[Seedgeeks] Corporate seeds in Iraq

[Nick Routledge]

That's a very interesting post indeed, Jim. Thank you very much for that. 
 
Some thoughts. In his presentation in Eugene this past week, Dominique Guillet discussed how UPOV has massively impacted his efforts in Europe - in fact the authorities turned up the heat so high, he was actually forced to close down Terre De Semences, then arguably the best known OG seed org in Europe - as he fled toward the safer waters of non-profithood with what is now the Kokopelli Seed Foundation. But even that step is a temporary fix. My sense is that Kokopelli's efforts continue to flirt deeply with illegality - Dominique's certainly angry about the way his org continues to be targeted by authorities in France, particularly as Kokopelli picks up mindshare and attention as a result of the Great Awakening. Outrageous stories of the French Feds turning up to seed gatherings and slashing sacks of seed with knives to spill 'em on the ground. Yup.
 
Could it happen here? Funny you should ask...my understanding is that although the same law lumped on the Europeans and the Iraqis has not yet been enforced in the U.S. we _are_ signatories to it (1981). Dominique tells me that the reason the law ain't been enforced here, yet, is because "Americans wouldn't put up with it" but, frankly, given the lapdog response to the Patriot Act and the fact that most people couldn't really give two cahoots about seed, I ain't so sure.
 
As for the legislation itself, while officials will tell ya it's possible for anybody to register any seed as long as they're willing to front up the cash, the reality is that the legal and "scientific" demands on registering "distinct, uniform and stable" varieties simply don't work for the deep seed crowd - for many reasons. 
 
This little known piece of legislation is, very simply, central to the ongoing story of cultural annihilation around the globe.
 
n.
 

anne/jim clements <anjclem at yahoo.com> wrote:
Seedgeeks post:
I don't know if this has been posted yet with the
seedgeeks but is well worth reading.

http://www.grain.org/articles/?id=6

Seeds for people, not for profit please.
Jim



			
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