This is a very interesting article about bioethics, written by an Indian
woman. She makes some very interesting points about the effect of culture
on beliefs and the way that understanding can "skew" when people approach
the same issue from different cultural perspectives.
She also makes some very hard-hitting points about the way that the
developed nations continue to pirate and to loot the Third World (her
term) for its biological resources.
Diane Ridout, Instructor, ACP.............................................
Kwantlen University College, "Talk
PO Box 9030 doesn't
Surrey, BC, Canada cook rice," they say.
Tel: (604) 599-2964 Voice mail 9837.......................................
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Subject: Bioethics -A Third World Issue By Dr. Vandana Shiva
Date: Aug 9,97
From: Reclaim The Streets
Bioethics -A Third World Issue
By Dr. Vandana Shiva
NEW DELHI, India, July 30, 1997 (ENS) - In a recent article entitled,
"The Bogus Debate on Bioethics," published in the journal Biotechnology
and Development Monitor, Suman Sahai has stated that ethical concerns
are largely a luxury of developed countries which the Third World cannot
afford. She calls the bioethics debate an essentially Western
phenomenon.
I would like to differ with Suman Sahai on her presumptions that
bioethics is not Indian or Third World in content or substance, and that
ethics is a luxury for the Third World. In fact it is the separation of
ethics from technology that is a peculiarly Western phenomenon, and by
calling the bioethics debate "bogus," Suman Sahai is speaking like the
transnational biotechnology industry which refers to ethics as an
"irrelevant concern." In fact Suman Sahai was cheered loudest on the
internet by Henry Miller of Stanford University's Hoover Institute, a
right wing think tank, who has been acting as a major spokesman of the
U.S. biotech industry.
The argument that the Third World cannot afford bioethics is
systematically used by the biotech industry which states that for the
hungry, ethics and safety is irrelevant. This was also the logic used
by Lawrence Summers when he recommended that polluting industry should
be shifted to the Third World. Removing ethics from technological and
economic decisions is a western construct. THIS is the imported
dichotomy. The import of this dichotomy enables control and
colonization.
The separation of science and technology from ethics is based on the
Cartesian divide between res extensa (matter) and res cognitans (mind),
with the objective mind acquiring objective and neutral knowledge of
nature. It was also constructed by Hume when he said no logical
inference could be drawn from what "is" to what "ought to be." "Hume's
guillotine" was an effective instrument for separating ethics from
science (which in the empiricist and positivist philosophy was supposed
to provide an objective view of what "is").
However, knowledge and knowing are not neutral - they are products of
the values of the knower and the culture of which the knower is a part.
Ethics and science are related because values are intrinsic to science.
Ethics and technology are related because values shape technology, they
shape technology choice, and they determine who gains and who loses
through impacts of technology on society.
There are a number of reasons why bioethics is even more important for
the Third World than for the West.
Firstly, ethics and values are distinct elements of our cultural
identity and our pluralistic civilization.
The ancient Ishoupanishad has stated, "The universe is the creation of
the Supreme Power meant for the benefit of all creation. Each individual
life form must, therefore, learn to enjoy its benefits by farming a part
of the system in close relation with other species. Let not any one
species encroach upon others rights."
On his 60th birthday His Holiness the Dalai Lama wrote a message to me
after my speech on new technologies and new property rights, "All
sentient beings, including the small insects, cherish themselves. All
have the right to overcome suffering and achieve happiness. I therefore
pray that we show love and compassion to all."
Tagore in his famous essay Tapovan had stated, "Contemporary western
civilization is built of brick and wood. It is rooted in the city. But
Indian civilization has been distinctive in locating its source of
regeneration, material and intellectual, in the forest, not the city.
India's best ideas have come where man was in communion with trees and
rivers and lakes away from the crowds. The peace of the forest has
helped the intellectual evolution of man. The culture of the forest has
fueled the culture of Indian society. The culture that has arisen from
the forest has been influenced by the diverse processes of renewal of
life which are always at play in the forest, varying from species to
species, from season to season, in sight and sound and smell. The
unifying principle of life in diversity, of democratic pluralism, thus
became the principle of Indian civilization."
Compassion and concern for other species is therefore very indigenous to
our pluralistic culture, and bioethics builds on this indigenous
tradition.
