• Activists involved in the JIGMOD preparation gradually recover from their great efforts. According to the most recent news, 259 international sites have participated in the JIGMOD which was actually the biggest global expression against GMO ever, which deserves being memorized in a more serious holder than a website (surprise!).
  
  Reports and photos are currently updated, and May be finalized by the end of may (2006).

• Mobilization

  - At least in Hungary and France, the MEMORANDUM is currently sent to the "Dear Parliamentarians", plus to the press as an "open letter" (New release now available in English and French; the spanish version remains to be updated)

  - In Europe, a Written Declaration aimed at supporting a "GMO-free Europe" has to be signed by more than half the Members of the European Parliament in order to receive the status of "official document", before the 13th of June 2006.

PLEASE SUPPORT THIS ACTION BY DRAWING THE ATTENTION OF THE MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT FROM YOUR REGION/COUNTRY TO THE WRITTEN DECLARATION (no 14/2006) IN ORDER TO GAIN THEIR SUPPORT AND SIGNATURE.

Below you will find links to needed document in several languages. http://icppc.pl/pl/gmo/index.php?id=198
Letter from Mr Wojciechowski: www.icppc.pl/sciagnij/en-letter.pdf
Written Declaration on genetically modified food and seeds
List of the MEPs who already supported this declaration
List of all MEPs

• Vandana Shiva (India), Juan Felipe Carrasco (Spain) and Urs Hans (Switzerland) will come to Orleans (France) on the 14th of May in order to support the "Voluntary reapers" who undergo the first "trial on appeal" after their previous release.


• URGENT SIGN-ON. The Canadian government is considering authorising the environmental release of genetically engineered (GE) plant intended to produce pharmaceutical and industrial molecular components.
  1) if you are an organisation in Canada or outside Canada, please consider to add the name of your organisation to this letter by May 14, 2006 to Eric
  2) If you are an individual, please send an email to Canada Prime Minister (CPM) based on this letter.

• On the 8th of April, there will be at least 247 "hot spots" in 72 states on every continents (except the Antartic, maybe).


• Day "D"- 8, a quantitative view of the international mobilization against "free GMOs" :
  387 'information stalls
  213 stands of GMO-free farm products
  138 conferences, debates, forum
  123 picnics or food stalls
  72 displays of movies
  65 petitions
  54 music bands
  47 "Peasant Seeds" related actions
  47 street theater performances
  38 participants to the visioconference
  19 radio or TV programs, Press Conferences
  18 demonstrations
  17 art exhibitions,
  
  In all : 1236 actions which are informative and, above all, festive...

  
  (word game with the French translation of "Jaws": les Dents de la Mer. - GMO: the new sharks - )

• In conjunction with JIGMOD, a three disc set is launched: " The GMO Trilogy: Why Genetically Modified Organisms threaten your health, the environment and future generations" (by Jeffrey of Plainfield).




Still available : Material for the promotion of your local event: JIGMOD information.


• The final schedule of the videoconference is now available. It will last 5 hours, and will start late in Japon, late afternoon in Europe, midday in west america, and early morning in the eastern part of the american continent.
  


• The Memorandum, some references of which have been updated and clarified, will be open on the 8th of April by Dr Arpad Pusztai, during the international videoconference.
  


• A recent scientific article about GMO-related health risks was sent by Christian of Massy: after 40 days, effect on metabolism regulating substances (enzymes) in both kidneys and hearth of rabbits fed with Round-up GMO soja.
  



• Foundations, Activist or political organisations, Associations, Forums, blogs: the JIGMOD is present on their websites (thank you to Eléa of Créteil for the research !)
  


• Conference-debate in the Var (south of France):
  
12 milliards of years without GMOs.
And now ?

• A new Website dedicated to the 8th of April, by our australian partners.


• At least 14 actions in Poland


• Happiness of an anti-"GMO in fields and plates" activist.

