GMOs at the G8 - 'African consumers need basics like access to clean water and s

[Guest guest]

GMW: GMOs at the G8 - 'African consumers need basics like

access to clean water and safe food – not GMOs'

" GM WATCH " <info

Wed, 6 Jul 2005 13:47:24 +0100

 

 

 

 

GM WATCH daily

http://www.gmwatch.org

------

'African consumers need basics like access to clean water and safe food

– not GMOs' - Amadou Kanoute

------

Consumers International bring GMOs to G8

PRESS RELEASE

 

Amadou Kanoute, Director of Consumers International Regional Office for

Africa, will be speaking in Edinburgh on 6 July about debt relief and

foreign aid, and he will attend the G8 in Gleneagles (7-8 July).

 

Amadou led the march at the 'Make Poverty History' rally (2 July) with

cardinals and Bianca Jagger, amongst others. At 'Make Poverty History'

Consumers International (CI) had a stand and campaigned for trade rules

that will benefit Africa, and food security for Africa - not

genetically modified organisms (GMOs). CI also asked members of the

public their

opinion on GMOs.

 

Amadou Kanoute, Director of CI Regional Office for Africa says: 'Some

companies and governments are trying to promote GM as a miracle solution

to world hunger. But the long term effects of GMOs on human health and

the environment are unknown. African consumers need basics like access

to clean water and safe food – not GMOs.'

 

89% say no to GMOs

 

CI staff asked 79 people who passed by the CI stand, at 'Make Poverty

History' rally, their opinion on GM. Respondents could 'agree',

'disagree' or say 'don't know' to 10 statements about GM. The opinion

of this

non-representative sample reflects results from public opinion surveys.

89% of respondents said they would prefer to eat food that has NOT

been genetically modified and 97% agreed that all GM food should be

labelled. Many of the people asked (57%) feel poorly informed or not

at all

informed about GM suggesting the need for more public awareness raising

(see full results in note for editors below).

 

Interestingly, none of the respondents agreed that it is O.K. if GM

food is only safety tested by the GM food producer, and 92% thought that

GM food should be independently safety tested (e.g. by universities,

independent research centres, government, regulatory bodies).

 

CI is campaigning for independent safety testing of GMOs and David

Cuming, Campaign manager says:

'We still don't know if GM food is safe for people to eat. The

scientific community is still divided. At the moment only GM food

producers

test GM food, but CI believes that GM food must undergo independent

safety assessments before it is sold to consumers. Our food is too

important

to take any risks.'

 

Note to editors:

 

Amadou Kanoute is available for interview in Edinburgh, Scotland on the

6 July 05 and in Gleneagles, Scotland on 7-8 July 05. To arrange an

interview please call: Kaye Stearman + 44 (0) 7985 023 005 (or Heidi

Ullrich + 44 (0) 7968 844 778).

 

Amadou Kanoute will be speaking at 'Will debt relief and increased

foreign aid make poverty history in Africa?' in Teviot Row House, Bristo

Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9AJ on 6 July 05 (10.30am through 5pm)

http://www.woni.org.uk/cms/index.php?id=7,11,0,0,1,0 and he will be

attending the G8, Gleneagles (7-8 July 05).

 

To arrange an interview with David Cuming, or for more information on

GM, please call Julia Crosfield +44 (0) 20 7226 6663 ext: 212.

 

About Consumers International

Consumers International... currently represents over 250 organisations

in 115 countries.

 

For more information, see: www.consumersinternational.org

 

image: Amadou Kanoute, CI Regional Office for Africa leads 'Make

Poverty History' march in Edinburgh, Scotland (2 July 05)

 

image: Amadou Kanoute talks to press, at CI stand, Make Poverty

History, Edinburgh (2 July 05)

 

Results from CI questionnaire

CI asked 79 people who passed by the CI stand, at 'Make Poverty

History' rally, what they thought about GMOs.

 

- 5 people feel very well informed about GM, 29 well informed, 41

poorly informed, and 4 not at all informed

- 70 people (89%) agreed they would prefer to eat food that had NOT

been genetically modified (6 disagree, 3 don't know)

- 77 people (97%) agreed all GM food should be labelled (0 disagree, 2

don't know)

- 36 people (46%) disagreed that GM food is safe (5 agree, 35 don't

know)

- 71 people (92%) agreed GM food should be safety tested for effects on

human health (1 disagree, 5 don't know)

- 71 people agreed GM food should be independently safety tested (0

disagree, 2 don't know).

- 0 people agreed it is OK if GM food is only safety tested by the GM

food producer (68 disagree, 3 don't know).

- 73 people (94%) agreed it is important that GM seeds are prevented

from spreading in the environment (3 disagree, 2 don't know)

- 57 people (73%) agreed they would like the place where they live to

be a GM-free zone (6 disagree, 15 don't know).

 

 

 

 

 

--------------------------