Environmentalists decry McDonald’s board appointment
The recent appointment of McDonald’s to the advisory board of the environmental group the Green Business Network (GBN) has drawn accusations of “greenwashing” from environmentalists and has led Paul Hawken, board member and anti-globalization activist, to resign in protest. GBN is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that says it is working to make businesses adopt better environmental practices. Critics charge that McDonalds gets involved with green NGO’s to win them over to its side so its business model will not be changed or challenged.

McDonalds is criticized for offering children unhealthy food, with critics citing scientific research that links fast food to childhood obesity and Type 2 diabetes. McDonald’s and the board deny the accusations. (IPS)

Greenpeace, farmers shut down GE wheat research center
Greenpeace activists joined with farmers to shut down a research center in Manitoba last week to protest open-air trials of genetically modified (GM) wheat. The “quarantine” of the research farm — subsidized by the Canadian government — signaled the diverse opposition to pressure from Monsanto to introduce GM wheat into Canada.

Wheat is one of the few crops than can be successfully grown in the harsh climate of the Canadian prairies. Canada is one the world’s largest wheat exporters with great demand in Europe where anti-GM feelings run high. The anti-GM wheat coalition has warned that farmers could lose their livelihoods by losing overseas markets, especially organic ones, and has asked Ottawa to delay approval of GM wheat. Advocates of the technology say that it can be farmed without contaminating non-GM fields if precautions are taken.

Activists and others have charged that the Canadian government is in a conflict of interest position. It is the sole regulator of GM crops and, in this case, Monsanto’s business partner. Government scientists have worked for at least five years to put the company’s proprietary technology into the country’s best wheat varieties. (IPS)

Interior Deputy Secretary’s conduct questioned
A coalition of environmental and government ethics organizations last Tuesday asked US Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft to launch a criminal investigation into the conduct of the second in command at the Interior Dept., Deputy Sec. Steven Griles. The organizations say Griles, a former lobbyist for fossil fuel industries, has failed to abide by recusal agreements and has played a key role in several decisions that have directly benefited his former employer and clients.

Griles denies these allegations. In their letter to Ashcroft, the groups request the appointment of a Special Counsel to investigate these possible violations of criminal and civil conflict of interest laws, citing the need for a nonpartisan, grand jury investigation. They have also filed a lawsuit in federal court to force the Bush administration to hand over information about payments Griles is receiving form his former employer, a firm that lobbies the government on behalf of oil, gas, and mining industries.

Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-CT) asked the Interior Dept.’s Inspector General in April for a broad examination of the department’s enforcement of ethics agreements designed to assure impartiality and avoid conflicts of interest. He cited the high number of officials within the department who previously worked for fossil fuel and logging interests. (ENS)

Brazil activists target Monsanto
Between 200 and 2,000 members of the million-strong landless movement in Brazil (MST) have invaded a farm owned by biotech giant Monsanto in the central state of Goais. Monsanto says the farm is used for research, training, and seed processing. The MST says the farm is being used to grow and stockpile seeds, ready to flood the market if genetically modified (GM) food is legalized in Brazil.

It is the third protest of this kind against Monsanto property this year, and the company has urged the government reclaim the land, warning that repeated invasions jeopardize international investment in Brazil. Monsanto has filed for a repossession order from the courts but no decision has yet been announced.

There is a torrid debate in Brazil over whether GM crops should be let in amid mounting pressure on the government from multinationals. MST fears if GM crops are legalized in Brazil, small farmers will be forced out of business and will lose lucrative markets for non-GM foods. GM crops have been crossing the border from neighboring countries and contaminating local crops. (BBC)

ELF attacks urban sprawl twice in 48 hours
Two separate attacks against urban sprawl were reported to the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) Press Office last week. A fire was set at a luxury home development last Monday night in Chico, CA. The fire did little damage. The ELF communiqué claiming responsibility for the fire said, “We targeted these luxury homes due to the damage to the bioregion that occurs through development.”

Last Wednesday, two houses under construction in an upscale suburban development in Washington Township, MI, were burned. Damages are estimated at $700,000. This was the fourth anti-sprawl action claimed by ELF in 2003.

The ELF is a loosely organized international organization that uses direct action in the form of economic sabotage to stop the destruction of the environment. Since 1997, the ELF in North America has caused $45 million in damages. (ELF)

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