  

  
  He just participated in the great meeting of hundreds of persons in front of the French Senate-house, this first day of debate concerning the GMO law.
  
  He doesn't know that inside the hemicycle, no more than one senator out of ten (35/331) is present; neither he knows that the speakers read lines that nobody listens to, in a permanent hum, and that no copy of the law project appears next to the sitting senators.
  
  Meanwhile, the activist smiles.
  If he knew, he might cry, instead...
  
  ...Maybe not, since he also just heard about this unprecedented international mobilization, planned on the 8th of April.

• Dr Ariel Salleh, of the Australian GeneEthics, sent the following report on the the Nov 2004 World Conservation Union convention in Bangkok. This statement, calling for a Moratorium on GMOs should be promoted on the occasion of the JIGMOD.

Resolutions and recommendations

A leaflet reporting on a contamination case was well perceived in both organic and "equitable trading" shops of Vars (south of France). It could be spread on the 8th of April

Contamination case in Spain

• Here are pieces of information as a contribution for writing a Press Release concerning your local event.
  


• "Seeds of Cooperation" or "How the global community could support local actions?" these could be possible titles of the videoconference, whose program is currently being finalized. (Ex: JIGMOD partners support the "Voluntary reapers" at the Versailles trial). these could be possible titles of the videoconference, whose program is currently being finalized. Exact schedule here, soon.
  
  
• Here is a frame that fits well little black-and-white leaflets
  
   Leaflet model


• Mobilization in the US.
  On the 8th of April, citizens are incited to send letters to their members of the congress.

The Campaign

• After the one proposed last week, here is another basic frame of JIGMOD high-definition Poster (2 Mo), to be easily adapted to each local event (word file). You can even write the title in your own language.

• in France, National and local radio programs will address the GMO file, including the JIGMOD. The well known magazine "Femme actuelle" ("Present woman") is preparing an article on the JIGMOD.
  


• A declaration against the genetical manipulation of our food has been published by representatives of 4 parliamentary groups of the EU parliament, led by the Polish Peoples Party PSL. Within 3 months, the signatures of more than 50% of the representatives (Members of the Parliament) are needed.
  
    If you live in the European Union, please ask the EU deputies of your country to sign the declaration (see the model letter below). If you do not live in the EU, please inform the public about the declaration.

Request regarding GM food, seeds and fodder

• Worldwide solidarity. The European resistance against GMO, as expressed in the KRAKOW DECLARATION FOR A GMO FREE EUROPE, is supported by partner organizations located outside Europe.

• The international program of the video-conference is currently set up by the JIGMOD partners: the 8th of April, local experiences will be reported at a global level, ideas will be exchanged, seeds of cooperation will be sown.


• Pedagogical graphics are welcome, like the one to the right-hand side, designed "copyright-free", and sent to us by Don of Tucker (Georgia, USA)


• German version of the Memorandum (Thanks Wolfgang of Wuppertal)

• An example to be followed!     BioKontroll helped a lot the process of collecting international signatures for the MEMORANDUM: This week, more than 120 new Hungarian signatures have been received by Eléa of Créteil, our "signatories" manager.


• The first release of the International NoToGMOsaic is now issued!
  


• Support from China:
  
  "I have been involved in agro-environmental protection for years. As a Chinese scientist, I strongly opposite GMO, or at least disagree popularization of GMO worldwide. China is one of the biggest countries growing GM crops, especially cotton in the world today. In addition, China is also the largest consumer of soybeans produced in the United States, too. However, GMOs have not benefited to Chinese people, but only to some corporations. As cited in your MEMORANDUM, GMOs are now threatening food safety and environment both. In fact, GMOs can not solve food security for China. Instead, food security system can only be fortified if China enhances biodiversity in agroecosystem nationally facilitating its sustainable agriculture.
  
