New Report Explodes GM Myths

[Guest guest]

New Report Explodes GM Myths

-

Richard Dunwell

 

New Report Explodes GM Myths

 

 

This info from a press release in NZ.

 

 

New Report Explodes GM myths

18 September, 2002

 

 

A comprehensive new report into the impact of genetically modified crops in

North America has huge implications for this country, Green Party Co-leader

Jeanette Fitzsimons said today.

 

The Seeds of Doubt report commissioned by Britain¹s Soil Association has found

that GM soya, maize and oilseed rape crops have cost the US economy more than

$25 billion since 1999.

 

³The New Zealand Government has consistently ignored our arguments about the

environmental, health and economic threats posed by lifting the moratorium on

commercial release next year,² said Jeanette Fitzsimons. ³How can they continue

to ignore the facts?²

 

The report into GM crops¹ effect on North American farms finds that:

 

 

· Almost the entire $700 million annual US maize export to the EU and the

$700 million annual Canadian rape export to the EU have disappeared;

 

 

· All non-GM farmers are finding it very hard or impossible to grow GM-free

crops;

 

 

· GM contamination has led to a proliferation of lawsuits, including a class

action launched on behalf of the whole organic sector in Saskatchewan for the

loss of the organic rape market;

 

 

· Claims of increased yields have not been realised, with the main GM

variety (Roundup Ready soya) yielding 6 -11 per cent less than non-GM varieties;

 

 

· Major North American farmers¹ groups are urging members to plant non-GM

crops this year, and are demanding a ban or moratorium on the next major

proposed GM food crop, GM wheat.

 

 

³The single silver lining from this litany of disaster is that the rest of the

world can learn from North America¹s mistakes,² said Jeanette Fitzsimons. ³We

still have the opportunity to pull back from the brink.

 

³As the New Zealand Government prepares amending legislation to allow

³conditional release² to impose buffer zones between GE and non-GE crops, it

should pause to consider the evidence in this report that buffer zones have not

prevented widespread contamination of other crops.

 

 

³We are not asking the Government to make a decision based on emotive,

irrational or unscientific reasons. The hard evidence about the disastrous

consequences of rushing into GM release is mounting by the day: to ignore it

makes no sense.²

 

A summary of the Seeds of Doubt report can be found at

http://www.soilassociation.org

 

 

§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§

 

*§ - PULSE ON WORLD HEALTH CONSPIRACIES! §*

 

Subscribe:......... -

digest emails:..... -digest

Individual emails:. -normal

To Post:...........

To :.... -

 

**COPYRIGHT NOTICE**

In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107,

any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without

profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the

included information for non-profit research and educational purposes only.

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml

 

§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§*§