A radical new Seed Law drafted by Venezuelan people, farmers and NGOs was signed into law in the closing days of 2015, write William Camacaro, Frederick B. Mills & Christina M. Schiavoni. Striking back against the corporate takeover of seeds and peddling of GMOs, the Seed Law bans transgenic seeds, protects the country's germplasm, and establishes the legal foundation for a participatory, agroecological food and farming system.
… 2016 News Farming GMOs Seeds Venezuela Food Law Politics watermelon-cut.jpg A radical new Seed Law drafted by Venezuelan people, farmers and NGOs was signed into law in the closing days of 2015, write William …
A legal challenge to a draconian Idaho law that outlaws free speech about animal abuses on factory farms has survived a 'motion to dismiss' in a federal court. The challenge, mounted by free speech, animal welfare, food and environment groups, claims the 'ag gag' law is unconstitutional.
… Success for challenge to Idaho 'ag-gag' law Oliver Tickell | 5th September 2014 News Farming Law Politics Corporations USA … video, which triggered Idaho's 'ag gag' law. A legal challenge to a draconian Idaho …
Palestinian children as young as 11 work on Israeli farms in the occupied West Bank, an HRW investigation reveals. While the EU buys produce worth $300m a year from the illegal 'settlements', undocumented child labourers are exposed to pesticides, paid well below the minimum wage, enjoy no employment rights, and toil long hours in hot fields and greenhouses.
… not to take breaks. Although international law, as well as Israeli and Palestinian law, sets 15 as the minimum age of employment, … communities, Israeli and Palestinian labor lawyers, development-agency staff and labor …
A leaked document reveals plans by the US's Grocery Manufacturers Association to sue the first state that passes a GMO labeling law. Vermont will be the decisive battle-ground, report Katherine Paul and Ronnie Cummins.
… US food industry: labelling laws are 'unconstitutional' Katherine Paul … the first state that passes a GMO labeling law. Vermont will be the decisive … ' of talking points about GMOs and labeling laws. The document is intended for use by food …
In the red corner, the increasingly successful citizens' campaign to label foods containing GMO ingredients. In the blue, a supine government and powerful GMO and grocery industry that will fight it all the way. Welcome to 2014 ...
… battles, including state GMO labeling laws and county bans on growing genetically … . The response: 'voluntary' and watered down laws And all signs point to efforts by … or watered-down mandatory GMO labeling laws that would take away states' rights to …
Ghana's government is desperate to pass a Plant Breeders Bill that would remove farmers' ancient 'seed freedom' to grow, retain, breed and develop crop varieties - while giving corporate breeders a blanket exemption from seed regulations. Now the farmers are fighting back.
… Ghana's farmers battle ‘Monsanto law' to retain seed freedom Chris Walker … 2014 News Food Farming Seeds Ghana Africa Law Politics ghana-farmers-protest-cut.jpg … and to feed the country. Under the laws, farmers that use seed varieties claimed …
Across Africa, laws are being rewritten to open farming up to an agribusiness invasion - displacing the millions of small cultivators that now feed the continent, and replacing them with a new model of profit-oriented agriculture using patented seeds and varieties. The agencies effecting the transformation are legion - but they are all marching to a single drum.
… Land and seed laws under attack as Africa is groomed for … Un Development sorghum-cut.jpg Across Africa, laws are being rewritten to open farming up to … the ground - they are also changing African laws to accommodate the agribusiness agenda. …
The small state of Vermont is changing the face of US food as companies hasten to comply with its GMO labeling rule which comes into effect in July 2016. Mars and General Mills - and now Kelloggs and ConAgra - are the latest companies to announce their labels will comply with Vermont law US-wide - and many more are sure to follow.
… Tickell | 22nd March 2016 News GMOs Food Law Politics Corporations USA … their labels will comply with Vermont law US-wide - and many more are sure to … labeled on food product packaging. The law has been implemented in as Vermont's …
The organizers of tomorrow's International Monsanto Tribunal describe it as a 'moral trial', while the company dismisses it as a 'mock trial' and 'stunt'. The truth, writes Pete Dolack, is that it's about much more than this one company. On trial is the entire neoliberal system of 'free market' finance and monopoly capitalism.
… October 2016 Comment Corporations Finance Law GMOs Food Farming crop-dusting-cut.jpg The … with arguments and legal grounds for further lawsuits in courts of law. The organizers also see the tribunal as …
First corporations gained legal personhood, writes Don Fitz. Next they seized the right to force 'free trade' on unwilling populations. Now they are making sure that 'corporate rights' trump citizen rights - like the right to wholesome food and a healthy environment. That's where the 'Right to Farm' constitutional amendments come in ...
