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PANUPS: Resource Pointer #129

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                   Pesticide Action Network 
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Resource Pointer #129

June 5, 1997

For copies of the following resources, please contact 
the appropriate publishers or organizations directly.

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*Biopiracy: The Plunder of Nature and Knowledge, 1997.* 
Vandana Shiva. Examines role of intellectual property 
rights in exploiting Southern resources for the benefit 
of Northern corporations. Argues that biodiversity is 
reduced through genetic engineering and patenting of 
life forms, and that to maintain biodiversity, 
indigenous communities must be empowered with control 
over their communal heritage. Describes cases in which 
traditional knowledge, including neem, has been 
appropriated by corporations. 148 pp. US$13. South End 
Press, 116 Saint Botolph Street, Boston, MA 02115; phone 
(617) 266-0629; fax (617) 266-1595; email 
south.end.press@lbbs.org.

*Biodiversity and Human Health, 1997.* Francesca Grifo 
and Joshua Rosenthal, eds. Presents compilation of 
papers which analyze human health consequences of 
biodiversity loss from variety of perspectives, 
including agroecology, public health, biology, 
epidemiology, demography and pharmacology. Explores 
causes of biodiversity loss, effects of its loss on 
agroecosystems, and significance of biodiversity-derived 
medicines and biodiversity-dependent health systems. 
Discusses threats from pesticides and role of 
agricultural diversity in sustainable agriculture. 379 
pp. US$29.95 plus shipping. Island Press, 24850 East 
Lane, P.O. Box 7, Covelo, CA 95428; phone (707) 983-
6432; fax (707) 983-6414; email ipwest@igc.org.

*Conserving India's Agro-Biodiversity: Prospects and 
Policy Implications (Gatekeeper Series Number 65), 
1997.* Ashish Kothari. Investigates causes of genetic 
erosion of India's crop and livestock biodiversity, 
focusing on how this loss affects sustainable 
agriculture and food security in India. Presents brief 
case studies of farm communities that are successfully 
conserving local biodiversity. Argues that indigenous 
agricultural diversity is important to food security 
because input costs and losses to pests are minimized. 
Recommends policy reforms to re-orient Indian 
agriculture away from chemical-dependent monocultures. 
20 pp. For cost and ordering information, contact 
Sustainable Agriculture Programme, International 
Institute for Agriculture and Development (IIED), 3 
Endsleigh Street, London WC1H 0DD, UK; phone (44 171) 
388-2117; fax (44 171) 388-2826; email sustag@iied.org.

*In Defense of Local Community Knowledge and 
Biodiversity, 1996.* Gurdial Singh Nijar. Discusses 
exploitation of traditional farmers' knowledge by 
"bioprospectors" and describes harmful impacts of 
intellectual property rights as understood by World 
Trade Organization. Proposes regulation for controlling 
"bioprospecting" and ensuring that farmers and 
communities are given control over their traditional 
knowledge, including seeds. Includes language for 
proposed legislation that would regulate collectors of 
biological resources and protect community intellectual 
rights. 62 pp. For cost and ordering information, 
contact Third World Network, 228 Macalister Road, 10400 
Penang, Malaysia; phone (60-4) 366728; fax (60-4) 
364505; email TWN@igc.apc.org.

*A Socio-Economic Survey of Farmers' Practices in Four 
Vegetable Crops in South Trinidad, 1996.* Vyjayanthi 
Lopez et.al. Describes agricultural and pest control 
practices of farmers in Trinidad for four crops: 
cabbage, tomato, melongene and pepper. Main findings 
include that farmers recognize major pests and damage 
symptoms; apply pesticides as preventative action 
regardless of pest presence; use higher than recommended 
doses; have not been formally trained in pesticide use 
-- most learned by watching others; and do not take 
basic safety precautions when using pesticides. Lists 
chemicals used during study period. 30 pp. Cost and 
ordering information, contact CAB International, 
Caribbean and Latin American Station, Gordon Street, 
Curepe, Trinidad and Tobago, WI; phone (818) 662-4173; 
fax (809) 663-2859; CAB International Headquarters email 
cabi-iibc-hq@cgnet.com.

We encourage those interested in having resources listed 
in the Online Resource Pointer to send review copies of 
publications, videos or other sources to our office 
(address listed below) or to contact Information Program 
Associate Adam Kirshner for further information.  

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