are raising serious concerns about the impacts of eucalyptus plantations on forests, rural communities, wildlife and the climate – especially if those trees are genetically engineered.

EcoGen, LLC recently announced plans to develop eucalyptus plantations in southern Florida to feed biomass facilities.  Additionally, South Carolina-based ArborGen has requested USDA permission to sell billions of genetically engineered cold tolerant eucalyptus trees for plantations in South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas.  The USDA is expected to respond to this request in the coming months.

Bat-eating Spiders are Everywhere (except Antarctica)

by Robert T. Gonzalez / Io9

Today in nightmare fuel: scientists now believe bat-eating spiders to be more widely distributed around the globe than previously realized. According to newly published research, bat-predation by spiders has been observed on every continent on Earth — Antarctica being the sole exception. As if this video evidence that spiders can eat 18-inch-long snakes weren’t harrowing enough.

Indigenous Amazonians Unite against Canadian Oil Giant

by Survival International

Indigenous Amazonians from Peru and Brazil have joined together to stop a Canadian oil company destroying their land and threatening the lives of uncontacted tribes.

Hundreds of Matsés gathered on the border of Peru and Brazil last Saturday and called on their governments to stop the exploration, warning that the work will devastate their forest home.

The oil giant Pacific Rubiales is headquartered in Canada and has already started oil exploration in ‘Block 135’ in Peru, which lies directly over an area proposed as an uncontacted tribes reserve.

In a rare interview with Survival, a Matsés woman said, ‘Oil will destroy the place where our rivers are born. What will happen to the fish? What will the animals drink?’

Protested Myanmar Dam to Undergo Environmental, Social Impact Analysis

from ELEVEN Media Myanmar

Khin Maung Oo (Kayah State Minister)

A 4000 mega watt hydropower dam project on one the four main rivers of Myanmar facing public protest will undergo environmental and social impact analysis, according to Minister of Kayah State.

Experts from international organizations in Norway and Sweden will conduct the required analyses on Ywathit dam project to be built on Thanlwin River in Bawlakhe district of Kayah State, Minister Khin Maung Oo told Eleven Media on March 15.

On March 14 or International Day of Action for Rivers, a group of local people prayed for an end of this joint project between Chinese Datang Corporation and Myanmar government. In fact, about 3000 people planned to stage a demonstration then, but the authorities stopped them.

University of Tennessee Proposes Fracking On its Own Land

from the AP

Photo provided by the University of Tennessee shows Wilson Mountain in the Cumberland Forest, a state-owned research area used by the University of Tennessee.

The University of Tennessee wants to allow hydraulic fracturing to extract natural gas on a state-owned tract of rolling woodland, raising the hackles of environmentalists who question its stated goal of raising funds to research the environmental impact of such drilling.

With debate over “fracking” continuing, the unique proposal is being considered when many universities say they don’t have enough money to properly study the environmental implications of an increasingly popular and lucrative method for energy companies to remove gas or oil from rock formations by forcing liquids underground at high pressure.

Canada Prevents UN Rapporteur Visit to Probe Natives’ Rights

from Press TV

The Canadian government continues to prevent the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, James Anaya, from making an official visit to the North American country.

Anaya says that the federal government continues to disregard his year-old request to visit Canada in an attempt to investigate the “human rights situation of Indigenous peoples,” according to a February 20 letter sent to the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs (UBCIC).

Protests Against the Indian-European Free Trade Agreement

from the Asian Human Rights Commission

Several peaceful protests took place in the Northeast states of India over the past month to address concerns over the implications of the EU-FTA with India. Protestors are concerned over the lack of transparency in the Bill, violation of the rights of the indigenous people, and the threat increased imports would make to local businesses and livelihoods. They have also voiced concern over the perceived threat of the agreement favoring large companies and pursuing corporate agendas favorable to multinational EU corporations to the detriment of locals.

Indians Protest Rail Line Through the Sathyamangalam Jungle

from the Times of India

The Moyar River in the Sathyamangalam reserve forest.

COIMBATORE: A day after the Union railway budget revived the controversial proposal to lay a broad-gauge railway line through the jungles of Sathyamangalam, connecting Mettuppalayam with Chamarajnagar, the local community joined hands against the project, as it would spell trouble for the huge elephant population in the area.