Working Group on Environmental Justice With support from the Harvard University Provost's Fund for Interfaculty Collaboration, the University Committee on Environment and the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for Afro-American Research James Hoyte and Timothy C. Weiskel                    Program Directors      http://ecojustice.net

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Biotechnology and Environmental Justice
http://EcoJustice.Net/Biotechnology

       Numerous techniques are being developed in the new field of biotechnology that hold great promise and new opportunities for the human community as a whole. In agriculture alone the "genetic revolution" may make it possible to develop plant varieties that can grow in stressed conditions or that require less pesticide usage or that produce larger and and more nutritious yields. Advocates of applying this new technology to meet the growing demand for food and agricultural products world-wide are without doubt enthusiastic about its potential.

       At the same time, this technology -- like any other powerful technolgy -- raises important ethical and equity questions stemming from the manner in which the technology is designed, developed and implemented in a wide range of societies around the world. Some questions that occur include: Who will be the primary beneficiaries of this technology? What are its costs? Who will bear those costs? What alternatives will be foreclosed if this technology is adopted?

       What risks are involved? Can these be adequately measured? Will those who bear the risks reap the benefits? Will those affected by the new technologies be consulted in their design and development, or only in their deployment? What compensation will be offered if the technologies do not perform as expected or if they cause unanticipated and unintended environmental damage to other organisms, species, or ecosystems? Who will get to set the priorities for the further research that will be needed to improve these technologies?

       To foster a public discussion of some of these questions the Working Group on Environmental Justice is jointly sponsoring a public debate entitled "The Genetic Revolution and Its Role in Developing Countries."

       In addition, the Working Group will present documentation and views on this web page that raise important features of this ongoing debate from the vantage point of the environmental justice issues that deserve further public attention.

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Bottom of Page | General Information Resources | Recent News and Debate | Audio-Visual Materials | Third World Perspectives | Evolution of the Biotechnology Industry | Biotechnology in International Trade | Intellectual Property Rights in Biotechnology | Biotechnology and International Relations | Bioprospecting | Biotechnology in Developing Countries | Environmental Aspects of Biotechnology | Biotechnology and Human Health | Ethics, Social Values and Biotechnology | Further Current News Sources |

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• Some Published Materials on Biotechnology, Agriculture, Globalization and Trade:

  Published Sources on Biotechnology, Agriculture and Ethics
  

  Partial List of Centers for Biotechnology Training
  
  Biotechnology & International Agriculture Issues:
  

  • "Nature, Risk and Responsibility : Discourses of Biotechnology," by Patrick O'Mahony (Editor).
  • "Biopolitics : A Feminist and Ecological Reader on Biotechnology," by Vandana Shiva (Editor), Ingunn Moser (Editor).
  • "The Gene Hunters : Biotechnology and the Scramble for Seeds," by Calestous Juma.
  • "Gene Wars : The Politics of Biotechnology," by Kristin Dawkins.
  • "Against the Grain : Biotechnology and the Corporate Takeover of Your Food ," by Marc Lappe and Britt Bailey.
  • "Eat Your Genes : How Genetically Modified Food Is Entering Our Diet," by Stephen Nottingham.
  • "The Ecological Risks of Engineered Crops," by Jane Rissler, et. al.
  • "Agricultural Biotechnology and the Environment : Science, Policy, and Social Issues," by Sheldon Krimsky.
  • "Biotechnology : Science, Engineering, and Ethical Challenges for the Twenty-First Century," by Frederick B. Rudolph (Editor), Larry V. McIntire (Editor).

