GMW: The most GE free country worldwide?

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GMW: The most GE free country worldwide?

" GM WATCH " <info

Thu, 12 Oct 2006 21:20:48 +0100

 

 

 

 

GM WATCH daily

http://www.gmwatch.org

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Dear GM Watch

 

Very recently the Greenpeace campaign against the use of GE feed

achieved an important step in Switzerland: all big retailers in

Switzerland

committed to phase out GE animal feed in meat products - even in

imported poultry or meat products!

 

I think it is high-time to communicate the current state of GE free

Switzerland:-)!?

 

Attached is a short text about the Swiss situation - probably the most

GE free country worldwide... Small. But GE free.

 

I would appreciate very much if you published the article below.

thanks.

 

Marianne

 

Marianne Kuenzle

Genschutz-Kampagne

Heinrichstr. 147, Postfach, CH-8031 Zuerich

Phone +41 44 447 41 41, Mobile +41 79 410 76 48

Fax +41 44 447 41 99

http://www.greenpeace.ch/

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GE and Switzerland

 

While the rest of the world wrestles with a biotech industry determined

to own and contaminate the world's food and fields, tiny Switzerland in

its quiet, efficient and pragmatic way is eliminating GE from its

fields, its food and its society.

 

11% of Swiss farmers are now organic. Supermarkets such as Coop carry

as extensive a range of organic foods as you will find anywhere. They

even have begun to carry organic food produced regionally - and labeled

as such. A Coop fund is supporting organic research projects and the

second largest Swiss retailer now also is launching SlowFood products.

 

While domestically labeled animal products have been produced with GE

free feed for a while, more recently, Coop and the biggest retailer

Migros have agreed to undertake the process of ensuring that all

imported meat is raised on GE free feed, too. Smaller supermarket chains

Denner and Spar have now done the same.

 

And one of the most conservative societies in Europe put this issue to

its people in a referendum in November 2005 and overwhelmingly the

public supported a 5 year ban on the growing of GE crops. The referendum

vote was unprecedented in Swiss history. It is the first time ever that a

referendum has passed in every canton, and it is only one of 14

referenda ever to be approved by the Swiss people.

 

No one would accuse the Swiss of being anti-technology. No one would

accuse the Swiss of acting rashly. No one would accuse the Swiss of

taking steps without ensuring that they will benefit.

 

At the same time, however, almost no one is recognizing how significant

these steps have been.

 

As we all face the latest contamination – this time of rice, the

world's most important staple food, it is perhaps time to remember

that we

don't need to find solutions to the problems of GE we only need to

implement those that have already been found.

 

 

 

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