Guest guest Posted May 7, 2001 Report Share Posted May 7, 2001 IN THIS ISSUE 1-CANADIAN GOVERNMENT WATERS DOWN INTERNATIONAL BIOTECH LABELS 2-MORE CHEMICALS, LESS FOOD FROM MONSANTO'S GM SOYBEANS 3-STRIKE THREE: MONSANTO SEEDS CONTAMINATED 4-FISH BIOTECH USES WORLD HUNGER AS A MARKETING STRATEGY -------------------- MORE CHEMICALS, LESS FOOD FROM MONSANTO'S GM SOYBEANS A study released this week by the Northwest Science and Environmental Policy Centre found that farmers who grow Monsanto's Round Up Ready soybeans use more pesticides and see lower yields than conventional soybeans. The report " Troubled Times Amid Commercial Success for Round Up Ready Soy Beans " , predicts that the widespread cultivation of the gene-altered soybeans will lead farmers to spray an additional 20 millions pounds of pesticides this season. It shows that herbicide use has increased 11.4% on average and up to 30% higher in many regions. In addition, the study states that Round Up Ready Soybeans produce 5 percent to 10 percent fewer bushels per acre than identical conventional soybeans. This report clearly contradicts Monsanto's claims that Roundup Ready soybeans reduce herbicide use and are needed to feed the world. CANADIAN GOVERNMENT WATERS DOWN INTERNATIONAL BIOTECH LABELS The Canadian government argued for softer labelling of genetically modified foods at a UN conference in Ottawa last week. At the annual meeting of the Codex Alimentarius, the UN body that sets food labelling standards, Canada proposed replacing the term 'genetically modified foods' to 'food and food ingredients obtained through modern biotechnology.' The meeting was stalled and further discussion were delayed till their next meeting, one year from now. This approach is in step with the Canadian governments voluntary labelling committee that missed it's own deadline for drafting standards. Canada has refused to mandate labelling despite the fact that a recent Pollara and Earnscliffe poll revealed that 94% of Canadians say they want GM food labeled. 29 countries around the world, from the UK to Japan, have mandatory labelling. STRIKE THREE: MONSANTO SEEDS CONTAMINATED On April 27th, Monsanto recalled its genetically modified (GM) " Quest " brand of canola seed after they discovered it was contaminated with another type of GM canola. This follows on the heels of two other food contamination events that occurred as a result of genetic engineering. Last summer, a company called Advanta exported contaminated canola seed to Europe, despite their request for non-GM seed. Last fall, a type of GM corn that was not approved for human consumption was found in Taco Bell taco shells. The " Quest " canola has been approved for export but the new accidental genes have not been approved in many countries around the world. Environmentalists have long been arguing that our food supply is threatened by the uncontrolled spread of genetically altered organisms. FISH BIOTECH USES WORLD HUNGER AS A MARKETING STRATEGY In a recent opinion piece in the Ottawa Citizen, U.S. biotechnology firm A/F Protein stated that their genetically modified (GM) salmon are needed to feed the world's growing population. They state: " Do we need to feed more of the world's people with less use of scarce resources and less impact on the environment? Yes, that is=85 a value shared by those in my company " . In fact, GM salmon will deplete the world's supply of fish protein. This is because Salmon are carnivores, and eat other edible seafood to survive. As such, it takes three to five pounds of fishmeal and oil to create one pound of farmed salmon. Much of our fish meal comes from the wild fish of developing nations - the very nations A/F Protein proposes to feed. Biotech companies continue to try and harness the tragedy of others and turn it into a public relations tool. Famine should not be a marketing strategy. Visit our website at www.greenpeace.ca to sign our petition against GM fish. - Greenpeace Canada 250 Dundas St. West Suite 605 Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2Z5 http://www.greenpeace.ca Ph:416-507-8408 Fx: 416-597-8422 ============================================= -- Free email services provided by http://www.goodkarmacafe.com Powered by Instant Portal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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