Talk on GM Rice and related issues Dressed
in the traditional black of the Kadazan Dusun people, the
Priestesses perform the sacred ‘Monogit’ ceremony
of thanksgiving for the previous rice harvest
next
Don't
miss this opportunity for education, vision and
action!
Bring the newest leaf from your papaya tree to test
for GMO conta-mination while
you wait!
"...thousands
of men, women and children cheering and chanting slogans
to save their rice. What kind of world are we living
in when we drive these people out of existence and take
away everything they live for?
To me GE seed is the ultimate symbol of the corporate
monster. SEED of GREED."
Clare of Malaysia
In
Kostroma, the regional capital of Central Russia,
Activists of the NGO For the Sake of Life
urged regional authorities to declare the region a
GMO free zone. Ecologists plan to undertake concrete
steps to introduce GMO free law in the region (see
the Complete
Report)
In
Archangelsk (North-West of Russia) JIGMOM started with
the call to local authorities to uncover information
on tests of food products on GMOs. Regional sanitary
inspection provided to local NGO Etas a list of products
tested negative to GMOs. But GM-positive products are
still under secret.
Mass Rally in front of IRRI
& Dpt. of Agriculture
Peoples Street Conference on celebrating
rice culture trade fairs of organic products,
exhibits and solidarity night
Rice and organic product trade fairs Multi-media campaign (Media interviews
of international scientists)
Wora evaluation meeting
GE Rice Meeting
Laguna,
Quezon City, University of the Philippines,
Days
of Protest against GMO
Rallies, Public meetings, Media meets and Demonstrations
In
line with JIGMOM, The Deccan Development Society,
AP Coalition in Defence of Diversity, AP
Alliance for Food Sovereigty and the South Against
Genetic Engineering (SAGE) who together work in an
area of 943 000 sq kms and a population of 320 million
people have organised series of rallies, demonstrations
and public meetings involving over a
million participants in various villages, towns
and cities.
A protest
march was held in Najangud town of Karnataka
State on 9th April 2007 by ‘South Against Genetic
Engineering (SAGE)' and ‘Institute for Cultural
Research and Action (ICRA)' in solidarity JIGMOM. Around
700 farmers and farm women from surrounding villages,
especially cotton growing areas took part in the protest
march.
DDS-
APCIDD observed GM Opposition Day on April 10th in front
of ICRISAT, denouncing ICRISAT for its corporate backed
pro-GM research agenda and submitted a memorandum
to the Director General, ICRISAT and demanded to:
1.
Move away from GE and move back to basics. Work
with farmers and start building on the foundations
of their science once again. 2. Get out of the unholy alliance with
the biotech industry which has very little to
do with Life and everything to do with Death. 3. Stop renting out your facilities which
was donated to you by the internatonal community to
the biotech industry. 4. Bring back biodiversity and NPM on
to your agenda. 5. Start repatriating the genetic wealth
you have amassed from the farmers of Asia and Africa.
• Further Andhra Pradesh Coalition in Defence
of Diversity (APCIDD) partners from Adilabad, Anatapur,
East Godavari, Kurnool, Khammam, Nalgonda, Nellore,
Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Prakasam, Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam,
Vizianagaram, Warangal & West Godavari districts...
... also observed GM Opposition day
in their respective districts.
Young
ecologists of Kola Peninsula run a street action for
GMO free zone in Murmansk. They went out to central
square of the city with a 10 meter poster “GMO
Free Zone” and in costumes of corn, carrot,
tomato and banana. Two activists dressed in rabbit
costumes where holding poster “No experiments”.
(see the Complete
Report)
The CIS NGOs presented to public the results
of independent baby food tests on GMOs. Event
was dedicated to the Joint International Month of
Opposition to GMOs (JIGMOM), action against GMOs which
takes place all over the world. Press-conference was
organized by members of CIS Alliance for Biosafety
– local NGO Foundation for Integration of
Ecological Culture (FIEC) and Moscow members
of the Alliance. (see the Complete
Report)
Right
at the center of Paris, the Fontaine Saint-Michel
is meant for successful appointments, as well as
a famous touristic spot.
Not
easy to sing louder than the surrounding traffic noise,
for our voice being heard. This day and the following
one, we collected around 1000 signatures for the Moratorium
on GMOs, and discussed with various persons, including
pro-GMO farmers, scientists and students.
Citizens
dressed in "sandwish-men" walked through the
down-town pedestrian streets. People were invited to sign
the call for a moratoriuml and GM-Free Spring. A banner
was set up at Place de la Motte.
The "île-de-France" local team had prepared
an organic cocktail for the audience and our guests, who
had brought documents as well as many japanese typical
presents. Welcome with an address delivered by of the
Mayor of the 2nd quarter of Paris, our japanese partners
have then presented during two hours, with slides translated
in French and thanks to an accurate translation (Thank
you Kolin!), different aspects of the resistance to GMOs
in Japan, inssisting on the necessity of a global collaboration.
