Farmers and consumers commemorate Golden Rice uprooting victory amid renewed push for field trials by Stop golden rice! Network | 8 Aug 2018 seeds & biodiversity | Bangladesh | Cambodia | Indonesia | Philippines Five years ago today, more than 400 farmers, women, youth and consumers uprooted the secret Golden Rice field trials in Pili, Camarines Sur, decisively showing the rejection of the people against the genetically modified rice. The historic action has resulted to increased awareness and renewed debate globally and has driven the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to postpone the commercialization slated in 2016 supposedly due to the lower yields of the Golden Rice. Five years ago today, more than 400 farmers, women, youth and consumers uprooted the secret Golden Rice field trials in Pili, Camarines Sur, decisively showing the rejection of the people against the genetically modified rice. The historic action has resulted to increased awareness and renewed debate globally and has driven the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to postpone the commercialization slated in 2016 supposedly due to the lower yields of the Golden Rice.
Public alarmed as Health Canada’s approval of Golden Rice will lead to clinical feeding trials among children in Asia by Stop Golden Rice! Network | 23 Mar 2018 Canada | seeds & biodiversity | Bangladesh | Philippines
Farmer groups hit PhilRice for renewed push to field and feed test Golden Rice by MASIPAG | 8 Nov 2017 Philippines | seeds & biodiversity Farmer-scientist group Magsasaka at Siyentipiko para sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura or MASIPAG hit PhilRice for its renewed push to open field test and feed test Golden Rice. Farmer-scientist group Magsasaka at Siyentipiko para sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura or MASIPAG hit PhilRice for its renewed push to open field test and feed test Golden Rice.
Congress urged to probe golden rice by MASIPAG | 8 Sep 2017 Philippines | hybrid rice | GMOs Quezon City – A House Resolution directing an inquiry on the controversial Golden Rice has been filed at the House of Representatives today, as an effort to stem the imminent re-introduction of the genetically modified (GM) crop in the country. Quezon City – A House Resolution directing an inquiry on the controversial Golden Rice has been filed at the House of Representatives today, as an effort to stem the imminent re-introduction of the genetically modified (GM) crop in the country.
Asia farmers decry revival of Golden Rice field trials by Stop Golden Rice! Network | 20 Apr 2017 Philippines | seeds & biodiversity | GMOs Amidst the celebration of Earth Day, farmers and civil societies coming from India, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines, as well as regional organizations such as the Pesticide Action Network Asia Pacific, Asian Peasants Coalition and GRAIN, called for the utmost protection and preservation of the environment by rejecting destructive and corporate dominated technologies such as Golden rice and GM crops that are presently threatening the lives and livelihood of Asian farmers. Amidst the celebration of Earth Day, farmers and civil societies coming from India, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines, as well as regional organizations such as the Pesticide Action Network Asia Pacific, Asian Peasants Coalition and GRAIN, called for the utmost protection and preservation of the environment by rejecting destructive and corporate dominated technologies such as Golden rice and GM crops that are presently threatening the lives and livelihood of Asian farmers.
What is happening to our forests? Conference report and presentations by Focus on the Global South | 23 Jan 2017 India | Philippines | land grabbing | seeds & biodiversity | Thailand From 21-25 November 2016, about 50 people, involved in struggles to defend the territories, forests and livelihoods of forest-dependent communities, came together in Thailand for a field visit to the Northeast of the country, followed by a 3-days meeting in Bangkok. Besides a delegation from Thailand, other participants came from Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and India. The aims of the gathering, which focused on the central question of What´s happening to our forests?, included promoting exchange and dialogue on old and new threats and challenges faced by communities in the different countries. From 21-25 November 2016, about 50 people, involved in struggles to defend the territories, forests and livelihoods of forest-dependent communities, came together in Thailand for a field visit to the Northeast of the country, followed by a 3-days meeting in Bangkok. Besides a delegation from Thailand, other participants came from Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and India. The aims of the gathering, which focused on the central question of What´s happening to our forests?, included promoting exchange and dialogue on old and new threats and challenges faced by communities in the different countries.
Philippines: Corporate science subdues the poor by MASIPAG | 8 Jul 2016 Philippines | GMOs Early this July, a spate of news from pro-GMO camps (which includes IRRI and Mark Lynas) struck the headlines wherein they praised the report made by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine regarding safety of GM crops. According to the news, the elite panel concluded that no ‘substantiated’ evidence exists that genetically engineered crops have caused health problems in humans or damaged the environment. Alongside this is the letter by more than 100 Nobel laureates urging environmental group Greenpeace to cease and desist from its campaign against Golden Rice specifically, and crops and food improved through biotechnology in general. Early this July, a spate of news from pro-GMO camps (which includes IRRI and Mark Lynas) struck the headlines wherein they praised the report made by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine regarding safety of GM crops. According to the news, the elite panel concluded that no ‘substantiated’ evidence exists that genetically engineered crops have caused health problems in humans or damaged the environment. Alongside this is the letter by more than 100 Nobel laureates urging environmental group Greenpeace to cease and desist from its campaign against Golden Rice specifically, and crops and food improved through biotechnology in general.
