14 Σεπτεμβρίου 2010

Genetically modified crops in the European Union...

The European Commission has recently 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. 
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 -- Italy and Austria are opposed, and France 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. Sign the petition  

With determination,
Alice, Benjamin, Ricken, Luis, Graziela and the entire Avaaz team

1 σχόλιο:

  1. We did it! Over a million of us from across the EU have signed the first "European Citizens Initiative" - to freeze all genetically modified crops. Now it's time to press the Commission to respond to this unprecedented citizen action.

    It won't be easy -- agri-business lobbyists have entrenched power over European policy and are right now pushing to get more GM crops into our fields and shops. European leaders are obliged to act on a citizens' petition of this size, and Environment Ministers are on our side, but we need to publicly deliver the Initative in a powerful, impactful way.

    The GMO lobby's allies in the European Commission will try to sweep our effort under the carpet. Let's make that impossible and fund a spectacular and media grabbing action outside the EU Commission headquarters. Time is short -- but just a small donation will be enough to make our powerful voices count with a powerful event and media strategy.

    Scientists still have major concerns about the likely effects of GM crops on plants, wildlife, and on people. Yet in March EU officials ignored the risks, caved in to industry pressures, and broke a 12 year freeze on GM testing by approving an experimental potato.

    Now companies want approval for fifteen more GM crops. Hungary, Austria, Luxembourg, Poland and France are taking the European Commission to court to demand more rigorous testing and this week environment ministers also spoke out against the Commission's plans. But this massive Avaaz and Greenpeace public initiative is needed to help them face down the powerful bio-tech companies who are funding the science and regulations behind the political decisions.

    Together we are pioneering the European Citizen Initiative -- introduced in the EU Lisbon Treaty late last year which for the first time allows a million EU citizens to file a petition and get their concerns formally considered in EC legislation. It is a democratic intervention into back room decision making.

    58% of Europeans don't want GM crops in Europe. We are the front line of that public opinion and now have the opportunity to demand a freeze, expose the influence of the GM industry on EU policy and push for ethical and independent investigation and regulation. If enough of us make a small contribution today we can powerfully demand that precaution and the public good determine EU policy.

    How we deliver our message and organise now will help determine whether the Initiative strikes a real blow for citizens’ power, or runs into the Brussels sands. Senior EU politicians now have a million reasons to listen to the public and prioritise the safety and well-being of European citizens. Let’s donate now and deepen our engagement to democratise decision making about our food, environment and health:

    https://secure.avaaz.org/en/gmo_the_next_steps/?vl

    With hope,
    Alex, Alice, Paula, Iain, Graziela, David and the rest of the Avaaz team

    ΑπάντησηΔιαγραφή