  Thanks for your efforts!
  Chen of China, Senior Researcher
  


• A new Special Event spreading from UK (thank you Gerald!): Beacons of Fires (presentation)


• A couple of extra JIGMOD actions, among others proposed last week-end at the "A United No to GMO" European Meeting in Krakow

  "Synchronized Citizens against GMOs": Showing solidarity by switching off your home electric counter, everybody at the same time (i.e.: 8PM), for at least 3 minutes. Exact time to be confirmed.

  "The most unlikely banquet ever held" : the rare moments "pro-" and "anti-" GMOs are given the opportunity to meet, this is in stressful situations where each part plays its role, facing "enemies" in front of an audience.
  After all, pro-GMOs are human-beings, too!
  T hey are just informed by other sources than ours.
  Let's help them not to be misled anymore! The 8th of April, invite either a potential or a confirmed pro-GMO and his family for sharing a cheerful traditional (possibly organic) meal with you, at your Information Site.

• International Conference in Poland, entitled: “A United No to GMO”, as a part of the project “Protection of the diversity of the Polish Countryside– GMO-free Zones”.
  Date: 24th of February 2006, 1000 a.m. – 100 p.m.
  Place: Kraków, Urzad Miasta (City Council), Plac (Square ) Wszystkich Swietych 3/4, conf room no. 303
  
  Excerpt: “ (...) This 'necessity to inform' has been the main justification of the GMO Opposition Days, synchronized actions organized twice last years by several organizations in up to 60 locations, in French regions and close countries. The 8th April 2006 will be the Joint International GM Opposition Day (JIGMOD). Politicians, biotech company shareholders, pro-GMO farmers and scientists, cannot ignore the day when several worldwide organizations are capable of showing a united front against the trading of an “infant technology”. Now that the World Trade Organization considers that genetic chimeras must follow the same trading regulation as any other product, now that some governments, including the French one, adapt their regulation so as to organize GM farming and consumption, this is clearly the best time to make the voice of the world citizens being heard.”


• Video-conference rehearsals are performed by the “technical team”, communicating from each side of the Atlantic ocean. See a visual representation of a prototypical local conference.


• The most improbable wedding ever planned will be tried the 8th of April at a host town hall (2nd arrondissement of Paris), between Lady Nature and Mr G.M. Agrobusiness. Not sure the potential bride will say "yes!".

• For designing the international poster frame that will be downlodable from this site, we need your contribution. How do you write "No to GMO" in the languages that you know?  Write to us


• How will the Video-Conference appear in an "Information Site"?
  This video shows what a stage looks like when mixing local and distant participants:

The Pulse of Scientific Freedom

• Actively involved in the preparation of the JIGMOD, The Campaign has issued a special number of its "Campaign Reporter" for announcing the 8th of April and the associated US "Call-in Day" (6th of April). The upcoming edition will discuss these events in further detail.


• The Memorandum (scientists letter) is now mostly circulating inFrench-speaking countries. Thanks to make it known in your country!

English     Spanish     French

• the International Press Release announcing the JIGMOD is being issued this week, following the WTO decision concerning GMO trading.

International Press Release (English version)

• The Council of Paris has issued wishes concerning GMOs and the JIGMOD.


• A video-conference schedule is proposed to the JIGMOD partners:

Time-table

• the International Press Release announcing the JIGMOD is now circulating among the partners for being reviewed, and will be issued next week.


• A remarkable side-effect of the JIGMOD: the building of new links between activists. The GRETO (Groupe de Réflexion des Ecologistes du Togo) has just been created by our Lomé partners.


• The spring events leading up to the JIGMOD are setting up (see the Agenda), as well as the 8th of April local "Information Sites"


• Increasing set of references throughout the web, including:
  The Campaign, Le Grand Soir, Ekolojik Politika, Bioseguridad, Attac, Reclaim the Commons , Talk2000, Greenpeace-Greece , GM Watch, Nakp, logos, GM-Free Regions, nofa, Organic Consumers Association, biosafety-info, portland-Indymedia, Simas, Rallt, Mondialisation, Switzerland, Gentechnikfreie, Sirokane