Date:   2/10/2011 10:50:00 AM ( 13 y ago)
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URL:   https://www.curezone.org/forums/fm.asp?i=1767297

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One wonders if anything will stop this monster called Monsanto.

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See below that many groups have come together on this issue and are
ready for the next stage of action! Please distribute widely. Thank you.

PRESS RELEASE

Liberals and Conservatives Vote Down Bill C-474: Inaction on genetic
engineering will cost farmers, groups vow to protect alfalfa in
ongoing controversy

Thursday, February 10, 2011. Ottawa - Last night, a majority of
Liberal MPs joined with Conservatives to vote down an important
Private Members Bill on genetic engineering (GE). Bill C-474 would
have required that “an analysis of potential harm to export markets be
conducted before the sale of any new genetically engineered seed is
permitted.” The Bill was defeated 176 to 97.

“Farmers had everything to gain if the Bill was passed. Now we have
everything to lose while biotech companies once again have everything
to gain,” said Colleen Ross, Vice President of the National Farmers
Union. “Our government has been supporting genetic engineering at any
cost. But we refuse to accept their willingness to sacrifice some
farmers and some crops for the sake of the biotech industry,” said
Ross. “Our democracy has to work for farmers and consumers and not
just for multinational biotech corporations.”

“The excuses for not supporting the Bill were never truly valid,” said
Maureen Bostock, speaking for the Ecological Farmers of Ontario, “This
is a clear case of politicians siding with the powerful biotech
industry.”

“The Bill was voted down but a real debate about the impacts and
future of genetic engineering has now started,” said Lucy Sharratt,
Coordinator, Canadian Biotechnology Action Network, “Canadians defied
the tremendous power of the industry lobby by pushing the Bill further
than any other on this issue.”

“Its crazy that the economic risks to farmers are not considered
before GE crops are put on the market,” said Genevieve Grossenbacher a
young Quebec farmer speaking for the Canadian Organic Growers. “Its
farmers who pay the costs of GE contamination, not the biotech
companies.”

An immediate concern shared by both conventional and organic farmers
is the threat of crop contamination by GE alfalfa. On January 27th,
the US Department of Agriculture approved plantings despite widespread
opposition from farmers and consumers, and after protracted legal
cases. Canada is only one step away from allowing GE alfalfa to be
planted here. “It's urgent that our Members of Parliament take action
to stop GE alfalfa from being imported or being approved and grown in
Canada. This is the only way to protect our conventional and organic
alfalfa from loss of markets and loss of livelihoods,” said Cathy
Holtslander speaking for the Organic Agriculture Protection Fund of
the Saskatchewan Organic Directorate. Because alfalfa is a perennial
crop pollinated by bees, GE contamination is inevitable. In addition
to export markets for processed alfalfa products, alfalfa is used as
pasture and high-protein feed for animals like dairy cows, beef
cattle, lambs, and pigs and is also used to build up nutrients in the
soil, making it particularly important for organic farming.

“Genetic engineering has become more controversial over the years, not
less,” said Eric Darier, Director of Greenpeace Quebec, speaking on
behalf of the Quebec Network Against GMOs, a coalition of over 20
groups. “The problems with genetic engineering are not going away and
the federal government is still refusing to address the issues head on.”

“Building a strong future for food and farming in Canada will take
political leadership. Elected representatives must listen to what
farmers and consumers are saying,” said Tony Beck of the Society for a
GE Free BC, a coalition of local grassroots groups, “Canadians are
becoming more involved in farming issues and want to support a
sustainable food system.”

Private Members Bill C-474 was introduced by NDP Agriculture Critic
and MP for BC Southern Interior, Alex Atamanenko.

-30-

For more information:
Colleen Ross, National Farmers Union, Cell: 613 213 1522;
Lucy Sharratt, Canadian Biotechnology Action Network, 613 241 2267 ext
25;
Cathy Holtslander, Saskatchewan Organic Directorate, 306 384 2141;
Maureen Bostock, Ecological Farmers of Ontario, 613 259 5757;
Genevieve Grossenbacher, Canadian Organic Growers, 613 234 6827 ext 244;
Eric Darier, Quebec Network Against GMOs, Cell: 514 605-6497 (English
or French);
Tony Beck, Society for a GE Free BC, Cell: 604 671 2106.



Lucy Sharratt, Coordinator
Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN)
Collaborative Campaigning for Food Sovereignty and Environmental Justice
431 Gilmour Street, Second Floor
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K2P 0R5
Phone: 613 241 2267 ext. 25
Fax: 613 241 2506
coordinator@cban.ca
http://www.cban.ca


Bill C-474 is concrete action! Final vote February 9! http://www.cban.ca/474


Subscribe to the CBAN News and Action Listserve http://www.cban.ca/About/CBAN-e-News



 

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