South African consumers win GM labelling victory

The African Centre for Biosafety reports that South African consumers have just won a hard-earned victory, regarding the labelling of genetically modified (GM) foods.

GM crops have been grown in South Africa since 1999. However most consumers are largely unaware that their staple food, maize (or corn), has been genetically modified. GM soya and cotton are also grown in South Africa, and a significant amount of foodstuffs on the supermarket shelves now contain GM components or ingredients... read more.  

Wellington, New Zealand renamed 'the Middle of Middle-earth'

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, was filmed throughout in New Zealand. To celebrate the world premiere of the film, Wellington will be changing its name and there will even be Hobbit coins to be spent.

New Zealand has a new campaign - to re-brand the country "100% Middle Earth" to attract tourists. Reportedly the city is planning to spend $900,000 to mark this premiere.

For three weeks before and after the premiere of the movie, Wellington will unofficially be called "The Middle of Middle-earth." ... read more

Video: Danny DeVito & friends — Do you have the 'Right to Know'?

Some of your favorite stars have gotten together to tell you that the "Right to Know" about your food, would explode your puny little head. No, seriously, they are voting "Yes on 37."

Food and Water Watch have sponsored the above new and entertaining "Yes on 37" video, starring Danny DeVito, Bill Maher, Dave Matthews, Jillian Michaels, Kristen Bauer van Straten, Emily Deschanel, Kaitlin Olson, Glenn Howerton, John Cho, Michelle Michaela and KaDee Strickland... read more and watch video.

Mushroom clouds from shell explosions in Central Russia (video)

Two villages were evacuated on Tuesday following a series of huge explosions near a military testing ground at Donguzsky, 40 kms from Orenburg in Central Russia.

According to witnesses, and as shown in the amateur video above, a massive plume of smoke rose into the air shortly after the explosions. Residents in the area said that the blasts were so powerful, windows shook, dozens of kilometers away.

According to initial reports, a fire at the military facility's loading dock set off shells that were stored for disposal on a train.... read more and watch video.

Book release: ‘Cypherpunks: Freedom & the Future of the Internet'

Earlier this year, Julian Assange interviewed three "Cypherpunks" on "The World Tomorrow", his controversial talk show. Now, in cooperation with his three co-authors, he is publishing a book.

The 192-page book, written together with Jacob Appelbaum, Andy Müller-Maguhn and Jérémie Zimmermann, is based on the transcripts of the talk show, but also incorporates many ideas that remained behind the scenes.

The book covers what Cypherpunks believe to be the solution to the problems of privacy and freedom, especially on the Internet.... read more and watch interviews.

Video: GetUp! exclusive interview with Julian Assange

GetUp! is an independent movement to build a progressive Australia and bring participation back into the country's democracy. They support human rights, Julian Assange and WikiLeaks.

GetUp! interviewed Assange, founder and editor-in-chief of WikiLeaks, at the Ecuadorian embassy in London in September and have now released the interview as a video.

This was the first face-to-face Australian interview with Assange since he sought asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy. Many GetUp members had apparently emailed questions that they wanted Assange to answer, and these questions were put to him during the interview... read more and watch video.

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: 'No on 37' misleading public

The "No on 37" campaign, opposing the proposition to label GMOs in California, has once again hit trouble for misleading the public. This time from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

The latest critique to the "No on 37" campaign comes in the form of a press release from the world's largest organization for food and nutrition professionals, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

This press release states that the "No on 37" campaign "misled" the public in its ballot argument, printed in the Secretary of State's Official California Voter Information Guide...  read more.

Sights & sounds of Feria in Fuengirola, Spain (video)

Running from October 6th to 12th, the annual Feria de la Virgen del Rosario in Fuengirola is full of color, sights and sounds.

A week during the year when business slows down a bit, people take a few days off. When you see your friends and neighbors dressed somewhat differently, with gorgeous dresses on the ladies and girls.

The men also dress so smartly, in traditional caballero style as they ride their horses, or drive their horse carts and carriages... read more, see more photos and watch a video.

Indiana farmer taking Monsanto to Supreme Court

Vernon Hugh Bowman, a 74-year-old soybean farmer, will have his day in court against Monsanto in the US Supreme Court next year. Bowman was originally sued by Monsanto Co for alleged patent infringement for the use of a genetically modified soybean crop.

Under the company's licensing contract, farmers can only use the product to harvest one round of crops. However, Monsanto sued Bowman because they say he is at fault for planting a second harvest. However, this second harvest came from commercially-purchased "commodity seeds" from a grain elevator that contained, in part, the Roundup Ready GMO seeds.

Apparently you can sell "second-generation" seeds to grain elevators for use as "commodity seeds," and Monsanto doesn't require that there be any restriction on the sale... read more.

Anti-Jihad ads heading for Washington, DC

In a court ruling, it was decided that anti-Jihad adverts could be displayed in the Washington, DC metro, as has already been done in New York City and San Francisco.

Washington Metro asked for an injunction against the notorious posters, which were scheduled to appear on trains throughout the city from late September, saying they should be delayed indefinitely in the wake of the recent fallout from the "Innocence of Muslims" film.

They were concerned that these posters might provoke fallout, as with the riots and demonstrations over the film, throughout the Islamic world... read more.