Science and Government

Hawaii's Big Island Leads the Way in Banning GMOs
Big Island ban GMO testing and cultivation while other counties step up their campaigns to regulate GM testing and farming, but agritech giants are already gearing up for a fight
Dr Eva Sirinathsinghji 10th February 2014

EU’s Pro-Industry GMO Regulators Endanger Public Health Petition for Independent Science in GMO Risk Assessment
EU watchdog attempts to undermine already lax regulations to speed up commercial approval of risky GM products
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho 10th May 2010

GM Food Angel or Devil
It has been 16 years since the first genetically modified (GM) crop - Flavr Savr tomato for delayed ripening - was approved for commercial growing in the USA. It was also the year that I became a ‘science activist', on realising how science itself was falling prey to corporate manipulation.
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho 5th May 2010

One million signatures for banning GMOs in Europe
The European Commission has just approved growing genetically modified crops for the first time in 12 years, putting the GM lobby's profits over public concerns - 60% of Europeans feel we need more information before growing foods that could threaten our health and environment. Sign the petition and spread the word.
www.avaaz.org 23rd March 2010

A 12-Year Saga of Farm Suicides in India
In 2006-08, Maharastra saw 12 493 farm suicides, 85 percent higher than the 6 745 suicides it recorded during 1997-1999, and the worst three year period for any State at any time despite huge government debt relief packages.
P. Sainath 9th February 2010

Field Testing Genetically Engineered Eucalyptus: Environment Assessment Still Inadequate
USDA/APHIS aims to support widely dispersed field trials with reckless disregard for safety and in flagrant violation of the precautionary principle.
Prof. Joe Cummins 8th February 2010

UK Chief Scientist Misrepresented Over GM
Is it possible that Prof. Beddington’s staff - at the Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs perhaps - are much keener on GM than he is, and wrote a speech for him that was leaked ahead of time to The Guardian? Could it be that Prof. Beddington, after seeing the prepared speech, changed it out of all recognition?
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho 5th February 2010

The Bradford Hill Criteria Applied to Climate Change & GMOs
If smoking causes lung cancer, we should try to stop people smoking, if greenhouse gas emissions are causing climate change, we should reduce them, if genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are hazardous, we should ban them. The problem for policy makers is that it is hard to be sure, or rather it is hard to be sure enough to convince a government to spend money or offend a powerful lobby. The Bradford Hill criteria can help in the difficult task of making decisions when the evidence, while strong, is not conclusive.
Prof. Peter Saunders 3rd February 2010

GM Crops Facing Meltdown in the USA
Major crops genetically modified for just two traits - herbicide tolerance and insect resistance – are ravaged by super weeds and secondary pests in the heartland of GMOs as farmers fight a losing battle with more of the same; a fundamental shift to organic farming practices may be the only salvation
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho 1st February 2010

Why Bees Vanish
A film that tries to get to the bottom of the mystery of the disappearing bees with some success
Sam Burcher 16th November 2009

High Lysine GM Maize Withdrawn, Safety Concerns
A much touted second generation “nutritionally enhanced” GM crop bites the dust, as company fails to address serious health concerns; but don’t suppose that regulation will triumph
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho and Prof. Peter Saunders 11th November 2009

Say No to GM Carnations for Europe
A petition has been posted against the introduction of GM-carnations Moonaqua with altered colours.in the Netherlands.. These carnations are not yet available in Europe because they are not authorized. But the Dutch Ministry of Environment will do that in less than 6 weeks.time.
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho 12th August 2009

Scientists Must be Held Responsible and Protected by Law
Scientists are responsible for acquiring new data and evaluating existing data without bias, and should be protected by law for doing so; but if they fail, they too should be liable to prosecution
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho and Prof. Peter Saunders 3rd August 2009

ISIS Comment in Support of Ban on GMOs in Negros
On behalf of the Institute of Science in Society, I would like to submit our Comment to you on the Philippine Sugar Research Institute Foundation's objection to the implementation of Provincial Ordinance 007 in Negros Occidental Province.
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho 16th July 2009

