Genome project opposed

THE CORDILLERA People's Alliance (CPA), a grouping of 120 indigenous people's organisations in northern Philippines, has called for a halt to the Human Genome Diversity Project.

The project has been launched to collect blood samples, tissue and hair samples from endangered communities all over the world, to preserve biodiversity. However, the CPA, which is supported by many other Asian groups, feels the money can be better used by providing basic services to indigenous people.