Rules Date: Thu, 07 Oct 1999 15:47:56 +1000 Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED] X-Loop: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Precedence: bulk Hi all, In Seattle this November the World Trade Organisation (WTO) will begin a new trade round to follow those in 93. One of the critical discussions taking place in Seattle will be Article 27.3(b) of the trade-related intellectual property rules (TRIPs). This might sound a bit ambiguous but its relevance to the poorest of the world's population is clear. If this agreement is allowed, agriculture in countries like Brazil and India is likely to become subservient to the interests of multinational agricultural companies. I don't need to tell you who those companies are, but the WTO is full of highly paid lawyers that pander to their interests. What 27.3(b) will actually do is ensure that a single patenting procedure is effected internationally concerning seeds. This will mean those companies would be able to genetically manipulate and impose royalites on seeds which have been freely available until now. What it might also do is prohibit national governments like Australia from controlling, legislating on or banning particular genetically-modified foods. We have a duty to the people of the poor countries of the world to do all we can to ensure that, like the MAI, this agreement is not allowed to get up. We must wage a campaign against the "World" Trade Organisation which has a habit of allowing the G7 nations to win at the expense of Australian farmers and poor farmers all over the planet. How you can help: Please distribute this e-mail as widely as possible. Contact any (preferably all) of the following by phone, e-mail, fax or letter demanding that Australia not endorse 27.3(b), stating your reasons. Letters can be addressed personally to the following people at the address: either "The Senate" or "The House of Representatives", Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600, depending on whether they are an MP or a Senator. Phone, Fax and E-mail addresses are as follows: ----------------------- Minister for Trade - Mark Vaile, MP. - Phone - (02) 6277 7420, Fax - (02) 6273 4128, E-mail - [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------ Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - Warren Truss, MP. - Phone - (02) 6277 7520, Fax - (02) 6273 4120, E-mail - [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----------------------------- Minister for Industry, Science and Resources - Senator Nick Minchin - Phone - (02) 6277 7580, Fax - (02) 6273 4104, E-mail - [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----------------------------- Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - Gavan O'Connor MP - Phone - (02) 6277 4147, Fax - (02) 6277 8592, E-mail - [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----------------------------- Mr. Bob Brown (Australian Greens) - Phone - (02) 62773170, Fax - (02) 6277 3185, E-mail - [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----------------------------- Senator Vicki Bourne (Australian Democrats) - Phone (02) 6277 3820 - =46ax - (02) 6277 3815, E-mail - [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------------------------- The list of 32 members of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade is at: http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jfadt/members.htm You can e-mail or phone all the members on that committee. ------------------------------------ The list of 12 members of the Standing Committee on Primary Industries and Regional Services is at: http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/primind/members.htm you can e-mail or phone all the members of that committee -------------------------------------- Thanks. Mick. -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
