An interesting question from Robert Vint. How come those who claim to be so guided by 'sound science', are perfectly happy to ignore the mainstream when it doesn't suit the interests of the big corporate players?
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Why do the key GM food advocates oppose the Kyoto Treaty?
Subscribers to Dr C.S.Prakash's pro-biotech 'AgBioView' email list will be familiar with the names of some of the key global promoters of GM food and crops, most of whom are based in the USA, such as those named below. [To subscribe send blank email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for daily briefings. Previous emails archived at http://agbioview.listbot.com , website at www.agbioworld.org ] Interestingly they all have websites that not only defend GM food but also attack the Kyoto Treaty on global warming:
1. Philip Stott, ProBiotech www.ecotrop.org (Organiser of the UK 'Seeds of Opportunity Conference' in May)
2. Steven J. Milloy, Citizens for the Integrity of Science www.junkscience.com and www.nomorescares.com
3. Alex Avery, Center for Global Food Issues www.cgfi.com & his father, Dennis Avery, The Hudson Institute www.hudson.org
4. Frances B Smith, Consumer Alert www.consumeralert.org (A "consumer" group opposing consumer safety and rights)
5. Gregory Conko, Competitive Enterprise Institute www.cei.org/ceimain.asp
6. John Carlisle, National Center for Public Policy Research www.nationalcenter.org
How, one might ask, are GM and CO2 connected - other than that they both have implications for the regulation of big business? Is it possible that these people are called in whenever such businesses run into trouble? The issues addressed on these websites do suggest this:
1,2,3,4,5,6 oppose the Kyoto treaty and CO2 emission regulations
1,2,3,4,5,6 oppose regulation of DDT
1,2,3,4,5,6 oppose organic farming & labels [Alex & Dennis Avery are the leading opponents of organic farming]
1,2,5,6 oppose concern about rainforest destruction.
2,5,6 oppose tobacco taxes & regulation. [Milloy is a former tobacco industry lobbyist and CEI is tobacco industry funded]
2,6 oppose gun control laws
Stephen Milloy (2) is a former tobacco industry lobbyist as well as a former executive director of TASSC, a front organisation created by tobacco giant Philip Morris. The Competitive Enterprise Institute (5) and Consumer Alert (4) are also recipients of Big Tobacco funding. [PRWatch investigates 'No More Scares' http://members.tripod.com/~ngin/168.htm ] The Hudson Institute (3) which opposes organic farming and pesticide regulation, is biotech industry funded. (Donors include: AgrEvo, Dow AgroSciences, Monsanto, Novartis, Zeneca).
These groups are closely linked to one another (see their link pages and two fake 'consumer' alliances that they have jointly created: National Consumer Coalition www.foodstuff.org and International Consumers for a Civil Society www.icfcs.org ) They share a common philosophy that generally includes:
a. Support for unregulated global free trade and the World Trade Organisation.
b. Opposition to environmental, gun, health and safety, and food labelling regulations and to the Precautionary Principle.
c. Denial of environmental problems such as global warming, rainforest destruction, DDT and agrochemicals.
d. Support for the oil and nuclear industries and for the unregulated use of fossil fuels.
e. Support of biotechnology and transnational corporations.
f. Belief that environmental and safety concerns as mere marketing stunts by organic and green businesses.
ARTICLES BY GM-PROMOTERS OPPOSING ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS AND CONSUMER PROTECTION:
1. Philip Stott, ProBiotech:
*Hot Air + Flawed Science = Dangerous Emissions www.junkscience.com/apr01/wsj_stott.htm
*Tropical Rain Forests: Exposing the Myths www.ecotrop.org (click on 'rainforest' left link) "Over the years, a series of 'little green lies' has been insidiously applied to tropical rain forests with the aim of persuading Governments, and all of us, that we do not simply 'like' or 'want' to keep these forests, but that we 'need' them scientifically for sound ecology "
*Critical 'Global Warming' Reports www.ecotrop.org (click on 'Climate 3' left link)
2. Steven J. Milloy, Citizens for the Integrity of Science:
*Gun Control Science Misfires www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,7217,00.html
*Organic Industry Groups Spread Fear for Profit www.nomorescares.com/news/organic.htm
*100 things you should know about DDT www.junkscience.com/ddtfaq.htm
*Biotech foods www.junkscience.com/consumer/consumer_biotech.htm
3. Alex Avery, Center for Global Food Issues & Dennis Avery, The Hudson Institute:
*American Outlook Contradicts Environmentalists on the Effects of "Global Warming" www.hudson.org/press5.htm
*Global Warming-Boon for Mankind? www.hudson.org/American_Outlook/articles_bin/Global%20Warming.htm
*The Hidden Dangers in Organic Food www.hudson.org/averydoc9d.htm
*New Organic Food Standards Could Use Warning Labels www.cgfi.com/new_detail.cfm?Art_ID=193
*Another Dubious Link Between Pesticides And Cancer www.hudson.org/averydoc9d.htm
*Saving the Planet with Pesticides and Plastic www.hudson.org/upcoming.htm
4. Frances B Smith, Consumer Alert:
*Consumer group relieved at announcement on CO2 www.consumeralert.org/press/pr010314.htm
*The Biosafety Protocol: The Real Losers Are Developing Countries [PDF] www.nlcpi.org/books/pdf/briefly_march00.pdf
5. Gregory Conko, Competitive Enterprise Institute:
*Organic Food Standards May Violate First Amendment www.cei.org/PRReader.asp?ID=1318
*"Precautionary Principle" Stalls Advances in Food Technology www.cei.org/UpdateReader.asp?ID=1014
*CEI Applauds End of US Support for Kyoto Protocol www.cei.org/PRReader.asp?ID=1419
*The Costs of Kyoto www.cei.org/books/costsofkyoto.html
*Public Interest Group Hails Supreme Court Snuff-Out of FDA Tobacco Regs www.cei.org/PRReader.asp?ID=941
6. John Carlisle, National Center for Public Policy Research:
*U.S.D.A. Organic Food Labels Are Misleading - 5/00 www.nationalcenter.org/PROrganicFood500.html
*Biotechnology: Putting an End to World Hunger - June 2000 www.nationalcenter.org/NPA289.html
*Bush Must Kill Kyoto Global Warming Treaty & Stop Congressional Efforts to Regulate CO2 www.nationalcenter.org/NPA328.html
*The Federal Tobacco Lawsuit is Bad Economics, Bad Law & Bad Governing www.nationalcenter.org/PRFederalTobaccoSuit999.html