Ban Glyphosate Herbicides Now
Scientists Confirm Potent Hormone Disrupting Effects. Latest evidence confirms world's top-selling herbicide used with GM crops is toxic and disrupts sex hormones at infinitesimal doses; time for a worldwide ban
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho 15th July 2009

Glyphosate Herbicide Could Cause Birth Defects
Argentina Considers Ban
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho 14th July 2009

US Opposition to GMOs Gathers Momentum
Scientists and physicians in the heartland of genetic modification are alerting policy-makers and the public to the dangers of GM crops
Prof. Peter Saunders 22nd June 2009

Science in a New Key
Invited address to UK Parliamentary and Scientific Committee, 19th May 2009, Westminster, London
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho 18th May 2009

Maize streak Virus Resistant Transgenic Maize for Africa?
Transgenic viral resistance is short-lived while marker assisted selective breeding can offer long-term protection
Prof. Joe Cummins 14th May 2009

Europe Holds the Key to a GM-Free World, 5th Conference of GM-Free Regions, Food & Democracy
Important revelations at the Conference on how Europe determines the future of GMOs in the world market, and more
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho 6th May 2009

Moratorium on GMOs for Europe
Two hundred and fifty delegates from 28 countries gathered in Lucerne , Switzerland, for the 5th European Conference of GMO-Free Regions, Food and Democracy , 24-25 April 2009. They called for a moratorium on GMOs in Europe.
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho 4th May 2009

Scientists Protest Unethical Clinical Trials of GM Golden Rice
Tufts university involvement in golden rice feeding trials.
Dr Brian John 16th February 2009

Death by Multiple Poisoning, Glyphosate and Roundup
Scientists pinpoint how very low concentrations of the herbicide and other chemicals in Roundup formulations kill human cells, strengthening the case for phasing them out, and banning all further releases of Roundup-tolerant GM crops
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho and Brett Cherry 11th February 2009

Bt Brinjal Unfit for Human Consumption
Expert independent scientist verdict contradicts Indian regulatory authorities on biosafety of GM aubergine
Sam Burcher 9th February 2009

Who is Anti-Science?
Hilary Benn & Other GM Supporters
The Cabinet minister betrays his true colours in a head to head with Vandana Shiva and other proponents of organic agriculture as evidence piles up against the safety of GM food and feed.
Sam Burcher 6th February 2009

Transgenic Animals for Food Not Proven Safe
FDA’s guidelines on commercial release of transgenic animals ignore known hazards of GMOs and totally inadequate to protect the public from genetic and epigenetic damages that may result from transgenic foods.
Prof. Joe Cummins and Dr. Mae-Wan Ho 17th November 2008

GM Papaya Should Not be Deregulated
USDA's environmental assessment based on obsolete opinion and ignores published findings of serious potential hazards
Prof. Joe Cummins and Dr. Mae-Wan Ho 10th November 2008

Letter to Hilary Benn MP on GMOs
The Government appears to believe that genetically modified (GM) crops are needed to solve the crisis of food shortages and high food prices in the world. In the past, the Government has expressed an intention to be a leader in the field of biotechnology. However, the GM seed developers, as well as some government advisors and scientists, have made many claims about the benefits and safety of GM crops but have failed to disclose the harm that has been done by these products.
Dr. Eva Novotny 5th November 2008

The Battle to Save the Polish Countryside
Julian Rose exposes the scandal of EU’s deliberate policy to get rid of family farms for the benefit of the corporations and gives a personal account of his battle with the GMO dragon that threatens to devastate rural Poland
Julian Rose 29th May 2008

Full House for Food Futures Now
It was the warmest day of the year so far and inside the sumptuously decorated Jubilee Room in the House of Commons there was barely standing room. The capacity audience were gathered for the launch of the much acclaimed ISIS report.
Sam Burcher 1st May 2008

