STOP (IR)RESPONSIBLE SOY

The Dutch government is playing an active role to have GMO crops accepted and introduced to Europe. Part of this strategy is the financial and political support for the Round Table on Resposible Soy (RTRS). This platform of mostly industry and big producers has set up a very weak standard that gives GM Roundup Ready soy a 'responsible'label. The vast monocultures of this crop are creating huge problems.

You will find more information in this  newsletter.

Please raise your voice and sign  the petition to the Dutch government.

At the moment more than 6.000 persons have already signed the call to the
Dutch government.

2.200 in German on  www.regenwald.org
1.400 in Spanish on  www.salvalaselva.org
8.00 in English on  www.rainforest-rescue.org
1.600 in Dutch and English on  www.gifsoja.nl and  www.toxicsoy.org

5th EUROPEAN CONFERENCE ON GMO-FREE REGIONS

LUCERNE - SWITZERLAND

APRIL 24TH – 25TH, 2009

 

At the 5th European Conference on GMO-Free Regions - “Food & Democracy”, in Lucerne (Switzerland), 250 representatives from 28 European countries were welcomed by the Speaker of the Swiss National Parliament, the Ministers of Agriculture of Austria, Scotland and the Czech Republic, as well as the President of Swiss Farmers.

 

At the end of 2 days of plenary sessions and workshops, the participants called upon the member states of the European Union to rethink their legislation and policy on the use of genetically
engineered organisms in agriculture.

 

For pictures, documentation and final statement visit the Conference  website

 

ISIS  Press Release on the Conference

STOP THE CROP

On January 21st 2009 the European Commission announced that it will propose to the member states the approval of two new varieties of GM maize for cultivation . The genetically modified maize varieties BT11 (Syngenta) and 1507 (Dupont/Pioneer) would be the first GM maize varieties to be approved for cultivation within the European Union since 1998.

A campaign was set up to oppose the approval of these crops. Please check the "Stop the Crop" informations on  FoEE and  GMO-free regions websites and participate in the actions.

PSx2 - PARTICIPATORY SCIENCE AND SCIENTIFIC PARTICIPATION

PSx2 is a project that explores the participatory role of civil society organisations (CSOs) in new scientific and technological developments, with particular reference to experiences in the development of agricultural biotechnology (GM plants, food and feeds). The issue of novel biotechnologies is not only an expanding area of scientific research, but also provides a very important area for social experimentation in more active citizenship and a deeper involvement of the lay public in European research activities. Five civil society organisations and four scientific institutions worked together in this project funded by the DG research of the European Commission.<o:p></o:p>

The overall objective is to increase the social relevance of scientific research through the promotion of public participation in European research activities. It is hoped that both the project process and its outcomes can be used to encourage dialogue and constructive engagement between civil society organisations and scientific research institutions.

The final report of the project is now available in 6 languages.  Click here to access the project website.

 

Powerpoint  presentation of the project results.

PLANET DIVERSITY CONGRESS

 

At the occasion of the Conference of the Parties to the Rio Convention on Biological Diversity a range of worldwide NGOs, along with GENET, organised a global conference on the future of food and agriculture in Bonn.

 

A global movement from different directions came together for the common cause of defending diversity against destructive and threatening tendencies in agriculture, rural development and food production and to celebrate the natural and cultural diversity of life in food and agriculture.

 

More than 700 participants from 100 nations gathered for four days during the UN-Convention on Biodiversity and the Biosafety Protocol negotiations. They discussed how farmers, consumers, food producers and their communities can cooperate. 6.000 joined a demonstration for local diversity and against genetic engineering in agriculture and 15.000 gathered on a festival of diversity.

 

For more information about this successful event and to read the Planet Diversity Manifesto, visit the Congress' website.

GENET-news of today

2010-03-09

Peru postpones debate on GMO law

Peru postponed the debate on the Regulations for Transgenics, due to the general opposition of most Peruvians to genetically modified products, reports Semana Económica. Peru’s Environment Minister, Antonio Brack, told [...] that Cusco and Ayacucho have declared themselves ”transgenics-free,” and Huanuco will do so too, in the near future.

2010-03-09

New head of Brazilian biosafety commission is a fervent GE crop promoter

Paiva’s commitment to promoting GM crops is such that he once told the media one of the advantages of Monsanto’s soya is that people could even drink the pesticide sprayed on the crop without dying. He also opposes food labelling and claims that the precautionary principle is actually no more than a ’principle of obstruction.’

2010-03-09

African Cotton Association to discuss Bt cotton introduction at Cameroon meeting

The African Cotton Association will meet 11-13 March in Yaoundé, Cameroon, with participants from 22 countries expected to attend. [... Cameroon’s Minister of Trade, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana] spoke of the need to consider the introduction of genetically-modified cotton to improve the commodity’s yield.

2010-03-09

Philippines fast-tracks Bt brinjal approval based on Indian documents

While Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh doesn’t trust the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee’s green flag to Bt brinjal, Philippines has relied on the very same results to fast-track its own process to grant approval to the crop. [...] ”Our decision to use the Indian dossier is a testament to the quality of your biosafety framework and to the work of your Genetic Engineering Approval Committee,” [Science and Technology Secretary Estrella Alabastro] said.

2010-03-09

No Bt brinjal till independent studies clears safety says Indian Government

The government today said a moratorium on Bt brinjal has been imposed till independent scientific studies establish its safety to the satisfaction of both the public and professionals. ”The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) in consultation with eminent scientists would draw up fresh protocols for specific tests to establish safety of the genetically-tweaked vegetable,” environment minister Jairam Ramesh said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

2010-03-09

By accepting Bt cotton’s susceptibility to pests, Monsanto befools India

This was surely an interesting week. There was hardly a day when we didn’t see remarkable efforts -- across the spectrum -- to take the people for a simple ride. [...] Any size of media campaigns wouldn’t have yielded them the desired results. Instead of spending millions on advertisements, Monsanto has done it through smart media management. You will now see farmers making a beeline for Bollgard-II. Monsanto will now see its cash registers ringing.

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