Did you know that around 20 percent of the human genome has been patented? That corporations and researchers own hundreds of animal genes and thousands of plant genes? That even some DNA sequences of viruses like AIDS and SARS are patented, and a researcher could be violating the law if he or she uses them to create a new life-saving vaccine?
A new report from Friends of the Earth International reveals that claims made by the biotech industry that genetically modified (GM) crops can combat climate change are both exaggerated and premature.
Friends of the Earth is a fierce advocate of scientific progress, but corporations often seek profit from scientific developments with little regard for human health. We must take precaution to ensure new technologies don't do more harm than good. In this video, Eric outlines some of the challenges that lie ahead for his campaigns.
Friends of the Earth’s core reason for petitioning the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was due to concern about nanoscale silver and its use in great quantities in many products, which have the potential to generate serious antimicrobial resistance (as the United Nations and much of the scientific community have identified is happening with antibiotics).
Our Health and Environment Campaigner, Ian Illuminato, will be joining the rest of our team in Copenhagen on December 13. Ian’s mandate during the negotiations will involve lobbying for stricter assessment of risky technologies, which are being promoted to help with the climate crisis.
For several years, Friends of the Earth and various other environmental groups, air regulators, and public health organizations have worked with the EPA to create an “Emission Control Area” that would dramatically reduce air pollution from large ships – pollution that is responsible for serious health impacts including premature death, lung cancer, heart attacks, and respiratory illness.
The Humane Society of the United States, with Friends of the Earth and others, petitioned EPA to regulate global warming pollution and other air pollution from Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), or factor farms. The petition outlines the
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Kate McMahon, 202-222-0715, kmcmahon@foe.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Humane Society of the United States and a coalition of environmental and public health organizations filed a legal petition with the Environmental Protection Agency seeking to regulate air pollution from factory farms.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Ian Illuminato, Friends of the Earth, 250-478-7135, iilluminato@foe.org
George Kimbrell, International Center for Technology Assessment, 571-527-8618, gkimbrell@icta.org
Michael Hansen, Consumers Union, 914-378-2452, hansmi@consumer.org
