Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2001 13:04:25 -0300
To: sust-mar@chebucto.ns.ca
From: Aaron Koleszar <aaronk@isn.net>
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Index of Subjects

Index of Subjects
DEADLINE WEDNESDAY JULY 25: SIGN-ON LETTER ON GM WHEAT
PLEASE DISTRIBUTE WIDELY.

SIGNEZ LA LETTRE COLLECTIVE CONTRE LE BLÉ TRANSGÉNIQUE D'ICI MERCREDI LE 25
JUILLET !
FAITES LA CIRCULER DANS VOS RÉSEAUX.

(voir le français ci-dessous)

Dear Allies:

A partnership between Monsanto and the Canadian government is developing
genetically engineered (GE) wheat, with a projected readiness target date
for environmental release in about 3-5 years.  Already there are secret GE
wheat trials in Canada.

There has been a well-documented market rejection of GE wheat from
importers of conventional Canadian wheat causing many agricultural groups
that traditionally support biotechnology to oppose the commercialization of
GE wheat. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency claims (CFIA) that only
"scientific" concerns will be taken into account in the approval process.
Yet the "scientific" risk assessment done by the CFIA has been condemned
repeatedly by civil society organizations and many concerned scientists.
This view was overwhelmingly supported in the Royal Society's report
released in February 2001 entitled Elements of Precaution: Recommendations
for the Regulation of Food Biotechnology in Canada.

Greenpeace Canada, The Council of Canadians and the Canadian Health
Coalition has been working with a collaboration of diverse stakeholders
from the agricultural sector, on the issue of genetically engineered (GE)
wheat. Amongst our partners are some agricultural groups that are not
opposed to genetic engineering (as well as some who are). Uniting us all,
though, is a driving opposition to the commercialization of GE wheat for
diverse reasons.

Our working group has agreed upon a sign-on letter to be released at a
joint media conference later in the summer. As you will see below, the
sign-on is carefully worded to accommodate the diverse policies of the
various sectors that will be asked to sign on. We anticipate there will be
hundreds and hundreds of signatories since this letter will be distributed
by some of our partners in this collaboration far beyond the NGO community.

We are soliciting sign-ons from organizations and individuals with related
professional credentials (doctors, biologists, researchers, economists, and
other academics and professionals with some connection to the issues
surrounding GM wheat).

Please email your organization's endorsement to Aaron Koleszar
<aaronk@isn.net> by July 25. The subject line should read "<Name of
Organization> Endorses GM Wheat Letter" and the message should include
relevant contact information and credentials (if applicable).

Starting off the list of sign-ons are Greenpeace Canada, The Council of
Canadians, the Canadian Health Coalition, and the National Farmers Union.

Because of the unusual alliances that have formed in opposition to
GE-wheat, we feel we have a rare opportunity of actually PREVENTING GE
contamination before our government and industry let it happen. Let's show
Monsanto and the Canadian government that we don't want another new GMO
contaminating our food and environment.

Please circulate this email widely.

Sincerely,

Holly Penfound, Greenpeace Canada
Nadège Adam, The Council of Canadians
Mike McBane, Canadian Health Coalition


TEXT OF LETTER

The Right Honourable Jean Chrétien
Prime Minister of Canada
Langevin Block
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ont.
K1A 0A2

cc:
Minister of Health
Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board
Minister of the Environment
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Minister of Industry
Canadian Premiers

Dear Prime Minister Chrétien:

Genetically-modified (GM) wheat raises concerns in many sectors, both
domestically and abroad.  Farmers and grain industry participants are
concerned about market loss and risks to Canada's distinguished reputation
for quality wheat varieties.  In addition, farmers are concerned about
agronomic impacts.  Consumers are concerned about food safety and
regulatory adequacy.  Citizens are concerned about environmental damage.
Organic farmers are concerned about negative effects on Canada's successful
organic sector.  Not every organization or individual that has signed this
letter shares every one of these concerns.  However, for one or more of the
preceding reasons we, the undersigned, oppose the introduction of GM wheat
into the Canadian food supply and seed supply until these concerns are
dealt with.

Overwhelming numbers of Canadian farmers and consumers, as well as
customers for Canadian wheat overseas, have said that they do not want GM
wheat at this time.  We hope the Canadian government will act
democratically, heed the wishes of its citizens, and act in the best
economic interests of farmers.

We represent diverse constituencies and interests, but we are unified in
asking that you act immediately to prevent the introduction of GM wheat
into Canadian food and fields unless the concerns of Canadian farmers,
industry, and consumers are adequately addressed.

Signed: 
[List of groups here]

===========================================================================

ALERTE AU BLÉ TRANSGÉNIQUE !  URGENT !

ON A BESOIN DE VOTRE SIGNATURE D'ICI LE 25 JUILLET! 
À FAIRE CIRCULER!

Un partenariat entre Monsanto et le gouvernement canadien a été conclu pour
développer un blé transgénique dont la commercialisation est prévue dans 3
à 5 ans.  En secret, des essais en champs ont déjà lieu au Canada.  Il
existe aussi des études de marché qui confirment que les importateurs de
blé conventionnel canadien ne veulent pas de blé transgénique. Ainsi de
nombreuses organisations agricoles s'opposent à la commercialisation du blé
transgénique, malgré le fait que ces organisations approuvent généralement
l'utilisation de la biotechnologie.

L'Agence canadien d'inspection des aliments (ACIA) affirme que seulement
les considérations « scientifiques » sont prises en compte dans le
processus d'approbation même si l'évaluation « scientifique »des risques
faite par l'ACIA a été dénoncée plusieurs fois par des ONG, des
scientifiques et par le groupe d'experts de la Société royale du Canada,
dans son rapport rendu publique en février 2001 (www.rsc.ca).

En collaboration avec de nombreux intervenants oeuvrant dans le domaine
agricole, Greenpeace, le Conseil des Canadiens et la Coalition canadienne
de la santé travaillent ensemble sur le dossier du blé transgénique. Parmis
les organisations agricoles participantes, certaines ne s'opposent pas à la
biotechnologie.  Pour des raisons diverses, ce qui nous uni est notre
opposition à la commercialisation du blé transgénique.  Ces organisations
ont décidé de faire circuler une lettre collective qui sera rendue publique
len conférence de presse au cours de l'été.  Comme vous pourrez le
constater, la lettre est écrite de telle manière que l'ensemble des raisons
pour s'opposer à la commercialisation du blé transgénique soient incluses.
Nous espérons que des centaines d'organisations de secteurs très variés
co-signeront cette lettre.

Nous souhaitons des signatures provenant d'organisations ainsi que
d'invididus ayant une expertise professionnelle pertinente (médecins,
biologistes, chercheurs, économistes et autres professionels ayant une
expertises dans le domaine du blé transgénique).

Nous vous invitons donc à co-signer cette lettre en contactant Aaron
Koleszar <aaronk@isn.net>, d'ici le 25 juil