… Fitz | 22nd August 2014 Activism Corporations Law USA Farming mo-hog-farm-cut.jpg First … legislature or voters from passing future laws for environmental protection, animal … former slaves "equal protection under the law." As Jane Anne Morris documents in …
Little Vermont is having a big impact on GMO food labeling across the US, writes Lawrence Woodward. And with 'regulatory cooperation' under TTIP that influence could reach into the EU. Trouble is, Vermont's labeling law contains major exemptions - on meat products, take-aways and restaurant food, as well as products from animals fed GM feeds. The US, and the EU, deserve better.
… Flawed US GMO labeling will damage the anti-GM … movement on both sides of the Atlantic Lawrence Woodward Beyond GM | 22nd April 2016 … on GMO food labeling across the US, writes Lawrence Woodward. And with 'regulatory …
President Obama will shortly be on his way to India. In this Open Letter, Vandana Shiva invites him to join in securing the essential human freedoms to seeds and food - and to set aside any plans to pressure India into changing its laws to allow the corporate domination of life.
… Food Farming Seeds India USA Human Rights Law varanasi_green_chickpeas-cut.jpg President … any plans to pressure India into changing its laws to allow the corporate domination of … of WTO. Corporate influence on Patent Law began with the drafting of the Trade …
Following a disgraceful EU stitch-up, the European Parliament today passed a law permitting EU-wide GMO crop cultivation. With regulation and safeguards devolved to member states, and only limited 'opt-out' rights, it is a recipe for chaos that GM corporations will ruthlessly exploit.
… 2015 News GMOs EU Food Farming Seeds Politics Law Regulation pioneer_maize_pr39f58-cut.jpg … the European Parliament today passed a law permitting EU-wide GMO crop cultivation. … The European Parliament has just passed a law allowing the cultivation of GMO crops by …
The 'Biotechnology Food Labeling Uniformity' bill has been introduced to the US Senate to require clear, simple labelling of GMOs nationwide - informing consumers while saving manufacturers from a confusing patchwork of state regulations. Could it defeat the dreaded DARK Act?
… LIGHT Act? Democrat senators' new GMO label law The Ecologist | 3rd March 2016 News GMOs Food Law Politics Regulation USA Corporations … consumers by overturning state GMO labeling laws. The Biotechnology Food Labeling …
Lured by promises of aid and investment, African governments are rewriting laws to create lucrative opportunities for corporate agribusiness, writes Chris Walker - while consigning their own farmers to servitude and landlessness. But now farmers are rising up, as in Ghana where a new 'Monsanto law' threatens to end their right to grow, save and share their ancestral seeds.
… Farming Seeds Africa Corporations Finance Law Development brong-ahafo-ghana-cut.jpg … investment, African governments are rewriting laws to create lucrative opportunities for … rising up, as in Ghana where a new 'Monsanto law' threatens to end their right to grow, …
Indonesia appears to brought rainforest logging under control - but it's all a huge illusion, according to a new EIA report. Traditional logging has been replaced by the mass clearance of rainforest for oil palm plantations, creating massive supplies of hugely profitable but often illegal timber. And lurking beneath the surface is a pervasive network of criminality and corruption.
… January 2015 News Forests Indonesia Farming Law Regulation pt kahayan_okt2014-cut.jpg … "The track record of Indonesia in terms of law enforcement is not good" , Heru Prasetyo, … stream of timber. Although the rule of law has increasingly been brought to bear on …
Spain's Coto Doñana shows the value of EU conservation law, writes Laurence Rose, as the UK tries to get rid of the Birds and Habitats Directives. Both have proved essential to the protection and restoration of one of Europe's greatest wetlands.
… Thanks to EU laws and money, Coto Doñana rises from … Activism Spain Birds Water Pollution Farming Law EU Conservation Mining cd-storks-cut.jpg … Doñana shows the value of EU conservation law, writes Laurence Rose, as the UK tries to …
This Tuesday voters in Oregon and Colorado will have the chance to strike a decisive blow for consumers' right to know by forcing the labeling of GMO ingredients. Big Food is spending big to mislead and confuse voters, writes Ronnie Cummins - but the outcome is looking too close to call.
… | 2nd November 2014 Comment GMOs USA Law Politics Corporations … and stores. Despite massive lobbying and a lawsuit filed against the state by Big Food … nation's first mandatory GMO food labeling law in May 2014. Vermont's law also prohibits …
A month after warning the government of legal action over its decision to allow farmers to use bee-killing pesticides banned under EU law, Friends of the Earth has filed a High Court legal challenge to have the 'derogations' declared unlawful.
… Oliver Tickell | 24th August 2015 News Law Farming Natural World Toxics UK EU … to use bee-killing pesticides banned under EU law, Friends of the Earth has filed a High … to have the 'derogations' declared unlawful. Friends of the Earth has applied for a …