The History of Manipulative Agriculture and Colonial Ecology:

• "Ecology and Empire : Environmental History of Settler Societies," by by Tom Griffiths (Editor), Libby Robin (Editor) .
• "Ecological Imperialism : The Biological Expansion of Europe, 900-1900," by Alfred Crosby.
• "Columbian Exchange Biological and Cultural Consequences," by Alfred Crosby.
• "Guns, Germs, and Steel : The Fates of Human Societies," by Jared Diamond.
• "Germs Seeds & Animals : Studies in Ecological History," by Alfred Crosby.
• "A Green History of the World : The Environment and the Collapse of Great Civilizations," by Clive Ponting.
• "Nature, Culture, Imperialism : Essays on the Environmental History of South Asia ," by David Arnold (Editor), Ramachandra Guha (Editor).
• "This Fissured Land : An Ecological History of India," by Madhav Gadgil, Ramachandra Guha.
Current Global Economy Issues:

• "The Case Against the Global Economy : And for a Turn Toward the Local," by Jerry Mander and Edward Goldsmith.
• "The New Protectionism : Protecting the Future Against Free Trade," by Tim Lang and Colin Hines.
• "The Trade Trap," by Belinda Coote and Caroline Lequesne.
• "Trading Freedom : How Free Trade Affects Our Lives, Work, and Environment," by John Cavanagh (Editor), John Gershman (Editor), Karen Baker (Editor), Gretchen Helmke (Editor).
• "Beyond Bretton Woods : Alternatives to the Global Economic Order," by John Cavanagh, Daphne Wysham, Marcos Arruda.
• "Globalizing Civil Society : Reclaiming Our Right to Power," by David Korten.
• "Earth for Sale : Reclaiming Ecology in the Age of Corporate Greenwash," by Brian Tokar.

Recent News and Debate

Audio-Visual Resources on the Web:
• Vandana Shiva - M.I.T. Talk - "Stolen Harvest: International Trade and Global Food Supply," -- 16 March 2000.
• Vandana Shiva - Public Address at BioDevastation Conference. Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, March 2000.
• Genetically Modified Pest-Protected Plants: Science and Regulation. National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences, 5 April 2000.
• Genetic Development. Morning Edition, 5 April 2000.
           NPR's Richard Harris reports on a breakthrough in decoding the genetic code for rice. Monsanto announced yesterday that a researcher at the University of Washington made the discovery. It will help speed development of beneficial new varieties of the world's most important food crop.
• Engineered Foods. All Things Considered, 5 April 2000.
           NPR's Richard Harris reports on a long-awaited report from the National Academy of Sciences on the safety of genetically engineered foods. The academy's panel of experts, from academia, business and environmental groups, deemed so-called GM foods as safe so far. But they did recommend tougher rules for testing newly engineered foods.
• Directory of Multimedia Coverage of WTO events.
• WTO PROTESTS -- As people gather in Seattle from around the world for this week's World Trade Organization meeting, many are also arriving to protest. From member station KUOW in Seattle, Sam Eaton reports on activities in a converted warehouse that's become a staging ground for protestors.
• Intellectual Property -- NPR's Kathy Schalch reports on efforts by trade representatives of the World Trade Organization (W.T.O.) to forge an agreement on intellectual property rights. The agreement that created the WTO requires member nations to change their laws, if necessary, to protect copyrights and patents. Some developing nations fear that the enforcement of intellectual property rules will hurt them. Some of the strictest rules involve pharmaceuticals.
• Battle Of Seattle. Living on Earth, 19 November 1999.
• Perils Of A Global Economy . Living on Earth, 19 November 1999.
• The Connection., Discussion on Genetically Modified Food and the WTO meetings, WBUR, Boston, 23 November 1999.
• The World Trade Organization. Interview with Charles Derber, professor of sociology at Boston College and author of "Corporation Nation: How Corporations Are Taking Over Our Lives and What We Can Do About It." The Connection, WBUR, Boston, 27 October 1999.
• Canada - CBC GM Food Special Report. "Food at the Crossroads."
• Canada - CBC Fields of Genes ( Numerous interviews and news reports over several months).
• Interview Jeremy Rifkin, President of Foundation on Economic Trends and Nation contributor Rifkin explores the corporate rush to patent genetic resources -- and control life itself. The battle to keep the earth's gene pool an open commons, free of commercial exploitation, is going to become one of the critical struggles of the Biotech Age, he argues. [ From RadioNation -- Week of APRIL 8 - 14, 1998.]
• Monsanto Decision on 'Terminator' technology. Pacifica Radio, 5 October 1999.
• Concentration of Control over Plant Genetic Material. Pacifica Radio, 5 October 1999.
• MONSANTO - GENETIC ENGINEERING. NPR. In recent years, one company - Saint Louis-based Monsanto - has led the way toward a genetic engineering to produce food. The company's executives say new genetically engineered crops could help feed the world and preserve the environment. But as NPR's Dan Charles reports, instead of being celebrated, in many parts of the world, Monsanto and its technology are reviled. (12:00). 16 March 1999.
• MONSANTO PART TWO NPR. NPR's Dan Charles has the second report on the Monsanto company and the genetic engineering of crops. The new plants have traits that could never be introduced by traditional plant breeding. And the new seeds have brought new rules to agriculture. Now, farmers risk legal penalties if they save part of the harvest and use it as seed for the next year. It's provoked anger among some farmers. (8:00). 17 March 1999.
• Terminator Gene. NPR. NPR's Allison Aubrey reports that Monsanto, one of the nation's leading bio-techology companies, has decided not to commercialize the controversial "terminator" gene, which keeps crops from producing fertile seeds. In announcing the decision, Monsanto said there's too much opposition to the new technology. (3:19). 5 October 1999.
• Scarlett Foster, Monsanto Spokeswoman. BBC (Discussing decision to drop 'terminator' technology.) 5 October 1999.
• Patrick Holdren, Soil Association, U.K. BBC (Discussing decision to drop 'terminator' technology.) 5 October 1999.
• 'Roundup Ready' Soybeans NPR. Joyce Russell from member station WOI in Ames, Iowa, reports on chemical manufacturer Monsanto and its new genetically-engineered soybean and a powerful herbicide. The soybean is resistant to the herbicide, and farmers are using them in combination. That's forcing other herbicide companies to cut prices or develop new products of their own to keep up with the competition. (3:33). 16 August 1999.