"UK Farmers Upbeat about GM Crops" Debunked
Government Funding Industry to Market GM Crops
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho and Prof. Peter Saunders 26th March 2008

Letter in Support of Poland's GMO Free Status
Poland announced it would stick to its ban on 12 February 2008
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho 14th February 2008

Support French Scientist Telling the Truth About GMOs
Dr. Christian Vélot, has lost his funding. There is a committee of support for Vélot and they have organised a petition that has attracted 9288 signatures as of 26 January 2008. You can sign it on line. Please also send the link to your friends
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho 12th February 2008

UK and Irish Politicians Denounce Canadian Government Agent’s Dirty Tricks over GMOs
Prominent politicians condemn Canadian government employee for fraudulent research, disinformation, intimidation of UK and Irish citizens and attempt to sabotage Irish Government policy.
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho 1st February 2008

More on Science and Scientist Abused
Dr. Erina Ermakova, senior scientists of the Russian Academy of Sciences, whose work we featured was approached by an editor of Nature Biotechnology to co-author an article describing her work. This turned out to be a scandalous attempt to destroy her reputation and discredit her work. Below is the first press coverage in Switzerland. The matter is still unresolved, so please circulate widely and write your own letter to Nature Biotechnology
Roland Fischer 12th November 2007

GM-Free Europe Beginning?
A remarkable sequence of events since ISIS’ European Parliament Briefing Scientists and MEPs for a GM free Europe [1] may mean the beginning of the end of genetically modified crops in Europe.
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho 9th November 2007

UK Government's Dirty GM Secrets
UK Government funding genetically modified (GM) crop projects at tens of millions of pound and colluding with a biotech company to ease its GM field trials
Dr Mae-Wan Ho 6th November 2007

Emergency Motion on Protecting the Honeybee
Question Tabled to European Commission by Ms Hiltrud Breyer MEP of Strasbourg
Ms Hiltrud Breyer MEP 22nd June 2007

Scientists and MEPs for a GM free Europe
Independent scientists, MEPs, farmers and citizens united at the European Parliament condemning GMOs; the European Food Safety Authority to be sued
Sam Burcher and Dr. Mae-Wan Ho 21st June 2007

Scientists for a GM Free Europe
Scientists from six countries join forces with MEPs to call for a Europe wide and worldwide ban on growing GM crops.
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho 11th June 2007

GM Food Nightmare Unfolding in the Regulatory Sham
Regulators such as the European Food Safety Authority and UK's Food Standards Agency have been ignoring the precautionary principle, manipulating and corrupting science, sidestepping the law, and helping to promote GMOs in the face of massive public opposition and damning evidence piling up against the safety of GM food and feed.
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho 9th March 2007

Approval of GM Crops Illegal, US Federal Courts Rule
The courts said it three times so it must be true
Prof. Joe Cummins and Dr. Mae-Wan Ho 1st March 2007

Moratorium on all GM Trees and Ban on GM Forest Trees
Genetically modified (GM) trees have all the hazards of GM crops only worse, GM forest trees, in particular, are the ultimate threat to people and planet
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho and Prof. Joe Cummins 18th February 2007

GM Food Nightmare Unfolding and the Regulatory Sham
How our regulators are ignoring the precautionary principle, manipulating and corrupting science, sidestepping the law, and helping to promote GMOs in the face of massive public opposition and damning evidence piling up against the safety of GM food and feed
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho 7th February 2007

Making the World GM-Free & Sustainable
Keynote Lecture to Wise Traditions Conference, Weston A Price Foundation, 11 November 2006
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho 5th December 2006

GM Crops and Microbes for Health or Public Health Hazards?
Food crops genetically modified to overproduce single nutrients could be public health hazards as overdose of many single nutritional factors are known to be toxic Genetically modifying natural gut bacteria could turn them into pathogens pre-adapted to invade the human gut
Dr.Mae-Wan Ho & Prof. Joe Cummins 16th November 2006

