1 million signatures sought for GM moratorium
GM Food: get the facts first
The EC has just allowed GM crops into Europe, ignoring the concerns of the
public. We've signed an important new Avaaz petition for independent
research and a moratorium on GM crop development. With 1 million citizens'
signatures, we can make an official legal request to the European
Commission. Sign below and let's get to 1 million:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/eu_health_and_biodiversity/98.php?CLICK_TF_TRACK
Thanks! And please pass this on!
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Dear friends,
The European Commission has just approved growing genetically modified crops
in the European Union for the first time in 12 years!
Caving to the GM lobby, the commission has ignored 60% of Europeans who feel
we have to get the facts first before growing foods that could pose a threat
to our health and environment.
A new initiative allows 1 million EU citizens to make official legal
requests of the European Commission. Let's build a million voices for a ban
on GM foods until the research is done; they will be delivered to the
President Barroso of the European Commission. Sign the petition and forward
this email to friends and family:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/eu_health_and_biodiversity/98.php?CLICK_TF_TRACK
Consumers, public health, environmental and farmers groups have long rallied
against a few international GM companies having such significant influence
over European agriculture. Concerns about growing GM crops include:
contamination of organic crops and the environment; their impact on climate
due to the excessive need for pesticides; the destruction of biodiversity
and local agriculture; and the effects of GM food on public health.
EU member states have voiced strong opposition to last week's decision to
authorise BASF's potato and Monsanto's maize, including Italy and Austria,
which want to ban GM cultivation, and France, which said it would ask for
further scientific research.
There is still no consensus on the long-term effects of GM crops. And it is
the GM industry, pursuing profits not public well being, that is funding the
science and driving the regulatory environment. That is why European
citizens are calling for more independent research, testing and precaution
before crops are unleashed onto our land.
Now, the "European Citizens' Initiative" gives 1 million EU citizens the
opportunity to submit policy proposals to the European Commission and offers
us a unique chance to drown out lobbyists' influence.
Let's raise 1 million voices to put a moratorium on the introduction of GM
crops into Europe and set up an independent, ethical and scientific body to
research and determine the strong regulation of GM crops. Sign the petition
now and then forward it widely:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/eu_health_and_biodiversity/98.php?CLICK_TF_TRACK
With determination,
Alice, Benjamin, Ricken, Luis, Graziela and the entire Avaaz team.
More information:
Last Eurobameter Survey 2008 'Attitudes of European citizens towards the
environment', page 66:
http://bit.ly/aMkeVJ
The Independent, Fury as Brussels authorises GM potatoes:
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/fury-as-eu-approves-gm
-potato-1915833.html
Reuters, France blasts GM crop approvals by EU agency:
http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE6241ZQ20100305
New Report: GMOs Causing Massive Pesticide Pollution:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-kimbrell/new-report-gmos-causing-m_b_36
2888.html
Summary of the International Assessment on Agricultural Science and
Technology for Development, including critics of GMOs use in
agriculture:
http://globalpolicy.org/social-and-economic-policy/international-trade-and-d
evelopment-1-57/genetically-modified-organisms.html#key
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