Order 81,,,setting up the Agricultural monopoly. Just one of many issues.....fyi.....TM7
Order 81:
http://www.INEAS.org/events.htm.
Historically, the Iraqi constitution prohibited ownership of biological
resources. Farmers in Iraq have operated in a mostly
free-to-little-regulated, informal seed supply system. Farm-saved seeds
and the free exchange of planting materials among farmers have long
been
the basis of agricultural practice in Iraq. Yet all of this has become
history. On April 26, 2004, Paul Bremer, the administrator of the
Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), issued and signed Order 81,
which
prohibits farmers from reusing seeds harvested from new varieties
registered under the law. When ownership of a crop is claimed, seed
saving will be banned and farmers will have to be pay royalties to the
registered, so-called seed owner. A "Greedy, unjust law is meant to be
disobeyed":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-B1yU278zkThe Order arises from USAID program in Iraq, which confirms that
foreign aid programs are mainly "commercial opportunity" programs designed
to benefit companies in the USA and Europe. It fits perfectly into the US
vision for the future of Iraqi agriculture following a system dependent
on large corporations selling chemical inputs and seeds. The purpose
of
Order 81 is to facilitate the establishment of a new seed market in
Iraq, one in which Iraqi farmers are forced to make their annual
purchase of seeds, including those that are genetically modified, from
transnational corporations.
The law awarded US Corporations complete control over farmers' seed
for
20 years. Iraqi farmers had to sign an agreement to pay a "technology
fee" plus an annual license fee. Plant Variety Protection (PVP) made
seed reusing and saving illegal as well as "similar" seed plantings
punishable by severe fines and imprisonment. Agribusiness wants the
same
rights everywhere, including in the USA. This will jeopardize the future
of organic and independent farming.
Many developing countries in Africa and Asia particularly in
Afghanistan, India and Iraq have been suffering from these unjust laws
and the monopoly by the agricultural giants.
Therefore organizations, activists, organic food advocates, farm
owners
and farmers around the world are joining hand to advocate for
patent-free seeds and biodiversity and to educate about the criminal
practices by agricultural corporations and how their unjust laws have
and will affect the future of agriculture.
More information:
- Full text of Order 81:
http://www.trade.gov/static/iraq_memo81.pdf- People's rights to water and food:
http://www.navdanya.org/organic/index.htm- GM Science Exposed:
http://www.i-sis.org.uk/pdf/Papers_on_GM_Hazards.pdf
- The agenda in Afghanistan & Iraq:
http://www.grain.org/briefings/?id=217- International Seeds Day & Order 81:
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/lathajishnu-order-81the-plunderfarming/353518/
- The US Green Party endorses International Seeds Day on April 26,
asks
for repeal of Order 81 which makes Iraqi farmers dependent on US
firms:
http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2009/04/the-green-party-endorses-international-seeds-day-on-april-26-repeal-of-order-81-
making-iraqi-farmers-dependent-on-us-firms/
- Merry Fitzgerald's speech at Third Iraqi Turkmen Media Council
Conference in Istanbul on 10-12 April 2009.
http://merryabla64.wordpress.com/2009/04/18/third-iraqi-turkmen-media-council-conference-in-istanbul/
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