1.Protests in Greece
2.EU 'must listen to national advice on GM crops'
3.The Nordic Region - a GMO-free zone in the future?
---
1.Protests in Greece
Last weekend, February 2-3 the annual International Greek Biotech Conference took place in Athens organized by Bionova Ltd., the representative of EuropaBio (European biotech corporations' lobby) in Greece.
Bionova as a national representative promotes at all levels the Biotech agenda, including GMOs, agrofuels, bio-patents, collaboration of Science & Business, aiming as well to expand in the SE Europe. (For detailed review please read here:
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=8683 )
Since the very first conference counter-action has been generated in Greece from several groups from all over the country including mass demonstrations (see report and video from the 3rd conference here:
http://italy.indymedia.org/news/2006/10/1167490.php )
This year due to some parallel anti-fascist demonstrations taking place very close to the point of the anti-biotech gathering and the extent of street conflicts between police, fascists and activists, the whole thing got interrupted and focused mostly on action within & outside the conference. (Watch all the fun of the 4th conference in the video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idI8enRKcJ4 )
Further counter-action is already being organised with the aim to inflict the institutionalised status of the Greek representatives of global biotech engines. Keep in touch for more!
Order81
order81.blogspot.com
---
2.EU 'must listen to national advice on GM crops'
ENDS Europe Daily, 5 February 2008
http://www.gmfreeireland.org/news/index.php
The EU must take greater account of evidence submitted by member states on applications for cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops, the French and German environment ministers said on Monday.
The ministers were in Germany for their annual meeting (EED 27/09/06 http://www.endseuropedaily.com/21724). Topics on the agenda included GM crops, the French presidency of the EU, which begins in July, the commission's proposed climate and energy package (EED 23/01/08 http://www.endseuropedaily.com/24681) and draft EU legislation to cut carbon dioxide emissions from new cars (EED 19/12/07 http://www.endseuropedaily.com/24531).
French minister Jean-Louis Borloo and his German colleague Sigmar Gabriel said EU GM crop approval procedures should be more transparent. Concerns raised by member states should be heard and 'thoroughly analysed', they said. France is waiting for EU approval of a national ban on GM maize MON 810 (EED 14/01/08 http://www.endseuropedaily.com/24615).
---
3.The Nordic Region - a GMO-free zone in the future?
Norden, 1 February 2008
http://www.norden.org/webb/news/news.asp?id=7628&lang=6
'The Nordic Region should be declared free of genetically modified organisms and the Nordic countries should join other European states like Austria, Greece and Poland, which have already declared themselves GMO-free zones,' according to a proposal by the Lef-Socialist Green Group (VSG) on the Nordic Council.
The growing number GMO-free zones is due to widespread scepticism about the health aspects of genetically modified food products, according to the Group.
'Research suggests that the use of genetically modified products has a negative impact on health,' the VSG notes.
It is important to maintain biological diversity. The alternative, according to the group, is to have only a few genetically modified species and for multinational companies to enjoy a monopoly of them.
The VSG is calling on the Nordic governments to work towards a GMO-free region.
'It would provide a boost to sustainable development and underpin the positive environmental and health image the Nordic Region aims to project,' the Group says.
Nordic MPs have long been interested in the question of genetically modified organisms. The Centre Group on the Nordic Council previously proposed stricter labelling of genetically modified products, for example.
Go to a Print friendly Page
Email this Article to a Friend
Back to the Archive
|
