Dear Axel

thanks for your input. There was not very much discussion so far. I hope your intervention helps to bring us forward.

My position is clear: I am voting for a protest visual with the hope it will be used by the media that report about the anniversary anyway. I am not in favor of another 'document handing' over as we did the last time.

We developed the screaming vegetables, they allow us to present ourselves in public without having 100 persons with us. They can work very well as visual,  especially if the do something interesting like bringing a 'birthday song'. In short: it depends on the context, not only on the vegetables if and how they work.

We have strong messages that will suite for this purpose (never had a problem with content, slogans, messages). But this time, what makes the difference:  part of the message is the protest, not another handshake or just release of media material.

I understand there are some other positions but most members did not voice their ideas so far.

If necessary we can have another online meeting.

So please, other members come up with your thoughts.

cheers

Christoph

Am 31.08.23 um 09:09 schrieb axel.grunt@arche-noah.at:

Dear all,

just some remarks:

I do not see any bigger potential for the screaming vegetables in front of the EPO. We already did something quite similar and I am worried that the combination with pots and spoons would make the picture more funny than alarming - which we do not intend.

I just went through my emails again but could not find any details about what the core message should be. what is the reason for creating noise? That the EPO tries to hush something up and we come as a wake-up call? That we have to alarm the public/politicians? My mind needs the content first. The key message, a rough idea of the catchy phrase. Then I can think about the action design. For me an important message is, that it’s not time for celebration and parties, while diversity and agriculture are at risk.

And I totally agree with Dagmar's earlier call for press material (“50 years – 50+ failures to protect diversity”)

Best Axel

-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht----- Von: Npos_2018 npos_2018-bounces@testbiotech.de Im Auftrag von Christoph Then Gesendet: Mittwoch, 30. August 2023 12:26 An: npos_2018@testbiotech.de Betreff: [Npos_2018] update on planned activities

Dear all

welcome back from summer break.

within last weeks, Erling tried to arrange some happenings in Denmark and Norway, however could not succeed. Thanks to Erling and lets us start a new try on a better date ...

there are already up to three events for this autumn:

(1) on 12 of September we will have an (online) hearing on the bushy melon (BASF) - we will prepare for media work

(2) on 5 October the 50 anniversary of the EPO will take place. We could contribute with our vegetable, this time being noisy by hammering a cooking pot with a cooking spoon. We will try to arrange for test-session in Munich (slightly changed idea compared to last mail) to see if this can work as picture. Please, if you can reserve that date, we will need around 20 people if we perform this activity. we also may need old cooking pots.

(3) we consider to travel to Berlin to meet the German Ag minister. He voiced concerns about patents granted on plants in the context of the NGT regulation. We could inform him that NGT plants always will go along with patents but he should do something to solve the problem with patents on conventional seeds. Maybe we can manage at end of September. We will try to get some other German organisations on board.

Since our trip to Denmark did not yet materialize, I think we should try to use all three events to push our message. We can also use some several brand new patents granted (all applied before 2017), I will try to give some overview soon.  If we go to Berlin, I think we should reserve them for this event.

So let us start a first round of comments via  e-mail and Johanna will try to organize a date for another exciting zoom meeting.

cheers

Christoph

---

Npos_2018 mailing list Npos_2018@testbiotech.de https://lists.testbiotech.de/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/npos_2018 _______________________________________________ Npos_2018 mailing list Npos_2018@testbiotech.de https://lists.testbiotech.de/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/npos_2018

I just explained my point of view. I try to trigger a broader debate.

Am 31.08.23 um 17:08 schrieb axel.grunt@arche-noah.at:

to be clear: as far as I see no one asks for "another 'document handing' over as we did the last time". Christoph, you are contradicting here a demand no one has made.

what I am asking for is some nicely compiled background material with a catchy idea. strategically speaking: a paper that contains the facts for the articles we want to have published. Frankly, I don't care for media coverage about a protest in front of the EPO. I want articles about our ideas, our demands and the points we criticise. And I don't see the vegetables to be the best vehicle for that, never did, told you that before you started the bigger discussion about them.

If we want articles about 50 years of failure, we need a picture that tells this story. If we want coverage about 50 years of failure, we have to put material together, that sings this song.

best axel

-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht----- Von: Npos_2018 npos_2018-bounces@testbiotech.de Im Auftrag von Christoph Then Gesendet: Donnerstag, 31. August 2023 15:51 An: npos_2018@testbiotech.de Betreff: Re: [Npos_2018] update on planned activities

Dear Axel

thanks for your input. There was not very much discussion so far. I hope your intervention helps to bring us forward.

My position is clear: I am voting for a protest visual with the hope it will be used by the media that report about the anniversary anyway. I am not in favor of another 'document handing' over as we did the last time.

We developed the screaming vegetables, they allow us to present ourselves in public without having 100 persons with us. They can work very well as visual,  especially if the do something interesting like bringing a 'birthday song'. In short: it depends on the context, not only on the vegetables if and how they work.

We have strong messages that will suite for this purpose (never had a problem with content, slogans, messages). But this time, what makes the difference:  part of the message is the protest, not another handshake or just release of media material.

I understand there are some other positions but most members did not voice their ideas so far.

If necessary we can have another online meeting.

