The most GE-free country worldwide? (Guess who)

[Petr]

More good news from Switzerland...


http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=7122


The most GE-free country worldwide?

(12/10/2006)

Dear GM Watch

Very recently the Greenpeace campaign against the use of GE feed achieved an important step in Switzerland: all big retailers in Switzerland committed to phase out GE animal feed in meat products - even in imported poultry or meat products!

I think it is high-time to communicate the current state of GE free Switzerland:-)!?

Attached is a short text about the Swiss situation - probably the most GE free country worldwide... Small. But GE free.

I would appreciate very much if you published the article below. thanks.

Marianne
Marianne Kuenzle
Genschutz-Kampagne
Heinrichstr. 147, Postfach, CH-8031 Zuerich Phone +41 44 447 41 41, Mobile +41 79 410 76 48 Fax +41 44 447 41 99 http://www.greenpeace.ch/

---

GE and Switzerland

While the rest of the world wrestles with a biotech industry determined to own and contaminate the world's food and fields, tiny Switzerland in its quiet, efficient and pragmatic way is eliminating GE from its fields, its food and its society.

11% of Swiss farmers are now organic. Supermarkets such as Coop carry as extensive a range of organic foods as you will find anywhere. They even have begun to carry organic food produced regionally - and labeled as such. A Coop fund is supporting organic research projects and the second largest Swiss retailer now also is launching SlowFood products.

While domestically labeled animal products have been produced with GE free feed for a while, more recently, Coop and the biggest retailer Migros have agreed to undertake the process of ensuring that all imported meat is raised on GE free feed, too. Smaller supermarket chains Denner and Spar have now done the same.

And one of the most conservative societies in Europe put this issue to its people in a referendum in November 2005 and overwhelmingly the public supported a 5 year ban on the growing of GE crops. The referendum vote was unprecedented in Swiss history. It is the first time ever that a referendum has passed in every canton, and it is only one of 14 referenda ever to be approved by the Swiss people.

No one would accuse the Swiss of being anti-technology. No one would accuse the Swiss of acting rashly. No one would accuse the Swiss of taking steps without ensuring that they will benefit.

At the same time, however, almost no one is recognizing how significant these steps have been.

As we all face the latest contamination – this time of rice, the world's most important staple food, it is perhaps time to remember that we don't need to find solutions to the problems of GE we only need to implement those that have already been found.

[Helios Panoptes]

Wow, this country is nearly perfect for you. What are the abortion laws there?

[Petr]

Japan also has a nice attitude on this subject:


http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=7112


Japan overwhelmingly anti-GM but labelling laws lax

(8/10/2006)

1.Greenpeace Japan launches True Food guide
2.Japan's GM dilemma

GM WATCH COMMENT: Japanese consumers overwhelmingly wish to avoid GM foods but Japan's lax labelling laws do not promote a proper choice. Greenpeace Japan has just launched a True Food guide to assist consumers and pressurise recalcitrant food companies to deliver what consumer s want.

True Food guide!
http://www.greenpeace.or.jp/campaign/gm/truefood/search_html

(only in Japanese)

EXTRACTS: Japanese consumers are perhaps the most anti-GM minded in the world...

Japanese food makers say they don't want the genetically modified variants and are taking pains to source unmodified supplies, an understandable stance given the strength of consumer opposition to GM food in Japan.

A recent survey of consumer attitudes to genetically modified foods... showed that only 9% of those polled had a good image of GM food...

Farmers too have come out strongly against GMOs... (ITEM 2)

"The current labeling law is very lax.." - Greenpeace Japan's executive director Jun Hoshikawa (ITEM 1)
---

1."True Food Prize" goes to Bourbon and Nisshin Food Products
Greenpeace Press Release
http://www.greenpeace.or.jp/press/releases_en/pr20060929_html

International environmental organization Greenpeace honored Bourbon (Niigata prefecture)and Nisshin Food Products (Osaka pref.) with an award of "True Food Prize" for producing Non-GMO food and to contribute to the protection of health and environment. On the other hand they "honoured" Calbee and Toyo Suisan with a red prize, as companies not (yet) willing to exclude GMO ingredients in their production.

Greenpeace has carried out a questionnaire survey on the most important Japanese food producers since May 2006 asking them whether or not they use GMO ingredients. The "True Food Prize" goes to the two companies being most contributive for the global environment amongst the companies that committed to have a non GMO policy. The awarding ceremony was held on 29th September, 1pm at Otemachi Tokyo. Bourbon's corporate director Mr. Kazuo Asano said: "Greenpeace used to be considered being so radical but now I really understand they try to solve environmental problems in a real serious spirit"

The Japanese labeling law asks GMO labeling for the 3 top ingredients by weight of the entire food product only; that means that genetically manipulated ingredients are still used in a lot of cases. Oil and soy sauce, which do not contain any protein or parts of the DNA any more due to the processing, have not to be labeled. For food producers this labeling law is a very convenient way of escape but consumers have no choice to buy non-GMO food by this labeling law.

