GMW: Monsanto Dealt Defeat in Attempt to Invade Brazilian Schools

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GMW: Monsanto Dealt Defeat in Attempt to Invade Brazilian

Schools

" GM WATCH " <info

Tue, 17 May 2005 22:02:39 +0100

 

 

GM WATCH daily

http://www.gmwatch.org

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Monsanto Dealt Defeat in Attempt to Invade Brazilian Schools

http://www.organicconsumers.org/monsanto/brazil051005.cfm

 

GM-FREE BRAZIL

Periodical news & analysis of the Campaign For a GM-Free Brazil

Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, May 6, 2005

Bulletin #16

 

Monsanto's defeat The federal government declines its support for the

company's " social project " , and Monsanto even has to pay for the costs

The Ministry of Culture had declined its support on a project financed

by the company Monsanto, which was directed to students from public

schools in a number of Brazilian states. The Ministry decided to suspend

the distribution of the magazines (Horizonte Geográfico) that contained

texts and articles about agriculture, and were sponsored by Monsanto,

leader of the transgenic market in the country.

 

At the very beginning of April, Monsanto had announced its new " social

project " , in partnership with a publishing house and the federal

government (Ministry of Culture), that foreseed the distribution of

didactic

material concerning two of " the most important matters of our present

reality: agriculture and environment " . According to the company, the

states of Mato Grosso, Bahia, Goiás, Rio Grande do Sul and Distrito

Federal would be enrolled on the project.

 

The project called up attention of a number of organisations and

personalities that launched a protest against the government's support to

Monsanto. The partnership was denounced by the deputy Frei Sergio Gorgen

who saw the obvious: the company was using public schools to advertise

its products and, consequently, to gain future consumers. It also

concerned teachers from all over the country that, throughout the ngo

Rebea

(Rede Brasileira de Educacao Ambiental), asked to the federal

authorities for a more discerning evaluation of the project. The

publishing house

responsible for the magazine denied that material was being used to

make any kind of publicity for Monsanto or for genetic modified organisms

(at some point, the magazine instructed the teachers to promote a

debate among the students around the subject " O grao que conquistou o

Brasil " - " The grain that captivated Brazil " ).

 

The Ministry was put under pressure and decided to review the programme

and, after a period of evaluation, it decided for the suspension of the

magazine distribution. Moreover, the costs of the publication will not

be paid with resources from the law of culture incentives anymore (as

it was established beforehand).

 

According to the government's evaluation, " the contents of the original

proposal were not fully achieved " and " they were modified by the

company, without the ministry's approval " . The Ministry of Culture also

justified its decision by announcing, " the articles and texts were not

faithful to the ones previously approved " .

 

This episode was an undoubtedly proof of the power of the civil

society. After a series of victories, like the approval of the

Biosafety Bill

on its terms, Monsanto was finally faced with a defeat.

 

GM-FREE BRAZIL - An international periodical news & analysis bulletin

on the development of the struggle against GMOs in Brazil. Published by

Assessoria e Serviços a Projetos em Agricultura Alternativa (AS-PTA).

Editor: Sabrina Petry. The Campaign For a GM-Free Brazil is a collective

of Brazilian NGOs and social movements. AS-PTA main office: Rua da

Candelaria, 9/6o / Centro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Phone:

0055-21-2253-8317

Fax: 0055-21-2233-363 E-mail: imprensa

 

 

 

 

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