So please, other members come up with your thoughts.

cheers

Christoph

Am 31.08.23 um 09:09 schrieb axel.grunt@arche-noah.at:

...

Dear all,

just some remarks:

I do not see any bigger potential for the screaming vegetables in front of the EPO. We already did something quite similar and I am worried that the combination with pots and spoons would make the picture more funny than alarming - which we do not intend.

I just went through my emails again but could not find any details about what the core message should be. what is the reason for creating noise? That the EPO tries to hush something up and we come as a wake-up call? That we have to alarm the public/politicians? My mind needs the content first. The key message, a rough idea of the catchy phrase. Then I can think about the action design. For me an important message is, that it’s not time for celebration and parties, while diversity and agriculture are at risk.

And I totally agree with Dagmar's earlier call for press material (“50 years – 50+ failures to protect diversity”)

Best Axel

-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht----- Von: Npos_2018 npos_2018-bounces@testbiotech.de Im Auftrag von Christoph Then Gesendet: Mittwoch, 30. August 2023 12:26 An: npos_2018@testbiotech.de Betreff: [Npos_2018] update on planned activities

Dear all

welcome back from summer break.

within last weeks, Erling tried to arrange some happenings in Denmark and Norway, however could not succeed. Thanks to Erling and lets us start a new try on a better date ...

there are already up to three events for this autumn:

(1) on 12 of September we will have an (online) hearing on the bushy melon (BASF) - we will prepare for media work

(2) on 5 October the 50 anniversary of the EPO will take place. We could contribute with our vegetable, this time being noisy by hammering a cooking pot with a cooking spoon. We will try to arrange for test-session in Munich (slightly changed idea compared to last mail) to see if this can work as picture. Please, if you can reserve that date, we will need around 20 people if we perform this activity. we also may need old cooking pots.

(3) we consider to travel to Berlin to meet the German Ag minister. He voiced concerns about patents granted on plants in the context of the NGT regulation. We could inform him that NGT plants always will go along with patents but he should do something to solve the problem with patents on conventional seeds. Maybe we can manage at end of September. We will try to get some other German organisations on board.

Since our trip to Denmark did not yet materialize, I think we should try to use all three events to push our message. We can also use some several brand new patents granted (all applied before 2017), I will try to give some overview soon.  If we go to Berlin, I think we should reserve them for this event.

So let us start a first round of comments via  e-mail and Johanna will try to organize a date for another exciting zoom meeting.

cheers

Christoph

---

Npos_2018 mailing list Npos_2018@testbiotech.de https://lists.testbiotech.de/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/npos_2018 _______________________________________________ Npos_2018 mailing list Npos_2018@testbiotech.de https://lists.testbiotech.de/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/npos_2018

---

Npos_2018 mailing list Npos_2018@testbiotech.de https://lists.testbiotech.de/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/npos_2018

Dear all,

I would like to come back to the idea about 50 patents and explain my reservations and also explain why I prefer a 'visual' representing protest.

part one: my reservations against the idea a list of 50 worst patents

the event of 50 years EPO may only have a smaller slot in the media - it will be difficult reported complex side aspects. we may need some 'simple and stupid' content to use this opportunity.

the 50 patents would need research and discussions: do we only want to have only patents on seeds or all live patents? if we introduce example like patents on bacteria, the oncomouse, stem cells (which were really groundbreaking) how could it us help with our campaign? If we stay with patents on seeds - what is worse a patent on broccoli or on tomatoes? how should we select? what would be needed to explain why the one is worse than the other?

whom would we expect to interested in this report? what is our target group? the big media? Do we expect them to have time, interest and they will see the need to report? what is the news?

Do we think we can create a strong visual around 50 patents? or is it just an online background information (and handover)?

part two: my thoughts on the visual /protest picture

we produced a lot of content in the last years - we could try to give them a hook with a nice visual on the right day at the right place.

to meet the supposed expectations on media on that day the visual could be used as highlighting additional aspects to the main messages that will be presented by the EPO. It is their story that will dominate in the media on that day.

the screaming vegetable were already used several times, they were never meant to be used just only one time. the sculptures can be used to brand our activities (trigger a memory effect) like yellow banners are standing for Greenpeace. They can and should be combined with other elements. We do not need to mobilise a large bunch of people. As long as we do not have a better alternative, I guess the vegetables will remain part of our public activities. At least if an event is reported by media anyway, they can make it to the public as they did at KWS. I hope in next years, we have more pictures from a lot of cities throughout Europe.

the picture of protest I would like to create (and test before): We use the stability of the vegetables and put them up in front of the EPO. We place a person behind each them with two large wooden spoons. In front of them, like a drum, we place cooking pot. the spoons hit the pot, making a typical noise of protest. The vegetables themselves are delivering the protest.

The banner could say something like:

"50 anniversary of the EPO: A long history of scandalous patents on seeds. No reason to celebrate!"

we may need around 20 people to organise.

If we need news: there are interesting new patents granted by the EPO in its 50th year. For me it looks like less work and more effort that a list of 50 old patents. the new patents could simply be included into the media release.

So what we would need: please show your interest in an activity on that day, please make first comments (better ideas) and in case needed, let us organize a zoom meeting soon just on the topic. We can also drop it.

Cheers

Christoph