/fontfamily>NO RIGHT FOR CONTAMINATION! Global Ban on GM trees People's Forest Forum http://elonmerkki.net/forestforum Press release 10 November 2004, Finland China's GM poplars cause concern International campaign demands global ban on GM trees
China appears to be the first country on Earth which has taken genetically modified trees into commercial use. According to reports there are now more than a million insect resistant GM poplars in plantations in Southern China. There is still a great lack of information as to the varieties in question but activists are worried.
-If those GM poplars can cross pollinate with the natural populations the contamination cannot be avoided. In that case China has obviously made LMO (living modified organism) invasion to other countries and by that it will break the national sovereignty of those countries and also international laws like the Cartagena Biosafety Protocol, says Mikko Vartiainen, a lawyer and activist in People's Biosafety Association in Finland.
-There is no right for contamination, says Leo Stranius, chair of Friends of the Earth Finland.
-Whatever the country is which starts global contamination of forest trees, that action is not justified.
We hope that China can soon give good news to the international community that they have finished the project and removed the risk of contamination.
The Global Ban on GM trees campaign has opened an Internet workshop for sharing discussions and information on China's GM poplar project. Link: http://elonmerkki.net/dyn/forum/topic/?catid=101
The campaign continues on the Internet
In the beginning of this year three Finnish environmental organisations launched an international campaign for a global ban on GM trees. The open petition for UN has now been signed by more than 200 organisations and 2000 individuals from 70 countries. (http://elonmerkki.net/forestforum/uk/signed1.html)
The campaign has protested the UN decision in the climate meeting in Milano which gives possibility to set up genetically modified tree plantations and get some emission rights by them. Look more: http://elonmerkki.net/forestforum/uk/press3.html http://elonmerkki.net/forestforum/uk/press040504.html http://elonmerkki.net/dyn/forum/thread/?id=224
The next step for the campaign is to present its demand in Buenos Aires in December when the tenth UN Kyoto meeting (Cop 10) happens there.
-Genetically modified trees are not the solution. Instead of taking irreversible risks that extend over generations we should develop the true alternatives of ecoforestry and organic agroforestry, says the campaign coordinator of the Union of Ecoforestry Hannu Hyvönen
For more information:
Global Ban on GM trees http://elonmerkki.net/forestforum
Hannu Hyvönen coordinator tel +358-408317733 e-mail:hannu AT elonmerkki.net
Leo Stranius chair Friends of the Earth Finland tel +358-40-754 7371 email:leo.stranius AT maanystavat.fi http://www.maanystavat.fi
Mikko Vartiainen lawyer People's Biosafety Association tel.+3580503863354 email:mikko.vartiainen AT nic.fi
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