WEEKLY WATCH number 162 (10/2/2006) | |
from Claire Robinson, WEEKLY WATCH editor Dear all: This week's big news is the WTO decision, which supported GM-exporting countries - the US, Canada and Argentina, in their allegation that the EU's GM moratorium is an unfair barrier to trade. It looks as if this will actually change very little, however, as no matter what the WTO says, Europeans simply do not want to eat GM foods (WTO). That said, there is real concern that the US will use this decision to help it shove its unwanted products down the throats of people in the developing world (ASIA and WTO). Don't miss a powerful article by Dr Maewan Ho on the appalling health problems apparently caused in Philippines villagers exposed to Bt maize and its pollen (ASIA). Finally, we're delighted to report that thanks to some brilliant work by our volunteer translators, roundups of January's news from GM Watch are now available for the first time both in Dutch http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=6235 Please spread this news far and wide amongst all your Dutch and German speaking friends. And if you'd like to help the work of the Dutch or German teams or can help us translate our monthly reviews into any other languages, please get in touch! With Monsanto, Bush and the WTO lined up all in a row, we need to make sure we're hitting 'em right round the globe. Claire [email protected] ------------------------------------------------------------------------- WTO ------------------------------------------------------------ + U.S. WINS WTO BACKING IN WAR WITH EUROPE OVER GM FOOD + PLEASE ACT + FURTHER INFORMATION New opinion poll shows consumers worried over GM foods: + WTO'S DECISION DID NOT COVER SAFETY ISSUES Nor did it address "whether the biotech products at issue in this dispute are 'like' their conventional counterparts", even though this claim was made by Argentina, Canada and the US, which had asked for the WTO ruling. + GREENPEACE DISMISSES WTO RULING ON GMOs "This verdict only proves that the WTO puts trade interests above all others and is unqualified to deal with complex scientific and environmental issues." Despite the ongoing WTO case, European governments voted with a clear majority in 2005 to retain existing national b |