3rd October 2006 Day of action with Greenpeace creating crop circles in maize fields in three different continents:- Spain (Europe), Mexico (America), Philippines (Asia) to mark the beginning of a global campaign to protect maize – one of the world’s most important staple foods – against contamination from genetically engineered (GE) or transgenic varieties.
Geert Ritsema, GE Campaigner, Greenpeace International said:
"Today's tide of protests marks the launch of a global campaign to
protect maize from genetic contamination."
The Greenpeace campaign is demanding that:
* Governments around the world place a ban on the release of any
transgenic crop or seed
* Governments withdraw existing authorizations for both
commercial and experimental growing of GE crops
* Genetic contamination of crops must be cleaned up, with costs
borne by biotech companies such as Monsanto, according to the
"polluter pays" principle.
In Zuera (Zaragoza), Spain, Greenpeace activists entered the
site of a GE maize field trial, and carved a 50-metre crop circle,
marking the field a genetic contamination zone. Juan-Felipe
Carrasco GE campaigner of Greenpeace Spain said: "This experimental
field, only centimetres away from commercial fields, poses an
unacceptable risk to both, our food and the environment.
Contamination from GE rice has already proved disastrous for
farmers in the US - why should we wait till our maize is similarly
tainted?"
In Isabela, the Philippines Greenpeace activists carved a
45-meter "M" with a slash through it in the field of a friendly
farmer, thus marking it as a no entry zone for Monsanto (2). Danny
Ocampo, GE campaigner, Greenpeace Southeast Asia, said "Monsanto is
the largest promoter of Bt corn in the Philippines, and has
persistently sold the crop even in GMO-free provinces like Oriental
Mindoro.(3). Farmers have been lied to and lured into planting Bt
corn, but the reality is that it endangers sustainable farming,
which is safe, ecologically superior and economically beneficial.
GMOs are none of the those things."
In Jocotitlàn, Mexico(4), a huge crop circle simply stated 'NO',
in a demand for the government to reject Monsanto's proposal to
break a long-standing moratorium against the cultivation of GE
maize. Gustavo Ampugnani GE campaigner of Greenpeace Mexico said:
"Mexico is the source of all the world's maize varieties. It began
here. If Monsanto is allowed to introduce GE maize into Mexico, the
result will be the genetic contamination of Mexico's native maize
varieties. We have to ensure that we don't let that happen."
Many of the long-term effects of genetic engineering on the
soil, animals, plants and human health are still unknown. Genetic
contamination of crops is a disturbing reality in all parts of the
world where GE crops are being grown, and the technology continues
to be a serious threat to biodiversity, food security, farmers'
livelihoods and consumers' right to choose.
Other contacts: Geert Ritsema, GE Campaigner, Greenpeace International: +31 646 1973 28Namrata Chowdhary, Greenpeace International Communications: +31 646 1973 27
VVPR info: Greenpeace International picture desk: +31 653 819 121
Notes: (1) Pictures from all three locations are available from Greenpeace International picture desk, John Novis: +31-(0)6 53 81 91 21(2) Monsanto is a US biotech company that sells more than 90 % of GE seeds around the world, see related report “Monsanto’s seven deadly sins”: (3) Several provinces in the Philippines have legislations passed (Oriental Mindoro) or are in the process of drafting legislation (Marinduque) that bans the entry of GMOs. (4) A decision by the Mexican government whether to allow field trials with transgenic maize is imminent. More about the threats of GE maize to Mexico’s native maize varieties can be found in the report 'Maize under Threat'.