P.E.I. could become first province to ban GMOs

[Spazito]

If Prince Edward Island farmers can prove genetically modified organisms shouldn't be a part of the Island's future, P.E.I. could be the first province to ban GMOs.

Several European countries such as Germany, France, Poland, Sweden, Spain and the United Kingdom have introduced strict laws requiring mandatory labelling of GMOs.

snip

The majority of Canadians surveyed for Health Canada last year said they feared the long-term effects of genetically modified foods, according to a report released earlier this year.

"Almost all Canadians (92 per cent) indicate some level of concern with the long-term risks these products might cause for human health," said a commentary by Pollara Inc., the public opinion research firm that did the survey.

more

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1108322829878_54/?hub=Canada

[Boswells_Johnson]

1. I hope they do! We need some leadership on the issue.

[CountAllVotes]

2. almost everything you buy is GMO'd

I don't think people are aware of this fact. Perhaps it might help if the packages were labeled!

Some of these GMO'd foods really freak me out. I saw some tomatillos (a green type of tomato like vegetable used in Mexican recipes) that were the size of oranges! Normally they are very small and about the size of a clove of garlic.

And you think this stuff is safe? I don't think so is my own opinion. I do everything I can to avoid GMO'd foods and it is both difficult and costly.

We need leadership on this issue. Might I dare suggest Dennis Kucinich?

:kick:

[Briar]

3. But isn't Canada trying to get terminator seeds okayed?

Just where does it stand on GM?

[Spazito]

5. Health Canada approved GM about 10 years ago but...

since then Canadians have been educated about this issue and overwhelmingly have concerns about it as noted in the article. 92% of Canadians are concerned.

Seeing as the Lib government is in a minority position, they will probably stall on any further action in support of GM until they are in a majority position.

[DrWeird]

6. umm, no.

Research on terminator genes was discontinued years ago.

[Briar]

9. Canada backs terminator seeds

According to this story, Canada wants them to be permitted:

Canada backs terminator seeds

John Vidal

An international moratorium on the use of one of the world's most controversial GM food technologies may be broken today if the Canadian government gets seed sterilisation backed at a UN meeting.
Leaked documents seen by the Guardian show that Canada wants all governments to accept the testing and commercialisation of "terminator" crop varieties. These are genetically engineered to produce only infertile seeds which farmers cannot replant.

Jointly patented by the GM company Monsanto and the US government, the technology was condemned in the late 1990s by many African and Asian governments who called for a permanent ban.

Monsanto and other GM companies which were developing similar technologies voluntarily pulled out of research after concerns were also raised about the "terminator" genes spreading to non-GM crops, and international outrage that poor farmers would not be able to use seeds from their crops, as they have always done.

But leaked instructions to Canadian government negotiators at the Bangkok meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, a group which advises the UN's Convention on Biological Diversity, show that Canada will request today that all countries open their doors to the technology.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/gmdebate/Story/0,2763,1408821,00.html

[applegrove]

4. Nobody would know better - man, stay out of the way of the Potato Lobby

[laundry_queen]

7. GO P.E.I.! n/t

[struggle4progress]

14. kick

:kick:

[rogue_bandit]

8. Hope they do

The issue gave me an idea.

If an area outlawed GM seeds and nearby a farmer used GM round-up ready soy seeds, and the GM plants crossed the line then the GM seed maker could be liable.

I don't know, I'm just pissed as hell about that Canadian farmer who spent so much time creating a special soy bean for his area and then get slammed by the GM peoplej.

Argggggggg.....

[ourbluenation]

10. as a proud citizen of the first US county to approve banning

Mendocino County - I say good for you. Wish more US counties would do the same. I believe Humboldt and Sonoma are next. All California counties...as goes California, so goes the rest of the nation.

Hopefully!

[Spazito]

11. WTG! This has got to be the way if our federal governments...

won't do the right thing, we do it county by county, state by state or, in our case, province by province!

[TrustingDog]

12. saw Percy Schmieser/Shiv Chopra with Avi Lewis moderating...

last week on the issues of GMOs and BSE.
Preaching to the choir but was a most eye opening, enjoyable, informative, frightening 3 hours.

It's DISGUSTING that we cannot CHOOSE what food we eat. Disgraceful.

Rah Rah to P.E.I!

[ConcernedCanuk]

13. "you're just entering a GMO-free growing zone" - that'd be a cool sign?

.
.
.

More from the posted article:

"But when it comes to the island's biggest crop though, you won't find a single farmer here growing genetically modified spuds," Vennavally-Rao reports.

In fact, food-processing giant McCain won't purchase genetically modified potatoes because of fears consumers would avoid buying what some call "Franken-fries."

/snip/

Organic farmer Raymond Loo thinks a GM-ban would be a selling point for Island produce.

"I would like to see a big sign coming off of Confederation Bridge saying you're just entering a GMO-free growing zone."



"Franken-Fries" - is that up there with "Freedom-Fries" ? :silly:

and I photochopped a sign jus for fun -



Wouldn't that give Monsanto et al heart attacks to see THEM all over the world !!!

:bounce: - GO PEI !!