Call for support: global day of action for food, land and justice, 8 April by Asian Peasant Coalition | 7 Apr 2016 Philippines | actions We call on the KMP members and its allied organizations nationwide to launch “sympathy barricades and protests across the country” to condemn the brutal and shameless massacre in Kidapawan perpetrated by the Aquino government. Let us denounce the bloody dispersal of a farmers’ rally in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato last April 1, 2016. The incident left two persons dead, at least 37 hurt and wounded. We also call on our international friends and allies to join us on April 8 and support Kidapawan farmers. We call on the KMP members and its allied organizations nationwide to launch “sympathy barricades and protests across the country” to condemn the brutal and shameless massacre in Kidapawan perpetrated by the Aquino government. Let us denounce the bloody dispersal of a farmers’ rally in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato last April 1, 2016. The incident left two persons dead, at least 37 hurt and wounded. We also call on our international friends and allies to join us on April 8 and support Kidapawan farmers.
In the wake of "El Niño massacre", Green Revolution a failure, Filipino farmers still hungry by MASIPAG | 4 Apr 2016 Philippines | food sovereignty | seeds & biodiversity On IRRI’s 56th anniversary, farmer-scientist group MASIPAG called on the institution to immediately shut down its operations in the Philippines as it failed miserably to address the impacts of climate change resulting to deeper hunger and poverty. Last Friday, farmers coming from North Cotabato and nearby provinces in Mindanao held a barricade in Kidapawan City to call for rice subsidy as most of the farms were affected by the drought brought about by El Nino. Instead of addressing the farmers concerns, the protest was met by gunfire, with three farmers confirmed dead and scores of farmers, and possibly women and children, wounded. On IRRI’s 56th anniversary, farmer-scientist group MASIPAG called on the institution to immediately shut down its operations in the Philippines as it failed miserably to address the impacts of climate change resulting to deeper hunger and poverty. Last Friday, farmers coming from North Cotabato and nearby provinces in Mindanao held a barricade in Kidapawan City to call for rice subsidy as most of the farms were affected by the drought brought about by El Nino. Instead of addressing the farmers concerns, the protest was met by gunfire, with three farmers confirmed dead and scores of farmers, and possibly women and children, wounded.
Farmer-scientist group, petitioners win case against Bt eggplant by MASIPAG | 14 Dec 2015 Philippines | corporations | seeds & biodiversity | actions | GMOs After almost four years of litigation led by farmers and allies, the Supreme Court of the Philippines has permanently stopped the field testing of Bt talong, an eggplant variety genetically engineered to produce its own toxin. After almost four years of litigation led by farmers and allies, the Supreme Court of the Philippines has permanently stopped the field testing of Bt talong, an eggplant variety genetically engineered to produce its own toxin.
Land rush in Palawan must end: calling for a moratorium on oil palm expansion by Coalition against Land Grabbing (CALG) | 14 Oct 2014 Philippines | land grabbing | food sovereignty Recent years have seen an exponential increase in land deals across the Philippines to convert large expanses of land to produce crops mainly intended for export. Palawan, in spite of its unique recognition as a UNESCO Man & Biosphere Reserve, has not been spared from massive investments in extractive resources and industrial agriculture, especially oil palm development. Recent years have seen an exponential increase in land deals across the Philippines to convert large expanses of land to produce crops mainly intended for export. Palawan, in spite of its unique recognition as a UNESCO Man & Biosphere Reserve, has not been spared from massive investments in extractive resources and industrial agriculture, especially oil palm development.
Bicolano farmers continue fight against Golden Rice field tests and commercialization! Call for a GMO free Bicol by MASIPAG | SIKWAL-GMO | KMB | 22 Aug 2014 Philippines | technologies | seeds & biodiversity A year after the uprooting of Golden Rice, more than a hundred farmers, scientists, consumers and basic sectors joined hands to call for the immediate halt of the planned field tests and commercialization of Golden Rice in Philippines, saying that this will only pose more problems rather than solving the problem on hunger and malnutrition. A year after the uprooting of Golden Rice, more than a hundred farmers, scientists, consumers and basic sectors joined hands to call for the immediate halt of the planned field tests and commercialization of Golden Rice in Philippines, saying that this will only pose more problems rather than solving the problem on hunger and malnutrition.
Ten years of failure: farmers deceived by GM corn by Masipag | 12 Jun 2014 Philippines | technologies | seeds & biodiversity A decade afer Bt corn was commercialised in the Philippines, farmers explain the devastating socio-economic impacts of GM corn on their lives and livelihoods. A decade afer Bt corn was commercialised in the Philippines, farmers explain the devastating socio-economic impacts of GM corn on their lives and livelihoods.
Asian farmers unite to stop Golden Rice by MASIPAG et al | 30 Apr 2014 Indonesia | Philippines | technologies | seeds & biodiversity Farmers and sectoral organisations attending a conference in the Philippines have united to stop the commercialisation of transgenic Golden Rice, saying this will decimate indigenous rice genetic diversity, and affect farmers’ rights, people’s health and the environment. Farmers and sectoral organisations attending a conference in the Philippines have united to stop the commercialisation of transgenic Golden Rice, saying this will decimate indigenous rice genetic diversity, and affect farmers’ rights, people’s health and the environment.
Gulf states outsourcing basmati in the Philippines, while Philippines does the same with hybrid rice in Cambodia by GRAIN | 25 Apr 2012 Philippines | food crisis | hybrid rice The Philippines' Agriculture Secretary announces his government is going ahead with a large-scale evaluation of three Basmati rice varieties for export to Kuwait and Qatar, while, at the same time, he says they are pursuing the outsourcing of hybrid rice production in Cambodia. The Philippines' Agriculture Secretary announces his government is going ahead with a large-scale evaluation of three Basmati rice varieties for export to Kuwait and Qatar, while, at the same time, he says they are pursuing the outsourcing of hybrid rice production in Cambodia.