GM Food Animals Coming
Foods derived from genetically modified animals are likely to be contaminated by potent vaccines, immune regulators, and growth hormones, as well as nucleic acids, viruses, and bacteria that have the potential to create pathogens and to trigger cancer
Dr Mae-Wan Ho & Prof Joe Cummins 15th November 2006

Genetically Modified Food Animals Coming
Foods derived from genetically modified animals are far from safe. They are likely to be contaminated by potent vaccines, immune regulators, and growth hormones, as well as nucleic acids, viruses, and bacteria that have the potential to create pathogens and to trigger cancer.
Prof. Joe Cummins and Dr. Mae-Wan Ho 25th September 2006

GM Crops for Health?
New genetically modified crops are being promoted for nutritional or health benefits. Health depends on a balance of macro and micronutrients, cofactors and vitamins, best achieved by organic agricultural practices. Overdose of many single nutritional factors can be toxic, and hence food crops genetically modified to overproduce single nutrients could be public health hazards.
Prof. Joe Cummins and Dr. Mae-Wan Ho 24th September 2006

India's Biotech Future
Public-private partnership is the cornerstone of India's National Biotechnology Development Strategy
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho 22nd September 2005

Sustainable World Coming
Independent scientists, economists, politicians, and activists met to share knowledge and ideas for sustainable food systems as the industrial model is close to collapse. Rhea Gala reports on the Sustainable World First International Conference
Rhea Gala 8th August 2005

Canada Denies Visa for Africa's Chief Biosafety and Biodiversity Negotiator
Interference with international negotiations has plumbed new depths
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho 20th May 2005

Corporate Hijack of Sustainable Agriculture
Agribusiness is embracing sustainable agriculture in the form of ecoagriculture. Prof. Miguel Altieri explains why it isn't the genuine approach
Prof. Miguel Altieri 16th November 2004

Beware the New Biotech Eurovision
The biotech industry is promoting a vision for plant biotechnology through the European Commission
Rhea Gala 29th October 2004

Keep GM Out of Europe!
Independent scientists, politicians and farmers have joined up to call for a GM-free Europe, and for urgent support for non-GM sustainable agriculture.
Lim Li Ching 26th October 2004

Collusion and Corruption in GM Policy
Claire Robinson uncovers some uncomfortable truths about the machinations of the pro-GM establishment in Britain
Claire Robinson 16th July 2004

Letter to the California Department of Food and Agriculture
A letter written to the Secretary of Food and Agriculture and Govenor Arnold Scharzenegger outlining concerns over Biopharmeceutical rice in California
Prof. Joe Cummins & Dr. Mae-Wan Ho 13th April 2004

Independent Science Panel Challenges Approval of GM Maize
Dr. Brian John of GM-Free Cymru and Dr. Mae-Wan Ho, Director of the Institute of Science in Society, both members of the Independent Science Panel on GM launched 10 May 2003, have written a strongly worded letter to Margaret Beckett to challenge the approval of Chardon LL GM maize for Britain
Dr. Brian John and Mae-Wan Ho 6th March 2004

Lead Us Not Into GM
A resounding 'No' to GMOs
Sam Burcher 26th October 2003

Independent Science Panel rejects Conclusions of GM Science Review
The UK Government's GM Science Review issued its First Report in July 2003 amid accusations of pro-GM bias. One member of the Panel resigned weeks earlier, and another complained that a senior scientist attempted to undermine his research funding and career.
Lim Li Ching 20th October 2003

Dutch Precaution Keeps Bt Crops At Bay
Dutch ecologists outline risk-assessment strategy for Bt-crops based on the precautionary principle, highlighting special concerns associated with small farms in Europe as opposed to much larger farms in the United States.
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho and Prof. Joe Cummins 10th October 2003

The GM National Debate Farce
'What debate?' Asks Dr. Mae-Wan Ho
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho 10th September 2003

