21/September/20

 

Eighty-eight civil society and farmers organisations from across Europe have written an open letter to EU health and food safety Commissioner Stella Kyriakides, warning that the EU Commission is turning a blind eye to new GMOs and demanding that it keeps new GMOs regulated. The controversial new generation of food genetic engineering techniques should be subject to EU safety checks and consumer labelling, according to an EU Court of Justice ruling, but the organisations complain that the European Commission is not implementing this ruling. GMWatch

 

 

Given the devastating effect of the present pandemic on health, social, and economic well-being, now is the time to sign the petition requesting that United States government put an immediate moratorium on all risky infectious agent research (including gain-of-function research) potentially associated with increasing the ability of existing pathogens to infect humans or to cause a more severe disease. We the People

 

 

Today is the International Day of Struggle Against Monoculture Tree Plantations. Help commemorate this important day by stopping the US approval of dangerous genetically engineered (GE) trees, which industry wants to use in these plantations. We are witnessing historic and deadly wildfires around the world. Poor forest management practices (over-logging, fire suppression) and industrial tree plantations, combined with climate change, have created apocalyptic conditions. Take action to help stop the planned development of GE tree plantations that will intensify groundwater use and lead to hotter, more destructive and more deadly firestorms. Send a comment to the US government's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service or sign the petition. Campaign to Stop GE Trees

 

 

Today, Argentina is the third largest global grower and exporter of GM crops. Its soybeans — which have been modified to tolerate being sprayed with herbicides — now cover half of the country's arable land and represent a third of its total exports. While soy has brought about modernization and economic growth, it has also created tremendous social and ecological harm: rural displacement, concentration of landownership, food insecurity, deforestation, violence, and the negative health effects of toxic agrochemical exposure. In the book, Seeds of Power, Amalia Leguizamón explores why Argentines largely support GM soy despite the widespread damage it creates. Duke University Press