Monsanto introduces Australian farmers to seed servitude

The Canberra Times reported yesterday:

Australian farmers signing up to grow genetically modified canola are exposing themselves to ''onerous'' obligations, an international law expert says.

Duncan Currie says the contract between biotechnolgy firm Monsanto and GM canola growers bars farmers from selling their land to anyone without a Monsanto licensing agreement.

Monsanto described the claim as ''ridiculous''.

The contract, obtained by The Canberra Times, shows that if the land is sold up to two years after the agreement expires, contractual obligations are passed to the buyer, who could be liable for the former owner's contract breaches.

Monsanto reserves the right to take legal action against any farmers who possess its patented canola without a licensing agreement.

If GM canola is found, the land owner must prove whether its presence was intentional or due to inadvertent contamination.

Under the contract, farmers give Monsanto the right to ''inspect, take samples and test all of the grower's owned and/or leased fields and storage bins'' and to obtain copies of all operational documents for three years after they buy GM canola.

Mr Currie believes the implications for farmers are dire.

''In general this is a very one-sided agreement,'' he said.

''[One provision] is particularly onerous [and] includes liability for payment of Monsanto's legal and attorney fees, including expense incurred in enforcing Monsanto's rights and investigation expenses.'' ......

NSW and Victorian farmers are now harvesting Australia's first GM canola crops after a moratorium on GM crops was lifted in both states earlier this year.

The crops contain resistance to glyphosate, the active ingredient in many non-selective herbicides. A member of the Concerned Farmers Network, Donald McFarlane, said canola crops were hard to contain in one location.

''Farmers of canola will know that it's almost impossible to stop the spread of [canola] seed,'' he said.

''Every year, up to 13per cent of a crop will escape to end up god knows where.''

He was concerned if a farm sold land within three years of planting GM crops, the contract did not ensure the new owner would be trained to prevent crop contamination.

The NSW Farmers Association would not comment on deals between Monsanto and individual farmers.

Its president, Jock Laurie, advised farmers to seek legal advice before signing any contract, GM or otherwise.

Yet another thing that the former neo-conservative Howard Government and the majority of it's State Labor Government counterparts wished on the Australian people.

One has to wonder at the role of the Farmers Association in all this.

Given the fact that prime farmland within 100 kms of the Australian coastline and similar land on the fringes of inland towns and cities is often sold-on or developed for urban-rezoning to supply farmers with a retirement income (especially in areas such as the NSW North Coast), one has to wonder how prospective buyers will feel about inheriting a legal obligation to Monsanto.

Surely this will affect local agricultural property prices and how many 'treechangers' and seachangers' view property on offer.

Joint Select Committee report to Tasmanian Government on GMO seed, crops and food, August 2008, supporting a GM-free state.

Look who is politicizing Bill Caralis' Radio 2GF

This is the man, one Steve Cansdell MP, who appears determined to politicize Radio 2GF as a by-product of the North Coast Nationals drive to place breakfast radio host Richie Williamson in the Clarence Valley mayoral chair.

Why he thinks it wise to advertise the Williamson bid for mayor in this way and, virtually draw attention to the possibility of a conflict of interest which could bedevil 2GF and Bill Caralis in the future, I am at a loss to understand.

The ABC was much wiser when faced with the fact that an on-air employee was elected to Bathurst Regional Council.

Eventually Janice McGilchrist was told privately that it was a choice of her ABC job or being on council - she couldn't have both.

Cr McGilchrist will cease her official duties with council by the end of the week.
Her resignation follows weeks of discussion about a possible conflict of interest between Cr McGilchrist's role as ABC radio's new Central West and Tablelands morning show host and her role as a local councillor.

On 19 May 2006 she resigned from council.

Obama for America - who has a ticket in this lottery?

Strewth! This American presidential election gets confusing.

So many groups for Democratic candidate Barack Obama.

There are Irish-Americans for Obama, Asians for Obama, Muslims for Obama, Ethiopians for Obama, Iranian-Americans for Obama, First Americans for Obama, Native Americans for Obama, Greek-Americans for Obama, African Americans for Obama, Italian Americans for Obama, Non-Americans for Obama, Korean Americans for Obama, Armenian Americans for Obama, Haitian Americans for Obama, Texans for Obama, All Women for Obama and even Republicans for Obama.

The list goes on and on...........

So many people appear to think that they own a piece of this politician that the disappointment will be severe and widespread when he turns out to be a very ordinary president if he gets into the White House.

Clarencegirl tells me that she heard from a well-known Aussie blogger that Obama's 'troops' are even trawling in Australia for the 100,000 Americans here that are eligible to vote.

When I heard that I went hunting and sure nuff, Americans in Australia for Obama popped up on the monitor.

Pic chart found at my.barackobama.com

With friends such as these ...

... who needs enemies?

Previously, members of the Exclusive Brethren in Australia snuggled up to John Howard and his mates when they held the reins of government.

Now, in an attempt to gain recognition from the other side of the politics in Australia, the Brethren are claiming to have an attachment with the Rudd Labor government.

This report comes from the Fairfax website WAtoday.com.au

Brethren are Kevin 07 fans after all

The normally publicity-shy Exclusive Brethren sect has asserted in a rare interview that Labor best represents its conscience, despite repeated stories of it cosying up to and funding the Liberals.

The secretive Christian fellowship has even laughed off Labor leader Kevin Rudd's description of it as an "extremist cult" that breaks up families, an accusation the Christian prime minister made during last year's election campaign.

"I don't blame him for saying that," said senior elder Daniel Hales in an interview with AAP.

"Labor has done well representing the conscience of Brethren members, in fact better than the conservatives."

He cited the freedom for Brethren members not to join trade unions, and Labor's decision not to support what he called Greens leader Bob Brown's "witch hunt" in the form of a failed Senate move for an investigation into the Brethren.

The Brethren's opposition to voting stems from a belief it interferes with God's right to ordain the government of the day, though critics have accused them of giving God a helping hand.

Brethren do believe, however, in taking their concerns to government, which led to meetings with former Howard government ministers from the PM down, including Peter Costello and Tony Abbott.

Read the full report here.