Some Published News & Discussions:
• Harvard's International Conference on "Biotechnology in the Global Economy," 2-3 September 1999.
• Biotechnology Will Save The Poorest
  Reference No.: 2988 Norman Borlaug Texas A&M University 15 March 2000
       Science and technology are under attack in affluent nations, where misinformed environmentalists claim that the consumer is being poisoned by high-yielding systems of agricultural production, including genetically modified crops. How it is that so many supposedly ''educated'' people could be so illiterate about science? There seems to be a growing fear of science, per se, as the pace of technological change increases. In your opinion is it significant that this -- and apparently several other -- opinion pieces by Norman Borlog (the "father" of the "Green Revolution" and the recipient of a 1970 Nobel Prize) is published on the web on the site sponsored by Monsanto? See the parent site on which this is posted at http://www.biotechknowledge.com/
• GM could 'impoverish poor farmers'
  Friday, May 21, 1999 Published at 03:00 GMT 04:00 UK
       A UK development agency, ActionAid, says it is concerned at the potential impact on the world's poor of genetically-modified (GM) plants. ActionAid is worried that GM technology being developed by AstraZeneca "could further impoverish farmers in the developing world".
• Biotech believers and foes clash at biggest-ever biotech conference
  The Boston Globe via SM / By Peter J. Howe -
       Boston -- As more than 7,000 biotechnology leaders begin gathering in Boston for the nation's largest-ever industry convention, they will be under siege from protesters at a counter-gathering who call biotechnology a threat to human health, the world environment, and religious values.
       The five-day Bio2000 program, which opens today at the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center on Boylston Street in the Back Bay, will include dozens of sessions on the latest developments in engineering genes to produce life-saving medicines, pest-resistant foods, and animal organs suitable for human transplantation.
      "The theme of this whole meeting is that biotechnology works today, whether it's cures for patients who suffer from diseases, creating jobs and investment, or finding new solutions in agriculture and the environment," said Janice Bourque, executive director of the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, which represents 275 companies and institutions. "Just about any aspect of your life will be touched by this technology."
       But several hundred critics gathering at Northeastern University for a BioDevastation 2000 conference and for street demonstrations in the Back Bay are painting a dramatically different picture.
       They describe an industry hurtling ahead with too little US government oversight as it introduces untested food to the American diet, medical procedures that could unleash diseases or a quest for "designer babies" created in labs, and inter-species genetic manipulation that many religious-oriented critics call an affront to the divine design of life.
       "The biotechnology industry is making decisions that affect all life on Earth, and they're doing it behind closed doors in board rooms where the only motivation is profit," said Brian Tokar of the Institute for Social Ecology in Vermont, an organizer of BioDevastation 2000. "It's totally unacceptable."
• Hillary French, "Environmental Trade Skirmishes Demonstrate Need for WTO Reform" Worldwatch.
• MSNBC - WTO: Trade and the Crossroads .
• MSNBC - Opinion Jim Wallis - Free trade and the common good, 25 November 1999.
• Yahoou!'s Index to News on Genetically Modified Food.
• Yahoou!'s Index on World Trade Negotiations
• Chakravarthi Raghavan, Recolonisation: GATT, the Uruguay Round and the Third World.
• Third World Perspectives from the Third World Network, Maylasia
      Biotechnology and Biosafety Papers.
  A.  Biosafety Protocol
  • Biotech proposals for Seattle undermine biosafety (Martin Khor/TWN)
    Recent proposals in the WTO by some developed countries to establish special disciplines or a working group for biotechnology products could seriously undermine developing countries' efforts to ensure safety in the trade in genetically-modified organisms and products. ( 26 Oct 99 )
  • Biosafety Protocol in danger of being pre-empted by narrow trade interests (Chee Yoke Ling/TWN)
    
