GM and medicinal laws: how long will we be free?
9th April 2009
Watch out for the pro-GM spin
Just when we think democracy in Europe has been more or less extinguished by the centralised government of the European Union in Brussels, we see some flickers of light in the seeming darkness. One such flicker occurred on March 2nd when the environment ministers of all but 4 of Europe’s 27 Member States voted to support the rights of Austria and Hungary to maintain their ban on the planting of Monsanto and Bayer’s GM maize crops. They did this in full contravention of the desires of the European Commission and the World Trade Organization—the policeman of the Codex Alimentarius Commission which develops global guidelines that by and large are built around the interests of the world’s largest food producers.
The environment ministers did the decent thing because they have seen the data and know just how risky GM can be. They chose to ignore the spin coming from the biotech companies that incessantly try to tell us—with little or no supporting evidence—that GM is required to meet world food needs in the coming years. The ministers responded to democracy by expressing the view of the majority of the European public as well as the small band of international, independent scientists who have managed to continue studying the adverse effects of genetically modified (GM) foods on laboratory animals, farm animals and humans.
On 5th April, Dr Robert Verkerk from the ANH gave a keynote address at Natural Products Europe on the subject of GM crops and foods and the influence of Codex in trying to globalise GM. The presentation specifically addressed the European natural products sector, but it has much wider applicability. Rob Verkerk stressed the fact that the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barrosso and a small band of Prime Minister’s of EU Member States, hand in hand with the biotech corporations like Monsanto and Bayer, were really putting the pressurise not only their environment ministers but also the public. Rob Verkerk's talk can be heard by anyone with internet access — see the links below. It is broken down into 5 roughly 10 minute, youtube-friendly segments.
It is critical now that the people of Europe appreciate just how much pro-GM spin they will face in the coming weeks and months. Because of this, it is more important than ever that they stay up to speed on the known and unpredictable risks associated with GM crops which were planted on 125 million hectares worldwide in 2008.
There’s even more work to be done in the USA, the country which has given itself over to GM to a larger extent than any other. Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China and India are also significant players, although their usage is still dwarfed by the USA which is presently responsible for cultivating around half of the world’s GM crops.
Being made a criminal for publishing known facts
But the wayward Danish court’s decision has now been turned into a European precedent. Despite the sensible, much more balanced approach adopted by the Advocate General in the case, who argued strongly for the need to maintain freedom of the press, the judges responsible for the final ruling decided to ignore much of this advice. The Court has ruled that a journalist—or in fact any third party—that writes (or even speaks) about the ability of a natural health product to prevent or treat disease is in breach of the law, assuming the product isn’t a licenced drug. That person—like Frede Damgaard—could be made a criminal. And with this ruling, how many journalists will continue to act freely when reporting on natural products used by millions….?
Online petition on vitamins and minerals: a reminder
A reminder to European citizens: if you haven't already signed our online petition to show your concern over the European Commission's planned imposition of EU-wide restrictions on maximum levels of vitamins and minerals—based on inappropriate science—please sign up at the following link: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/anh-vitaminrestrictions.
For more about recent events, click on the links below….
Natural Products Europe '09: Risks of GM crops in Europe
Dr Robert Verkerk's keynote presentation at Natural Products Europe (5th April 2009) - now on youtube
European Court ruling infringes freedom of speech
ANH investigates two key developments that show freedom of speech is massively threatened
Higher dose vitamin D reduces fractures by 20% in over 65s
Meta-analysis of RCTs shows that fracture prevention with vitamin D is dose dependent
Wi-fi networks a cancer risk, say UK teachers
UK Teachers Association calls for wireless technology to be suspended in schools due to cancer risks
