World Consumer Rights Day - ACTION AND RESOURCES

[Guest guest]

GM WATCH daily

http://www.gmwatch.org

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World Consumer Rights Day 2005 focus on GMOs

 

On 15 March 2005, World Consumer Rights Day, consumer organisations all

over the world will say NO to GMOs!

 

1.ACTION AND RESOURCES FOR WORLD CONSUMER RIGHTS DAY

2.New press release: World Consumer Rights Day 2005 focus on GMOs

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1.ACTION AND RESOURCES FOR WORLD CONSUMER RIGHTS DAY

http://www.consumersinternational.org/News_Events/world.asp?cat=22 & regionid=135

 

+Fact sheets (pdf files)

 

*GMOs: Why consumers should take action explains genetic engineering

and its prevalence. It also summarises consumer concerns about GMOs

including: the role of subsidies, corporate ownership, patents,

unsubstantiated claims and labelling.

http://www.consumersinternational.org/document_store/Doc1251.pdf

 

*GMOs: Get your food labelled provides information on models of

labelling and current GMO labelling regulations.

http://www.consumersinternational.org/document_store/Doc1250.pdf

 

*GMOs: 'Co-existence' or GM-free zones explains contamination concerns,

provides example cases of contamination of GM-free crops, and GM-free

zone initiatives.

http://www.consumersinternational.org/document_store/Doc1249.pdf

 

+Action plan

 

Call for action on GMOs gives suggestions on influencing policy makers

and other important decision makers, and how to make the public and

media aware of the problems with GM foods.

http://www.consumersinternational.org/document_store/Doc1256.doc

 

+Model letters

 

For a selection of pre-prepared anti-GMO letters,

http://www.consumersinternational.org/documents_asp/ViewACategory_levelBelowOnly\

..asp?regid=135 & CategoryID=971 & langID=1

 

Please keep dcuming informed of any letters you send.

 

+Other resources

 

Center for Food Safety Charts: Genetically Engineered Crops and Foods -

Worldwide Regulation and Prohibition.

http://www.consumersinternational.org/document_store/Doc1259.pdf

 

Corporate control of the food chain: the GM link

http://www.consumersinternational.org/documents_asp/ViewADocument.asp?regid=135 & \

ID=957 & categoryid=699 & langID=1

 

+Codex contact points

 

Who to write to: Your country representatives at the Codex meeting 9-13

May 2005.

http://www.consumersinternational.org/document_store/Doc1258.pdf

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2.World Consumer Rights Day 2005 focus on GMOs

For immediate release

11 March 2005

 

It is four days to go until World Consumer Rights Day on 15 March when

Consumers International (CI) member organisations will act to stop the

spread of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). From as far and wide

as Lebanon to Switzerland, Thailand to the UK, they will demand that

GM-free crops are protected, GM products are labelled, and international

safety standards are followed.

 

Consumers have a right to information, a right to choice and a right to

safety. On Tuesday 15 March consumer organisations will campaign for

these rights to be respected. There must be guarantees that conventional

and organic foods survive and remain widely available. GM-free areas

need to be established and secured, and strict rules introduced to

prevent contamination of GM-free crops. All foods containing or

derived from

GMOs must be independently tested and subject to international safety

guidelines. They must also be clearly labelled.

 

Public opinion polls show that consumers are concerned about GM foods

because of potential risks to human health. GM technology involves

transferring genes between unrelated species which is completely

different

from existing conventional breeding techniques and has yet to be proven

safe. Other major concerns are increased control of the food chain by

corporations, and misleading claims about solving food supply problems

and about the benefits of GMOs to farmers.

 

David Cuming, CI GM Campaign Manager says: 'The insertion of GMOs into

foodstuffs threatens fundamental consumer rights. CI is concerned about

GMOs because we have yet to see tangible benefits for consumers and

farmers, while there are potential long-term risks. We campaigned on this

issue in the past and it remains at the top of the consumer agenda.'

 

CI has released three fact sheets, for World Consumer Rights Day,

covering key issues on GMOs: Why consumers should take action; Get

your food

labelled; and " Co-existence " or GM-free zones? CI members are

campaigning on the streets, lobbying their governments and delegates,

sending

letters to international and national authorities and retailers,

increasing public awareness and organising debates. Examples of World

Consumer

Right Day activities include:

 

* In the UK CI are sending postcards to the delegates of Codex (the

committee responsible for international food standards).

* Consumers of Lebanon have organised a TV talk show to be hosted on

anb channel.

* In Switzerland, Stiftung Für Konsumentenschutz will distribute

information in the market place about GMOs, and campaign outside

parliament

as MPs hold a debate on GMOs in agriculture.

* In Thailand, Foundation for Consumers are holding a forum in

Parliament and will demonstrate in front of FDA of the Public Health.

* In Spain, FACUA (Consumers in Action) have launched a website.

 

These are just a few examples of the activities of CI members on World

Consumer Rights Day 2005.

 

For more information please contact Julia Crosfield or see:

www.consumersinternational.org/wcrd

 

About Consumers International

Consumers International is a federation of consumer organisations

dedicated to the protection and promotion of consumer's rights worldwide

through empowering national consumer groups and campaigning at the

national level. It currently represents over 250 organisations in 115

countries. For more information, see: www.consumersinternational.org

 

Contact: Julia Crosfield

Tel: +44 20 7226 6663 ext.212

Mobile: 07932 563 491

E-mail: jcrosfield

 

Head Office

24 Highbury Crescent

London N5 1RX, UK

Tel: +44 20 7226 6663

Fax: +44 20 7354 0607

e-mail: consint

www.consumersinternational.org