The French audience has been impressed by the Consumers
Associations initiatives, such as this People's
Survey on GM Rapeseed Growing Wild, conducted with
"No! GMO Campaign" During discussions with the
audience, it appeared that a global support to Australia
should be initiated, in order to avoid its government
to make the hardly reversible choice of GE cultures.
GM-Free
regions in Japan: about 8000 hectares since January
2005
Colours indicate the number of farmers who declared
themselves GMO-free (ex: from 50 to 250: in red)
An interview
of japaneese guests by the journalist Ruth Stegassy, recorded
during that evening,
is broadcasted by the France-Culture Radio
on Saturday morning 16th of June 2007
"Vamos
al grano! Cuidado con el maíz Transgénico!"
Video
Launching
Our
video-film "Right to seeds! Beware of GE Maize!"
has just been finished with the aim of being spread
across the whole country, for all the population and farmers
in particular, understanf what GMOs are, how they are
designed and why we state that they are dangerous for
the biodiversity, health, farming. In particular, in the
case of corn, one insist on the the necessity to keep
the biodiversity of corn and ways to be protected froim
GE-maize originating from the USA. These presentations
came along with introductions to the anti-GMO movement
at both national and international levels.
To
be translated soon : This is on the occasion of the XVII
Anniversary-MeetingAu cours de l'Anniversaire-Assemblée
of the farmers organization Sanzekan Tinemi, with which
Grupo de Estudios Ambientales -GEA-works in the mountain
area of Guerrero, that the video-film what shown for the
first time at Chilapa, Guerrero.
Next:
- During the Worshop "Defensa territorial del maíz
nativo en México" and the III Foro Nacional
"En Defensa del Maíz Nativo" , in Mexico-city,
May 16-17, respectively, with a hundred representatives
of the Civil Society and indigenous people of the states
of Oaxaca, Guerrero, Chihuahua, Michoacán, Veracruz,
Tabasco, Jalisco, estado de México, as well as
from Peru, Brazil and Chili.
- During the XXX Anniversary of GEA, at Mexico-City,
on the 18th of May.
The
gathering at the closing meeting of one month long organic
farming campaign in Tanjavur delta districts had discussed
about GM crops.
Tamil nadu Organic Agriculturist Movement ( TOAM), federation
Of Consumer Organisations Of Tamil nadu and Pondycherry
(FEDCOT), and many other organizations had pleaded to the
Tamil nadu state Government (INDIA) NOT TO PERMIT ANY GE
CROPS TRIALS in the state. TOAM
, FEDCOT, LEISA , SNEGHA,IRDC,VENTURE TRUST,BHARATHI WOMEN
DEVELOPMENT CENTRE, WALES FOUNDATION, PALAIYUR POISON FREE
FOOD PRODUCERS FEDERATION
and Oottrumai Trust jointly had carried out
a campaign to promote Organic faming and also to make
aware of the dangers of GM crops among farmers and consumers
as well. The
campaign started on April 22nd at the famous place, VEDARANYAM,
one of the two places where the Salt Sahyagragha was launched
during the freedom struggle on India. The campaign ended
in another historical place called KALLANAI, WHERE THE king
of Tanjavur had built the first dam- still in use, across
the river cauvery.
President of Tamil nadu Green Movement, Former Vce Chancelor
of Gandhi Gram University Dr. Margandan, Former members
of the Legislative assembly of Tamil nadu Mr.G.Illagovan,
M. Manimaran, Vice Chairman of Tamil nadu government Agriculture
Advisory committee Mr. Azhagiri, R.Selvam of SAGE and Organic
Farmers Federation Of Erode District all spoke about the
need for promoting organic farming and
the risks the GM crops poses over the farmers
and consumers. At
the end Mr. Nammalvar declared that ,"GE Seeds and
requested to the farmers of Tamil nadu not to sow Bt Cotton
as they are affecting their fellow farmers. If any of the
fields were sown with the Bt. cotton then he will lead the
team that will pullout the crop".
The meet resolved to plead the state government
not to permit any GM crops trials in Tamil nadu
and ban Bt Crops.
It is important to remember that recently to Supreme Court
of India had permitted to continue the old field trials.
We
gave away packages of organic Pinto Bean seeds with messages
of the danger of the Terminator Technology; we had a draw
for Jeffrey Smith's Trilogy, a quizz with organic chocolate
as prizes.
We got 5 pages of the Ban
Terminatorpetition signed which we
delivered to our Member of Parliament on April 27th 2007.
As we had collected 10 other pages during the last 3 months,
it was enough signatures (250) to ask him to table it in
the House of Commons which he promised to do before June
2007.
