ISP letter to Canada on behalf of Tewolde

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23 May 2005 19:12:21 -0000

 

ISP letter to Canada on behalf of Tewolde

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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To:

 

Hon. Pierre Pettigrew Pettigrew.P Minister of

Foreign Affairs Canada

 

Hon. Andy Mitchell ,Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food,

Mitchell.A Telephone:(613) 996-3434 Fax: (613)

991-2147

 

Hon. Stéphane Dion, Minister of the Environment, s

tephane.dion Telephone: (613) 996-5789 Fax: (613)

996-6562

 

Hon. Hon. Joseph Volpe, Minister of Citizenship and

Immigration, Volpe.J Telephone: (613) 992-6361

Fax: (613) 992-9791

 

 

Dear Hon. Pierre Pettigrew,

 

Further to our first letter to you dated 19 May 2003

protesting in the strongest terms, the Canadian Government's

denial of an entry visa for Dr. Tewolde Berhan Gebre

Egziabher, and deliberate obstructions that prevented him

not only from attending important conferences on the

Cartagena Protocol for Biosafety in Montreal, Canada, but

also conferences on the International Treaty on Plant

Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture in two other

countries (see " Canada denies visa for Africa's chief

biosafety and biodiversity " ,

http://www.i-sis.org.uk/CanadaVisa.php),

we are outraged to learn that Dr. Tewolde, who carries

a diplomatic passport, has still to receive an entry visa

for Canada.

 

The biosafety meetings are expected to shape the

controversial issues of labelling of genetically modified

products, and liability and redress in case of damages

caused. Dr. Tewolde represents not just the African Union,

but also the overwhelming majority of peoples in the rest of

the world. Unless his presence at the biosafety meetings is

assured, no one can have confidence in the negotiations that

are to take place in your country.

 

We understand that Dr. Tewolde is not the only person to

have been denied an entry visa to Canada. You have also

denied entry visas for other delegates and spokespersons

critical of the Miami group (Canada, United States,

Argentina, Uruguay and Chile). This shameful, underhanded

act of interference with important international treaties is

unprecedented in the history of civilized democracy. We

repeat our demand that Canada should issue an unequivocal

apology to Dr Tewolde for this grave insult, and to take all

the necessary emergency measures to ensure that he will be

present at the Montreal biosafety meetings.

 

 

Yours sincerely, Dr. Mae-Wan Ho Independent Science Panel PO

Box 32097 London NW1 0XR UK www.indsp.org

 

cc: Dr. Hamdallah Zedan, Executive Secretary of the CBD

secretariat

 

Note 1. The ISP, launched 10 May 2003 at a public conference

in London, UK, consists of dozens of prominent scientists

from 11 countries spanning the disciplines of agroecology,

agronomy, biomathematics, botany, chemical medicine,

ecology, epidemiology, histopathology, microbial ecology,

molecular genetics, nutritional biochemistry, physiology,

toxicology and virology

(http://www.indsp.org/ISPMembers.php)

 

As their contribution to the global GM debate, the ISP

reviewed the evidence on the hazards and problems of GM

crops as well as the proven successes of sustainable

agriculture, and published its report in June 2003 (Ho MW,

Lim LC et al. The Case for a GM-Free Sustainable World, ISP

Report, ISIS & TWN, London & Penang, 2003.

http://www.indsp.org/A%20GM-Free%20Sustainable%).

 

 

 

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press-release ISIS Director m.w.ho

 

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