 I usually do not post links to reports on other sites, but it is an issue that is of high importance. Knowing the people working in this organisation, "Kokopelli", I have to post their message. I was writing about Kokopelli here in my blog 2 years ago ("who owns nature") You can be sure that this topic will not be mentioned by the mainstream media. They are too cozy with those who are responsible for irresponsible decisions in Brussels. Nevertheless, the development of seeds that are protected by copyright-law is one of the main issues and concerns all of us. First of all, let's not forget, Seed is in itself is a good of humanity. It is also a kind of "open source", a gift by nature so to speak. After 15 years of war & conflict reporting I thought nothing can really surprise me anymore. But every now and then, when some bureaucrats are waffling nonsense because they must be compliant to the relevant lobbyists some of their short sighted views are really going too far... If this law, the politically "responsible" European policy makers are proposing we all will be soon in the hands of Bayer-Bio-Tech, Monsanto and this bunch of problem-makers.  The reason why mainstream media will not pick up on this issue is, because they do not want to be boring for their readers and viewers. Secondly, the public is in deed not very much interested. Its a similar public reaction as to the Wikileaks and NSA / Snowdon affairs and the naive statement "I don't have anything to hide". Well, continue to be ignorant to future changes in politics, don't look back into history, and even forget that the cyberspace never forgets anything, even better don't think anything, let your iPhone think for you. But if you are used to use your own mind and brain you will realize that those who own the "intellectual property rights" are also the owner of the seed. What does "copyright protected" seeds really mean is this: the crop needs a specific fertilizer. Its GM or a hybrid. You only can by it once. And then next year again, and again, and again. Too bad if you don't have the financial resources to pay for this "copyright protected" seeds. Not only that some poorer farmer in poorer countries will be left out, worse if they don't have the money, they don't get the seed. So they can starve to death once they have had to sell their land. Actually a nice way to cut the budgets for defense spending monsters of our war ministries, we will not need to fight wars anymore, we just starve the people till they surrender.  That seeds are a common good of humanity, a kind of "open source" gift by nature seems never have crossed the mind of this bureaucrats in Brussels. Otherwise it is simply not understandable how they can sell our very natural property. I'm not talking about mafiosi structures in the bio-tech research business, but copy-right protection of a natural good of humanity is not just absurd it is a step into a unnecessary dependency. And to make matters worse: here in France farmers, by law, are not allowed to keep and store their on seeds, they have to deliver to a seed bank where it will be marked off to be identifiable to the agriculture inspector. How is violating this law will be penalized. So here the beginning of the Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
on the production and making available on the market of plant reproductive material (plant reproductive material law) Article 1 Scope This Regulation lays down rules on: the production, with a view to making available on the market, of plant reproductive material protected by intellectual property rights ; and the making available on the market of such plant reproductive material. Article 2 Exclusions This Regulation shall not apply to plant reproductive material: belonging to the public domain; intended solely for testing or scientific purposes; intended solely for breeding purposes; intended solely for, and maintained by, gene banks, organisations and networks of conservation of genetic resources, or persons belonging to those organisations or networks; exchanged in kind between persons other than professional operators. Article 3 Definitions For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions shall apply: ‘public domain’ means plant reproductive material not protected by any kind of intellectual property rights to read more (en français) http://kokopelli-semences.fr/campagne_reforme_ue Comments are closed.
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