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2017: The Year of Bits, Bots and Blockchains

ETC Group’s Irreverent Year in Review... again

The future has arrived — it’s just not evenly distributed yet.” —William Gibson, 1992

As the year careens to a close, summing up the trends, portends and hairpin bends of 2017 feels like a Pandora’s unboxing of mashed up dystopias. Call it technological convergence or the fourth industrial revolution, but the familiar cyberpunk themes of robotics, Artificial Intelligence and bioengineered economies are now becoming cyber-industrial fact.

Global Wins from Early Warnings

Seven key ETC victories from the first 40 years

It's usually the case at ETC that when we encounter success, we've usually already moved on to the next campaign. But in our 40th year, we decided to take a moment to celebrate by looking back at some of our favourite wins. We like them all, so they are presented here in roughly chronological order.

7. Seed Treaty

The 2040 Fund

Illuminating pathways out of the current mess

As 2017 draws to a close, we’re excited to announce our 2040 Fund. As technologies and corporate power gain critical mass, ETC’s contribution will shift from from fighting technologies one by one to defining the “positive possible” of the longer term, and illuminating pathways out of the current mess.

To make that possible, our goal is to build a base of donors to our 2040 fund who contribute an average of $20.40 per month. Want to be part of it? Click here to donate now.

Or read on to find out more.

The Gene Drive Files

Disclosed emails reveal military as top funder; Gates Foundation paying $1.6 million to influence UN expert process

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Over 1,200 emails released under open records requests reveal that the U.S. military is now the top funder and influencer behind a controversial genetic extinction technology known as “gene drives” – pumping $100 million into the field.

Los archivos de los impulsores genéticos

Ejército de Estados Unidos, el principal inversionista. La Fundación Gates pagó US $1.6 millones para influir en decisiones de la ONU

WASHINGTON, D.C. —Más de 1,200 correos electrónicos publicados mediante una solicitud de libertad de acceso a información pública revelan que el Ejército de Estados Unidos es el principal inversionista, y quien más influye, en la controvertida tecnología de extinción genética conocida como “impulsores genéticos” (en inglés, gene drives) —en cuyas pruebas está invirtiendo unos $ 100 millones de dólares.

Mapping Geogengineering Projects

Interactive map from ETC Group and Heinrich Boell Foundation shows growth of climate control efforts

This interactive geoengineering map, prepared by ETC Group and the Heinrich Boell Foundation, is an attempt to shed light on the worldwide state of geoengineering by showing the scope of research and experimentation. There is no complete record of weather and climate control projects so this map is necessarily partial.

Mapa de los proyectos de geoingeniería

Un mapa interactivo del Grupo ETC y la Fundación Boell muestra dónde se busca desplegar la geoingeniería

Este mapa interactivo de geoingeniería, preparado por el Grupo ETC y la Fundación Boell es un intento por denunciar el estado mundial de la geoingenie´ria, mostrando el alcance de la investigación y experimentación. No existe registro completo de los proyectos de control climático y meteorológico, de modo que este mapa es necesariamente parcial. 

ETC 2017 Survey

ETC is is undertaking a process of reflection and transition, and we want to hear your thoughts on our work so far. Your responses will help us prioritize and communicate going forward. 

Everyone who fills out the survey will be entered to win a special prize. Thank you!

Who Will Feed Us? The Industrial Food Chain vs the Peasant Food Web

New report from ETC Group tells a shocking tale of two food systems

We are told that it is big agribusiness, with its flashy techno-fixes and financial clout, that will save the world from widespread hunger and malnutrition and help food systems weather the impacts of climate change. However, a new report from ETC Group shows that in fact, it is a diverse network of small-scale producers, dubbed the Peasant Food Web, that feeds 70% of the world, including the most hungry and marginalized people.

Who Will Feed Us?

The Peasant Food Web vs. the Industrial Food Chain

(Read the news release about the report launch.)

Who Will Feed Us, now in its third edition,  compares the industrial food system with peasant farming. Industrial farming gets all the attention (and most of the land). It accounts for more than 80% of the fossil fuel emissions and uses over 70% of the water supply used in agriculture, but it actually produces only about 30% of the world's food.

Riding the Geostorm

A briefing from civil society on Geoengineering Governance

Is it possible to govern Geoengineering?

When speaking about geoengineering governance, a sensible first question is whether geoengineering, with its inherently high risks, unequal impacts, long term effects and broad geopolitical, military, environmental and global justice implications, is even possible to “govern.”

Guía para identificar los transgénicos de nueva generación en alimentos y cosméticos

Ahora en castellano: Guía para los consumidores sobre biología sintética

 

Los organismos genéticamente modificados (OGMs) han estado presentes en nuestra comida por 20 años, pero comenzaron a cambiar hace poco tiempo, pues las grandes corporaciones están interfiriendo con la naturaleza en formas nuevas y más riesgosas. Por ejemplo, pueden modificar ahora una especie (animal o vegetal) borrándole genes, desactivándolos o, incluso, creando secuencias de ADN enteramente nuevas en una computadora.

Trasnacionales contra el corazón de México

Trasnacionales contra el corazón de México

Silvia Ribeiro*

La industria de transgénicos no quiere que los tribunales de México escuchen a expertos independientes: quedaría claro que el maíz transgénico es una amenaza grave a la biodiversidad y la salud, que no se necesita para producir ni para comer, que solo es un negocio, que ni siquiera es nacional.

Secretos sucios de la carne vegetal

Secretos sucios de la carne vegetal

Silvia Ribeiro*

La industria de la carne es un problema grave para la salud, el ambiente y los animales que tienen que vivir toda su vida en condiciones deplorables. Por todo ello, cada vez más personas optan por comer menos carne o dejar totalmente su consumo. Ante esta demanda, la industria de los sustitutos vegetales de carne crece aceleradamente, pero ¿realmente son mejores?

Hamburguesa de “carne” vegetal, experimento inseguro

La empresa que la desarrolla no asegura la inocuidad del ingrediente

WASHINGTON, D. C. —Los creadores de la hamburguesa de imitación (Impossible Foods), hecha con un ingrediente genéticamente diseñado, estarían atrapados en un enredo legal sobre la inocuidad alimentaria del invento, lo que podría afectar la burbuja de inversiones en tecnología de alimentos que se ha estado formando en Sillicon Valley. Boletín de prensa conjunto del Grupo ETC y Amigos de la Tierra.

“Bleeding” veggie burger has “no basis for safety,” according to FDA

Documents show that makers of the “Impossible Burger” ignored FDA’s warnings about safety of burger’s key GMO ingredient

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Creators of a fake-meat burger made with a high-profile genetically engineered ingredient may have landed their experimental industry in a sizzling food safety mess, casting doubt on a Silicon Valley foodtech investor bubble. Joint Press Release from ETC Group and Friends of the Earth.

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