Category: biotech. GMOs

Libertad Silvia, Costa, Billy. Anarchists sabotage IBM nanotech.

     3 yrs jail..  3 a por resistir la NanoTech

Este viernes 22 de julio fueron condenadxs lxs tres compañerxs bajo los cargos de “actos preparatorios para cometer un atentado incendiario” y “comercio ilegal de explosivos”. Según el Tribunal, son culpables de “incendio voluntario” contra un centro de invetsigación de IBM en Rushlikon, en al ribera de un lago en Zurich; y también fueron consideradxs culpables de “dismulación de explosivos”, lo que explicaría las condenas tan duras
.
   El cargo por “transporte ilegal de explosivos” se derrumbó ya que hay no evidencias sólidas que afirmen el contrabando desde Italia. Sin embargo lxs compañerxs fueron sentenciadxs a condenas más largras que las solicitas por el fiscal.
   Billy fue condenado a cumplir 3 años y 6 meses, más 22 días de una condena anterior. Costa, acusado como el principal organizador del atentado fallido, condenado a 3 años y 8 meses. Silvia fue condenada a 3 años y 4 meses.
   A lxs tres compañerxs se les descontará el tiempo que pasaron en prisión preventiva, es decir les restaran 1 año y 3 meses a la condena dictada.

Los tres están acusados ​​de un intento de ataque en el centro de investigación en nanotecnología de IBM en Rüschlikon, que por entonces aún se encontraba en construcción. Deben responder a las acusaciones de actos intencionales de preparación para un  incendio, ocultación y  transporte de materiales explosivos no autorizados.

Luego de permanecer mas de un año en prisión, con transferencias, restricciones y censura postal, el aparato represivo estatal tratará de dar un nuevo golpe a lxs tres compañerxs, acusadxs de: actos preparatorios de un incendio intencional contra un centro de investigación de nanotecnología IBM en construcción, ocultación y transporte de material explosivo y trafico no autorizado de explosivos.

Esta maniobra represiva no sólo apunta a golpear a lxs compañerxs investigadxs, sino que también será dirigida a todxs aquellxs que rechazan el actual estado de cosas, que sienten la urgente necesidad de atacar y subvertir el orden existente, considerando la acción directa como un paso fundamental en el camino de la lucha por la libertad en contra de la sociedad actual.Un guión que ya se vivió hace varios años, cuando llegan a Marco Camenisch, pensando en intimidar su oposición a la energía nuclear. Un golpe vacío, ya que Marco, a pesar de su encarcelamiento, nunca se inclinó y sigue luchando, animado por el espíritu revolucionario y rebelde!

Hoy, con este ataque, piensan que pueden aplastar la lucha contra las nuevas tecnologías (biotecnología, nanotecnología), una lucha que en Suiza no era aún muy activa, pero que después de la detención de lxs tres compañerxs se está radicalizando y ramificando con luchas de crítica social.En nuestra opinión, el deseo de subvertir lo existente, es el indicio que anima a la solidaridad con Billy, Costa y Silvia, por esto llamamos a la movilización para asistir al proceso, reiterando que cualquier ataque a unx compañerx es un ataque hacia todxs aquellxs que luchan fervientemente por la libertad contra Estado y capitalismo!

Presencia en el salón y fuera, para estar al lado de Billy, Costa y Silva. Para no dejar que la solidaridad se convierta en una palabra estéril, sino más bien para garantizar ánimo en nuestros ojos y en nuestros actos.

Esos ojos que brillan ante la idea de libertad y se llenan de sangre y rabia al pensar en todxs lxs compañerxs que el Estado arrancó de la lucha y aquellos actos que nos hacen tener aún a nuestro lado a lxs compañerxs rehenes del enemigo.

¡LIBERTAD PARA BILLY, COSTA Y SILVIA!
¡LIBERTAD PARA MARCO CAMENISCH!

LEER MÄS

http://libertadalos14a.blogspot.com/2011/07/ya-han-caido-condenas-sobre-lxs.html

Marie Mason: new prison art/ photos.

Check out new photos and prison art from Marie  on her supporters website HERE

http://supportmariemason.org/2011/07/14/new-on-the-website/

About Marie Mason 

22yrs jail for bid to save the planet.

Marie Mason is a loving mother of two and a long-time activist in the environmental and labor movements.

In March 2008, she was arrested by federal authorities for charges related to two acts of property destruction that occurred in 1999 and 2000; no one was injured in either of them.

She accepted a plea bargain and was sentenced on February 5, 2009 to just under 22 years. She is now serving the longest sentence of any “Green Scare” prisoner.

The “Green Scare” is the name given to the recent arrests of animal rights and environmental activists who have been charged with acts of economic sabotage.

Federal authorities have sought outrageous sentences (often Life in prison) and have publicly and legally labeled the activists as “terrorists” – despite the fact that no one has been killed or injured in any of the acts.

Roundup Ready for your front lawn

In press release titled “ USDA Responds to Regulation Requests Regarding Kentucky Bluegrass,” agency officials announced their decision not to regulate a “Roundup Ready” strain of Kentucky bluegrass—that is, a strain genetically engineered to withstand glyphosate, Monsanto’s widely used herbicide, which we know as Roundup. The maker of the novel grass seed, Scotts Miracle Gro, is now free to sell it far and wide. So you’ll no doubt be seeing Roundup Ready bluegrass blanketing lawns and golf courses near you—and watching anal neighbors and groundskeepers literally dousing the grass in weed killer without fear of harming a single precious blade.

According to Doug Gurian-Sherman, senior scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists’ Food and Environment Program, the documents released by the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) along with the announcement portend a major change in how the feds will deal with genetically modified crops.