Secondly, bioethics is particularly significant for us because it is the
Third World's biodiversity and human diversity that is being pirated by
Northern corporations. While the Northern corporations can afford to say
ethics is irrelevant to the appropriation of the South's biodiversity,
the indigenous people and Third World farmers whose blood samples and
seeds are taken freely and then patented and commercialized cannot
afford to put ethics and justice aside. It is in fact from Third World
communities that the bioethics imperative has first been raised on
these issues.
Thirdly, value dimensions determine the context of biotechnology
development because of safety issues. In fact, it is the Third World or
South which has introduced Article 19.3 and got a decision within the
Convention on Biological Diversity to develop a biosafety protocol. It
continues to be the Third World which is leading the debate on the
ethics of biosafety.
Bioethics and value decisions are necessary in the Third World because
biotechnology, like any technology, is not neutral in its impacts. It
carries disproportionate benefits for some people, and disproportionate
costs for others. To ask who gains and who loses, and what are the
benefits and what are the costs, is to ask ethical questions. It is the
Third World which has raised these issues in the Convention on
Biological Diversity. It is the powerful industrialized nations which
insist that bioethics is a luxury for the Third World.
Unfortunately, Suman Sahai of the Gene Campaign has joined this Northern
chorus singing bioethics is a luxury for the Third World. In her paper
she assumes that what is good for transnational corporations (TNCs) is
good for people, that what is good for seed corporations is good for
farmers. She gives the 'Flavr Savr' tomato as an example of
biotechnology application that is promising to the Third World and
suggests that ethical and value decisions about the 'Flavr Savr' will
block benefits from coming to Indian farmers and consumers. The 'Flavr
Savr' is a bad example because it was a technology that served the
interests of the trade industry that made tomatoes for prolonged shelf
life.
However, the needs of corporate interests do not reflect the needs of
people. The alternative to prolonged shelf life and long-distance trade
is not the reengineering of fruits and vegetables. The alternative is to
reduce "food miles."
Cuba, for example, has used the crisis of the U.S. trade embargo to
create thousands of urban organic gardens to meet the vegetable needs of
each city from within its municipal limits.
Long distance transport for basic food stuffs which could be grown
locally serves the interests of global agribusiness, not the small
farmer.
Thus, while Pepsico paid only 0.75 rupees to Punjab farmers for growing
tomatoes, exporters like Pepsico receive 10 rupees as subsidies for
transport. Without these subsidies, non-local supply of food controlled
by TNCs and produced with capital intensive methods would not be able to
displace local food production produced sustainably with low external
inputs.
Global traders controlling production and distribution worldwide need
square tomatoes and tomatoes that don't rot. Small farmers and
consumers looking for fresh produce do not.
People need locally produced food, consumed as close as possible to the
point of production.
In any case, the biotech miracles that are made to look inevitable don't
work reliably either. The 'Flavr Savr' tomato was a failure, and
Calgene, the company that launched it, had to be bailed out by
Monsanto. Exaggerating benefits and universalizing beneficiaries have
major ethical and economic implications. It is important to look at
the realistic achievements of biotechnology and make ethical decisions
on the basis of what biotechnology has to offer for whom, both in
terms of costs as well as in terms of benefits.
To declare ethics and values as irrelevant to the Third World in the
context of biotechnology is to invite intellectual colonization. At
worst, it is an invitation to disaster.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
{Dr. Vandana Shiva, is a physicist, philosopher, and ecofeminist. She is
director of the Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology
in New Delhi, and vice-president of the Third World Network. Dr. Shiva
is the author of books entitled Staying Alive, The Violence of the Green
Revolution, and Monocultures of the Mind. She can be reached by Email:
vandana@twn.unv.ernet.in}
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Another topic she didn't discuss is the recent patent awarded to the Grace
Co. for neem in spite of the fact neem is a natually occuring substance
and is widely used in India. They got the patent on the grounds of the
additives to make it more stable in sunlight and give it a longer shelf
life than pure neem oil. Whatever the reasons, it has created a hot debate
on the merits of such patents.
Also, she does not touch upon the wider issue of forcing farmers to use
non-sustainable farming practices to increase yield rather than continuing
to use proven, time tested ways of sustainability that have been practiced
for hundreds of years.