GM Science Review Deeply Flawed
"Sidesteps fundamental criticisms of GM technology", "fails to take the full range of scientific evidence INTO account", "riddled with misrepresentations, half-truths and worse". ISIS rejects UK Government's GM Science Review
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho 26th August 2003

ISP letter to the President of Croatia
Re: Croatias stance on GM crops
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho 8th July 2003

Letter to President Lula
re: Brasilian governments stance on transgenic soya
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho 8th June 2003

Biotech Debacle in Four Parts
1. Stock Market Plummets, Investment Dries Up, Companies shut down R&D 2. Recent Evidence of Genetic Biohazards 3. GM crops rejected worldwide 4. Biosafety regulations tighten worldwide
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho and Lim Li Ching 28th October 2002

ISIS Condemns Prime Minister's Scoping Note
British Prime Minister's Strategy Unit's Scoping Note on 'The Costs and Benefits of Genetically Modified (GM) crops' suffers from two fatal flaws. The first is the omission of the non-GM option from the scope of the study. The second is the failure to take account of the abundant evidence indicating that the entire GM enterprise is sinking because it is not working.
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho 28th October 2002

Blair’s Biotech Vision Clouded
Blair’s vision of biotechnology and science is outmoded and out of touch with market reality. Dr. Mae-Wan Ho asks why Blair and other governments are throwing even more public money away at a sinking titanic of enterprises, while vital health and agricultural services are disintegrating for want of rational investments.
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho 23rd June 2002

Letter To The Scottish Parliament Petitions Committee
I am writing to support the Munlochy Vigil petition, to call for an immediate end to GM OSR trials in Scotland and for a full Parliamentary debate, with a free vote on the issue of GM crops in Scotland.
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho 4th March 2002

Pro-GM Royal Society Fellow Named as Source of Libel Case Allegations
The Hight Court in London has been told that a letter from Prof. Anthony Trewavas, wellknown champion of GM and critic of organic, contained a series of unfounded allegations about Greenpeace and Lord Melchett that should never have been published.
Jonathan Mathews 11th October 2001

Europes New Rules Could Sink All GMOs
New European legislation requires detailed molecular characterisation of GMOs to document genetic stability. This is the single most important criterion in biosafety risk assessment
Angela Ryan and Dr. Mae-Wan Ho 28th August 2001

ISIS Letter to Indonesian Government re GM Cotton
It is becoming increasingly evident that GM technology is inherently hazardous both in agriculture and in medicine. The most recent findings are summarized as a letter to the Indonesian government
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho 13th August 2001

Open Letter to Scientific Steering Committee on Farmscale Field Trials
We are writing to express our concern that the UK farmscale field trials of Aventis Chardon LL GM maize and other GM crops should not continue. Any new technology must be tested, but there are important scientific issues that must be addressed
I-SIS 15th May 2001

Investing in Healthcare or the Healthmarket?
The UK Medical Research Council is squandering our tax money to help corporations cash in on the healthmarket.
Nick Papadimitriou 18th April 2001

Open Letter to New Zealand Royal Commission on Genetic Engineering
It is becoming increasingly evident that GM technology is inherently hazardous both in agriculture and in medicine. The most recent findings are summarized as a letter to the NewZealand government
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho 13th March 2001

Parliamentary Briefing to UK Government
Arranged by ISIS through Alan Simpson MP and Presented by Professor Terje Traavik
I-SIS 20th February 2001

Best Practice in the Design of GM Crops
Comment on Consultation Document from Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment ACRE of the United Kingdom.
Dr. Mae-Wan Ho, Prof. Joe Cummins and Jeremy Bartlett 6th December 2000

Letter to the New Zealand Minister of Food and Fibre

Dr. Mae-Wan Ho

Scientific Advisory System Inquiry Genetically Modified Foods Memorandum
We consider the scientific advice at present to be inadequate in terms of scope and balance, and insufficiently up-to-date. The precautionary principle does not appear to be part of the framework of advisory committees. The current system lacks the ability to respond to rapid scientific developments.
Professor Peter Saunders