Dr. Vandana Shiva released a new report of 5,000 Biopiracy patents. She said “The 5000 Biopiracy Patents uncovered by Navdanya/Research Foundation for Science, Technology Ecology are just a tip of the iceberg.
The government has totally failed in its duty to protect the nations biodiversity and intellectual heritage. It should immediately Act to stop this theft of our collective wealth. The Biopiracy Epidemic has been triggered by the Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights Agreement (TRIPS) of the W.T.O. Article 27.3.(b) of the TRIPS agreement. The agreement has been up for review since 1999. The review has been stalled for 11 years to allow the monopolization of the plants biodiversity wealth.
The government of India must support the intervention of the government of Bolivia in the Review of 27. 3(b) of the W.T.O. TRIPS Agreement. The Bolivian’s have demanded that the conclusion of the Review is necessary to:
(a) prohibit the patenting of all life forms, including plants and animals and parts thereof, gene sequences, micro-organisms as well as all processes including biological, microbiological and non-biological processes for the production of life forms and parts thereof;
(b) ensure the protection of the innovations of indigenous and local farming communities and the continuation of the traditional farming practices including the right to save, exchange and save seeds, and sell their harvest;
(c) prevent anti-competitive practices which threaten food sovereignty of people in developing countries; and
(d) to protect the rights of indigenous communities and prevent any private monopolistic intellectual property claims over their traditional knowledge.
Earlier Navdanya had released a report on “Biopiracy of Climate Resilient Crops” which recorded 530 patents taken on draught resistant, flood resistant and salt resistant traits evolved by farmers and launched a campaign to prevent the privatization of our common defense to adapt to climate change. This issue had also become part of the climate change negotiations.
Navdanya/RFSTE have also won major victories against Biopiracy – neem, basmati, wheat - to defend our biological or intellectual heritage. Navdanya/RFSTE are also joining the global days of action from April 19 to July 9 to stop “Monsantosizing” of food, seed and; animals through patents on life. Our call is “No Patents on life, No Patents on seeds, Stop Biopiracy”
For more information please contact: Navdanya
A-60, Hauz Khas, New Delhi – 110 016
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Website : www.navdanya.org
