Activists say U.S. forces genetic foods on Africans
Environmental activists Wednesday accused the United States of pressuring African nations with large numbers of starving people to accept donations of foods grown from genetically modified seed, regardless of any potential harmful effects those foods might have.
Friends of the Earth officials said officials appointed by President Bush are more interested in promoting the financial interests of wealthy biotech companies in the United States that want to expand their overseas markets.
"Hunger in countries such as Zambia is being used to play devious politics," said Nnimmo Bassey, head of Friends of the Earth chapters in Nigeria. "Africans should choose what they eat, not have someone else decide for them."
The activist group said in Washington food aid programs overseen by the U.S. government are using only genetically modified foods in putting together donations, placing the recipient countries in the position of either accepting the foods or receiving nothing at all.
Activists called the "take it or leave it" position of the United States to be "deeply troubling."
"There is plenty of non-(genetically) engineered corn available for food aid if the Bush administration cares enough to provide it," said Larry Bohlen, a U.S.-based director with the activist group.
This is not the first time Friends of the Earth has complained on the issue. Earlier this year, the group issued an attack saying that Bolivia officials also were being pressured to accept genetically modified foods as part of humanitarian aid packages.
Their attack related to Africa comes one week after Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman issued a defense of genetically modified foods, saying they do not pose any threat to human health. Her comments came days after the United Nations refused to implement any policy concerning use of genetic foods in humanitarian donations.
The U.N. said that each country should decide for itself whether to accept such foods.
The use of genetically altered foods has split the United States from other countries.
U.S. officials and researchers believe genetics can actually help improve food quality by developing crops containing the qualities most desired in vegetables.
Other officials, including those in many European nations, believe not enough is known about the potential health hazards, including allergic reactions, that can arise from genetically altered foods.
Congress:
Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman said she hopes Congress approves more help for farmers in coping with drought, a new energy bill and a new Homeland Security Department before adjournment.
Congress returned to Washington this week from its summer break and Veneman said there are many things lawmakers need to do before adjourning next month for the year.
"Our hope is that the Congress will work in a bipartisan manner to accomplish these priorities in the coming weeks to benefit America's food and agriculture sector."
Veneman said farmers need more assistance in dealing with hot, dry weather conditions than her agency has been allowed to provide. She also wants an energy bill that promotes ethanol use, and protections from a Homeland Security Department that will ease concerns of crop tampering as part of a terrorist plot against the United States.
Other issues that need to be addressed include elimination of "death taxes" on farm families, more aid for helping federal forests that suffered from fires this year and approval of appropriations bills to ensure that farmers get all the assistance they are expecting during 2003.
Hog breeding:
The National Agricultural Statistics Service will update its study on hog breeding herd size and industry structure.
Officials will release new information on Sept. 13, updating the study that was made public in June 2001 that covered trends through 2000. Agriculture Department officials said the new information will show a leveling trend in some categories due to industry consolidation and improved herd efficiency.
The previous report showed operations with more than 5,000 head accounted for 73 percent of the U.S. pig crop in 2000. In 1994, those herd with 5,000 head or more accounted for only 27 percent of the crop.
Economic development:
The Agriculture Department will provide $3.1 million to 29 projects across the United States to help bolster local economic development efforts in rural communities.
Money will be split among 24 states to help pay for projects meant to help 455 businesses and create or save nearly 3,000 jobs.
"Expanding America's rural economy depends on the development of new businesses and the creation of new jobs," Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman said. "These grants will provide rural residents with the financial tools needed to create business ventures and expand their local economy."
Sugar:
A representative of the domestic sugar industry is pleased that Congress has approved a marketing allotment program for sugar producers.
Jack Roney of the American Sugar Alliance said the program, "maximizes the benefits of U.S. sugar policy for American taxpayers, consumers and sweetener-user corporations, for American sugar farmers and for foreign sugar-import quota holding countries."
The program is meant to restrict the amount of sugar that producers can send to market when there is a surplus of sugar available.
Grains:
Grain futures were mostly higher at the close Wednesday on the Chicago Board of Trade.
Soybean rose on gains in the grains pits and talk among traders of possible new business from China.
Corn rose on ideas that losses were overdone.
Wheat benefited from the influence of corn and fears about problems with the spring wheat crop.
Oats were mixed on wet weather that ruined the Canadian crop but benefited U.S. wheat.
The prices:
Soybeans: Sep 5.63 1/4 up 3 1/2, Nov 5.52 3/4 up 3 1/4, Jan 5.54 1/4 up 3 1/4, Mar 5.55 1/5 up 3 3/4.
Corn: Sep 2.70 1/2 up 4 3/4, Dec 2.78 1/2 up 4 1/4, Mar 2.84 1/4 up 4, May 2.86 1/2 up 4.
Wheat: Sep 3.79 up 12, Dec 3.86 1/4 up 12, Mar 3.90 3/4 up 11, May 3.79 1/4 up 7 3/4.
Oats: Sep 1.90 1/2 up 1/2, Dec 1.92 1/4 off 1/2, Mar 1.87 off 1/4, May 1.83 off 1/4.
