>X-Authentication-Warning: list1.xs4all.nl: majordom set sender to >[EMAIL PROTECTED] using -f >X-Mailer: Novell GroupWise Internet Agent 5.5.5.1 >Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 18:01:45 +0200 >From: "Stephen Emmott" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: Fwd: PRESS RELEASE: UN CRITICISED FOR GM-FOOD STANCE >Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >In Dan's absence, I am posting a copy of the Greens/EFA Press Release >today on the UNDP GMO Report. > >Steve >Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 15:10:04 +0200 >From: "Eluned Haf" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: "Frans Boogaard" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > "Frederika Hostens" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > <jan.#032#[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > "Boell-Stiftung" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > "Peter Veenendaal" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > "Michaele Schreyer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > "Rainer Emschermann" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > "Riff La Roche" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]#032#>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > "Olaf Munichsdorfer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > "Jan Werts" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > "Marc Peeperkorn" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > "Ronald van Gessel" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > "Michael Scheerer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > <francine.bavay#032#@cr-ile-de-france.fr>, > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > "Kathrin Kummerow" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > "Alison Suttie" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > "Alexandra Wandel" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > "Birgit Jennen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > "Thomas Klau" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > "Petra Maier" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "Cathy Smith" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "MaLou Lindholm" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > "Hans Buddingh" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > "Geert-Jan Bogaerts" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > "Frank Kools" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > "Dorothea Lamatsch" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]#m#>, > "Anna Nijsters" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > "Daniela Weing�rtner" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > "J�rg Rehbein" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > "Gemma Buters" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > "Bert Schampers" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > "Sheila Sitalsing" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > "K. Pr�mpers" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: PRESS RELEASE: UN CRITICISED FOR GM-FOOD STANCE >Mime-Version: 1.0 >Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="=_5D072063.4425FB02" > >THE GREENS / EUROPEAN FREE ALLIANCE IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT > >PRESS RELEASE >Brussels, 10 July, 2001 > >The United Nations criticised for suggesting that only rich countries can >say no to GM-food. > >The Greens/EFA in the European parliament, today attacked the United >Nations Development Programme's 2001 Report on Human Development, launched >today, which suggests that Northern countries should set aside their fears >over GMOs in order to assist developing countries to exploit the potential >of biotech. agriculture. > >Speaking on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group, >Caroline Lucas MEP (Greens-UK) said: > >"The UN's Development Programme's report appears to assume that the >extreme reluctance of consumers in richer countries to embrace gene food >and gene crops is simply a luxury choice based on irrational or emotional >grounds. The truth is that there are strong human health and ecological >objections to the use of GMOs in human and animal foodstuffs and these are >as equally valid for consumers and the environment in Bangladesh as they >are for Bordeaux or Berlin. By publishing such reports, the UNDP risks >allowing itself to become a vehicle for industry propaganda. > >"On health grounds there is research evidence which, at its very least, >demonstrates that we do not know the possible allergic and long-term >side-effects of introducing GMOs into our diet. On ecological grounds, >claims that GM crops reduce pesticide use are being challenged by a >growing number of studies that show the opposite is true. Even on purely >agronomic grounds, many GM crops in trials in fact produce lower and less >stable yields than conventional crops. > >"Some developing countries have already started to take action against GM >food. Sri Lanka, for example has notified the World Trade Organisation >that it will ban 21 categories of GM food imports to allow it time to >study health risks associated with GM foods." > >Jill Evans MEP (EFA- Wales) added: > >"Food shortages are not normally a problem of lack of agricultural >capacity or productivity- they are problems of distorted land use and weak >distribution infrastructures, often made worse by political instability. >The suspicion is that the true interest of the biotech 'gene giants' is to >enable more GM crops for the world market to be grown out of sight of the >more critical GM opponents. > >"One of the unfulfilled and empty promises of the biotech. industry is >that GMOs will feed the world as well as cleaning up the environment and >curing the sick. The pro-GMO lobby often cites yellow rice, claiming it >reduces Vitamin A deficiency (VAD). But powerful counter arguments >challenge not only its effectiveness but the very need for it. VAD is >easily treated by a diet chosen from a range of green vitamin-A rich >vegetables, most of which can be grown readily in developing countries." > >Klaus Topfer from the UNEP is appearing before the European parliament's >Environment Committee this afternoon, Tuesday, 10th July 2001. > > >Eluned Haf > >Press Office >Green/ EFA group in the European Parliament ><mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>[EMAIL PROTECTED] > >Tel: Brussels: +32 2 284 1665 Strasbourg: +33 388 17 2936 >Fax: Brussels: +32 2 284 4944 Strasbourg: +33 388 24 1196 > >GSM: 0497 480 255
