Latest Resources
14 November 2007
Biowatch Court Ruling: Gross Miscarriage of Environmental Justice
Several environmental groups in South Africa have slammed the Supreme Court of Appeal’s ruling that threatens to financially strangle Biowatch SA, a non profit organisation acting in the public interest. Read here.
19 October 2007
Biopiracy meeting ends with no progress
This article was published in the SUNS #6345, Wednesday, 17 October 2007. Any reproduction or re-circulation of this article requires the permission of the SUNS (sunstwn@bluewin.ch). SUNS #6345 Wednesday 17 October 2007 south-north development monitor SUNS United Nations: Biopiracy meet ends with no progress. Read here.
7 October 2007
Drug Companies Looting SA’s bounty of Medicinal Plants
The government has stepped in to save a tiny South African plant, pelargonium, from extinction after hundreds of tons were harvested for foreign drug companies, one of which has patented its use to fight HIV/Aids. Now traditional healers, who have used the plant for centuries, are trying to win back the patent which they claim […]
17 August 2007
SA Rejects GM bulbs & flowers
Failed Application for Contained Use of Genetically Modified flowers and bulbs involving Ornithogalum dubium x thyrsoides Line A2 The South African GMO Authority, the Executive Council (EC), established under the GMO Act has refused the first ever application for experimentation of GM bulbs and flowers outside a laboratory facility. Read here.
17 August 2007
Thumbs down for GM Mosquitocide
The Executive Council acting under the Genetically Modified Organisms Act has rejected out of hand, an application by Biological Control Products SA (Pty) Ltd, to test in open water sources, a genetically modified mosquitocide. The mosquitocide has been genetically engineered to destroy mosquito larvae. Read here.
28 July 2007
Stealing South Africa’s Secrets…..
Pelargonium, a plant used in cold and flu remedies, has become a new battleground in the campaign to protect South Africa’s indigenous flora and traditional knowledge from bio-pirates. An interview with Mariam Mayet published by the Mail & Guardian written by Yolandi Groenwald on 15 January, 2007.
27 July 2007
GM Crops for Africa? No Thanks!
“Most African countries, like many other poor countries cannot advance GM crop research because their national policies or regulatory systems are not prepared to deal with safety requirement for approving general use.” Joel Cohen of the International Food Policy Research Institute based in Washington DC was reported to have said. Read here.
27 July 2007
ACB ALERT: Spate of New GM Experiments in SA
ACB ALERT: NEW GM EXPERIMENTS IN SOUTH AFRICA, JULY 2007 It is with extreme disquiet that the African Centre for Biosafety notes the recent spate of new applications for GM experiments in South Africa, see below. We are extremely concerned that our government has laid our country open to the wholesale experimentation involving a whole […]
8 March 2007
Biofuels Africa Alert: Africa’s Biodiesel: Going Nuts
It is with extreme disquiet that the African Centre for Biosafety notes the recent spate of new applications for GM experiments in South Africa, see below. We are extremely concerned that our government has laid our country open to the wholesale experimentation involving a whole new range of GM applications, in a context where there […]
4 November 2006
Contaminated US Rice Must Be Recalled From Africa
African Groups Condemn US Decision To Authorize Illegal GM Rice Sent To Africa Friends of the Earth Africa and the African Center for Biosafety are today urging African countries to monitor US rice imports and to recall all shipments contaminated with GM rice known as LibertyLink601 (LL601). This call follows the confirmation of the presence […]