Nanotechnology. Human gene doping. Cloned meat. Fire Retardants. Emerging technologies and harmful chemicals are appearing in consumer products and in our communities, and they have serious impacts on people and our environment. Corporations often seek profit from scientific developments, with little regard for human health.
Friends of the Earth is a fierce advocate of scientific progress, but people must be put before profits, and we must take precaution to ensure new technologies don’t do more harm than good.
Read the latest news and updates from our Health and Environment campaigns:
Today our World Social Forum workshop focused on nanotechnology and worker safety. We listened to Brazilian worker union representatives and worker safety specialist who talked to the audience about the many risks involved in working with nanoparticles. Carbon nanotubes, for example, have been shown to cause similar damage to asbestos in the lungs—asbestos causes Mesothelioma and leads to deadly cancer. Workers are not outfitted with appropriate safeguards when they come into contact with these materials.
Today we held our first workshop on the WSF's beautiful grounds by a river that connects to the Amazon forest. We organized the workshop as a space to discuss nanotechnology, public engagement and the technologies novel risks for humans and the environment. I presented along with professors from universities in Brazil, Spain and France. I gave an overview of what nanotechnology is and I highlighted some of the nano products Friends of the Earth has identified.
Today, I took part in a march attended by more than 80,000 people! This march was the start of the World Social Forum. I’ve never witnessed such a colorful and powerful protest. It was peaceful, full of music, drums, singing and dancing. The Amazonian tribes that participated were definitely the highlight of the march. What first caught my attention was their colorful clothing, body art and head dresses. But I was mostly intrigued by their dancing: they danced in unison with bow and arrow in hand (some of them running throughout the march) and the energy that carried their dance was mesmerizing. You could feel their presence way beyond just visually — quite the experience!
Meetings took place over the weekend to finalize our activities for the World Forum on Science and Democracy and for the World Social Forum (WSF). Those who have come to the forum have been confronted with not only the challenge of projecting a positive change in the world, as many have had logistical difficulties—from flight cancellations to over booked hotels. Our work has been difficult!
I’ve spent the past 24-hours in transit on my way to Brazil. In the midst of reviewing my talks and planned activities for the forum, I couldn’t help but put my documents aside, recline my airplane seat a generous 3 inches and begin to imagine. I imagined what Belem would look like, the people I’d be meeting and the actions for positive change that would take shape during the World Social Forum (WSF). I also thought about past forums, including last year’s European Social Forum in Sweden, during which I witnessed mothers pushing their babies in strollers joining activists and youth in a giant protest to demand change in the world.
The World Social Forum unites thousands of activists, social movements, civil society groups, NGOs, unions, universities and fellow Friends of the Earth sister groups from around the world and will host more than 2,500 seminars, workshops and other activities focused on environmental and social justice issues. Our aim is to create an alternative space and perspective for envisioning our future, which is distinct from the failing standpoint of many governments and corporations.
Athletes are seeking a new, controversial technology that may make it possible to alter their DNA, allowing them to run faster or hit harder. Genetically manipulating a person's genes can be fatal – gene therapy experiments have ended in death. Yet athletes have already approached scientists asking for this technology to give them an extra edge. Chinese doctors are providing current Olympic athletes with new gene doping methods.
Gillian Madill, Friends of the Earth's Genetic Technologies Campaigner, recently testified to the House Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade on new human biotechnologies. Her testimony addressed the implications of various biotech issues, from bioweapons to human-animal hybrids and gene doping -- technologies already gaining ground that can present a very serious threat to human life and the environment if not approached with caution.
Friends of the Earth has found that commonly used baby and children's products and upholstered household furniture contain dangerous levels of toxic chemicals called halogenated fire retardants.
The study finds that these toxic chemicals appear in a high percentage of portable cribs, strollers, car seats and infant carriers.
Untested nanotechnology is being used in more than 100 food products, food packaging and contact materials currently on the shelf, without warning or FDA testing, according to a report released by Friends of the Earth.
The report, Out of the Laboratory and On To Our Plates: Nanotechnology in Food and Agriculture found nanomaterials in popular products and packaging including Miller Light beer, Cadbury Chocolate packaging and ToddlerHealth, a nutritional drink powder for infants sold extensively at health food stores including WholeFoods.
