John Holloway: 'In the Anti-Worlds of Daily Struggles the World Beyond Capitalism Is to be Found'
Published on Wednesday, August 15, 2012 by The Guardian

Marxist sociologist John Holloway argues that a world after capitalism is already being imagined in struggles around the world. In the first of a six-part series, which will see an author's words accompanied by animation by students at Central Saint Martins college, Carolina Aguirre, Lucas Gloppe and Magnus Lenneskog interpret Holloway's words.

edible landscape

I am plowing soil and putting seeds in the ground in a zone 7.5 having leased out my zone 4.5 homestead to capable young farmers. Everything is different here: the soil is black and deep by knee high with a gorgeous underlay of volcanic silts sand and clay. I have equipment to work every aspect of the farm and a charge card to buy more. There are no marketing hats to wear, whatever I cut to basket is out the door and on the plate without one littlest saleswomanship effort. The plates look exceptionally appealing. I have a patron. It is his farm. I am paid very well. It is a little piece of heaven and so sweet to design an edible landscape in a zone where fig and bay and persimmon are possible.

Farmer's Challenge Monsanto

A U.S. District Court hearing in downtown New York today could determine the eventual fate of several organic farmers from across the country, including some in upstate New York.

The hearing centered on a "pre-emptive" suit led by the Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association (OSGTA), against agricultural giant Monsanto. In it, OSGTA says it brought "this action to protect [farmers] from ever being accused of infringing patents on transgenic seed." Monsanto filed to dismiss the case, and today lawyers for both sides made their arguments in front of U.S. District Judge Naomi Buchwald.

Read more in today's Village Voice

And at OSGATA Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association

And Occupy Big Food

India to charge Monsanto for biopiracy

An Indian government agency has agreed to sue the developers of genetically modified (GM) eggplant for violating India's Biological Diversity Act of 2002. India's National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) is alleging that the developers of India's first GM food crop—Jalna-based Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company (Mahyco) partnered with St. Louis–based seed giant Monsanto and several local universities—used local varieties to develop the transgenic crop, but failed to gain the appropriate licenses for field trials. At the same time, activists in Europe are claiming that patents on conventionally bred plants, including a melon found in India, filed by biotech companies violate farmers' rights to use naturally occurring breeds. Both these pending legal cases could set important precedents for biopiracy in India and Europe.

read more at Nature Biotechnology

Video from France24 on the Biopiracy suit