  • Precise precaution vs. sloppy science (Hartmut Meyer)
  • Biosafety talks end in deadlock again (Lim Li Lin/TWN)
  • Biosafety protocol talks to resume in September (G.S.Nijar/TWN)
  • Outstanding issues of the Biosafety negotiations (Tewolde Egziabher)
  • Of power affirmed to men and of safety denied to life (Tewolde Egziabher)
  • US behind collapse of Cartagena biosafety talks (Chee Yoke Ling/TWN)
  • EU - the South's unreliable ally at Cartagena (Gurdial Singh Nijar/TWN)
  • The long, winding road to a Biosafety Protocol - a South African view (Mariam Mayet)
  • The Cartagena Protocol - a battle over trade or biosafety? (Lavanya Rajamani)
  • Elements of a Biosafety Protocol: The position of the South (Gurdial Singh Nijar/TWN)
  • TWN Position Paper for the 6th and final Biosafety Protocol negotiations in Cartagena, Colombia, 14-19 February 1999.
  • BIOSAFETY: Scientific Findings and Elements of a Protocol - Report of the Independent Expert Group of Scientific and Legal Experts on Biosafety
  • An international Biosafety Protocol: The fight is still on (Chee Yoke Ling/TWN)
  • FAO/WHO Report threatens strong biosafety protocol (Mae-Wan Ho/R. Steinbrecher)
  • Briefing Papers Series on Biosafety
  • Concerted moves to undermine a strong biosafety agreement (Chee Yoke Ling/TWN)
  • The South finally secures a Biosafety Protocol  (G.S.Nijar/TWN)

  B. Biosafety regulations, laws, policies

  • Implications for developing countries of proposals to consider trade in GMOs at the WTO (CIEL Discussion Paper) (Matthew Stilwell/CIEL)
    This discussion paper offers some preliminary observations about proposals for the upcoming WTO Seattle Ministerial by three countries - the US, Canada and Japan - to consider trade in genetically modified organisms (GMOs) at the WTO. These proposals raise significant issues for WTO Members - in particular developing countries.
  • Model National Biosafety Law (TWN)
  • An introduction to the model national law on biosafety (G.S.Nijar/TWN)
  • Possible human health impacts of Monsanto's transgenic glyphosate-resistant soybeans  (C.Von Weizsacker/B. Tappeser)
  • Scientists call for bio-patent ban, GMO moratorium (C.Raghavan/SUNS)
  • Special safety concerns of LMOs (Mae-Wan Ho)
  • GMO regulations based on unsound assumptions (C.Raghavan/SUNS)

