[afro-nets] Big Pharma Digs In (3)

["George Kent" <kent@hawaii.edu>]

A few thoughts . . .

The effects of excessive corporate control are already documented quite well in some sectors. Sometimes it leads to significant public pressure, but sometimes not. For example, there is a vociferous movement against GMOs in the US, but no comparably strong movement against infant formula. Documenting problems does not automatically lead to vigorous responses. This is blatantly evident in the area of human rights.

...

Yes. I would say there is a similar need to redesign the global food/nutrition system. Suits will go to Rome next month to find ways to quell the food riots and put a few patches on the system, but few people will acknowledge that the basic system needs to be redesigned.

It is very clear that national governments and international agencies are not going to take the lead in doing this design work. The initiative must come from civil society. This means that we have to get beyond the critiques, and give more attention to formulating positive proposals that are really workable.

Aloha, George

--
Professor George Kent
Department of Political Science
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University of Hawai'i
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New book:
Global Obligations for the Right To Food. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefied.

http://www2.hawaii.edu/~kent/GORFflyer.doc