Two South African lobby groups today picketed a biotechnology conference in Johannesburg today over the controversial issue of genetically modified (GM) food.
A small group of protesters from the Environmental Justice Networking Forum and the South African Freeze Alliance on Genetic Engineering held up placards with slogans like "Say Yes to Organic Agriculture" and "Warning: GM foods can damage your health".
Sister Angelica Loub, one of the protesters, said she had environmental, social and economic concerns about genetically modified foods.
"GM technology has not been tested. It damages the health of our people... It destroys the livelihood of small farmers because it makes them dependent on US seed," she said.
Sister Angelica said the forum was lobbying for greater consultation by the SA government with the public on the issue of GM crops and seed. In addition, she said, the labelling of GM products should be a priority, in order to allow people to make an informed choice.
The Freeze Alliance on Genetic Engineering accused conference organisers of excluding community representation due to the high cost of attending as delegates.
"The cost of over R5,000 per person effectively excludes the public and this sort of exclusion has epitomised the introduction of GE crops and biotechnology in South Africa.
"There has been no public consultation or input on the need or desirability of the technology and these types of conferences only serve to further this exclusivity," alliance spokesman Peter Komane said in a statement.
The Environmental Justice Networking Forum issued a memorandum to the meeting of multinational biotechnology companies today, demanding:
that all field trials on GM crops in South Africa should be suspended until adequate research has been done on the impact on health and the environment;
that multinationals allow the public access to information about their technology and the location of their field trials;
and allow for independent assessments and monitoring of the trials.
The biotechnology conference ends tomorrow.
source: http://www.bday.co.za/bday/content/direct/1,3523,1354439-6078-0,00.html 27may03
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