(Tabling means he will read out the concern of his constituents
on the floor of the House so it is entered in the Hansards,
minutes of the House of Commons)
Counter-Conference: Genes
Are Not For Sale
April 25, Krakow
Wavel
Castle, CENTRUM
WYSTAWOWO- KONFERENCYJNE
...where key international figures expose the real
truth about the harmful
effects of GMOs.
"Many
years have past and the ancient dragon
once again threatens the land of King Krak (Poland).
This time, his name is: GMO
The beast lurks upon our traditional and ecological
farming and our biodiversity and threatens our health.
Let's stop the monster before it's too late!"
The
conference drew approx 120 people to Wawel Castle and
filled the room to capacity.
Dr Arpad Pusztai, Percy Schmeiser and Michel Dupont were
the main international speakers, Prof. Magdalena Jaworska,
Dr Zbigniew Halat main Polish ones. They all hammered
home the same message: There can be NO coexistence
between GMO and traditional and organic crops;
cross-contamination is inevitable - whatever the distance.
Proceedings
ended with strong support from participants to fight-on
to keep Poland GMO Free and to supportICPPC's
call for a European wide Moratoriun of all GMO.
Widespread determination to resist any watering down
of the current national GMO ban was also expressed.
several
traditional and organic farmers/processors provided
and prepared a superb spread of delicious eco friendly
food for everyones consumption.
It
was a very successful event!
250 participants, among them Members of the
Parliament, Ministers, Representatives of all the political
parties, Mayors, the Ombudsman, the representative of
the EU representation in Cyprus, NGOs and the public.
The representative of the Federation of Environmental
Organisations of Cyprus stressed out that it is the right
time to ban GMOs due to the Cyprus particularities and
to the new data on the effects of GMOs revealed internationally.
The
event was co-organised by the Federation of Environmental
and Ecological Organisations of Cyprus and the Cyprus
Parliament,
in the frame of Jigmom.
The
main speaker was the President of the Parliament,
who declared the will of the Parliament to ban GMOs
in Cyprus.
A
bunch of scarecrows have gathered their forces to
take actions and want to warn the world against the
dangers of GMOs.
The scarecrow
caravan travelled through
rural areas
The
first halting-place was Concelho of Alcochete, a
city declared "Free of Transgénicos"
and where Syngenta and Pioneer
recently planned to make GE-maize tests in the open-air,
which have been rejected, thanks to the efforts
of the "Plataforma Transgénicos Fora"
("GMOut Platform").
The Kumpania Commotion entertained the celebrations
at the Plaza of S. João and the Municipal
Gallery of Alcochete
In
Alcochete, the Scarecrow Caravan visited two 1º
Cycle schools. More than 100 children participated
in the activities, that included a presentation of
the subject and the threats of the transgénicos
for health, environment and agriculture.
The launching of the Caravan went on
from 6pm until night, in the Plaza of S. João,
Alcochete, in presence of the President of the autarchy
Luis Frank Miguel and the Vice-president António
Lucas Rodrigues.
In
Portugal, 27 cities and one region already declared
themselves GM-Free Zones.
Alcochete
was the first to display the flag that symbolizes
this declaration
The
Vice-president displayed the first flag of a GM-Free
Zone in the country.
During
the two days of activities in Alcochete, pupils designed
three scarecrows against GMOs
Day
of Protest against GMO
Rallies, Public meetings, Media meets and Demonstrations
In
line with JIGMOM, The Deccan Development Society,
AP Coalition in Defence of Diversity, AP
Alliance for Food Sovereigty and the South Against
Genetic Engineering (SAGE) who together work in an
area of 943 000 sq kms and a population of 320 million
people have organised series of rallies, demonstrations
and public meetings involving over a
million participants in various villages, towns
and cities.
Within
a Joint International GMO Opposition Month, the CIS Alliance
for Biosafety initiated the Internet photo-action “For
My Place Free of GMOs”. People from all over CIS
were invited to submit photos with posters promoting GMO
free idea at local and national level. The idea of the
action was to make a picture with GMO free poster and
famous or recognizable symbol of the place in the background.
Polyarnyi (translated as "Polar",
a very cold town on Kola Peninsula of Russia). "GMO
Free Zone"
Murmansk,
capital of 'Murmansk oblast’ located
on Kola Peninsula of Russia. "GMO Free Zone"
Zaporozhie,
Ukraine. In the background, a famous HydroPower
Station. "For My City Zaporozhie Free of GMOs."
(in Ukrainian)
Bendery
city, Transnistria, Moldova, with bilingual poster
"We are from Transnitria, free of GMO!"
capital
of Kazakhstan - Almaty, also known
as the “apple capital”. "Almaty
- a GMO Free Zone"
Yekaterinburg,
capital of a huge region of Russia located in Urals
Mountains.
