Fwd: Letter to the Brasilian Government

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Sun, 8 Jun 2003 21:10:39 +0100

 

Letter to the Brasilian Government

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

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Honorable President

Luis Ignacio Lula da Silva

Brasil

5 June 2003

 

Dear Sir,

 

Please allow me to address you on behalf of the Independent Science Panel (ISP)

on Genetic Modification, officially launched at a public conference in London on

May 10, attended by 200, including UK’s Environment Minister, Michael Meacher.

 

The ISP consists of dozens of prominent scientists from seven countries,

spanning diverse discisplines of agriculture, ecology, biochemistry, chemical

medicine, molecular genetics, nutrition, histopathology, toxicology and virology

who are concerned to provide critical scientific information to the global

debate over genetic engineered crops, in view of its importance for the future

of our food and agriculture.

 

The ISP members have undertaken an extensive review of the scientific and other

evidence on the problems and hazards of GM crops and the manifold benefits of

all forms of sustainable agriculture. The results are presented in a report

entitled, The Case for a GM Free Sustainable World, a draft of which was

released electronically on May 10,and is now being finalised for released 15

June 2003.

 

Ahead of the release of the final report, we are pleased to enclose an executive

summary of the evidence assembled, based on which, we are calling for a global

ban on GM crops to make way for agroecology, organic farming and other forms of

sustainable agriculture. (see http://www.i-sis.org.uk/ispr-summary.php).

 

Brasil, the second largest producer of soya in the world, has become the

principal source of non-transgenic soya for consumers who reject genetically

engineered foods. Consumer rejection is due overwhelmingly to concerns over

health and the environment. For farmers in addition, transgenic crops, produced

and patented by large corporations like Monsanto and Dow, are usurping their

right to own and control seed stocks, which is the basis of their livelihood and

food security.

 

Indeed, in recent years, Monsanto has declared that in order to dominate the

global seed market, it would be necessary to break through the barriers in

Brazil and the European Union.

 

It is clear, from the evidence presented in the ISP Report, that transgenic

contamination of non-transgenic crops is inevitable, once transgenic crops are

released into the environment. There can be no co-existence of transgenic and

non-transgenic crops. We have to make the right choice now.

 

For these reasons, we very respectfully request that you continue to prevent the

release of transgenic seeds in Brasil. The future of transgenics in Brasil is

decisive for the future of food and agriculture all over the world.

 

Brasil has a very special place in my heart. I was invited as a speaker to the

very first seminar on Biodiversity Law organised by your distinguished judiciary

in Brasilia in 1999. Safeguarding Brasil’s rich natural genetic resources from

the ravages of transgenic agriculture and corporate biopiracy is a very

important step towards a sustainable future for Brasil and for the world.

 

Yours Sincerely,

 

Dr. Mae-Wan Ho

 

For the Independent Science Panel

 

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This article can be found on the I-SIS website at

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

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General Enquiries sam

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ISIS Director m.w.ho

 

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