--
---------------------------------
From: Lowell Prag
Email: aj574@detroit.freenet.org
---------------------------------
To: Diane Ridout
Thank you for the post on Dr. Vandana Shiva; an enlightened writer, and
one whose insight is
well worth consideration and action.
Al Benette
You're very welcome. I am sometimes hesitant to forward these articles on
bioengineering and biopiracy, in fear that list members may not be
interested, or that they might think them off-topic. I am glad some people
find them worthwhile.
Diane Ridout, Instructor, ACP.............................................
Kwantlen University College, "Talk
PO Box 9030 doesn't
Surrey, BC, Canada cook rice," they say.
Tel: (604) 599-2964 Voice mail 9837.......................................
keep them comming and thanks.
Dr. Vandana Shiva talks at Organic Growing Conf. and this bioengineering
stuff affects organic growers and well as the rest of the earth. I wish
you were on more listservers . This group has a way of running off good
posters. The permculture man the tree man and even BR . Please don't let
them run u off.
This is were I get my Bio info. . keep up the great work Diane.
On Tue, 12 Aug 1997, Diane Ridout wrote:
Sal Schettino,Organic Farmer,don't panic eat organic,sals@rain.org
or check out my homepage: http://www.rain.org/~sals/my.html .
Diane,I felt you need to know that I agree with Sal..As Organic people
we MUST NOT bury our heads in the sand but stay informed AND REACT
I.E.write,call your protests to your representatives,pass this(and other
pertinent) info on to others etc.but do something!!Even if you feel
secure in that you "grow your own"it must be remembered they are
tampering with your seeds as well as your food.Its the one thing we
share on a universal level,WE ALL EAT AND DONT WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT
WE'RE EATING?And of course how they are pirating the planet for their
profit.
Thank you for these posts they are indeed critical to our future.
Appreciatively,
Connie Hoy
Sal Schettino wrote:
I'm very glad that you find the bioengineering information useful and
enlightening, as I do.
However, I don't agree with your statements in re: "running off good
posters" at all. I think it's just fine to politely insist on 1) (mostly)
pleasant communications, 2) avoidance (mainly) of pushing one's own
products, and 3) providing (reasonable) explanations for one's statements
when asked. One or more of those were the points on which those three
people you mentioned were challenged by listmembers, me among them.
I have every intention to abide by the established practices of this
listserv, and so have no fear of being "run off" whatsoever. (If I don't,
someone please point it out quickly!)
Good harvest, Sal!
Diane Ridout, Instructor, ACP.............................................
Kwantlen University College, "Talk
PO Box 9030 doesn't
Surrey, BC, Canada cook rice," they say.
Tel: (604) 599-2964 Voice mail 9837.......................................
> Thank you for these posts they are indeed critical to our future.
I'm glad to know the information is appreciated, Connie.
Diane Ridout, Instructor, ACP.............................................
Kwantlen University College, "Talk
PO Box 9030 doesn't
Surrey, BC, Canada cook rice," they say.
Tel: (604) 599-2964 Voice mail 9837.......................................
I guess I am so hungry to know things I put up with a little product
mentioning and a little rudeness and most all those folks all gave
explanitions if asked. I miss their ideas,knowledge,and most of all their
lifes experiences. I myself like a good argument and even though i don't
agree with the other person at lest I get their viewpoint and they get
mine and we can watch the phyical manifatations in our life and see which
is true. The truth wins . its not personal. Some folks puff up and vex
when wrong me I rejoice that the wrong is gone. By the way where are you
getting all you information about bioengineering ? you seem to be really
on top of it.
On Wed, 13 Aug 1997, Diane Ridout wrote:
Sal Schettino,Organic Farmer,don't panic eat organic,sals@rain.org
or check out my homepage: http://www.rain.org/~sals/my.html .
I guess we have differences in our tolerance for those things, then! It's
nice for you and me to be able to disagree without resorting to rudeness,
though, don't you think? ;-)
I get some of the information from surfing around using keywords like
"biopiracy" and "plant patenting" and "bioengineering" and such--most of
the information, though, is forwarded to me by a 'net friend whom I met on
a different listserv, and who is also concerned about these issues.
ttfn,
Diane Ridout, Instructor, ACP.............................................
Kwantlen University College, "Talk
12666-72 Avenue doesn't
Surrey, BC, Canada V3W 2M8 cook rice," they say.
Tel: (604) 599-2964 Voice mail 9837.......................................