Greenpeace Japan's executive director Jun Hoshikawa who made a presentation of the award said: "The current labeling law is very lax however those two companies implement very strict their own GMO free policy and I praise their contribution for protection of the global environment."

At the ceremony Seikatsu Club Consumers Coop that distributes non-GMO products by their own brand was awarded "Special True Food Prize". And Calbee and Toyo Suisan Kaisha Ltd.having turned out to use GMO ingredients by the survey, were awarded with the "Change to the true food company Prize" that is to appeal for the need to stop using GMO.

To enable consumers to make a well informed choice, Greenpeace released the same day a "True Food guide" for consumers based on the questionnaire result. Opening the pages it's easy to find out that non-GMO products are "green" or GMO products are "red", and companies that have not answered the survey are also "red". The "True Food Guide" is given out for free.

Greenpeace Japans GMO campaigner Akiko Frid said, "I have been talking to a lot of persons in charge of food companies and I am convinced the current labeling law does not fit reality" and she continued "We are trying to change the policy of the companies that received the "Change to the true food company Prize" and other red listed companies to stop using GMO ingredients and to become also "green" companies as soon as possible."

About "True Food Guide" Please check the web site for further information: http:/www.greenpeace.or.jp/truefood


Greenpeace Japan GMO Free campaign website http://www.greenpeace.or.jp/campaign/gm/

For further information, please contact:
Akiko Frid, Greenpeace Japan GMO campaigner Keiko Shirokawa, Greenpeace Japan Media officer Tel. 81-3-5338-9800 Fax. 81-3-5338-9817
---

2.Japan's GM dilemma
October 4 2006
via http://www.truthabouttrade.org/

Japanese consumers are perhaps the most anti-GM minded in the world, creating a problem for the Japanese government, which has to meet pledges to the WTO to buy GMOs while placating a steadfastly sceptical public about the benefits and safety of GM food.

The headache is compounded by the fact that Japan imports as much as 40% of the food it consumes. Furthermore, many Japanese staples - like soybeans and corn - are areas where there has been the greatest GM development. But Japanese food makers say they don't want the genetically modified variants and are taking pains to source unmodified supplies, an understandable stance given the strength of consumer opposition to GM food in Japan.

A recent survey of consumer attitudes to genetically modified foods by a quasi government body STAFF (Society for Techno-innovation of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries) showed that only 9% of those polled had a good image of GM food while 51% declared themselves opposed to GM foods. A resounding 61% said they were reluctant to eat it at all.

But it is not all gloom for government officials charged with persuading the public about the safety and benefits of GM food. STAFF's latest report shows a fall in the number of those unwilling even to consider eating GM food, from the massive 80% it recorded in a similar poll in 2003.

"The number of people who feel unsafe about GM products has been decreasing," says STAFF's Tetsuya Hirano. "Our consumer attitude study showed that only a few people disagree with GM products which bring health benefits to consumers and development of those commercial medical GM products that are underway."

Much of Japanese consumer resistance to GM crops is a result of Tokyo's failure to assure people over past food scares, such as BSE and bird-flu, says Hirano.

Farmers too have come out strongly against GMOs while a small but vocal group of anti-GM consumer organisations have been effective in stirring anti-GM sentiment in the population, which is also reflected in the sceptical view taken over GM by the media.

Interestingly, many of these same consumer groups have sympathy with Tokyo though they accuse the government of forcing GM products on consumers and farmers who plainly do not want them.

Natsuko Kumasawa, who works for the organic food advocacy group Japan Offspring Fund, says Tokyo is under too much pressure from outside Japan to push a GM agenda.

"Japan is pressurised by the US to buy its food to address our colossal trade imbalance," Kumasawa says. "Most Japanese consumers do not want to eat GM food, but unless our government can show scientific evidence that GM food is unsafe, Japan can't reject GM food. If Japan rejects American GM crops, the US will file suit with the WTO."

So, timid about developing any biotechnology itself – there is only one domestically-developed GM rice crop that has now reached trial stage - Japan has embraced foreign developed crops from the likes of Monsanto, which are now grown all across the archipelago. So far, Japan has approved 75 biotechnology events for food, 59 for feed and 55 for planting, all of which must come with internationally recognised certificates of safety, and all grown from imported GM seeds for domestic cultivation.

Bowing to vast consumer pressure, mandatory labelling for certain GM food has been conducted in Japan since 2001. However, many foods, such as soy sauce, oil and animal feed, are excluded from mandatory labelling. Bread made from a GM enzyme won't be labelled either. "It is very regrettable that consumers do not have the right to choose," says Kumasawa. "Consumers can't choose non-GM food because of this incomplete labelling scheme."

Naturally, irregularities in the labelling law have irked some consumers and added to a sense of conspiracy that the Government is attempting to hide facts from consumers. Tales in the press of cover-ups over GM seed spills and contaminations have not helped the cause of GM foods in Japan either.

