Fwd: Michael Meacher to attend Launch of Indpendent Science Panel on GM

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Thu, 8 May 2003 14:11:54 +0100

 

Michael Meacher to attend Launch of Indpendent Science Panel on GM

press-release

 

The Institute of Science in Society

Science Society Sustainability

http://www.i-sis.org.uk

 

General Enquiries sam

Website/Mailing List press-release

ISIS Director m.w.ho

===================================================

 

Press Release

 

Embargoed until May 10

 

Michael Meacher to Attend Launch

******************************

 

Independent Science Panel for a GM-Free Sustainable World

 

In a surprising move, dozens of prominent scientists have joined forces to form

an Independent Science Panel (ISP) on GM, to counteract what they see to be a

concerted campaign by the government and the scientific establishment in the UK

to promote GM under the guise of ‘sound’ science.

 

" This amounts to open scientific rebellion, possibly unprecedented in history, "

says Mae-Wan Ho, Director of the Institute of Science in Society, who initiated

the move, and confessed to having been taken by surprise, and delighted, by the

positive response of the scientists contacted.

 

Many of the scientists have been feeling frustrated at the lack of open public

debate on a whole range of scientific and other issues. The ‘discussion

meetings’ organised by the government are invariably stacked with pro-GM

scientists hyping the potential benefits of GM, and giving the public bland

assurances that " there is no evidence of harm " .

 

It will all change now.

 

At a special launching conference on May 10 in London, the ISP will release

their report, The Case for A GM-Free Sustainable World, the strongest, most

complete dossier of evidence ever put together to support their call for a ban

on GM crops and widespread adoption of organic sustainable agriculture. This is

timed to kick off the GM national debate in the UK, and to input into the

Ministerial Conference and Expo on Agricultural Science and Technology in

Sacramento, California in June. The report has already attracted considerable

international attention.

 

Environment Minister Michael Meacher says he will be attending the launch.

 

" We’ll give them a case to answer, " says Brian John, geomorphologist and

environment scientist, who has been working closely with the GM Free Cymru

campaign. " Those of us who have looked into the science of GM crops and foods

from a community or consumer perspective have been appalled at the apparent

abandonment of the precautionary principle and at the control exerted over the

scientific agenda by the biotechnology multinationals. "

 

The Report will be sent to the president of the Philippines together with a

letter in support of one of the ISP members, Roberto Verzola, Secretary-General

of the Philippine Greens, who has initiated an indefinite hunger strike, to

protest his government’s approval of Monsanto’s Bt maize, now in its 15th day.

The Panel includes Britain’s best-loved botanist, broadcaster, writer and

tireless campaigner for Mother Earth, David Bellamy OBE, who will lead the

launch of the ISP.

 

Other speakers include Stanley Ewen, Consultant Histopathologist, at Grampian

University Hospitals Trust; Malcolm Hooper, Emeritus Professor of Medicinal

Chemistry, University of Sunderland; Vyvyan Howard, toxipathologist, University

of Liverpool; Arpad Pusztai, formerly senior scientist at Rowett Institute,

Scotland, and Gundula Azeez, Policy Manager, Soil Association.

 

For further details contact Lim Li Ching ching tel:

44-(0)20-8643-0681, or Mae-Wan Ho m.w.ho tel: 44 (0)20-7272-5636,

or see the ISIS website http://www.i-sis.org.uk/temp/GM-ISP.php.

 

 

 

CONTACT DETAILS

The Institute of Science in Society, PO Box 32097, London NW1 OXR

telephone: [44 20 8643 0681] [44 20 7383 3376] [44 20 7272 5636]

 

General Enquiries sam

Website/Mailing List press-release

ISIS Director m.w.ho

 

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