agriculture

The
NSW and Victorian Governments have today (27 November) lifted the ban
on commercial growing of genetically-modified (GM) canola crops,
despite pleas from the Western Australian and Tasmanian Governments,
and over 250 companies in the food business to maintain the moratorium, and Japanese food buyers urging continuation of the ban in October. The moratorium on GM canola will be lifted from February/March 2008.

Related: Network of Concerned Farmers report: The Economics of Genetically Modified Canola (PDF 2.39MB | Text 85.9KB) | Audio: Jeffrey M.Smith on the documented health risks of eating GM food | Gene Ethics Network | Take online action | Greens Leader calls for new PM to overule States on GM Ban

The Australian Conservation Foundation has called on the ALP to honour its April national conference commitment to "further protection of identified Tasmanian high-conservation value, old growth forests, rainforests and other ecosystems".

"Labor's announcement leaves many tens of thousands of hectares of high conservation value forest on Tasmanian public land unprotected from logging," ACF Executive Director Don Henry said.

Call on Premier Iemma and Minister Koperberg to enforce land clearing legislation now.

Take Action:

Act now and ask Premier Iemma to enforce land clearing legislation to stop environmental vandalism and prevent climate change

Farmers from the village Karang Mendapo on the Indonesian island Sumatra are trying to retrieve 600 hectares of communal forest a company tricked them out of to use the land for oil palm plantations. After heavy protests by the farmers and supported by WALHI, Friends of the Earth Indonesia, the regional government weeks ago urged PT Smart, part of the Sinar Mas Group, to give the land back to the former owners.

The Inland Rivers Network today released an investigative report about the theft of environmental water from the Macquarie Marshes.

Our investigations show certain landholders have siphoned off water that was released from the Burrendong Dam specifically for the thirsty Macquarie Marshes,” said IRN coordinator Amy Hankinson.

“These wetlands are already dying for a drink – it’s tragic when the small amount of water allocated to them is stolen.

“Governments have not done enough to clamp down on environmental water theft; it is still happening.”

Related:Three Pressing Issues for the Macquarie Marshes Jennifer Marohasy Blog, July 13, 2006 | INLAND RIVERS NETWORK INVESTIGATION: Alleged Environmental Water Theft in the Macquarie Marshes (PDF 1.2MB)

By Dr. Vandana Shiva
CorporationWatch August 1999

Over the past few years, Monsanto, a chemical company, has positioned
itself as an agricultural company through control over seed the first link
in the food chain. Monsanto now wants to control water, the very basis of
life.

In 1996, Monsanto bought the biotechnology assets of Agracetus, a
subsidiary of W.R. GRACE, for $150 million and Calagene, a California
based plant biotechnology company for $340 million. In 1997, Monsanto
acquired Holden seeds, the Brazilian seed company Sementes Agrocerus and

Philippine farmers demand reform and extension of agrarian reform program. Asian farmers join rally in solidarity with their struggle