The Saga
of Troubles at Cancun
Is the Non-Aligned
Movement Coming Back to Life Under Indian Leadership
By
Pramilla Srivastava
Special to South Asia Tribune
NEW
YORK: This was a landmark week for resistance against genetically
modified (GM) products with a symbolic attack on the Monsanto
research center in India, entry of Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
in the United Nations and the re-emergence of non-aligned movement
in Cancun led by India.
Members
of the Karnataka State Farmers association attacked the research
center of US Biotech Firm, Monsanto-India, in a coordinated attempt
to highlight the growing struggles between poor farmers from developing
nations and large corporate agro-businesses based in Western Nations.
Reports indicate that 29 farmers were arrested and 2 Monsanto
employees were injured. The company's greenhouse was also destroyed.
Monsanto
produces genetically modified cotton seeds, although only 6 Indian
states currently permit their use. "We timed the attack [for]
those attending the WTO in Cancun," said a spokesperson from
the group.
Direct
action by farmers from poor nations reflect their growing desperation
as their future is negotiated away by elite organizations such
as the WTO. The usually calm resort town of Cancun, Mexico has
become a frontline battlefield in the escalating war between North
and South, with already one casualty. South Korean protester and
farmer Lee Kyung-hae killed himself at the summit when he climbed
on to a high security fence during a violent protest and waved
a banner that read "WTO kills farmers". He then stabbed
himself in the chest and later died in hospital. A friend said
his suicide was an "act of sacrifice" to show his disgust
at the WTO and its policies.
As
anti-globalization protesters tried to disrupt the WTO meetings,
representatives from developing nations led by India, Brazil,
and China joined the battle by forming a blockade of 21 nations,
known as the G21, leading to a stand off with the US and EU on
the issue of farm subsidies and intellectual property rights.
Talking
to SA Tribune, a spokesperson for Oxfam, an organization
leading the anti-globalization efforts said, "while the US
advocates free trade and open markets in developing countries,
its subsidies are destroying markets for vulnerable farmers. No
region is more seriously affected by unfair competition in the
world cotton market than sub-Saharan Africa."
The
dispute over cotton is symptomatic of the wider debate over farm
subsidies in the industrialized countries. The G21 demanded that
rich countries scrap the $300bn in farm handouts they say condemn
millions of their farmers to poverty. The US and the EU rejected
the demand as impracticable, but are under enormous pressure from
activists and protesters to improve offers they have already made
to reduce farm subsidies. The World Bank says removing barriers
to trade in farm and other goods could add $500bn a year to world
income by 2015, lifting 144 million people out of poverty.
The
issue of biotechnology and GMO's (genetically modified organisms)
is one in which the G21 and the EU share perspectives. The US
and EU have been banging heads on the issue for years. Much at
the behest of companies like Monsanto the Bush administration
tried to coerce the EU to open up its markets to GM technology,
which is prohibited by a standing 5-year old ban on new GM food
products. Although Washington tried to force a lifting of the
ban by the WTO, the EU responded by blocking the formation of
a WTO panel to litigate the matter.
"We
regret this move to an unnecessary litigation," Pascal Lamy,
EU trade commissioner was quoted in the UK Daily Guardian.
"The EU's regulatory system for GMOs [genetically modified
organisms] is clear, transparent, reasonable and non-discriminatory.
We are confident that the WTO will confirm that the EU fully respects
its obligations." EU environment commissioner Margot Wallstrom
warned that the US move could backfire.
Companies
like Monsanto have not been waiting for negotiations at the WTO
to go in their favor. From the US to Brazil, Europe to India they
have launched law suits to force their products in markets. Many
of these suits, however, have also backfired. Recently, Italy
won the right to impose an emergency ban on genetically modified
food products when Europe's highest court waded into a bitter
dispute between Rome and the US biotechnology giant.
Although
there is currently a ban on all new GM product approvals in EU
new rules established by the EU on labeling and authorization
will eventually allow biotech firms access to the European markets.
But, public opinion in Europe is opposed to GM technology causing
many EU members to stall adoption and implementation of the program.
This has made Washington impatient.
"The
US administration, funded by the likes of GMO giant Monsanto,
is using the undemocratic and secretive WTO to force feed the
world GM foods," said Martin Rocholl, of Friends of the Earth
Europe. "Decisions about the food we eat should be made in
Europe and not in the White House, the WTO or Monsanto's HQ. GM
food is just one point of contention between Europe and the US
Disagreements over steel tariffs, US tax breaks for multinationals,
and the US practice of feeding cattle growth hormones continue
to sour the transatlantic relationship.
In a related and significant development, Cartagena Protocol on
Biosafety was entered in the United Nations.The Protocol, adopted
by States Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, establishes
a framework that will facilitate environmentally sound application
and management of the products of modern biotechnology. "It
will enable us to derive maximum benefits from biotechnology while,
at the same time, protecting bio diversity and human health from
potential risks posed by living modified organisms," read
a UN statement.
A
press statement issued by the UN DPI said, biotechnology can contribute
significantly to the attainment of the Millennium Development
Goals. However, it must be developed judiciously and used with
adequate and transparent safety measures. The Protocol’s
entry into force is a welcome step in the right direction. "I
call on other States to ratify it and I urge the entire international
community to work together to fully implement its provisions,"
said Secretary General, Kofi Annan.
