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Chinese scientists acknowledge that Monsanto's decision to share its breakthrough research mapping the genetic code for rice has saved Chinese bioengineers "15 years of work" as they search for ways to boost rice harvests to feed a population expected to reach 1.6 billion by mid-century.

TIME magazine's profile on "The New Radicals," who successfully invaded Seattle but enjoyed far less wallop in Washington, cites the Internet as the organizational thread that links previously unrelated anti-choice fringe groups.

Unlike their counterparts in Seattle last fall, Washington-area police maintained a strong upper hand against World Bank/IMF protesters. McDonald’s and Starbucks retained their windows and, aside from excessive litter…

The Economist magazine's take on the D.C. protests: "The list of sponsoring organizations is a Who's Who of non-governmental organizations - from the fringe (the National Queer Commission) to the obscure (the Nicaragua Network Peace and Social Justice Center of South Central Kansas) and the tediously predictable (the Young Communist League). This is all a little odd."

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton blames obesity on "fast food and lack of exercise." Testifying before a House subcommittee on her "Lifelong Improvements in Food and Exercise Bill to Combat Overweight and Obesity," Norton called for $30 million to fund federal programs that will "change lifelong lifestyle habits." (Federal News Service, 4/13/00.)

As part of fulfilling what Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman says is “the government’s role to guide Americans into adopting a healthier lifestyle,” the USDA has created a new web site…

The Consumer Federation of America's panel discussions on genetically engineered foods and media coverage of food safety issues features food industry reps squaring-off with activists. You can see today's afternoon session live on C-Span 2. Tomorrow's session is tentatively scheduled to air live on C-Span 2.

Global Exchange’s Kevin Danaher, speaking at an activist teach-in Friday morning, laid out plans for “institutionalizing solidarity” between nannies of all types in order to increase their political power.

The usual gang of idiots at PETA is having a cow over the World Bank's agricultural loan programs that support cattle raising in developing nations. Two of them were arrested after unloading a dump truck of manure onto Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the World Bank building. GCN's webcam caught the event live. Stay tuned to GCN as the main demonstrations heat up throughout the weekend, leading up to Monday's showdown demonstration.

Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert is schedule to release a report today finding GE foods are safe to eat and no more dangerous in the field than traditional plants. "The Administration should work to ensure markets for products of agricultural biotechnology are not restricted by scientifically unsound measures," according to a summary of the report. "Much of the opposition to agricultural biotechnology is politically motivated, not scientifically based." (The White House Bulletin, "Hastert, Smith to Release Report Supporting Genetically Modified Foods," April 13.)