AgBioWorld Blog: GMO rat research and Pro-GM farmers attacked with tear gas
Compiled by C.S. Prakash, Ph.D.
September 17, 2007
AgBioworld is comprised of agbiotech experts who take a keen interest in the latest news and events important to ag-biotech. This blog aims to be a reflection of those events and news stories that have captured our attention. Please share your comments and feelings on the current climate for biotech with us as well.
Best regards,
C.S. Prakash
Members discuss GMO rat research
Abstract: Members discussed a British Medical Journal article in which a flawed GM research study concerning rats was the topic.
One member noted that the article needed to be distributed widely until people realize that “anti-biotech scientists starve their rats.” Another member said that he didn’t think that the researcher intentionally starved the rats in question, but merely made the mistake of substituting too much test material into the rat’s diet. The member did agree that the researcher was still negligent and cruel to the lab animals.
Link to article being discussed: http://www.bmj.com/cgi/reprint/319/7217/1089.pdf
Soil Association’s attack of scientist Shane Morris
Abstract: Member commented on a letter Shane Morris sent to Peter Melchett, Policy Director at the Soil Association in the UK in response to a letter written to James Wright, High Commissioner for Canada regarding Shane’s work. The letter asked the government of Canada to takes action against one of its employees, Shane Morris for causing two Web sites belonging to GM Watch and GMO Free Ireland to be shut down. Morris writes that he did not ask for the two sites to be shut down, but merely asked that defamatory comments about him on the Web sites be taken down. Their failure to do so is what caused to sites to be shut down.
One member commented that he found it interesting that the Soil Association, having anointed itself a defender of the right to free speech, is demanding that Canada take action against someone for engaging in free speech.
Link to Peter Melchett’s letter: http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8256.
Pro-GM Farmers Assaulted with Tear Gas at Protest
Abstract: Members discussed an article in the Belfast Telegraph concerning the use of tear gas and batons on a group of pro-GM French farmers who wanted to protest an anti-GM picnic.
Several members questioned why such force was used on pro-GM farmers on public property and not on anti-GM protesters when they burn down fields of biotech crops, on private property. One member also noted that many Americans are not aware of this activity because it is not occurring in the US, mainly only in France and due to the language barrier Americans aren’t reading the articles.
Link to Belfast Telegraph article: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/article2898542.ece