The food industry, too, is extremely reluctant even to attempt to prepare biotech products for market. Fearing a consumer backlash, retailers - particularly large supermarket chains - demand the food industry supply non-biotech foods, even for products that do not have to be labelled. This in turn results in procurement of non-biotech raw ingredients by importers.

STAFF says its doing what it can to educate the population about the benefits of GM, organising seminars and symposia, publishing information brochures and launching a website, though clearly these methods are having little impact on the media where, according to the STAFF survey, shoppers get most of their information on GM foods.

But Hirano is convinced that eventually Japan will get the message that GM foods will benefit everybody: "Once consumers discover there are certain benefits such as improved health through consuming GMOs then we will get wider acceptance. It’s all a matter of getting information to the consumer and having these issues properly debated in public. We need to change our society into one where people feel familiar with GMO. I, personally, consider Japanese consumers will accept GM products in the end. It’s just a matter of time."

[Petr]

Wow, this country is nearly perfect for you. What are the abortion laws there?
There's a strong anti-immigrant party led by Christoph Blocher.


Petr

[Ambrosio Spinola]

anti-inmigration does not equal anti abortion just FYI.

Opposing genetic research is the way of the neatherthal. They should leave the rest of us alone and seculde themselves in some cave without medicines.

[Petr]

Opposing genetic research is the way of the neatherthal. They should leave the rest of us alone and seculde themselves in some cave without medicines.
Crude strawmen. You're not a scientist as far as I know, but are just relying on laymen-oriented pro-GE propaganda and soundbites.


Petr

[Ambrosio Spinola]

But YOU are quite some scientist, right?...Oh wait...scientists should be cremated on bone fires.

Hey, just leave us alone with our wicked science that allows you to post from that amazing wizadrly machine called computer.

[Petr]

But YOU are quite some scientist, right?...Oh wait...scientists should be cremated on bone fires.

Hey, just leave us alone with our wicked science that allows you to post from that amazing wizadrly machine called computer.
Tired cartoon stereotypes, that's all you can come up with. Give up. :viking:


Petr

[Ambrosio Spinola]

I´m not really sure if you are just a carefully orchestrated troll or you just got hit by a flower pot while walking on the street.

[Petr]

Opposing genetic research is the way of the neatherthal.
And by the way, opposing genetic engineering is not the same thing as opposing genetic research.

I am frankly annoyed by childish genetics-eugenics idolatry that one often sees among racialists.

Witness Matt Nuenke's naivë, reductionist paeans to gene-scrambling. He also seems to lift his future-visions from Gattaca:

"Perhaps in the future, when looking for a job, all one will have to do is provide their experience and their genetic code, and a computer can pick the best candidates. And of course we will also know, genetically, how races differ—especially with regards to intelligence and conscientiousness—two important traits in the workplace.

Love could also be impacted. People could just submit their genetic code to large databanks, and matches could be made scientifically. Levels of sexual interest, intellectualism, hobbies, intelligence—people could be uniquely matched for compatibility."

http://majorityrights.com/index.php/weblog/comments/race_realism_is_just_around_the_corner/

Sounds like warblings of an over-enthusiastic pseudo-scholar. Does Nuenke have any formal scientific training?


Petr

[Ambrosio Spinola]

I totally agree with these "visions". natural evolution has all but stopped with the "everybody survives and procreates" situation in the important areas of this planet. Time to take these matters into our hands and channel them towards a goal driven perfection of humankind.

Of course those who believe otherwise are more than free to stand aside and wither away cowering from their dark age superstitions.

Any racialist worth his money can not be a hypocrit and think the white man is the end of all things. The future awaits us.

[Petr]

http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=7129


1.Three out of four Italians see GMOs as health threat

Reuters News Service, Oct 20 2006
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=healthNews&storyID=2006-10-20T134407Z_01_L20602839_RTRIDST_0_HEALTH-FOOD-ITALY-GMO-DC.XML&WTmodLoc=SciHealth-C4-Health-9

CERNOBBIO, Italy (Reuters) - Three quarters of Italians see genetically modified (GMO) foods as a health hazard, according to research published on Friday.

European consumers are known for being wary of GMO foods, but the biotech industry says its products are perfectly safe and no different to conventional foods.

But a study conducted by Italy's major farm body Coldiretti and research center ISPO showed 74 percent of Italians believed GMOs could damage human health.

That represented a 4 percent increase on a similar survey last year.

The study, presented at the International Forum on Agriculture and Food organized by Coldiretti, was based on a survey of 4,093 Italians who represented the country's population breakdown by gender, age, profession and residence.

More Italians are opting for organic food, with 71 percent saying they prefer products free of chemical additives, it showed.

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[Ambrosio Spinola]

More funds are needed. Research and devlopment should produce bug free products.

[Insidium]

GE is simply a method of speeding up natural selection to suit our needs. It can greatly improve nutrition, efficiency, and the overall usefulness of livestock and crop. Of course, there is a chance that any given GE crop is harmful, but these organisms go through serious testing before being released into the market. People who oppose technology are primitives.

I don't see what this issue has to do with race.