"A thought-provoking look at an issue that affects us all." Alan Busacca, Professor of Agriculture, Washington State University

This film looks at farmers, indigenous people, and anti-globalization activists who oppose patents on life and advocate for a world where life is not a commodity but something to be treasured.

With beautiful footage from the headwaters of the Amazon, farms in Washington and Iowa, as well as India and Peru, plus glimpses of the Seattle WTO protests, Not for Sale brings this global issue into focus with stories of everyday people.

Also interviewed are Vandana Shiva, Anuradha Mittal of Food First, and Debra Harry of the Indigenous Peoples Council on Biocolonialism.

This is the third in an ongoing series of educational programs produced by Mark Dworkin and Melissa Young about the risks and benefits of the new biotechnology. The other two to date are Risky Business: Biotechnology and Agriculture and Gene Blues.

Other films by Mark Dworkin and Melissa Young are Net Loss, Another World is Possible, Islas Hermanas, Argentina: Hope in Hard Times, Argentina: Turning Around and Good Food.



Grade Level: 10-12, College, Adult
US Release Date: 2002     Copyright Date: 2002
DVD ISBN: 1-59458-085-5     VHS ISBN: 1-56029-924-X

Reviews "A brilliant documentary that finally demonstrates the connection between biodiversity and cultural diversity, between resistance to globalization and social and environmental justice." Devon Pena, Professor of Anthropology, Director of Ph.D. Program in Environmental Anthropology, University of Washington "Does a great job in raising awareness regarding just how serious the economic and food security threat associated with genetically modified crops (GMOs) really is, especially from a corporate concentration and agribusiness power perspective...I recommend that this documentary be viewed by all the world's farmers." Dan McGuire, Program Director, Farmer Choice - Customer First educational program, American Corn Growers Association. "The future of food and medicine is in jeopardy. This film explains why." Linda Setchell, Safe Foods Campaign "Not for Sale tackles the serious issue of genetic patenting -- a practice which threatens entire cultures -- in a straightforward and sometimes playful way that makes this fundamental threat to the world's food supply easy to digest." Matt Parish, Boston Independent Media Center "Disturbing but liberating." Francis Boyle, attorney, University of Illinois "An important contribution to the discussion of genetics and society." Paul Billings, M.D., GeneSage Inc. "Not for Sale is a clear, comprehensive and honest look at the consequences of genetic engineering and patents on life -- on lives around the world." Jill Rubin, Food and Safety Advocate, MASSPIRG "Excellent production values...Half-hour length makes the program ideal for classroom viewing, with time left for discussion. Not for Sale is a thought provoking program that effectively demonstrates that genetically modified organisms are a global as well as local concern. Highly recommended." Barb Bergman, Minnesota State University, Educational Media Reviews Online "Not For Sale raises one of the most important questions of our time: 'who will control the food?' The film offers a sobering assessment through many voices that ultimately call for a globalization of citizen action that is in the end both empowering and essential." Zoe Weil, Co-founder of the International Institute for Humane Education