In one of the largest displays of solidarity against the genetically modified food movement, Greenpeace has collected a whopping one million signatures to halt GMOs until further independent safety studies are done.
Greenpeace joined with Avaaz.org and launched the petition in March after the EU granted approval to begin cultivating the antibiotic-resistant GM “Amflora” potato. It would be the first GM crop approved by the EU in 12 years.
The million signatures are significant because last year the EU introduced the European Citizen's Initiative (ECI), a constitutional treaty which enables a million or more people to jointly ask the European Commission to change EU legislation.
The Greenpeace petition is the first attempt to invoke the ECI, and is seen as a test case for the new democratic instrument.
"Over a million people across Europe have set the EU a democratic test — will the EU address the real concern people have about GM crops and food, or will it side with the chemical industry lobbyists controlling GM technology?" Greenpeace EU Director Jorgo Riss said.
"Until safety issues of GMs are examined by independent experts, all GM authorizations should stop."
A major worry about GM crops is what one geneticist called the “Jurassic Park scenario” (artist rendering of Jurassic Park-potato hybrid, page right).
Once you introduce a genetically modified organism, you can't really call it back. And if the GMOs cross-breed, it could result in unknown threats to biodiversity and ecosystems.
In the petition, Greenpeace outlines their opposition:
Genetic engineering is highly unpredictable. The techniques used are random and imprecise.
Because scientists still understand very little about how genes work, genetic engineers frequently find unexpected side effects when they move genes across species, or even within the same species. These unexpected effects could potentially cause allergies or have toxic effects.
GM crops have already escaped from farmlands causing contamination of conventional and organic crops.
Another serious concern for GM opponents is the tightly controlled ownership of GMOs.
Agro-giant Monsanto owns 87% of all GM seeds. (You can read about their sordid past here.)
There are only five other companies that control GM crops: BASF (which created the potato in question), Dow, Syngenta, Bayer, and Dupont.
Because the European Food Safety Authority relies almost exclusively on data provided by the aforementioned companies — each of which has obvious profit motives — the petition is calling for a totally independent study to ensure the safety of the GM crops in question.
Greenpeace expects the commission respond within four months by holding a public hearing with the European Parliament. Until then, they plan to keep the pressure on.
So, if you are a citizen of any EU country, you can add your signature here.
The ECI was created after the worst European election turnout in history in order to inspire citizens to get involved in EU policy making. It is encouraging to see such enthusiasm and participation for its very first invocation.
Here's to many more...
Be Well,
Jimmy
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