  C. Biosafety and Agriculture

  • Open letter from World Scientists to all governments
  • 10 reasons why biotechnology will not ensure food security, protect the environment and reduce poverty in the developing world (Miguel Altieri)
  • Biotech, help or harm to developing countries? (Danielle Knight)
  • US farmers rethink future of biotech crops (Danielle Knight)
  • Cheers for Monsanto's reversal on 'terminator' (Danielle Knight)
  • No to GMO: Civil Society vs. Corporate Empire  (M.W.Ho)
  • Head to Head Feature, Sovereign Magazine (M.W.Ho)
  • Plant losses threaten food security (Danielle Knight)
  • Genetically altered corn eyed with suspicion (Pilar Franco)
  • US thwarts moratorium on terminator technology (G.S.Nijar/TWN)
  • Brazil holds up RR soya planting (TWN)
  • Brazil: Debate rages on genetically-altered seeds (Mario Osava)
  • Andean meet sounds alert on transgenics (Kintto Lucas)
  • Costs and benefits of biotechnology (Danielle Knight)
  • World Scientists' Statement: Calling for a Moratorium on GM Crops and Ban on Patents
  • World Scientists' Statement: Supplementary Information on the Hazards of Genetic Engineering Biotechnology
  • Brazil: South seeks to block transgenic soya  (Mario Osava)
  • Monsanto's genetic engineering trials in India are dangerous and anti-democratic. (Vandana Shiva)
  • Destructive consequences of "Controlling Plant Gene Expression" or "TERMINATOR" Technology for Food Security and Biodiversity (Farhad Mazhar/UBINIG)
  • From "Terminator" to "Traitor" technologies (C.Raghavan/SUNS)
  • Monsanto project in Thailand assailed (TWN)
  • Special Safety Concerns of Transgenic Agriculture and Related Issues - Briefing Paper for Minister of State for the Environment, The Rt Hon Michael Meacher (by ISIS)
  • The Impact of Genetic Modification on Agriculture, Food and Health - An Interim Statement (by British Medical Association)

  D. Genetic Engineering and Health

  • Update of concerns #2 - 22.09.99  (Dr Mae-Wan Ho and Angela Ryan)
  • GEOs pose hazards, risk assessment difficult, but essential (C. Raghavan/SUNS)
  • Special safety concerns of LMOs (Mae-Wan Ho)
  • GEOs pose hazards, risk assessment difficult, but essential (C. Raghavan/SUNS)
  • British doctors caution on GM products (C.Raghavan/SUNS)
  • Update of concerns - July 1999 (Dr Mae-Wan Ho and Angela Ryan)
  • The Impact of Genetic Modification on Agriculture, Food and Health - An Interim Statement (by British Medical Association)
  • Why genetic engineering is hazardous (Mae-Wan Ho)
  • Genetic engineering and the world health crisis (Mae-Wan Ho et al)
  • Possible human health impacts of Monsanto's transgenic glyphosate-resistant soybeans  (C.Von Weizsacker/B. Tappeser)
  • Genetic engineering and the world health crisis (Mae-Wan Ho et al)
  • Possible human health impacts of Monsanto's transgenic glyphosate-resistant soybeans  (C.Von Weizsacker/B. Tappeser)

  E. Genetic Engineering and Food Safety

  • US: Concern over health effects of biotech food (Danielle Knight)
  • Japan: Furore over gene-altered food products (Suvendrini Kakuchi)
  • Hazards of genetically engineered foods and crops: Why we need a global moratorium (Ronnie Cummins)
  • UK body warns against marker genes in transgenic plant (C. Raghavan/SUNS)
  • British doctors caution on GM products (C.Raghavan/SUNS)
  • The Thalidomide of genetic engineering (L R B Mann and D Straton)
  • Split codex puts off OK for synthetic beef hormone (C.Raghavan/SUNS)
  • Zimbabwe: Controversy over genetically modified food (Lewis Machipisa)
  • Fight hots up against GM foods (Martin Khor/TWN)
  • Fox mating with the guard dog (on biotech)? (C.Raghavan/SUNS)
  • Fatal Flaws in Food Safety Assessment: A Critique of the Joint FAO/WHO Biotechnology and Food Safety Report (FAO Food and Nutrition Paper 61) (Mae-Wan Ho/R. Steinbrecher)
  • Damning findings by scientist raise alarm about safety of GM foods (Chee Yoke Heong)
  • GMO risks and hazards: Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence of risk (Terje Traavik)
  • Scientific Advisory System Inquiry (Genetically Modified Foods) - MEMO by the Institute of Science in Society (ISIS)
  • Genetically engineered foods: Coming to your supermarket?  (Brian Tokar)
  • Genetic engineered foods: The hazards are inherent in the technology  (Mae-Wan Ho)
  • The hazards of genetically engineered food  (Mae-Wan Ho)

