Where Did My Genes Go?
This week my friend, Juan Pablo Hoffmaister (no, not John Hofmeister the President of Shell Oil), is participating in the 3rd MOP of the Cartagena Protocol in Brazil. The Cartagena protocol is an international agreement on the handling, transfer, and use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). It was negotiated as a supplement to the United Nations’ Convention on Biological Diversity.
Not sure who took this photo.
Juan Pa and a few of his friends from the College of the Atlantic are running a blog entitled “Where Did My Genes Go?“.
My partner, Matthew Carroll, is doing the digital organizing for the Ban Terminator Campaign. “The Ban Terminator Campaign seeks to promote government bans on Terminator technology at the national and international levels, and supports the efforts of civil society, farmers, Indigenous peoples and social movements to campaign against it.” I’m really proud that Matthew is doing all the digital organizing for them! It’s a big job but someone has to do it. 
I don’t understand what the photo means. I didn’t know that students could even get involved at this level. This is inspirational. I wonder if they actually listen to what you’re saying.
hello Kirt, this is elissa’s friend Juan.
the photo was from a press conference were had in regard to issues of transport, handling and labelling during the end of the MOP to call attention to position taht mexico was taking. In combination with the press conference we were connected to youth networks in mexico city and oaxaca who put direct pressure on the mexican govertment.
In regard to being listened, that is going to be impossible to answer. Our goals were solid: steps forward on the Art 18.2(a) of the protocol and a ban on Terminator Technologies. Both goals were accomplished, and it was collaborative effort. the million people who filed a petition in New Delhi India were as essential as the Kathleen Tompkins who read the youth statement at the plenary in the UN.