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Can We Create GE-Free Zones?
Part two of podcast 'Colonizing the Canadian farmer.'
[Editor's note: Add to your podcast menu Deconstructing Dinner, a hit radio show about food and politics by Jon Steinman at Kootenay Co-op Radio (CJLY) in Nelson, B.C. Now you can read about and access the podcast here on The Tyee every Friday afternoon.]
This broadcast explores the English print media coverage in Canada throughout 2007 on the controversies surrounding genetically engineered foods. Why has Canada become such a willing host to GE foods whereas throughout most of the world, bans, moratoriums and watchful eyes keep genetically modified organisms off grocery store shelves? Host Jon Steinman looks to provide one answer by deconstructing some of the confusing language that the Canadian public is receiving from some of the most vocal and published proponents of GE foods.
The Kootenay region of B.C. for one has become a hotbed of media debates on the topic, as it is NDP agriculture critic Alex Atamanenko who represents the riding in Ottawa. Atamanenko is at the forefront of politically challenging the presence of genetically engineered foods in Canada.
The broadcast also launches a segment on the creation of regions free of genetically-engineered crops. In November 2007, Deconstructing Dinner recorded the first meeting of residents and politicians who began strategizing around the launch of a campaign to create a GE-Free Kootenays. This segment continues into next week's broadcast.
Voices
Marc Loiselle -- Saskatchewan Organic Directorate's OAPF (Vonda, SK) -- Marc farms on a century-old family farm. The Loiselle Organic Family Farm grows cereal, oilseed, pulse, clover and hay crops. They raise chickens, goats and cattle. Marc has worked with certified organic and biodynamic practices for 22 years. Marc is one of a few farmers in Canada growing Red Fife Wheat.
Mischa Popoff -- isitorganic.ca (Osoyoos, BC) -- Mischa was an organic inspector until 2003. Popoff was a nominee in the 2007 federal Conservative Party candidacy for the BC Southern Interior riding.
Alex Atamanenko -- MP BC Southern Interior/NDP agriculture critic (Ottawa, O.N. / Castlegar, B.C.) -- Elected the member of Parliament for British Columbia Southern Interior in 2006. Alex is the critic for agriculture and agri-food and the Canadian Wheat Board. Atamanenko was born in New Westminster, and was educated at the University of British Columbia and the University of Toronto.
Lorne Hepworth -- president, CropLife Canada (Toronto, ON) -- CropLife Canada is the trade association representing the manufacturers, developers and distributors of plant science innovations -— pest control products and plant biotechnology -— for use in agriculture, urban and public health settings.
and...
Partcipants at the Nov. 10, 2007 GE-Free Kootenays meeting held in Nelson, B.C.
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The multibillion-dollar nanotech industry wants to change what you eat at the molecular level.
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5
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IssueTalk
4 years ago
GM Unsafe
On 17th December 2007 Monsanto was found guilty of contempt of the South African Advertising Authority (ASA) for publishing false claims about the safety of GM foods.
In January,2007, Monsanto was fined 15,000 euros (US$19,000 ) in a French court for misleading the public about the environmental impact of herbicide Roundup.
A former chairman of Monsanto Agriculture France was found guilty of false advertising for presenting Roundup as biodegradable and claiming that it left the soil clean after use. Monsanto's French distributor Scotts France was also fined 15,000 euros.
In 2005 Monsanto was caught smuggling South African produced GM Bollgard cotton seed into Indonesia disguised as rice. Monsanto was fined for bribing Indonesian officials.
In 2006 Monsanto suppressed evidence of serious damage to the liver and kidneys of rats in their MON 863 GM maize trials until ordered to release this evidence by a German Court.
In June, 2007, a second peer-reviewed case involving another variation of Monsanto's GM maize, namely, NK 603, has been shown by studies to be potentially toxic to humans. NK 603 has been approved for food, feed, processing, and propagation in Europe and the Philippines The new research, carried out by the French scientific research institute CRIGEN, involves biotech firm Monsanto's NK 603 GMO corn (marketed commercially under the name Round-up Ready).
