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Pesticide Action Network Updates Service (PANUPS)
A Weekly News Update on Pesticides, Health and Alternatives
See PANUPS archive for complete information.
October 8, 2009
- ‘Big Ag’ still on the inside
- EPA revisits atrazine – finally
- Agriculture’s role in climate change
- Pesticides linked to childhood leukemia
- Syngenta’s ‘howling conflict of interest’
‘Big Ag’ still on the inside
Despite campaign promises to the contrary, President Obama has nominated to two key posts “Big Ag” industry power brokers who come straight from the chemical pesticide and biotechnology sectors. Obama tapped Roger Beachy, long-time president of the Danforth Plant Science Center, Monsanto’s nonprofit research arm, as chief of the USDA’s newly created National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Created by the 2008 Farm Bill, NIFA is the new means of awarding the USDA’s external research dollars. As the director of NIFA, Beachy will oversee the distribution of nearly $500 million in grants and other research funding. Sustainable agriculture initiatives are likely to suffer as research dollars are awarded to projects that promote Beachy’s vested interests in biotechnology.
Islam Siddiqui, currently the VP of Science and Regulatory Affairs at CropLife USA, was nominated to the post of Chief Agricultural Negotiator for the US Trade Representative’s office. CropLife is the pesticide and biotech industry trade group who “shuddered” when Michelle Obama planted a White House organic garden. This critical position is designed to use “free” trade agreements to open up foreign markets for U.S. agricultural goods. At CropLife International Siddiqui led the initiative to reduce and eliminate trade barriers against pesticides as part of the WTO Doha Round. He also served as the Senior Trade Advisor to former Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman, who is best known for his role in the sign off of GM (genetically modified) seeds. PAN is working with partners on a response; stay tuned.
shareMORE Grist: Another Monsanto man in key post? | Digg This
EPA revisits atrazine – finally
This decision marks a significant reversal from the EPA’s previous position which had been re-affirmed as recently as June, according to the Huffington Post. The New York Times reports that Stephen Owens, assistant administrator of EPA’s Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances, explains the reversal as a matter of scientific integrity: “There are new scientific findings that deserve attention, and we’re going to engage our scientific panels in actively reviewing the work of this office under previous administrations.” He added, “We have a question: Did the decisions made in previous administrations use all the available science?” Pesticide Action Network staff scientist Karl Tupper puts the development in context somewhat differently: “It’s about time.”
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shareMORE ‘Global Citizens Against Atrazine’ Facebook page |
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Agriculture’s role in climate change
Another gathering in Penang, Malaysia brought together more than 100 experts and a variety of stakeholders for a Conference on Confronting the Food Crisis and Climate Change. Throughout the event, panel discussions were held to understand the threats and challenges of the food crisis and climate change, and to advance people’s movements, resistance and alternatives. The conference culminated with a Unity Statement declaring their commitment to claim people’s right to food, to work together in regenerating nature and society, as well as, to further strengthen the movements in advancing food sovereignty, gender justice and climate justice. “We are meeting and consolidating our efforts during the inopportune time when the wrath of tropical storm Ketsana hit the Philippines. This is a stark reminder of the impact of climate change,” declared Sarojeni V. Rengam, executive director of Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific. She added, “We have been confronting oppressive structures and institutions that started and continue to deepen the food crisis and climate change. Now is the time to heed our advocacies for affordable, local, ecologically produced and safe food as well as an environment that has regenerative ability to ensure the long-term survival of all life forms.”
shareMORE Conference blog: Confronting the Food Crisis and Climate Change |
Pesticides linked to childhood leukemia
shareMORE PANUPS on mother’s pesticide exposure and childhood leukemia |
Syngenta’s ‘howling conflict of interest’
Coincidentally, on October 9 a new film, Vanishing of the Bees, is premiering across Britain. The film is sponsored by Co-operative — a diversified member-owned retailer that operates a huge supermarket chain and is also the UK’s biggest farmer — that “has a strict policy on the use of pesticides on the fruit and vegetables it sells, including a total ban on the use of several chemicals.” The Co-op banned neonicotinoids in January 2009 because of concern over honeybee colony collapse disorder.
shareMORE “Vanishing Bees” in Summer 2008 PANNA Magazine |
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