Biopiracy & the ETC Group

“Biopiracy refers to the appropriation of the knowledge and genetic resources of farming and indigenous communities by individuals or institutions who seek exclusive monopoly control (patents or intellectual property) over these resources and knowledge. ETC Group believes that intellectual property is predatory on the rights and knowledge of farming communities and indigenous peoples.”

Since I am directly involved in dishing out pharmaceuticals and training others up to do so, biopiracy is a concern that strikes home with me. I have taught the origin of aspirin (from willow tree bark) in the classroom for years and found it curious how some textbooks would cite indigenous knowledge as being the reason for its discovery, while others did not. Hmm. And what about Lakota arthritis therapy, who is profiting from that exactly?  The ETC Group fights for issues related to Erosion, Technology, and Concentration (e.g. corporate) thus the shortform. There are many issues to focus on but there is also global representation on the board – Canada, U.S., Mexico, Africa, South America, Phillipines and U.K. – to help tackle them.

“What we do: We address the socioeconomic and ecological issues surrounding new technologies that could have an impact on the world’s poorest and most vulnerable. We investigate ecological erosion (including the erosion of cultures and human rights); the development of new technologies (especially agricultural but also new technologies that work with genomics and matter); and we monitor global governance issues including corporate concentration and trade in technologies. We operate at the global political level. We work closely with partner civil society organizations (CSOs) and social movements, especially in Africa, Asia and Latin America.”