  F. Actions, Activities and News relating to genetic engineering

  • Seed companies hauled into court
  
  
  
• Rachel's Environment & Health Weekly:
  • #639 - Genetically Altering The World's Food, February 25, 1999
  • #673 - The WTO and Free Trade--Part 1, October 21, 1999
  • #674 - The WTO and Free Trade--Part 2, October 28, 1999
  • #675 - The WTO Turns Back the Clock, November 04, 1999
• Agriculture Network - Daily News and Story Archive.
• Selected British Media Coverage of Genetically Modified Foods
  • "The Battle for Free Trade" -- BBC Trade Issue Coverage.
  • WWF-UK -- GM trees threaten the global environment
    • PDF Version of Executive Summary of GM Technology in the Forestry Sector
      
    • PDF Version of Full Reportof GM Technology in the Forestry Sector
      
  • The New Scientist, Special Report: Living in a GM World
  • BBC Special report: Food under the microscope
  • BBC Genetically-modified Q&A
  • BBC - Food Under the Microscope GM Links
  • BBC News SciTech Brakes put on GM industry
  • BBC News Terminator gene halt a 'major U-turn' . 5 October 1999.
  • BBC News Government 'U-turn' on GM crops
  • BBC News Ministers 'ignoring public' on GM food
  • BBC News Public mood hits GM trials. 8 June 1999.
  • BBC News GM crop trials leap in size. 11 November 1999.


• Further News Sources for Current Updates.

Evolution of the Biotechnology Industry

• Bioindustry Association
• Biotechnology Industry Organization
• European Federation of Biotechnology
• Signals Online Biotechnology Magazine

Biotechnology in International Trade

• Biotrade Initiative
• Genetic Resources Action International
• ISAAA
• World Trade Organization

Intellectual Property Rights in Biotechnology

• European Patent Office
• Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development
• Rural Advancement Fund International
• US Patent and Trademarks Office
• World Intellectual Property Organization

Biotechnology and International Relations

• Biosafety Protocol
• Chemical and Biological Warfare Project, University of Bradford.

Bioprospecting

• Bioresources Conservation and Development Organization
• Case Studies
• Conservation International
• Instituto Nacional de Bioversidad
• International Cooperative Biodiversity Groups
• Yellowstone National Park

Biotechnology in Developing Countries

• Biotechnology -- An Indian Perspective, from Down to Earth, Vol 7, No 17 January 31, 1999
• Biotechnology and Development Monitor
• Christian Aid Could GM crops benefit the poor?
• Seminar on Agricultural Research in Africa

Environmental Aspects of Biotechnology

• Convention on Biological Diversity
• Royal Society
• United Nations Industrial Development Organization

Biotechnology and Human Health

• British Medical Association
• Office of Science and Technology, UK

Ethics, Social Values and Biotechnology

• GM Issues
• The Food Ethics Council
• Australian Gene Ethics Network
• Alliance for Bio-Integrity
• The Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Food
• European Molecular Biology Laboratory
• National Centre for Biotechnology Education-UK
• Nuffield Council on Bioethics
• Public Perception Issues in Biotechnology
• World Conference on Bioethics
• GeneWatch - UK
• The Council for Responsible Genetics
  GeneWatch
• The Church of England's Views on Genetically Modified Organisms
• "Selling Pigeons in the Temple: The Danger of Market Metaphors in an Ecosystem," Timothy C. Weiskel.