New Open Source publications on genes & life patents

by Aroha Mead, editor of the 1st work.

(1) Pacific Genes & Life Patents and (2) Transforming Knowledge & Ways
of Knowing for Food Sovereignty Both publications are Open Source.

(1) Pacific Genes and Life Patents:'Pacific Genes & Life Patents:
Pacific Indigenous Experiences & Analysis of the Commodification and
Ownership of Life." 'Pacific Genes & Life Patents' brings together the
writings of sixteen Pacific indigenous authors who have been directly
involved in community responses to genetic research and intellectual
property rights assertions concerning their ancestral heritage. This
work was edited by Aroha Te Pareake Mead (VMS, VUW) and Dr Steven
Ratuva (USP), and launched at Victoria Unviersity of Wellington.

It was published by Call of the Earth Llamado de la Tierra (an international
indigenous initiative on cultural and intellectual property policy) and
the United Nations University, Institute of Advanced Studies (a research
and training centre of UNU that undertakes research and postgraduate
education on emerging issues of strategic importance for the United
Nations and its Member States.) This document is an Open Source/
Creative Commons and can be downloaded for free from the following
websites: www.earthcall.org
(Publications) or
www.ias.unu.edu (Latest
Publications).

(2) Transforming Knowledge and Ways of Knowing for Food Sovereignty

Transforming Knowledge and Ways of Knowing for Food Sovereignty In the
face of the organised power of science, business and mainstream
politics, the more diffuse but networked power of the growing food
sovereignty movement is confronted with many challenges. In this book,
the author focuses on only one of these: the need to transform
knowledge and ways of knowing to regenerate locally controlled food
systems. The production of ecologically literate and socially just
knowledge implies a radical shift from the existing top down and
increasingly corporate-controlled research system to an approach which
devolves more decision-making power to farmers, indigenous peoples,
food workers, consumers and citizens for the production of social and
ecological knowledge. The whole process should lead to the
democratisation of research, diverse forms of co-inquiry based on
specialist and non-specialist knowledge, an expansion of horizontal
networks for autonomous learning and action, and more transparent
oversight. This implies: 1) nurturing political values that emphasise
more direct citizen participation in determining research agendas,
regulations and policies;

2) the adoption of a learning process approach and extended peer
review in the production and validation of knowledge; and 3) enabling
policies that offer citizens adequate material security and time for
democratic deliberation in the context of more localised food systems
and economies.

You can dowload a PDF version of this book from:

http://www.iied.org/pubs/pdf/full/14535IIED.pdf

Copies may be ordered from:
http://www.iied.org/pubs/display.php?o=14535IIED&n=1&l=27&a=pimbert