Rats that were fed GM maize showed significant differences in measurements, as well as significant weight differences compared to those fed with normal maize. Almost 70 statistically significant differences were observed and reported - 12 for hematology parameters, 18 for clinical chemistry parameters, nine for urine chemistry parameters, six for the organ weights (brain, heart, liver), 14 for body weights and body weight changes, and eight for food consumption. toxicity, The most alarming was the diminished brain size. Scientists warned that diminished brain size sent out a urgent danger warning for growing children fed `GM food.
NicS
4 years ago
Genetically Modified Foods and Politics
This podcast was one of the best researched articles yet on The Tyee, really good stuff!
I picked up The Ecologist magazine from Britain yesterday. It had a short facts type piece on GM issues in Europe:
'NON' A GM
"New French premier Nicolas Sarkozy has won praise from environmentalists after promising a moratorium on growing genetically modified crops and pledging a firm commitment to the 'Precautionary Principle' (to do no harm).
Sarkozy also promised to triple organic food production in the country by 2010, with school canteen menus to be 20 per cent organic by 2012.
His announcements came as EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas expressed serious concern over the effects of genetically modified crops, and called for a ban on certain Syngenta and Dow GM maizes".
Premier Sarkozy sounds a bit like Gordon Campbell and his Greenwashing of GHG emissions this past week. Will politicians just say whatever it takes to stay in power and whether they actually do anything about resolving the issues at hand is another matter?
The previous comment about studies with rats and the politics on the other side of the Atlantic raised some serious concerns I did not hear Jon Steinman mention in his podcast. Care to comment Jon?
bob the cat
4 years ago
Monsanto says?
http://www.saltspringseeds.com/
Due to Customs Regulations we regret we can no longer ship orders to the United States.
thirteencentpinball
4 years ago
Great news!
There are many pro-GM groups working to attack the organic movement while they spread their own lies, so I'm happy to hear about the Monsanto case. 'Bout time.
The Canadian Cancer Society's stance on organic food is disappointing:
"Although people may choose organic foods because they believe that they are healthier and safer, there is not enough evidence that this is true. Organic foods differ from non-organic foods in the way in which they are grown and processed.
"People often choose organic foods because they are concerned about the use of pesticides and the environment. But pollutants may be found on both organic and non-organic foods, so all vegetables and fruit should be washed thoroughly."
http://www.cancer.ca/ccs/internet/standard/0,3182,3278_150407210_165091034_langId-en,00.html#Organic_foods
It's probably a good thing I'm sensitive to soy (especially) and corn right now, but when I do go back to eating it I'll only buy organic!
Hopefully the news about cloned animal products doesn't detract from the importance of the GM issue, but both go to show how desperate corporations, especially American corporations, are to produce massive volumes of food. If we just reduced our hamburger and dairy intake, that would help a lot...
Third world nations who can barely feed themselves are getting ill and dying at the expense of our greed and voracious appetite. Something has to change.
DeconstructingDinner
4 years ago
Sarkozy, Seralini and Schmeiser
"The previous comment about studies with rats and the politics on the other side of the Atlantic raised some serious concerns I did not hear Jon Steinman mention in his podcast. Care to comment Jon?"
While Sarkozy may very well be acting for political gain, I wouldn't shake a finger at him. He's simply responding to public opinion. Europeans just happen to be far more aware and cautious of GE-Foods. Calling for a ban on GE-Crops is a plus for most French. It's intriguing to imagine how effective it would be if during the upcoming federal election, the NDP chose mandatory labelling of GE-Foods as an ongoing campaign tool. What an amazing strategy that would be to raise awareness and simply place a big ? over the heads of Canadians. "GE-Food, what's that?". Yes, we're still that much in the dark.
As for Seralini's study in France. His study is one of many that have raised health concerns, but is certainly one that has reinvigorated the debate. NDP Agriculture Crtitic Alex Atamanenko has suggested inviting him to speak to the Standing Committee on Agriculutre in Ottawa.
I also just got off the phone with Percy Schmeiser this morning. He just returned from a whirlwind tour of Germany where he spoke to over 8,000 people re: his case w/Monsanto. No GE-Crops are planted there. He's also back at it again and taking Monsanto to court since his fields were contaminated once again. This could be precedent setting, and you can be sure that Monsanto will throw everything they have at the case. There was a date set for the 23rd, but that's being pushed back as I write this.
Jon Steinman