8th
of April 2006 :
Joint International GMO Opposition Day
1 Background
The
GM crops file is representative of the domination exerted by a few
private
interests over the commonweal. Regard for short-term profit, a non
mastered
technology is used by the international agro-business, involving risks
for both
environment and consumer.
The
increase of GM crops cultivated areas in the
world (20% in 2004) is currently
accompanied by law changes, especially through the World Trade
Organization and
the European Union, with the middle-term goal of decreasing the last
obstacles
that rise up against the free trading of GM crops.
An international
mobilization of anti-GMO activists should quickly respond to this
strong
trading effort, and involve farmers, environment supporters,
independent
scientists… those who work at a local level so as both to avoid the
privatization of the commonweal and to inform citizens about sanitary
and
environmental risks linked with GMOs.
Such
actions already occurred
in 2004 and 2005, mainly in French districts, but also in neighbour
countries,
associating the same day many members of Non Governmental
Organizations. Based
on this experience, the action is now lifted at an international level.
2 Goals
·
A. To
inform
those who undergo
(consumers, farmers) by making
available and easily understandable actual reasons for being opposed to
GMO
trading.
A great
gap remains to be bridged between the
knowledge available to activists and the one that can be accessed by
the
average citizen, whose GMO Opposition, although of a great majority, is
mostly
based upon a lack of trust towards the elite.
·
B. To
alert those who
decide
(politicians, shareholders) by bringing in a different point of view
than the
one they are usually given.
Deciders
are influenced by those who hold the
communication power. Corporate shareholders, and, at a lower level,
politicians, stand at the core of the GMO question. They should
especially be
made aware of the consequences of their economic decisions.
·
C. To
promote
alternatives (free
« peasant seeds », plants « of interest »
conservation)
that contradict patenting the living and secure biodiversity.
Contestation
must go with concrete proposals for
changing the situation. An international action will give the
opportunity for
seeds not registered in the “official catalogues” to be known. A
collection of
plants can also be initiated in order to avoid their future patenting,
as with
the Indian “common books”.
·
D. To assemble concerned
organizations (NGO,
trade unions)
Many
organizations that are
concerned with GMOs work independently from each other. Despite some
differences in terms of goals, strategies and resources, they agree on
the need
for citizens to be informed: The diversity of their means then becomes
an
advantage, being aimed at a diversity of
individuals. It may be noticed that previous similar actions
already
resulted in the creation of local joined groups of activists.
This last
goal is also a way to act efficiently, by
synergy…
Joint
activists (D) inform people (A)
and promote tools (C) during an international Information Day.
Data
gathered beforehand and along this day (message of independent
scientists,
peasant’s common books, citizens petition) may then be advertised in
continental demonstrations at decision places (B).
A. To
inform
(International Day, chosen as a function of the international agenda)
The
choice of the « D » Day was fixed the 21st of October during
a
meeting with French, German, Welsh and African representatives, and
accounting
for the previous proposals of twenty international contacts.
It will be
Saturday
the 8th of April, because this date coincides with
several
international events : 1/ the Annual Convention of Biotech
Industries in Chicago, 2/ the WTO decision concerning the USA –
Europe dispute
on GMO trading, 3/ the European Social Forum (to be confirmed).
The corresponding message could be the
following :
Whereas the GMO trading question
opposes their governments,
American and European citizens
unite together with people of the world to
say « no to GMO dissemination and trading »
Information will be transmitted in two ways:
-
Directly,
at « information sites » the content of which may be inspired
by
those of the last two years.
- Through
medias: for key-information to be broadcasted and the link be
established
between local and international levels (Press Statements, suggestion of
radio
programs before the “D” Day, invitations of journalists).
B.
To alert (letter
written by Independent scientists and
co-signed by the participating organizations, aimed at politicians and
corporate shareholders. Demonstrations focused at decisional locations,
following the Information Day, and using data gathered during this day.)
- The 9th
or 10th April in
Chicago, during the Annual Convention of
Biotech Industries. This counter-convention will be aimed at
showing to the
shareholders an international front expressing the uncertain nature of
their
investment.
- The 8th
April (Earth Day) in Brussels,
during a session of the Members of the European Parliament:
Representatives of
every country will bring petitions, the scientist paper, accompanied by
samba.
- The 8th
April in Athens, during the European Social Forum, if
confirmed at
this date; the goal is to enlarge the current view over GMO issues,
including political,
economical and social ones.
- To date, a
meeting with the African Union is considered. Comparable initiatives
may also
arise in Asia and South America.
C. To
promote (the
world
span of this event may contribute to favour alternative models of
agricultural
development)
If the GMO
industry relies on private patents, the
availability of shared resources is on the contrary a factor of freedom
and
adaptability to food needs.
- A
common documentation on GMOs and their
alternatives will favour exchanges between different populations and
countries,
as well as constructive thinking. This documentation will notably
contribute to
spreading local initiatives that appeared to be successful.
- The
democratization of peasant
seeds collected by networks and conservation institutions, the
knowledge of
local plants qualities registered in « Common Books », are
means to
record them for avoiding their privatisation.
D. To
assemble The strategy developed on the occasion of
previous similar action days will be applied at the international
level. It is
mainly based on decentralization
(light coordination) and the use of Internet.
The international sites will possibly be connected through Internet
video-conference during the Information day (“D” Day).
1/
Broadcasting, via Internet, of a survey aimed at
evaluating the
global interest for such a possible action. (Done. Positive feedback
from about
twenty countries, given whether by organization representatives or well
known
activists).
2/
Identification of international/district contact-persons, in
reply to a
Call for Participation, who are consulted when global decisions must be
taken
(ex : Choice of the “D” Day). These persons may promote the design
of
Information Site(s) in their district (preferably with a team of united
activists of several organizations), and communicate with the
coordination
secretary.
3/ “D”
Day associated with an Agenda indicating the main deadlines (local
meetings, identification of information sites, advertising,
sending/receipt of
tool kits).
4/ Updating
of a dedicated website (communication node) by the coordination:
5/ the
shared documentation will be constituted through the organization
partnership
and transmitted to the information sites. The coordination team will provide
tools for helping the setting of local sites (documents, tool kits,
banner
of the event). A financial support may be considered for some
underprivileged
districts, based on their planned budget.