Chavez dumps Monsanto

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There will not be mass deaths of bees in Venezuela!!VENEZUELA: Chavez dumps MonsantoJason Tockman, Caracas GovernorSunday, April 29, 2007 1:34 PMVenezuelan President Hugo Chavez Frias has announced that the cultivation of genetically modified crops will be prohibited on Venezuelan soil,possibly establishing the most sweeping restrictions on transgenic cropsin the western hemisphere.Though full details of the administration's policy on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are still forthcoming, the statement by President HugoChavez will lead most immediately to the cancellation of a contract thatVenezuela had negotiated with the US-based Monsanto Corporation.Before a recent international gathering of supporters in Caracas, Chavezadmonished genetically engineered crops as contrary to interests and needsof the nation's farmers and

farmworkers. He then zeroed in on Monsanto's plans to plant up to 500,000 acres of transgenic soybeans in Venezuela."I ordered an end to the project", said Chavez, upon learning thattransgenic crops were involved. "This project is terminated." Chavez emphasised the importance of food sovereignty and security -required by the Venezuelan Constitution - as the basis of his decision.Instead of allowing Monsanto to grow its transgenic crops, these fields will be used to plant yuca, an indigenous crop, Chavez explained. He alsoannounced the creation of a large seed bank facility to maintainindigenous seeds for peasants' movements around the world.The international peasants' organisation Via Campesina, representing more than 60 million farmers and farmworkers, had brought the issue to theattention of the Chavez administration when it learned of the contractwith Monsanto. According to Rafael Alegria, secretary for

international operations of Via Campesina, both Monsanto and Cargill are seekingauthorisation to produce transgenic soy products in Venezuela."The agreement was against the principles of food sovereignty that guide the agricultural policy of Venezuela", said Alegria when informed of thepresident's decision. "This is a very important thing for the peasants andindigenous people of Latin America and the world." Alegria has good reason to be concerned. With a long history of social andenvironmental problems, Monsanto won early international fame with itsproduction of the chemical Agent Orange - the Vietnam War defoliant linked to miscarriages, tremors, and memory loss that more than 1 million peoplewere exposed to. More recently, the company has been criticised forside-effects that its transgenic crops and bovine growth hormone (rBGH) are believed to have on human health and the environment.Closer to home in

Venezuela, Monsanto manufactures the pesticide"glyphosate", which is used by the neighbouring Colombian government aspart of its Plan Colombia offensive against coca production and rebelgroups. The Colombian government aerially sprays hundreds of thousands ofacres, destroying legitimate farms and natural areas like the Putomayorainforest, and posing a direct threat to human health, including that ofindigenous communities."If we want to achieve food sovereignty, we cannot rely on transnationalslike Monsanto", said Maximilien Arvelaiz, an adviser to Chavez. "We need to strengthen local production, respecting our heritage and diversity."Alegria hopes that Venezuela's move will serve as encouragement to othernations contemplating how to address the issue of GMOs. "The people of the United States, of Latin America, and of the world needto follow the example of a Venezuela free of transgenics", he said.From

Green Left Weekly, May 5, 2004.Visit the Green Left Weekly home page. http://www.greenleft.org.au/

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Bea Bernhausen

05/06/07 00:10:01

Bea Bernhausen

Chavez dumps Monsanto

 

 

 

 

There will not be mass deaths of bees in Venezuela!!VENEZUELA: Chavez dumps MonsantoJason Tockman, Caracas GovernorSunday, April 29, 2007 1:34 PMVenezuelan President Hugo Chavez Frias has announced that the cultivation of genetically modified crops will be prohibited on Venezuelan soil,possibly establishing the most sweeping restrictions on transgenic cropsin the western hemisphere.Though full details of the administration's policy on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are still forthcoming, the statement by President HugoChavez will lead most immediately to the cancellation of a contract thatVenezuela had negotiated with the US-based Monsanto Corporation.Before a recent international gathering of supporters in Caracas, Chavezadmonished genetically engineered crops as contrary to interests and needsof the nation's farmers and farmworkers. He then zeroed in on Monsanto's plans to plant up to 500,000 acres of transgenic soybeans in Venezuela."I ordered an end to the project", said Chavez, upon learning thattransgenic crops were involved. "This project is terminated." Chavez emphasised the importance of food sovereignty and security -required by the Venezuelan Constitution - as the basis of his decision.Instead of allowing Monsanto to grow its transgenic crops, these fields will be used to plant yuca, an indigenous crop, Chavez explained. He alsoannounced the creation of a large seed bank facility to maintainindigenous seeds for peasants' movements around the world.The international peasants' organisation Via Campesina, representing more than 60 million farmers and farmworkers, had brought the issue to theattention of the Chavez administration when it learned of the contractwith Monsanto. According to Rafael Alegria, secretary for international operations of Via Campesina, both Monsanto and Cargill are seekingauthorisation to produce transgenic soy products in Venezuela."The agreement was against the principles of food sovereignty that guide the agricultural policy of Venezuela", said Alegria when informed of thepresident's decision. "This is a very important thing for the peasants andindigenous people of Latin America and the world." Alegria has good reason to be concerned. With a long history of social andenvironmental problems, Monsanto won early international fame with itsproduction of the chemical Agent Orange - the Vietnam War defoliant linked to miscarriages, tremors, and memory loss that more than 1 million peoplewere exposed to. More recently, the company has been criticised forside-effects that its transgenic crops and bovine growth hormone (rBGH) are believed to have on human health and the environment.Closer to home in Venezuela, Monsanto manufactures the pesticide"glyphosate", which is used by the neighbouring Colombian government aspart of its Plan Colombia offensive against coca production and rebelgroups. The Colombian government aerially sprays hundreds of thousands ofacres, destroying legitimate farms and natural areas like the Putomayorainforest, and posing a direct threat to human health, including that ofindigenous communities."If we want to achieve food sovereignty, we cannot rely on transnationalslike Monsanto", said Maximilien Arvelaiz, an adviser to Chavez. "We need to strengthen local production, respecting our heritage and diversity."Alegria hopes that Venezuela's move will serve as encouragement to othernations contemplating how to address the issue of GMOs. "The people of the United States, of Latin America, and of the world needto follow the example of a Venezuela free of transgenics", he said.From Green Left Weekly, May 5, 2004.Visit the Green Left Weekly home page. http://www.greenleft.org.au/

 

 

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