Notably, given the already-lax regulatory regime governing GMOs (genetically modified organisms, click here for a primer), APHIS seems to be ramping down oversight to the point where it is essentially meaningless. The new regime corresponding with the bluegrass announcement would “drastically weaken USDA’s regulation.” This is perhaps the most serious change in US regs for [genetically modified] crops for many years….

…In its July 1 response, the USDA agreed: “[N]one of the organisms used in generating this genetically engineered (GE) glyophosphate tolerant Kentucky bluegrass…are considered to be plant pests,” so Roundup Ready bluegrass “does not meet the definition of a ‘regulated article’ and is not subject” to the Plant Protection Act. In other words, go forth and multiply.

The agency also retracted its only other hook for regulating GM crops—the noxious-weeds provision. The Center for Food Safety had petitioned the USDA to classify genetically modified bluegrass as a noxious weed. The case for this is strong: bluegrass has light pollen that can be carried for miles on the wind, meaning that genetically modified bluegrass can easily transfer its genes to established conventional bluegrass.

Read lots more + photos HERE   http://thewatchers.adorraeli.com/2011/07/10/did-the-usda-deregulate-all-new-genetically-modified-crops/

Seed-Mothers take on bio-pirates.

Seed-Mothers’ Confront Climate Insecurity By Manipadma Jena

 

BHUBANESWAR, India, Jul 1, 2011 (IPS) – In eastern Orissa state’s tribal hinterlands about 200 ‘seed-mothers’ are on mission mode – identifying, collecting and conserving traditional seed varieties and motivating farming families to use them.–

As they spread their message through the hinterland, targeting another 140 villages, the women also promote zero dependence on chemical fertilisers and pesticides….

The struggles of Malkangiri farmers with climate change is visible in the Gudumpadar village where seed-mothers are passionately reviving agricultural heritage and convincing the community to stay with local seeds and bio-fertilisers and pesticides….

Well-known environmental activist and founder of Navdanya, Vandana Shiva, told IPS that “climate resilient seeds in women’s hands are vital to climate security and corporations that have taken out some 1,600 patents on climate resilient seeds are biopirates”.

“Allowing corporations to hijack and monopolise seed supply is a recipe for food insecurity and climate insecurity,” Shiva averred.

read more http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=56332

Read mlore here

EU knew since 80s Roundup causes birth defects

Industry and EU regulators knew as long ago as the 1980s-1990s that Roundup, the world’s best selling herbicide, causes birth defect– but they failed to inform the public. This is the conclusion of a new report, “Roundup and birth defects: Is the public being kept in the dark?” co-authored by a group of international scientists and researchers and released yesterday.[1]

The report reveals that industry’s own studies (including one commissioned by Monsanto) showed as long ago as the 1980s that Roundup’s active ingredient glyphosate causes birth defects in laboratory animals.

The German government has known about these findings since at least the 1990s, when as the “rapporteur” member state for glyphosate, it reviewed industry’s studies for the EU approval of the herbicide. The European Commission has known since at least 2002, when it signed off on glyphosate’s approval.

But this information was not made public. On the contrary, regulators have consistently misled the public about glyphosate’s safety. As recently as last year, the German Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety, BVL, told the Commission there was “no evidence of teratogenicity” (ability to cause birth defects) for glyphosate.

 

READ ON HERE

http://foodfreedom.wordpress.com/2011/06/08/regulators-knew-roundup-causes-birth-defects-lied-to-public/

‘Monsanto’s Roundup Causes Birth Defects’:Scientists

Quick — name a brand of weedkiller.

What popped into your head? Was it, by any chance, Roundup?

The most popular and most widely-used herbicide in the world?

If it was, that’s great; the ubiquitous weedkiller will be our topic for discussion today

. Why? Because a new, comprehensive review of existing data again reveals, once again,

that scientific evidence shows that it may cause birth defects.

Agenda 21: Sustainabilty or buckets of Greenwash??

Here in Spain local right wing council’s are competing to declare support for Agenda 21, Sustainability, Environmental awareness, etc. All good citizens are urged to take part, and the response is good.   Because everyone knows by now that  we’re destroying the life supporting mechanisms of the planet.

Okay it’s super necessary that we all take part, but without touching the rampant consumption that is the base of capitalism, we are all pissing against a gale force wind.

Suddenly AGENDA 21 is all the fashion, nobody mentions that it was first agreed in 1992 at the Rio Summit, and has taken almost 20 years to get off the drawing board. Meanwhile every field of environment, climate and biodiversity crises have been taking giant steps backwards.

It seems like Agenda 21 may  be used by corrupt business and politicos as one more LOAD OF GREENWASH and even an excuse to CUT SERVICES in the name of sustainability. No reason not to support the idea, I support it, while exposing the hypocritical cant of those profiting from destroying our planet.

” The world’s leading ozone destroyer takes credit for leadership in ozone protection. A mammoth greenhouse gas emitter professes the precautionary approach to global warming. A major agrichemical manufacturer trades in a pesticide so hazardous it has been banned in many countries, while implying it is helping feed the hungry. A petrochemical firm uses the waste from one polluting process as raw material for another hazardous process, and boasts of an important recycling initiative. Another giant multinational cuts timber from virgin rainforest, replaces it with monoculture plantations and calls the project “sustainable forest development.”

”Welcome to the world of GREENWASH, where transnational corporations (TNCs) are preserving and expanding their markets by posing as friends of the environment and enemies of poverty. Greenwash takes many forms: from the pious concern for the environment expressed in expensive advertising campaigns, to the “continuous improvement” ballyhooed in voluntary codes of conduct; from the creation of benign-sounding corporate front groups, to the participation of TNCs in environmental conferences and events. All these efforts share the goal of avoiding national and international sanctions on dirty TNC operations, which are at the root of many global environmental crises.”