"Yekaterinburg is Free of GMOs"
Pushkin,
the town-satellite of Saint-Petersburg (Russia)
this is a famous historical place. Group of students
of the Saint-Petersburg Sate Agrarian University:
"NO GMOs!"
Red
Square of Moscow (Russia). "GMO
Free Moscow"
Near
the Kremlin walls of Moscow
"GMO Free Moscow"
Bryansk
city, Russian region on Ukrainian border. Schoolchildren
are carrying posters dedicated to JIGMOM and the
Earth Day
"A GMO Free Zone"
Bryansk,
students of the Bryansk State University.: "Stop
GMOs" "GMO Free Zone"
famous Canyon Charyn, which is
near Almaty, the capital of Kazakhstan.
" Kazakhstan – a GMO free zone"
Chimbulak
Mountain (over 2000 meters above the sea level),
near Almaty, Kazakhstan.
" – Kazakhstan – a GMO free zone"
in
front of the natural boundary Medeu,
near Almaty, Kazakhstan.
" – Kazakhstan – a GMO free zone"
Canyon
Charyn
"– Kazakhstan – a GMO free zone"
Regional
capital Tomsk (Western Siberia).
" For GMO Free Tomsk!"
in front of Tomsk State University, where one of
the most famous Russian youth green movement was
founded.
" For GMO Free Tomsk!"
Murmansk,
located on Kola Peninsula of Russia.
" GMO Free Zone"
By the end of JIGMOM people from 4 countries: Moldova and
Transnistria, Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine took part in
the action. Only from Russia organizers got pictures from
8 regions and districts (Bryansk, Kostroma, Moscow, Tomsk,
Murmansk – two districts, Saint-Petersburg and Yekaterinburg).
We think that this action will be continued for some more
time.
South
Against Genetic Engineering(SAGE)- Tamil
Nadu chapter observed GM Opposition Day.
It was a day long protest. About 500 farmers, women and
men came from all parts of the State. They are all members
of SAGE-TN chapter.
On that day dozens of farmers, farmer leaders,
civil society, consumer and human rights activists, lawyers,
media people have addressed them, each one emphatically
stating why they oppose GM in agriculture.
The day was marked by rendition of songs,
holding of placards and shouting of slogans.
At
the end of this exercise, they put a Charter
of Demands before
the governments:
Government of Tamil Nadu and Government of India.
- How GMOs
invade our lives - What are GMOs? - Medicine and GMOs
- Movements against GMOs (alternative farmers, movement
vegan and vegetarian, etc)
- Do we have alternative solutions? - Biologica l- Permaculture
- Biodynamic - Natural Farming
Organizations : Greek Ecologists Without
Borders, Forum for Citizens Democracy, Ecologists Greece,
Ecologists Alternatives
Conference
: "GMO
: technological breakthrough or true choice for the society?
The Management of Research in question"
Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (EHESS), Grand
Amphithéâtre
with
ten of the French Scientists who favour an ethical and citizens-oriented
Science
More
than 50 members of the Shumei Natural Agriculture Network
and the No! GMO Campaign visited the beautiful terraced
paddy fields in Yamaguchi district of Tsukuba City. They
helped farmers to transplant rice. These terraced paddy
fields at the foot of Mt. Tsukuba were abandoned for years
until members of Shumei living in the cities stood up
to rescue them. Now these fields are called “my
paddy” by these members and have come back to life
again. Now there are clean and beautiful streams from
the mountain and fireflies came back to this area. Local
people are very happy about them.
In these terraced paddies, each field is very small. Kids
and their parents transplanted rice in a line, and young
rice plants were planted very neatly. When I imagine that
these young plants will grow up to be a lot or rice in
autumn, I feel the strong power in the nature.
Tsukuba Citiy is the center of R&D of
GM crops in Japan. People’s voice against GMOs,
saying that they cannot co-exist with the nature, is becoming
bigger and bigger in this city.
(reported by Namiko Ono, No! GMO Campaign)
We
wish for the success of a GMO-free
earth in years to
come!
Rebound (
just can't stop it! Will need a full year, next time! )
May 19 - 20
Demonstration
against GE-wheat trials
We
are happy to be part of the Joint International GMO Opposition Month.
There were almost 400 people from many european countries and even from
Chile and Mali. There were speakers from farmers associations, from
"breadmakers", from "honeymakers" and ecological
agriculture. Anne.
The aim of this demonstration was to inform against GE-wheat
trials carried out by by private companies, in fields owned by the IPK
(Leibniz Institute of Plants genetics), a big German gene bank. For
being well preserved, the seeds must be regularly planted, hence a possible
cross-fertilization with GE crops, cultivated around.
This trial has been approved on the 23rd of November 2006
until 2008 by the federal ministry of Consumer protection and Food Safety. Christophe Noisette,
Inf'OGM